In 1990 Ruth Thomas Deschamps wrote a story of some remembrances of growing up in Malad during the years 1918 through the early 1920’s. As Malad City and Oneida County are celebrating 150 years this year, the staff of The Enterprise thought everyone might enjoy reading about what life was like for a young girl during that era. Following is her story:
There are two theaters in our town – The Cozy Theater on Bannock Street and the Opera House on Main.
The Cozy Theater
It was this theater that catered to the children. The price for all shows was a nickel. And every Friday night kids came from all directions to be with the crowd.
Ten-year old Pearl Daniels, Fern’s sister, a beautiful girl and loved by everyone, walked with Fern and all of us young neighbors. On the way there we skipped, danced, hopped and ran – and stopped to make funny shadows under the streetlights.
The long mile down to the theater had only one discordant feature every Friday night. As soon as we got close to Edert Williams’ place, his beagle dog bounded out of the gate snarling, barking, and running after us! We scattered every which way, screaming in fright! Some of us ran across the street to Kate Stayner’s place. Others ran toward the theater. Noisy, noisy, noisy!! We were scared! That wild beast ran to the corner then trotted back home. Always, in the back of my mind, was the fear that some night he’d catch one of us. We gathered in a group to ‘get settled’ before walking on. That adventure left its imprint on my mind. I’ve been leery of all dogs – forever.
Lubin’s Candy Counter
Before going into the show we bought a treat at Lubin’s Confectionary next door. Each of us had two or three pennies.
The Confectionary Store was really an ice cream parlor. It had a large marble soda fountain that covered one wall. It stood on the floor and touched the ceiling. The large mirrors reflected the room. The countertop was of marble, too.
Its sturdy, round stools were made of metal. In the room were round tables and metal chairs. Some were for adults, and some were small for children!
When my parents were young people, this ice cream parlor was named The Temperance Hall! Today, in 1918, it is still an ice cream parlor, but on Friday nights the children were interested only in the large candy case at the opposite side of the room.
Lubin Jones and his wife, Ellen, owned both the theater and that store. They had no children of their own and seemed to love all of us. Most of the candy in that glass case cost one penny, or two or more pieces for one penny. We stood in line – we had plenty of time to make our choices. Lubin and his young brother, Royce, were patient with each of us in turn, regardless of how many adults wanted to have service first!
They had a container in that case – about the size of a deep wooden cigar box. It seemed to be almost full of pennies at all times. We’d stand and stare at the many kinds of penny candy, then choose. As the clerk received pennies, he tossed them into the penny box. Sometimes we giggled while we waited in line, daring each other to ask to buy some pennies! We never did.
The Candy Store
When I was a little girl
in the twenties and before,
My friends and I spent our pennies
at Lubin’s candy store.
Underneath that glass top counter
All the candy was displayed.
Royce and Lubin were oh, so patient
While many choices were made.
There were peppermints and gumdrops,
Wrapped caramels we liked to chew!
Squares of fudge – both dark and light,
And horehound candy, too.
Licorice babies, cigars, and whips.
We liked ‘em. They were good!
All-day suckers and nut-centered balls!
We licked as slowly as we could.
Other kinds, of course, were there –
Too numerous to list.
And, if you were a child back then,
You’d think of some I’ve missed.
A paper bag with colored stripes
held the treasured sweets,
that we took into the theater
then enjoyed our special treats!
(A made-over old poem)
In The Theater
Finally we were seated in the theater. All shows, at any time, were black and white. We had to concentrate because we had to read what the actors said. These were called silent movies – no sound. The actors didn’t say much. They had to be good actors and say only a few words! We had to read those words to know what was said.
There was a piano down in front of the seats in the theater. Music was played while the show went on. One of the ladies that played the piano was Pearl Stuart.
The evenings’ entertainment started with a short film. It was usually a story of patriotism – we loved our country! Sometimes the audience sang with the movie stars. Short films often told a story of honesty, bravery, or kindness, etc.
Next, there was a hilarious comedy, staring Fatty Arbuckle, Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, Charley Chaplain, or sad Ned Sparks. Our Gang comedies were good, too.
The main show at the Cozy Theater on Friday night was usually a serial. A serial means only a part of the story is shown at one time. Those never-ending series of silent movies were exciting! Nothing compared to the awe I felt sitting in the dark theater watching “The Perils of Pauline”!
As the beautiful Pearl White (Pauline) fled fast down a railroad track to outrun the villain (or rich landlord), and behind him came a speeding train whistling as it raced faster and faster on the same track!
Miss Stuart played louder and louder and the piano sounded anxious and wild! The entire audience screamed, hid our faces and peeked through our fingers! We saw Pauline running across the trestle (a high railroad track bridge). We stood and yelled, “Go, go, go!” Pauline glanced back, saw everything catching up to her, and she jumped off the trestle – and then the “To Be Continued” sign appeared!
Whew! We’ll have to come back next Friday to see what will happen to the beautiful girl we all loved.
On the next Friday, sure enough, we were in the Cozy Theater. When the serial started we saw Pauline running, running, running along the trestle and jumping off – into a pool of sparkling water! Her hero was in the water to save her!
The Westerns
Sometimes the serial was a western. Stagecoaches were usually in the stories. Rough riding through mountain passes, country roads and through one small town after another helped many a rider to become a hero!
The good guys always wore white hats. Villains wore black hats and mustaches. Everyone knew that!
One time the hero and beautiful girl were in a runaway stagecoach that was going over a cliff – “To Be Continued”…
In the next episode, sure enough, the hero and the girl managed to jump clear before the horses and stagecoach plunged to the bottom of a deep canyon! Or, he’d save a girl from being trampled by a herd of horses or cattle! With one thin rope he would lasso the whole stampeding herd and pull all those horses to a dead stop – in time!
The heroes of those exciting movies were: Tom Mix, Hoot Gibson, Buck Jones, Hopalong Cassidy and Wm. S. Hart.