As promised above, here is the obituary for Mr. Marriage:
Donald O. Marriage, Sr., 87, of Loveland passed away on October 24, 2015. Don was born on March 22, 1928 in Whitetail, MT to Roland and Rose Marriage. He married Betty “B.J.” Williams on December 18, 1948 in Bozeman, MT. Work took Don all over the states including Southern California. He has been a resident in Colorado since 1970.
Don worked at Hughes Aircraft Company for over 35 years where he served as an Aerospace Engineer, retiring in the late 90’s. He served on the Rialto Guild and Restoration Society. Don served proudly in the US Navy during World War II and Korea. He loved the theater and golfing.
Don is survived by his wife of 67 years, B.J.; son Donald O. (Lynn) Marriage of Thornton, CO; daughter Susan (David) Hanken of Webster City, IA; 5 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; 4 brothers and 3 sisters.
Graveside Service 2:00pm Monday, November 2, 2015 at Loveland Burial Park. Please view the online obituary, send condolences and sign the family guest book at www.allnutt.com.
MEMORIES FROM A FRIEND
Don Marriage’s love of theater began when he was young. His first job at age 15 was as an usher in a movie theater and he worked his way through college as a projectionist. He continued to work with theaters in various capacities during his career with the Navy. While serving at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, Don managed a 1,500 seat theater and provided technical support to fifteen Navy theaters in his spare time.
Don is a two-time Navy veteran having served in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. When his military service was completed, Don went back to graduate school and then worked for Hughes Aircraft “a great company” for 36 years. He brought an innovative defense program to Colorado in 1970. Don retired in 1989 and moved to Loveland in 1993.
One of the first things Don did upon arriving in Loveland was join the Friends of the Rialto and participate in their efforts to renovate and revitalize the historic downtown theater. That goal was accomplished in 1996. When the city agreed to take over the management of the theater in 1998, Don and some of his colleagues formed the Rialto Theater Guild, a group dedicated to the continued refurbishing and upgrading of the building, the fixtures, and equipment. Don served as the first president of the Guild and he has continued to serve on the board as either an active or ex-officio member ever since.
Barring the possibility of a typo, this ozoner’s name may have had an alternate spelling of:
Park Drive Inn Theatre
See the photos I’ve just posted of an old promotional matchbook (the green colored one) on which the theatre’s name is printed with the aforementioned spelling:–
The Dickey-Springer American Legion Post No. 113 was built in 1925 and was also the Rialto Theater. U.S. Vice-President Charles G. Dawes came to Alamosa to lay the cornerstone. Two years later, the building was leased and eventually sold to former Mayor Everett Cole, who elaborately refurbished the interior, complete with a crystal chandelier. Cole added the Rialto’s landmark neon sign in the 1930s. It became a movie house seating around 1000 which also featured live entertainment. By the 1940’s, seating had been reduced to a little over 500.
An ornate $15,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ was built especially for the theater and used during silent films. Into the 1970s, the theater manager Joe Brite played the organ at the movies. Brite was robbed and beaten severely at the theater in September 1974 and died several days later. Robert Andrew Lucero lll, 17, pled guilty to a reduced charge of second degree murder of Mr. Brite. He was originally charged with first degree murder and had pled not guilty by reason of insanity. There was a court change of venue to La Junta from Alamosa.
His last name is correctly spelled “Brite”-NOT Bright as I put when uploading the pic.
Can someone from CT please correct the spelling on the actual caption for me?
I’m not sure whether the technological marvel called autocorrect or my own advanced state of exhaustion-induced dementia I seem to be suffering from after a hectic week is to blame.
Seeing as something in my subconscious caused me to have a distinct epiphany to revisit this photo for the sole purpose of checkkng my spelling of his name, I tend to think it’s 50/50 🙄
COSIE AND MYRTLE BLANCHARD
When Cosie and Myrtle Blanchard. citizens of Eagle. Cass County. Nebraska, were married in 1902. land in that part ot the country was becoming hard to obtain. They therefore decided to follow the time-honored practice and go west.
They arrived in Wray. Colorado, on the seventh day of November, 1904, and moved to a homestead, eleven miles southwest of Vernon. Cosie had previously bought the preemption rights of Fritz Schlodrick. Their home was a one-room rock house that had been built by Mr. Schlodrick.
One quarter of land and a few cattle that were pastured on free range did not furnish the best of living; so they sold out and moved to Wray in 1908.
Cosie bought a livery barn on the north-east corner of Second and Main Streets and a house across the alley on Second Street. It was in this house that their two daughters, Geneva Jo and Juanita L. were born.
Being in the livery business, Cosie was often called on to take newcomers to look at land that was for sale; thus he became interested in the real-estate business.
In 1910 he entered into partnership with W. C. Proctor and devoted most of his time to the real-estate business. He owned various other businesses, including a confec- tionery in Wray and a drug store in Vernon. He devoted the rest of his life to selling and developing real-estate.
In 1920 he built the theatre and hotel building on Third Street, first known as the Tyo Theatre and Hotel, but later as the Wray Theatre and the Blanchard Hotel.
Through the years Cosie Blanchard became a highly-respected citizen of the area. He was a friend to all who knew him and a man, generous with both his time and money. Many a person in need when attending a farm sale found himself taking home a horse or a cow paid for by Cosie Blanchard. Some paid him back, many did not.
Cosie Blanchard passed away on April 16, 1927 at the early age of forty-eight years.
Myrtle Anna Blanchard, Cosie’s partner in all enterprises, was a very industrious and strong-willed person. She was an expert seamstress, having been taught by her father, a tailor from Berlin, Germany, area. She was a dressmaker for many years for a large number of the female population of the Wray Community.
In 1932, during the depression, when many businesses were failing, she took over the management of the Blanchard Hotel and by determination and hard work soon had it on a paying basis.
On April 21, 1943, she was married to Ivan Ashlock. She operated the hotel until 1945 when she retired. Mr. Ashlock died in June, 1966; and Myrtle, on August 2, 1974, at the age of 84.
We of the family feel a great debt of gratitude not only to Cosie and Myrtle Blanchard but to all those whose courage, sacrifices, and toil made this section of the High Plains the best place on earth to live.
By Ward A. Tomlinson.
A HISTORY OF EAST YUMA COUNTY This is a collection of general history and family histories of East Yuma County from 1868 through 1978.
Stuart L. Tyo Found Dead From Heart Attack In Room At Tyo Hotel
Stuart L. Tyo, Wray theatre man and widely known in this section, was found dead in his room adjoining the entrance to the Tyo Theatre in the Tyo hotel in Wral Monday evening. The discovery of Mr. Tyo was made at about fifteen minutes to nine that evening when his mother, Mrs. B. A. Tyo, sent Mrs. Bill Foster, wife of the operator of the Tyo, to call him. Mrs. Tyo had become alarmed at the fact that he had not been up that day. Mr. Tyo was in bed and had apparently passed away in while asleep. There was no indication that he had suffered. A physician was called and death was pronounced due to heart failure. There had been no indication that Mr. Tyo had not been in good health, and his death came as a shock to his family and friends.
Funeral services were held from the J. H. Kearns residence in Wray on Wednesday at 2 o'clock, with Dr. C. E. Powell in charge of the services. The American Legion had charge of the burial service at Grandview cemetery.
Stuart L. Tyo was born on July 10, 1891, at Fort Covington, N. Y. and passed away at Wray, Colo., on June 27, 1932, age 40 years, 11 months and 17 days. His father died when he was but a youngster and he came to Denver, Colo., with his mother and sister. On May 10, 1918, he enlisted with the 8th Infantry and served in the U.S. Army until he was honorably discharged on July 24, 1919. He was eight months of service in France during that time. He came to Wray with his mother in 1921 and was associated with her in the hotel and theatre business here since that time. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Blanche A. Tyo, by his sister, Mrs. J. H. Kearns; three nehews, Jack Dick and Lee Kearns and a neice Betty Kearns, besides and uncle Joseph Tyo and an anut, Mrs. Larry Lynch, of Fort Covington, N. Y.
He was widely known through his hotel and theatre activities. He posessed a generous and friendly nature that made him many friends to whom his passing will be a regrettable shock.
The sympathy of many friends is extended to the bereaved family. ( Note: Spelled per the original. )
Here is the obituary for Mrs. Blanche A. Tyo who owned and operated the theatre from about 1921-1932
Funeral Service Held Saturday For Mrs. Tyo
Hundreds Paid Respect To Widely Known Wray Business Woman Who Expired Thursday
Funeral services for Mrs. Blanche A. Tyo, widely known Wray business woman, who died suddenly at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. H. Kearns, in Wray last Thursday morning, were held from the Kearns home Saturday afternoon and hundreds paid their final respects to this unusual woman who had been an outstanding figure in the business life of Wray for the past thirteen years. Rev. C. E. Powell, pastor of the Presbyterian church, where Mrs. Tyo attended services gave the funeral address. A great quantity of flowers attested to the respect that her business and social contacts had won her in the community.
Mrs. Tyo came to Wray thirteen years ago to operate the Tyo theatre and hotel in the Blanchard building which had just been completed. She continued to operate these businesses until about two years ago when she gave up her lease on the building following the death of her son, Stuart. She also acquired the management of the Commercial hotel in Wray and inaugurated the Tyo coffee shop as part of the hotel service. She was still operating the Commercial hotel at the time of her death.
Blanche A. Tyo, daughter of Osro and Mary Towner, was born in Northeast, Penn., March 10, 1872. She departed this life March 15, 1934, at the age of 62 years and five days. She was preceeded in death by her father and mother and two brothers. At the age of 18, she was married to Daniel A. Tyo of Fort Covington, N.Y. To this union two children were born, one son, Stuart L. who preceded his mother in death on June 27, 1932 and a daughter, Mrs. J. H. Kearns of Wray, Colo. Besides her daughter, she is survived by four grandchildren, John T., Richard K., Lee M., and Betty B. Kearns.
Another article from the November 30th, 2014 edition of the Rawlins Daily Times
Revitalize
Sinclair eyes restoration of downtown parks, trees, theater
By DAVID LOUIS Rawlins Daily Times Nov 30, 20
SINCLAIR — A revitalization is sweeping through historic downtown Sinclair. Fast on the heels of this summer’s project to revive Kistler’s Fountain after more than 60 years, town officials have set their sights on more improvements.
Next to be completed by the end of the year or early 2015 — depending on the weather — is a new pavilion in Washington Park.
The new, larger pavilion will replace one that has never been functional, said Lezlee Musgrave, Sinclair town clerk and treasurer.
“Before, we had a small pavilion that only a couple of picnic tables could fit under,” Musgrave said. “With the new one, we will be able to fit up to 88 people under it. The pavilion is going to be a really great improvement to our park.”
Along with increased capacity, the pavilion will also include a counter top with electrical outlets.
“We have a lot of residents and nonresidents who reserve our park for family reunions, picnics, graduation ceremonies, things like that,” Musgrave said. “We wanted to make it more user-friendly.”
Along with sprucing up the town’s historic plaza, city officials have also continued work on several beautification projects, including urban forestation.
Sinclair has had the distinction of being a Tree City USA town for the past three years.
The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.
Participating communities demonstrate a commitment to caring for and managing their public trees. Together, the more than 3,400 Tree City USA communities are home to more than 135 million Americans.
“When (Parco) was built in the 1920s, there were so many trees planted,” Musgrave said. “Most of them were cottonwood. Now they are very old. Every year, we go through town and cut down the dangerous or dead trees and replace them with different types of trees to give the town a unique look.”
On the horizon, Sinclair officials will soon turn their attention to restoring the 1924 town theater.
Though the theater has been used over the years to host town functions, no films have graced a silver screen since the early 1960s, said Town Councilman Leif Johansson.
“In 1970, the town tried to reopen it as a theater, and that didn’t go over too well. It has been closed ever since,” Johansson added.
In its heyday, the theater would have been an interior designer’s dream with its Spanish motif, hand-painted walls, art deco fixtures, leather-covered seats and deep-pile carpeting.
“It is still pretty much all original,” Johansson said. “Everything is pretty much as you would have seen it in the 1920s.”
The theater is one of the few buildings still owned by the city.
“As far as renovating the theater goes, we’ve really only just started raising the money,” Johansson said. “We are looking at keeping it as original as possible and keeping it a town building and community theater.”
The remodeling work will include replacement of the electrical wiring, plumbing, stucco and fascia work, asbestos removal and relocation of the ticket booth to its original placement in front of the theater.
The majority of the funding needed to complete the work will come from community business grants, said Wendy Faldowski, Sinclair’s assistant treasurer.
“We are going to look into a community business grant for planning and design,” Faldowski said. “This will help us put the design together as well as take care of structure, engineering and environmental concerns.”
Sinclair officials expect construction to begin sometime next year.
Here’s an excellent article from the March 22nd, 2015 edition of the Casper Star-Tribune about the theatre.
Town
Sinclair hopes old will become new again at theater
Project is part of town revitalization
By LAURA HANCOCK Star-Tribune staff writer Mar 22, 2015
SINCLAIR – In the lobby of the old movie theater, it’s drafty. The plaster is peeling. There is a tricycle, a kiddie kitchen and other items stored by the town’s recreation center.
But take a few steps further into the seating area, and community members will talk about the potential.
The 312 varnished wooden seats. The stage from which to drop a screen. The bright, hand-painted flourishes and geometric designs on the walls that match the building’s Spanish Colonial-style architecture.
No one has watched a show at the Sinclair Theatre, built in 1924, since the 1970s.
But the community, which most people identify by its oil refinery, craves an artistic renaissance. They want to restore the theater. The project is part of a larger, ongoing effort to revitalize downtown by tapping into the past to create a richer Main Street.
“We’re going back to as much original as possible,” said Wendy Faldowski, vice chairwoman of the Sinclair Theatre Restoration Committee and the town’s assistant treasurer.
Parco
Sinclair used to be called Parco, which stands for Producers and Refiners Corp. The refinery company owned the town from the time it built it in 1924 until the late 1960s.
Parco built the theater and other buildings in town with masonry and beige stucco in a distinct Spanish style. Their roofs are covered with clay tiles. Arches that are prominent in Spanish Colonial architecture serve as doorways.
It was a vibrant little community in the first decades, said Leif Johansson, chairman of the restoration committee and a town councilman. There was a barber and a soda font.
“They had dances at the Parco Hotel,” Johansson said. “They had bands in the recreation hall, live bands then. They were things going on. They had a bowling alley. They had a coffee shop. They had a little grocery store.”
Johansson dated the town’s decline to 1970, when Interstate 80 opened and rerouted traffic just south of Sinclair. Traffic had previously passed through downtown on the portion of U.S. 30, known as the Lincoln Highway.
Like the old movie theater, the other buildings are still there, with different occupiers.
Culture
Today, the town has about 500 residents, many of whom are family members looking for entertainment. There is no place in Sinclair to catch a flick.
For live performances, people travel to Casper, Denver or Laramie.
The restoration committee wants to show second-run movies on the silver screen. Raise the screen, and community and professional groups could perform on the sage.
They believe the restored movie theater will be visited by Sinclair residents, and residents in Rawlins and other nearby Carbon County communities, since there aren’t many movie theaters or playhouses around.
“The town will maintain the building so we can offer activities at a discount rate,” Johansson said. “That way, no one will have to worry about profits.”
Brandon Taylor, a renovation committee member, performed as a professional stage actor in New York and California for six years before returning to the area to raise a family. A local theater company he’s involved with, Upllift Community Players, wants to perform in a small, intimate space like the Sinclair Theater.
Live performances to Carbon County currently play at Rawlins High School, which has an auditorium that seats 1,000, Taylor said.
Taylor’s wife is a classically trained ballerina who owns a dance studio. Its production of “The Nutcracker” each year that could also use the facility, he said. “Anybody culturally who wants to come in and do a production, it would be a space,” he said. “It would be a stage with some seats, something that’s hard to come by, and a very cool and interesting space.”
Restoration
Restoration of the theater will cost more than $3 million and take two years, Taylor said.
The committee has launched a GoFundMe page to accept donations for the project. It will try to obtain state and local grants.
It needs bathrooms and other features that can be accessible to patrons in wheelchairs. The committee wants to move the ticket booth and concession stand to other parts of the building. The theater needs asbestos abatement and a modern film projection system.
Quality of life
Communities throughout Wyoming are upgrading their downtowns to draw more people and nightlife and enhance residents’ quality of life, and Sinclair is no exception.
“We’ve wanted to do a Main Street like all the big towns are doing, and our Main Street goes from the end of the refinery all the way to 10th (Street),” Faldowski said.
The town has finished restoring a fountain on the plaza and a pavilion in the city park. It moved an old Union Pacific caboose in the town park and will build a deck in front of it to draw live, outdoor concerts, Johansson said.
Work on the theater is next, and it could be the upgrade that will entice people to leave their homes and go downtown, like people did last century.
“It’s unique,” Taylor said. “You don’t see many theaters like this.”
The only two names this theatre has had is Liberty Bell Theatre and later became the Fox Theatre when it was taken over by the Fox Theatre Circuit on August 1st, 1935.
The Internarional Ammusement Company (under ownership of Henry Goodridge) purchased a lot on the northwest corner of 6th and Harrison Avenue in 1917 for $5,000. The property was occupied by a two-story frame building that was occupied by a tailor and a grocery store. The site was chosen because of the natural slope of the lot, making it perfect for a theatre. They demolished this and began construction on the theatre which opened on January 5th, 1919. Stock certificates were sold to locals prior to the opening. Leadville was chosen because of the large number of compny stockholders living in that town.
It was a two-story brick structure that was 36 x 124 feet. It boasted being fireproof as well as possessing modern heating, lighting and ventilation systems. Construction was completed at the cost of $25,000.
The Liberty Bell did house the occasional stage show, such French master violinist Josef D'Harvarda for one week in March of 1919 when he performed for sold out houses each night.
The Tabor Opera House was located right across the street and also served as a movie theater from the teens through roughly the 1950s. I have heard tales about how the two venues (Tabor and Liberty Bell/Fox) often shared a projectionist who kept busy running across the street throughout the night.
Also, this theatre was NEVER damaged, demolished, closed or anything else of the sort because of fire. It did make a firefly place in history when on June 29th, 1942, theatre employees were burning trash behind the theatre & not properly supervising it causing Boytom’s Garage next door to catch fire and suffer extensive damage. The theatre refused to pay for the damage and when the garage owners sued, the judge ruled on the theatre’s favor.
The Liberty Bell/Fox closed in 1963 due to the 44 year old theatre needing extensive repairs and becoming too expensive to maintain. The Lake County Commissioners purchased the building hoping to put their offices in it but upon receiving bids discovered it would be more cost effective to build a new structure and ended up demolishing it and subsequently putting a parking on the site.
It also was NEVER known as the “New Fox”-that was a completely different venue (which did meet its fate thru an arson fire).
I could be wrong but I’ve never heard this theatre called just the Cinema De Aurora. Cinema Latino de Aurora is what it’s called. It’s also been the Super Saver 8 as well as the Aurora 8.
The years and info given by Joe Virgil are spot on. I’d also like to add that it was allegedly demolished in 2000 as well.
Circa 1952
As promised above, here is the obituary for Mr. Marriage:
Donald O. Marriage, Sr., 87, of Loveland passed away on October 24, 2015. Don was born on March 22, 1928 in Whitetail, MT to Roland and Rose Marriage. He married Betty “B.J.” Williams on December 18, 1948 in Bozeman, MT. Work took Don all over the states including Southern California. He has been a resident in Colorado since 1970. Don worked at Hughes Aircraft Company for over 35 years where he served as an Aerospace Engineer, retiring in the late 90’s. He served on the Rialto Guild and Restoration Society. Don served proudly in the US Navy during World War II and Korea. He loved the theater and golfing. Don is survived by his wife of 67 years, B.J.; son Donald O. (Lynn) Marriage of Thornton, CO; daughter Susan (David) Hanken of Webster City, IA; 5 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Graveside Service 2:00pm Monday, November 2, 2015 at Loveland Burial Park. Please view the online obituary, send condolences and sign the family guest book at www.allnutt.com.
MEMORIES FROM A FRIEND
Don Marriage’s love of theater began when he was young. His first job at age 15 was as an usher in a movie theater and he worked his way through college as a projectionist. He continued to work with theaters in various capacities during his career with the Navy. While serving at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, Don managed a 1,500 seat theater and provided technical support to fifteen Navy theaters in his spare time.
Don is a two-time Navy veteran having served in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. When his military service was completed, Don went back to graduate school and then worked for Hughes Aircraft “a great company” for 36 years. He brought an innovative defense program to Colorado in 1970. Don retired in 1989 and moved to Loveland in 1993.
One of the first things Don did upon arriving in Loveland was join the Friends of the Rialto and participate in their efforts to renovate and revitalize the historic downtown theater. That goal was accomplished in 1996. When the city agreed to take over the management of the theater in 1998, Don and some of his colleagues formed the Rialto Theater Guild, a group dedicated to the continued refurbishing and upgrading of the building, the fixtures, and equipment. Don served as the first president of the Guild and he has continued to serve on the board as either an active or ex-officio member ever since.
Gibraltar Enterprises Inc. should be added as a previous operator
Gibraltar Enterprises should be added as a previous owner
One source claims the Majestic (later, Rialto) opened in 1910
Barring the possibility of a typo, this ozoner’s name may have had an alternate spelling of:
Park Drive Inn Theatre
See the photos I’ve just posted of an old promotional matchbook (the green colored one) on which the theatre’s name is printed with the aforementioned spelling:–
EDITOR: please change “fromt” (a typo) to “front”
The Dickey-Springer American Legion Post No. 113 was built in 1925 and was also the Rialto Theater. U.S. Vice-President Charles G. Dawes came to Alamosa to lay the cornerstone. Two years later, the building was leased and eventually sold to former Mayor Everett Cole, who elaborately refurbished the interior, complete with a crystal chandelier. Cole added the Rialto’s landmark neon sign in the 1930s. It became a movie house seating around 1000 which also featured live entertainment. By the 1940’s, seating had been reduced to a little over 500. An ornate $15,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ was built especially for the theater and used during silent films. Into the 1970s, the theater manager Joe Brite played the organ at the movies. Brite was robbed and beaten severely at the theater in September 1974 and died several days later. Robert Andrew Lucero lll, 17, pled guilty to a reduced charge of second degree murder of Mr. Brite. He was originally charged with first degree murder and had pled not guilty by reason of insanity. There was a court change of venue to La Junta from Alamosa.
His last name is correctly spelled “Brite”-NOT Bright as I put when uploading the pic. Can someone from CT please correct the spelling on the actual caption for me?
I’m not sure whether the technological marvel called autocorrect or my own advanced state of exhaustion-induced dementia I seem to be suffering from after a hectic week is to blame. Seeing as something in my subconscious caused me to have a distinct epiphany to revisit this photo for the sole purpose of checkkng my spelling of his name, I tend to think it’s 50/50 🙄
COSIE AND MYRTLE BLANCHARD When Cosie and Myrtle Blanchard. citizens of Eagle. Cass County. Nebraska, were married in 1902. land in that part ot the country was becoming hard to obtain. They therefore decided to follow the time-honored practice and go west. They arrived in Wray. Colorado, on the seventh day of November, 1904, and moved to a homestead, eleven miles southwest of Vernon. Cosie had previously bought the preemption rights of Fritz Schlodrick. Their home was a one-room rock house that had been built by Mr. Schlodrick. One quarter of land and a few cattle that were pastured on free range did not furnish the best of living; so they sold out and moved to Wray in 1908. Cosie bought a livery barn on the north-east corner of Second and Main Streets and a house across the alley on Second Street. It was in this house that their two daughters, Geneva Jo and Juanita L. were born. Being in the livery business, Cosie was often called on to take newcomers to look at land that was for sale; thus he became interested in the real-estate business. In 1910 he entered into partnership with W. C. Proctor and devoted most of his time to the real-estate business. He owned various other businesses, including a confec- tionery in Wray and a drug store in Vernon. He devoted the rest of his life to selling and developing real-estate. In 1920 he built the theatre and hotel building on Third Street, first known as the Tyo Theatre and Hotel, but later as the Wray Theatre and the Blanchard Hotel. Through the years Cosie Blanchard became a highly-respected citizen of the area. He was a friend to all who knew him and a man, generous with both his time and money. Many a person in need when attending a farm sale found himself taking home a horse or a cow paid for by Cosie Blanchard. Some paid him back, many did not. Cosie Blanchard passed away on April 16, 1927 at the early age of forty-eight years. Myrtle Anna Blanchard, Cosie’s partner in all enterprises, was a very industrious and strong-willed person. She was an expert seamstress, having been taught by her father, a tailor from Berlin, Germany, area. She was a dressmaker for many years for a large number of the female population of the Wray Community. In 1932, during the depression, when many businesses were failing, she took over the management of the Blanchard Hotel and by determination and hard work soon had it on a paying basis. On April 21, 1943, she was married to Ivan Ashlock. She operated the hotel until 1945 when she retired. Mr. Ashlock died in June, 1966; and Myrtle, on August 2, 1974, at the age of 84. We of the family feel a great debt of gratitude not only to Cosie and Myrtle Blanchard but to all those whose courage, sacrifices, and toil made this section of the High Plains the best place on earth to live. By Ward A. Tomlinson. A HISTORY OF EAST YUMA COUNTY This is a collection of general history and family histories of East Yuma County from 1868 through 1978.
Local Theatre Man Found Dead At Room Monday
Stuart L. Tyo Found Dead From Heart Attack In Room At Tyo Hotel
Stuart L. Tyo, Wray theatre man and widely known in this section, was found dead in his room adjoining the entrance to the Tyo Theatre in the Tyo hotel in Wral Monday evening. The discovery of Mr. Tyo was made at about fifteen minutes to nine that evening when his mother, Mrs. B. A. Tyo, sent Mrs. Bill Foster, wife of the operator of the Tyo, to call him. Mrs. Tyo had become alarmed at the fact that he had not been up that day. Mr. Tyo was in bed and had apparently passed away in while asleep. There was no indication that he had suffered. A physician was called and death was pronounced due to heart failure. There had been no indication that Mr. Tyo had not been in good health, and his death came as a shock to his family and friends.
Funeral services were held from the J. H. Kearns residence in Wray on Wednesday at 2 o'clock, with Dr. C. E. Powell in charge of the services. The American Legion had charge of the burial service at Grandview cemetery.
Stuart L. Tyo was born on July 10, 1891, at Fort Covington, N. Y. and passed away at Wray, Colo., on June 27, 1932, age 40 years, 11 months and 17 days. His father died when he was but a youngster and he came to Denver, Colo., with his mother and sister. On May 10, 1918, he enlisted with the 8th Infantry and served in the U.S. Army until he was honorably discharged on July 24, 1919. He was eight months of service in France during that time. He came to Wray with his mother in 1921 and was associated with her in the hotel and theatre business here since that time. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Blanche A. Tyo, by his sister, Mrs. J. H. Kearns; three nehews, Jack Dick and Lee Kearns and a neice Betty Kearns, besides and uncle Joseph Tyo and an anut, Mrs. Larry Lynch, of Fort Covington, N. Y.
He was widely known through his hotel and theatre activities. He posessed a generous and friendly nature that made him many friends to whom his passing will be a regrettable shock.
The sympathy of many friends is extended to the bereaved family. ( Note: Spelled per the original. )
Here is the obituary for Mrs. Blanche A. Tyo who owned and operated the theatre from about 1921-1932
Funeral Service Held Saturday For Mrs. Tyo
Hundreds Paid Respect To Widely Known Wray Business Woman Who Expired Thursday
Funeral services for Mrs. Blanche A. Tyo, widely known Wray business woman, who died suddenly at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. H. Kearns, in Wray last Thursday morning, were held from the Kearns home Saturday afternoon and hundreds paid their final respects to this unusual woman who had been an outstanding figure in the business life of Wray for the past thirteen years. Rev. C. E. Powell, pastor of the Presbyterian church, where Mrs. Tyo attended services gave the funeral address. A great quantity of flowers attested to the respect that her business and social contacts had won her in the community.
Mrs. Tyo came to Wray thirteen years ago to operate the Tyo theatre and hotel in the Blanchard building which had just been completed. She continued to operate these businesses until about two years ago when she gave up her lease on the building following the death of her son, Stuart. She also acquired the management of the Commercial hotel in Wray and inaugurated the Tyo coffee shop as part of the hotel service. She was still operating the Commercial hotel at the time of her death.
Blanche A. Tyo, daughter of Osro and Mary Towner, was born in Northeast, Penn., March 10, 1872. She departed this life March 15, 1934, at the age of 62 years and five days. She was preceeded in death by her father and mother and two brothers. At the age of 18, she was married to Daniel A. Tyo of Fort Covington, N.Y. To this union two children were born, one son, Stuart L. who preceded his mother in death on June 27, 1932 and a daughter, Mrs. J. H. Kearns of Wray, Colo. Besides her daughter, she is survived by four grandchildren, John T., Richard K., Lee M., and Betty B. Kearns.
Photo courtesy of Chris Willman
Does anyone have any idea what this is?
Looks like there is a typo: “entrants” should be entrance. Can someone change this for me Please?
Still listed in the 1954 edition but as only seating 200
Was also known as the Caste Theatre
Another article from the November 30th, 2014 edition of the Rawlins Daily Times
Revitalize Sinclair eyes restoration of downtown parks, trees, theater By DAVID LOUIS Rawlins Daily Times Nov 30, 20
SINCLAIR — A revitalization is sweeping through historic downtown Sinclair. Fast on the heels of this summer’s project to revive Kistler’s Fountain after more than 60 years, town officials have set their sights on more improvements.
Next to be completed by the end of the year or early 2015 — depending on the weather — is a new pavilion in Washington Park.
The new, larger pavilion will replace one that has never been functional, said Lezlee Musgrave, Sinclair town clerk and treasurer.
“Before, we had a small pavilion that only a couple of picnic tables could fit under,” Musgrave said. “With the new one, we will be able to fit up to 88 people under it. The pavilion is going to be a really great improvement to our park.”
Along with increased capacity, the pavilion will also include a counter top with electrical outlets.
“We have a lot of residents and nonresidents who reserve our park for family reunions, picnics, graduation ceremonies, things like that,” Musgrave said. “We wanted to make it more user-friendly.”
Along with sprucing up the town’s historic plaza, city officials have also continued work on several beautification projects, including urban forestation.
Sinclair has had the distinction of being a Tree City USA town for the past three years.
The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.
Participating communities demonstrate a commitment to caring for and managing their public trees. Together, the more than 3,400 Tree City USA communities are home to more than 135 million Americans.
“When (Parco) was built in the 1920s, there were so many trees planted,” Musgrave said. “Most of them were cottonwood. Now they are very old. Every year, we go through town and cut down the dangerous or dead trees and replace them with different types of trees to give the town a unique look.”
On the horizon, Sinclair officials will soon turn their attention to restoring the 1924 town theater.
Though the theater has been used over the years to host town functions, no films have graced a silver screen since the early 1960s, said Town Councilman Leif Johansson.
“In 1970, the town tried to reopen it as a theater, and that didn’t go over too well. It has been closed ever since,” Johansson added.
In its heyday, the theater would have been an interior designer’s dream with its Spanish motif, hand-painted walls, art deco fixtures, leather-covered seats and deep-pile carpeting.
“It is still pretty much all original,” Johansson said. “Everything is pretty much as you would have seen it in the 1920s.”
The theater is one of the few buildings still owned by the city.
“As far as renovating the theater goes, we’ve really only just started raising the money,” Johansson said. “We are looking at keeping it as original as possible and keeping it a town building and community theater.”
The remodeling work will include replacement of the electrical wiring, plumbing, stucco and fascia work, asbestos removal and relocation of the ticket booth to its original placement in front of the theater.
The majority of the funding needed to complete the work will come from community business grants, said Wendy Faldowski, Sinclair’s assistant treasurer.
“We are going to look into a community business grant for planning and design,” Faldowski said. “This will help us put the design together as well as take care of structure, engineering and environmental concerns.”
Sinclair officials expect construction to begin sometime next year.
Here’s an excellent article from the March 22nd, 2015 edition of the Casper Star-Tribune about the theatre.
Town Sinclair hopes old will become new again at theater Project is part of town revitalization
By LAURA HANCOCK Star-Tribune staff writer Mar 22, 2015
SINCLAIR – In the lobby of the old movie theater, it’s drafty. The plaster is peeling. There is a tricycle, a kiddie kitchen and other items stored by the town’s recreation center.
But take a few steps further into the seating area, and community members will talk about the potential.
The 312 varnished wooden seats. The stage from which to drop a screen. The bright, hand-painted flourishes and geometric designs on the walls that match the building’s Spanish Colonial-style architecture.
No one has watched a show at the Sinclair Theatre, built in 1924, since the 1970s.
But the community, which most people identify by its oil refinery, craves an artistic renaissance. They want to restore the theater. The project is part of a larger, ongoing effort to revitalize downtown by tapping into the past to create a richer Main Street.
“We’re going back to as much original as possible,” said Wendy Faldowski, vice chairwoman of the Sinclair Theatre Restoration Committee and the town’s assistant treasurer.
Parco
Sinclair used to be called Parco, which stands for Producers and Refiners Corp. The refinery company owned the town from the time it built it in 1924 until the late 1960s.
Parco built the theater and other buildings in town with masonry and beige stucco in a distinct Spanish style. Their roofs are covered with clay tiles. Arches that are prominent in Spanish Colonial architecture serve as doorways. It was a vibrant little community in the first decades, said Leif Johansson, chairman of the restoration committee and a town councilman. There was a barber and a soda font.
“They had dances at the Parco Hotel,” Johansson said. “They had bands in the recreation hall, live bands then. They were things going on. They had a bowling alley. They had a coffee shop. They had a little grocery store.”
Johansson dated the town’s decline to 1970, when Interstate 80 opened and rerouted traffic just south of Sinclair. Traffic had previously passed through downtown on the portion of U.S. 30, known as the Lincoln Highway.
Like the old movie theater, the other buildings are still there, with different occupiers.
Culture
Today, the town has about 500 residents, many of whom are family members looking for entertainment. There is no place in Sinclair to catch a flick.
For live performances, people travel to Casper, Denver or Laramie.
The restoration committee wants to show second-run movies on the silver screen. Raise the screen, and community and professional groups could perform on the sage.
They believe the restored movie theater will be visited by Sinclair residents, and residents in Rawlins and other nearby Carbon County communities, since there aren’t many movie theaters or playhouses around.
“The town will maintain the building so we can offer activities at a discount rate,” Johansson said. “That way, no one will have to worry about profits.”
Brandon Taylor, a renovation committee member, performed as a professional stage actor in New York and California for six years before returning to the area to raise a family. A local theater company he’s involved with, Upllift Community Players, wants to perform in a small, intimate space like the Sinclair Theater.
Live performances to Carbon County currently play at Rawlins High School, which has an auditorium that seats 1,000, Taylor said.
Taylor’s wife is a classically trained ballerina who owns a dance studio. Its production of “The Nutcracker” each year that could also use the facility, he said. “Anybody culturally who wants to come in and do a production, it would be a space,” he said. “It would be a stage with some seats, something that’s hard to come by, and a very cool and interesting space.”
Restoration
Restoration of the theater will cost more than $3 million and take two years, Taylor said.
The committee has launched a GoFundMe page to accept donations for the project. It will try to obtain state and local grants.
It needs bathrooms and other features that can be accessible to patrons in wheelchairs. The committee wants to move the ticket booth and concession stand to other parts of the building. The theater needs asbestos abatement and a modern film projection system.
Quality of life
Communities throughout Wyoming are upgrading their downtowns to draw more people and nightlife and enhance residents’ quality of life, and Sinclair is no exception.
“We’ve wanted to do a Main Street like all the big towns are doing, and our Main Street goes from the end of the refinery all the way to 10th (Street),” Faldowski said.
The town has finished restoring a fountain on the plaza and a pavilion in the city park. It moved an old Union Pacific caboose in the town park and will build a deck in front of it to draw live, outdoor concerts, Johansson said.
Work on the theater is next, and it could be the upgrade that will entice people to leave their homes and go downtown, like people did last century.
“It’s unique,” Taylor said. “You don’t see many theaters like this.”
The only two names this theatre has had is Liberty Bell Theatre and later became the Fox Theatre when it was taken over by the Fox Theatre Circuit on August 1st, 1935.
The Internarional Ammusement Company (under ownership of Henry Goodridge) purchased a lot on the northwest corner of 6th and Harrison Avenue in 1917 for $5,000. The property was occupied by a two-story frame building that was occupied by a tailor and a grocery store. The site was chosen because of the natural slope of the lot, making it perfect for a theatre. They demolished this and began construction on the theatre which opened on January 5th, 1919. Stock certificates were sold to locals prior to the opening. Leadville was chosen because of the large number of compny stockholders living in that town. It was a two-story brick structure that was 36 x 124 feet. It boasted being fireproof as well as possessing modern heating, lighting and ventilation systems. Construction was completed at the cost of $25,000.
The Liberty Bell did house the occasional stage show, such French master violinist Josef D'Harvarda for one week in March of 1919 when he performed for sold out houses each night.
The Tabor Opera House was located right across the street and also served as a movie theater from the teens through roughly the 1950s. I have heard tales about how the two venues (Tabor and Liberty Bell/Fox) often shared a projectionist who kept busy running across the street throughout the night.
Also, this theatre was NEVER damaged, demolished, closed or anything else of the sort because of fire. It did make a firefly place in history when on June 29th, 1942, theatre employees were burning trash behind the theatre & not properly supervising it causing Boytom’s Garage next door to catch fire and suffer extensive damage. The theatre refused to pay for the damage and when the garage owners sued, the judge ruled on the theatre’s favor.
The Liberty Bell/Fox closed in 1963 due to the 44 year old theatre needing extensive repairs and becoming too expensive to maintain. The Lake County Commissioners purchased the building hoping to put their offices in it but upon receiving bids discovered it would be more cost effective to build a new structure and ended up demolishing it and subsequently putting a parking on the site.
It also was NEVER known as the “New Fox”-that was a completely different venue (which did meet its fate thru an arson fire).
Location was:
3950 N Academy Blvd Colorado Springs CO 80917
I could be wrong but I’ve never heard this theatre called just the Cinema De Aurora. Cinema Latino de Aurora is what it’s called. It’s also been the Super Saver 8 as well as the Aurora 8.
Buckingham Village 6 was the theatre’s actual name
Sadly, this theatre closed at some point after April of 2014.