Posted: December 1st, 2008 | Author: Mark | Filed under: Fort Worth, Vintage Postcards | Tags: downtown, theater | No Comments »
Once upon a time, before the development of suburban areas, the heart of any major city was “downtown”. It was the destination for both shopping and entertainment, and I’m fortunate to have been able to experience Fort Worth’s “old downtown” as a child. Seventh Street was the place to go for movies, with the Worth, Hollywood and Palace theaters all situated in close proximity to each other. I vaguely remember seeing Babes in Toyland (the 1961 Ray Bolger version) at one of the downtown theaters at the tender age of four, but the James Bond movies (Dr. No, Goldfinger) definitely made a bigger impression.
The view shown in this postcard is very similar to what I recall from when our family would go downtown, as we always approached from the west on Seventh Street. I have no idea when this photo was taken, but I’m guessing the late ’40s. This view clearly predates the addition of the neon “Reddy Kilowatt” sign at the corner of the Texas Electric building, Reddy being their cartoon mascot and spokesperson. That sign was a real landmark, one that has gone the way of much of historic downtown Fort Worth. I could be way off here, but I also seem to recall a Planter’s “Mr. Peanut” advertising sign somewhere in this vicinity as well.
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Posted: November 9th, 2008 | Author: Mark | Filed under: Tiptonville, Tennessee | Tags: theater | No Comments »
Those who were intrigued by my previous post about Tiptonville Tennessee’s Strand Theater might be interested in some new information that was brought to my attention by Julie Haynes. I wasn’t able to find too much about the theater on the internet, but Julie, learned historian an unofficial family genealogist, has come to the rescue.
While the theater’s earliest history is yet to be found, it appears that George William (”Will”) Haynes and Lillian Haynes owned the Strand beginning in the early 1930s. The couple owned 25 or 30 theaters in all, located in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Their good friend Utra Burton managed several of their theaters, including the drive-in movie in Wynnburg. It has been stated elsewhere, and repeated by me, that Utra Burton owned the Strand, but that appears to have been an assumption on someone’s part. Utra certainly would have been a frequent, authoritative presence in the theater, making the assumption a logical one. Will died in 1942, but Lillian maintained ownership of The Strand until 1965, at which time she sold it to the Mason Lodge. Lillian died the following year.
Posted: October 31st, 2008 | Author: Mark | Filed under: Tiptonville, Tennessee | Tags: theater | No Comments »
As luck would have it, I had purchased my first really good camera, a Nikon FM, just prior to my last visit to Tiptonville, Tennessee. I was all caught up in learning to use the fully manual camera, and indulged myself by taking all sorts of “artsy” photos. In the process I managed to capture at least a glimpse of the town as it was in 1981, considerably different than today. I loved this view of the former movie theater, so much so that I used it as the basis for an oil painting a few years ago. (which I’ll be happy to share… if I can find it!)
The Strand Theater was built in 1915, and owned by Utra Burton for an unknown period of time. It closed in the mid-to-late ’60s, at which time it became the Harmony Lodge, used by the Masons until just a few years ago. I couldn’t find much else in the way of historical information, but I did pick up some interesting stuff from the website, Cinema Treasures. According to posts on that site, Harry Houdini performed there early in his career, signing the wall backstage. (since painted over) It is currently being transformed back into a theater, and will be used for plays, concerts, beauty pageants, as well as movies. Does anyone have further information about the theater? I’d also appreciate any photos of The Strand taken when it was in operation.
Once upon a time, before the development of suburban areas, the heart of any major city was “downtown”. It was the destination for both shopping and entertainment, and I’m fortunate to have been able to experience Fort Worth’s “old downtown” as a child. Seventh Street was the place to go for movies, with the Worth, Hollywood and Palace theaters all situated in close proximity to each other. I vaguely remember seeing Babes in Toyland (the 1961 Ray Bolger version) at one of the downtown theaters at the tender age of four, but the James Bond movies (Dr. No, Goldfinger) definitely made a bigger impression.
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