This is the front of the State movie theater othat once stood near the corner Third and North Hickory Streets. The U. S. Post office now occupies this spot. Because there was another far more elegant theater in town, the Victoria, it heightened the trashiness of the State. Most notorious were the restroons. They were lighted poorly, tiny by most respectable standards, gloomy, and probably not as clean as they should have been. One learned to restrain any bladder urgings. In those days it was customary to show a good to excellant movie, the same one, on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday and Wednesday the offerings consisted of the most excruciatingly worse movies available. And, unfotunately attendees had to endure a double feature. Nevertheless, some excitment was often generated by bats who took up residence in the theater and terrorized attendees with acrobatic displays in front of the screen. In order to entice viewers to the mid week shows they were given one dish from a set that could only be completed by attending each week for months. Typically, on Friday and Saturday a western movie was shown, usually starring a singing cowboy. Kids loved it.

This photo from the 1920's, shows the entrance to the Victoria theater. It retained this appearance for dacades until it met the same sad fate as so many wondrous theaters in towns all across the country. This less than imposing entrance disguised the classiness of the interior. Joni Mitchell got it right when she crooned "You don't know what you got till it's gone". The theater was located midway between Maple and Oak Streets, a half block from the busiest intersection in town... all adding to the allure of seeing a movie there. Lavish MGM spectaclars and musicals along with Disney delights and clasics like "gone With the Wind" were shown here. When you exited the theater you always felt like you were entertained and enlightened rather than lectured to, horrified, embarrassed, humiliated or left wondering what in the world is going on with so much dysfunction in this country.

A view from the balcony toward the stage of the Victoria theater.

My favorite seats were the front seats in the balconey.
My favorite candy from the vending machine was Ju Ju Bees, a gummy candy that I didn't chew but left slowly dissolve in mouth.

Looking out from the stage to the seating area of the Victoria

There was a theater on the East side of Oak Street just South of Third Street.... the Majestic, that had a very brief life at the beginning of the 20th century. Not too much history about it ca be found. I once saw it in a very old internet photo several years ago, but have never encountered it again.