The West Carroll Gazette from Oak Grove, Louisiana • 9

ffi mm arm Vol. 39 SECTION TWO OAK GROVE, THURSDAY, APRIL 13. 1950 TWELVE PAGES No. 28 ew Fiske Theatre Opens Here Monday Night History of Local Theatres Began In Spring, 1914 The history of the motion Air conditioned, modernistic throughout and affording every improvement in equipment, furnishings and safety devices, the new Fiske theatre opens its doors to the theatre-going public of Oak Grove and vicinity Monday night at 630 showing the technicolor musical "Jolson Sings Again." Almost 20 years ago to the day, the first sound picture ever shnwn ture business in Oak Grove dates in Oak Grove "The Golden Calf" back to the early spring of -1914 when the first theatre was opened r-r-r-rTTTB El I f-L was projected on the screen of the present Fiske theatre. On nape Dy jh.

c. Shrell. Oak Grove's first movie house was located where the Redmond-Mitchiner Co. warehouse now four of this section of The Gazette is printed an engraving of a two-page advertising spread congratulating the Fiske theatre cn the addition of sound facilities to its program. The engraving was made from two full-size pages of The Cazette for April 11, 1930.

With the opening of the new theatre, movie patrons in this vicinity will have one of the finest facilities in the south for theatre Nothing has been omitted to increase their safety, comfort and entertainment in the new theatre building, according to the owner, Donald B. Fiske. Exterior of the building features now stands, northeast of the Oak Grove Ice Co. and just west of the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks. A far cry from the modern show palaces of today, the building was 25 feet wide and 60 feet long.

Only 10 feet of the building on the north end was covered to protect the screen and 10 reet on the south end to protect the projection equipment. The lot was purchased from the late Thomas Bayne, grandfather of Donald B. Fiske, I owner of the Fiske theatre. Necessary electricity was furnished the theatre by the Bayne sawmill, Mr. Shrell stated.

"In the second year of operation the building was completely roofed," the first theatre operator commented. The projector was hand operated and admission price was 15 cents for every body. Of the pictures shown, Mr. Shrell recalls "Daddy Longlegs" starring Mary Pickford as the best of the lot. He also remembers running serials of "The Iron Claw" and "Helen Holms." "This show was operated until the big wind and hail storm of June 6, 1916, so damaged the building that it could not be used urge modern neon sign plus a glassed marque backed with fluorescent lighting to display titles of features being shown and the stars.

The front is finished in a red and white color scheme combined with the natural vellow mtnr brick. Modernistic designs of concrete and chrome emphasize the modern appearance of the build i iri.micvk a inlawing; ing. Adequate space for displaying billboards advertising coming at- tractions is located on the exterior wall adjacent to the entrance. The entry, itself, will consist rt First Sound Picture 20 Years Ago glass doors affordins maximum D. B.

Fiske Has space for ingress and egress. The lobby is floored with a thick carpet, laid over a thick snnnw I Was First Sound untu repairs were made," Mr Shrell declared. ber pad, both to afford safety and Oak Grove's next show was opened in a building owned by Dr. A. S.

Bliss. In 1918, C. H. uiiixorc wanting and to prevent unnecessary sound rf Movie Shown Here Twenty years ago Sunday, (Wednesday, April 16, 1930), the Fiske theatre showed the first sound i picture "The Golden Calf "-ever to be seen in Dair -n-y -v 1 lmm 'I walking. Directly beyond the entrance way is a complete, modern attractive concession stand Own.

bought the show, which was located in the vicinity of the present Louis Leach buildings on Main street. Mr. Koerner onerated Record of 22 Years In Show Business Donald B. Fiske, energetic Oak Grove and West Carroll businessman, who will open his ultramodern new Fiske theatre Monday, has been active in the motion picture business in Oak Grove since 1928. This was eleven years after Mr.

Fiske first moved to Oak Grove in mg on the right and left with corridors giving privacy are the up-to-date rest and powder rooms. Grove. the theatre until 1919 when he sold it. The movie house was later sold Almost 20 years later f.n the day, a modern new Fiske theatre, incorporating the latest improvements in movine Dictnre enter to Ernest Howell who operated it for some time. For a period of two or three years in the 1920's there tainment facilities will open in uaK Urove Monday night.

The first sound nicture was no theatre in Oak Grove. In March, 1928, the theatre now in operation was opened by T. A. Shay, of McGehee, Ark. Donald 1917 to become associated with his heralded by a two-page spread of wry lioom for Babies So that mothers with small babies can enjoy the movies, in the rear of the auditorium is a sound-proof "cry room" air-conditioned both winter and summer to assure the proper temperatures.

The room is equipped with quality speakers to give good sound while the picture is viewed through the large plate glass section in the front. Electric bottle warmers are available for use in the cry room. Full Upholstsred Chairs New, type, fullv grandfather, Thomas Bayne. in the advertisements in The Gazette fnr operation of a lumber business here. DONALD B.

FISKE is. Fiske was employed as manager. Mr. Fiske remained with the theatre for about a year as man April 11, 1930, congratulating the Fiske theatre's owner, D. B.

Fiske, on providing the latest in moving picture entertainment. A renliea Mr. Fiske is a native of Rich ager and then bought out Mr mond, Wayne county. Indiana: the pates in the American Lesion nnst Shay. Since that time, 1929, the son of the late.W.

A. Fiske and here, the Lions club, the Masonic of the two pages of advertisements tneatre has been operated continuously in the same location by Mr Fiske. order, the Delta council and the Methodist church, bein 2 a mem trom that Gazette is printed on page four of this section. Manv nf Edna Bayne Fiske. At an early age he moved to California with his parents and there received his education in the grade and high schools of Pasadena and Ontario.

ber of the board of stewards. tne it rirms whose ads are repro Monday one chapter in the his duced there, have similar rnn. 'I am proud to be able tn chairs, both back and bottom, with sponge rubber mounted on springs to the edge have been installed in the show with a color scheme of blue and gray. To add to the safety and ease in entering the aisles th tory of West Carroll's motion picture enterprises will be closed and a modern up-to-date theatre fnr gratulatory advertisements in this SPrtinn Rnmo -f He attended the California a new era in this ever progressing of Technology in 1917. v-i.

hjv, zixiiu) die 11U longer in existence; some of them are still in operation though under Moving to Oak Grove shortlv the theatre-going public of the area. As always the policy of my motion picture enterprise will be the 'Best in Entertainment for the Entire Mr. Fiske stated. industry wm open at the same time when the Fiske theatre moves Into its ultra-modern home be seats are self-lifting. They are wide spaced to allow after this, he entered his aiiierent ownership.

father's business. With time out 'The Golden Calf" was de relaxation. tween the West Carroll Hardware scribed as an "eye-filling, tune for duty with the army during the first World War. Mr. Fiske suc The main auditorii Co.

and the Briggs Insurance agency buildings. wjlxa- pletely covered with sound ahck. Jolson Movie Among First Sound Movies Shown Here cessfully operated the lumber business until 1926, when it was sold. thrilling comedy of legs, love and laughter" and starred Sue Carrol, Jack MulhalL El Brendel, Mar-jorie White, Richard Keene and tion board to add to the quietness and sound perfection. The red, turquoise and silver nlnsh ct- iwo years later he onenml the Among the first sound pictures present Fiske theatre and now in Paul Page.

It was produced by settipg adds to the atmosphere of shown here at the Fiske theatre addition to the Oak Grove enter prise, owns the Lake theatre i 20 years ago was "The Singing Century Fox films and presented by William Fox. Program for the first week nf quiet ana Deauty, aiding patrons in relaxing. Curtains, Lights Automatically Controlled The curtains onen automation- Lake Providence. Well known in the motion picture business, Mr. Fiske is a past director nf tvo Al Fool," with Al Jolson.

Monday night the new Fiske theatre will lied Theatre Owners of the Gulf Opening Night Program Program for opening night at the new Fiske theatre will be: Music on "Voice of the Theatre," from opening at 6:30 until "Sweet Serenade," musical short, concluding at Technicolor Traveltalk, concluding at Disney cartoon, concluding at "Happy Holidays," sports short; 7:45, feature presentation, "Jolson Sings Again," starring Larry Parks; 9:30, repeat and a motor controlled transform- talking pictures at the Fiske theatre was this line-up of features, remembered by some of the older residents of this area: "Seven Keys to Baldpate," with Richard Dix; "Romance of Rio Grande," with btates, an association of indenpnd- open with another great Jolson picture, "Jolson Sings Again," the successor to the now famous "Jolson Story." Starring Larry Parks and the ent motion picture operators. ex siuwiy lowers the light leveL preventing a sudden his numerous hucinB brightness to total darkness. activities which include the Warner Baxter, Mary Duncan, Antonio Moreno: "Sarah and Son." inimitable voice of the Old Master Compress and Warehouse and a position on the board of of the Bank of Oak GroveMr. himself, Al Jolson, the picture begins at the point where the "Jolson Story" ended and brings the with Ruth Chatterton and Fredric March; "Lord Byron of Broadway," all-star cast: "The Coco- projection. Sound System the maximum obtainable perfection in projection, the Fiske theatre has installed a new Starke Cycloramic Screen.

It Plea turn to Page 5) niSKe nnds time to be mayor of Oak Grove, and actively partici- of the great singer up-to-date. (Please turn to Page 6).