Since many were interested in the story yesterday about the Long Theatre, I found this story from 2007 about the drive-in in Guymon.
Editor’s Note: The following article was taken from the memories of Ferol Riggs, Betty Aaron and Billie Grabeal, daughters of the late Lewis and Sylvia Long.
Written by Kristi (Grabeal) Hayes
Lewis W. (Bill) and Sylvia Long brought a little piece of Hollywood to the small Oklahoma town of Guymon by building a drive-in theatre. The theatre may no longer exist but the memories entrenched in the lives of their families and community will live on forever.
During the year 1929, Bill Reese, who lived in Plains, Kan., bought a farm at Eva, Okla. He asked Lewis and Sylvia Long to move on the farm and they continued to reside there until 1939 when they purchased five quarters of land a few miles west on the Texas, Cimarron county line.
The couple engaged in farming and ranching and Bill got the idea to build a movie theatre in Keyes. The opening date was May 31, 1947.
Lewis heard about the “new thing” happening across the country in the form of drive-in theaters and thus the 54 Drive-In Theatre was built. It was almost unthinkable that you could come to a place where you watched a movie in your car and even wore what you wanted to.
Lewis purchased 13 acres of land from Henry Hitch on Highway 54 in Guymon (behind Standard Supply today) and construction began in 1948.
The area was large enough to accommodate 600 cars, a solid concrete screen tower of 100 feet tall, ticket booth, projection room and concession stand. As with most construction projects, there was still some things that needed to be finalized when the theatre was opened for business on Oct. 28, 1948.
The 54 Drive-In Theatre was the first drive-in to be built west of Oklahoma City.
Opening night was a tremendous success as people drove from all over the Oklahoma Panhandle, Texas Panhandle and southwest Kansas.
Free popcorn was given to the movie goers that night. When all was said and done that night a 100-pound sack of corn was used to accommodate all the popcorn requests.
In the beginning, admission for adults was $1 and $.25 for children. Popcorn sold for $.10 and soft drinks were $.25.
Popular soft drinks during the era included six-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola, 7 Up, Dr. Pepper, Grape, Strawberry, Orange and Root Beer.
The theatre was also well-known for its food at the concession stand. Some of the most popular items included barbecue, which was homemade for years, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, chili dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches.
It was nothing unusual for families to come out, especially on Sundays, to eat supper at the drive-in.
The bigger movies were played Sunday through Wednesday. Double features were shown on the weekends.
Thursdays were set aside for $1 car night. Anywhere from 12 to 15 people would pack into a car, including the hood and trunk, to get into the theatre.
Lewis always said that the lost admission prices were made up from the concession stand.
Regardless of the low ticket prices some people would try and sneak in from the side and back.
Most of them were usually caught by an usher, typically from Charles Rogers, and he would take them to Lewis. Most of the time Lewis would go ahead and let them stay and watch the remainder of the movie.
Saturday and Sunday nights were also big attractions at the theatre. It was no surprise to see cars lined up as far as what is now the Townsman Motel.
One of the largest crowds was at the showing of “Prince of Peace.”
Each night the program at the drive-in consisted of a news reel, cartoons, coming attractions and the main feature.
Westerns were some of the most popular movies shown at the time. Other favorites included “The Ten Commandments,” “Greatest Show on Earth,” “Gone With the Wind,” “Giant,” and “From Here to Eternity.”
The 54 Drive-In Theatre played host to massive fireworks displays every Fourth of July. The display was set up between the projection booth and screen tower.
Expansion Needed
When cinemascope began in approximately 1952, it was necessary to widen the screen tower. At this time the concession stand was also remodeled to twice its original size.
A sno-cone machine was also purchased.
Blocks of ice were purchased from the ice plant and wrapped in burlap sacks. The ice would stay frozen through much of the evening. It was nothing each night to grind some 300 pounds of ice.
Sno-cone prices were $.25 and best-sellers included blueberry, strawberry, orange, grape, lime and a “suicide” which included all flavors.
To enable the theatre to stay open during winter, a glassed-front building was constructed to accommodate about 200 people. Lewis always referred to this building as “the bullpen.”
A few years later this building caught fire and was totally demolished. It was suspected that some college kids were trying to smoke and consequently caused the fire.
People also had a hard time occasionally when they would start their cars before leaving. Lewis rigged up a small tractor with a big metal guard on the front and would give the cars a starter push.
Countless speakers were also stolen or damaged as many people stole the speakers to use in their cars.
Robbery Victims
Owning a successful business, however, also meant Lewis and Sylvia also had to deal with crime.
During the summer of 1953, Lewis and Leonard Matzek were visiting in the ticket booth when a lone gunman opened the door and pulled out a German pistol. After taking their money, he made the two get into the car and took them hostage. He took them out on a road east of the cemetery. He used duct tape on their legs, hands and mouth and made them lie down on the road.
He then got into the car, backed it up about 100 feet and drove towards the two hostages, intending to run over them. Getting within 10 feet of them, he slammed on the brakes and drove around the two men.
He got out of his car and said, “Bill, I can’t do it. You will find your car near the drive-in.”
The car was eventually found at the Knutson Elevator.
Little did the gunman know that Betty, the middle child of Lewis and Sylvia, was sitting in her car and witnessed the event. As soon as they drove off she went inside the booth and called the police. They searched several hours in the area before finally locating the hostages, who had managed to remove the duct tape and started walking back towards the drive-in.
Although both men escaped without injury, the robber was never found.
Sylvia also had a string of back luck.
A few years later, another gunman robbed Sylvia as she was selling tickets. She was not taken as a hostage, but had to be taken to the hospital for stress and shock. The robber was never found and Sylvia refused to sit in the ticket booth afterwards.
One summer night after a rain shower, Sylvia was sitting in the car watching a movie. Unaware, she laid her arm on top of the speaker when lighting struck the speaker post and went through her. She was hospitalized for three days but luckily suffered no lasting effects. Lewis said when the lightning hit he thought the car was going to explode because it was so bright.
Change of Times
In 1957, the drive-in was leased for five years to Everette Mahaney until 1962. During 1965 it was reopened and Rex and Billie Grabeal managed it. Both were working full-time jobs at the time at the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant and at First National Bank and would run the theatre at night.
In 1968, Lewis purchased the American Theatre in downtown Guymon from Clem Funk. John McConnell eventually leased the downtown theatre and immediately made it into a double screen.
After the theatre purchase on Main Street, the drive-in closed down during the winter months.
By this time televisions were in almost every home in Guymon and the movie business declined because people started staying home and watching shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza,” “Rawhide,” “I Love Lucy,” “Jackie Gleeson,” “Red Skelton,” “Dragnet,” “Ed Sullivan,” “Andy Griffith” and more.
At the end of the lease at the downtown theatre, the front part of the building was converted into “The Sweet Shop,” which served several flavors of ice cream, malts, shakes, sundaes, sandwiches and broasted chicken in January 1976.
After the business was closed in 1982 the building was sold to the Guymon Community Theatre group.
Lewis and Sylvia continued to operate the Long Theatre in Keyes until his death in April of 1973 from stroke and aneurysm complications. Lewis spent some 26 years in the theatre business and left a legacy in Guymon.
Following his death, the drive-in was completely shut down in 1974. Shortly thereafter the screen tower and concession stand were demolished, with plans for future building of an apartment complex. Later, the land was sold to a development company out of Kansas.
The Long Theatre in Keyes continued to run until 1978-79.
Sylvia’s health eventually forced her to move to Cheyenne, Wy. with her daughter, Betty. She eventually moved back to Guymon and had an apartment at Hotel Dale and took care of her youngest granddaughter, Kristi. She died in January of 1980 from congestive heart failure.
Today, nothing remains to indicate the property was once the location of a drive-in theatre, but it was a part of the early days in the development of Statehood and the Oklahoma Panhandle.
Over the years many people have remembered the good times they shared, how they used to sneak in, how they stole speakers and watched movies in their pajamas.
As Lewis used to always say, “Rain, snow, sleet or shine … the show must go on.”
—————
It is difficult to remember the many people who worked in the drive-in but a few of them were Leonard Matzek, Charles and Nell Rogers, Cleo and Joan Sturdivan, Acey Bridges, Dud and Kappy Smith, Dean and Nida Huckins, Ronnie and Shirley Huckins, Juanita Quesenbury-Quinn, Linda Quesenbury, Kenny Huckins (who was eight to nine years old at the time), Jo Unruh, Shirley Talcott, Wynona Greer, Dalton Freeman, Darrell Gann and Bryon Holder.
Editor’s Note: The following story was compiled from the memories and journals of Bill and Sylvia Long’s children, Ferol Riggs, the late Betty Aaron and Billie Grabeal. The story was written by Kristi Grabeal Hayes, granddaughter of the late Bill and Sylvia Long.
KEYES, Okla. — Lewis W. “Bill” Long lived the American dream and wanted a better life for his wife Sylvia and daughters Ferol, Betty and Billie and brought a small piece of Hollywood to the tiny Oklahoma Panhandle town of Keyes. The old, abandoned Long Theatre that sits quietly on Fourth Street and Polk Avenue is undergoing some major repairs with the hopes it will once again delight movie-goers of all ages, thanks to the hard work and determination of owner Blake Wells.
You can even get a sneak peak of what to expect in the future at the theatre on Saturday, July 7 when the Long Theatre will shine once again … but more on that later.
The Early Years
In early fall of 1946, an unexpected early blizzard hit the Oklahoma Panhandle, killing 175 head of newly-purchased cattle. It was then that Bill Long realized that farming and cattle raising was not the only way of life.
Oldest daughter Ferol Riggs said, “We were living on the farm 15 miles esat of Keyes when dad began pondering the idea of opening a theatre in Keyes. I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Keyes was a growing town out in the middle of nowhere. They were building a huge helium plant northeast of town. The oil companies were drilling for oil and gas wells everywhere,” said Ferol.
“People began moving to Keyes to work. Dad was looking to build there because it was growing so fast. I remember in the summer of 1945 or 1946 dad, mom, Betty and I went to Oklahoma City. Dad was looking for a place to buy the bricks for the theatre. We looked at several places and dad finally made a deal with one of the places to buy the brick for the theatre. We made other trips to Oklahoma City to buy different things he needed.”
With much anticipation the 422-seat theatre opened on Memorial Day of 1947 and was named the Long Theatre.
The first movie was “Trail Street” starring Randolph Scott. Adult tickets sold for $.50, children for $.25 and a sack of popcorn sold for $.10. The theatre sold over 100 pounds of popcorn on opening night.
One unique feature of the Long Theatre was the “cry room.” This room permitted parents to take their crying babies into the little room and it enabled them to continue to see and hear the movies without disturbing other viewers. Many other theatre owners in various parts of the country came to see the Long Theatre and added this feature to their own theatres.
On the north side of the building was a little sandwich and ice cream shop, known as The Sweet Shop. Sylvia, and later Ferol, managed the shop and several high school girls worked there.
Some of the biggest events at the Long Theatre was the personal appearance of Monte Hale, a western movie star, who performed on stage. Rex Allen and his horse Coco also made a stop at the theatre.
Bill further etched his place in history and opened the 54 Drive-In Theatre in Guymon in October of 1948. This was a marvel to the Panhandle as this was the first drive-in theatre to be built in this part of the country.
Bill stayed in Guymon to operate the drive-in. Daughter Betty drove each night to manage the concession stand, driving a car that she purchased with her popcorn money.
Sylvia and Billie moved to Guymon in November of 1949 and Betty remained in Keyes to manage the theatre.
When Betty went off to college in September of 1950, Bill and Valarie Miller were employed to manage the theatre. After Betty graduated she returned home and took over management.
Leaving the City
In 1957, Bill, Sylvia and Billie moved from Guymon to Keyes and operated the theatre. Billie became the popcorn seller until she married Rex Grabeal in 1964. Bill and Sylvia operated the theatre until his death in 1973.
Billie remembers when her parents announced they were moving to Keyes. “I was so upset with them because they were taking me away from everything … my friends, dance classes, piano classes. My life as I knew it was gone,” said Billie. “I guess my parents knew what they were doing because it later turned out to be the happiest and best part of my life. I have so many special memories of a place that will forever be very close and dear to my heart.”
“I don’t know how my dad managed to do everything he did. He would get up, get everything ready for the evening showing, eat breakfast and then head out to the farm. He wouldn’t get back until at least 5:30 p.m. and would then work at the theatre. He was an incredible man and I never heard him complain about working so much. He was doing what he loved and loved bringing happiness to the community.”
Billie said he would have to travel to Oklahoma City to purchase the films and they were delivered by Beaver Express.
Living upstairs above the movie theatre was both good and bad.
“When I would wake up each morning I could still smell the aroma of the popcorn that we popped the night before. Instead of eating a normal breakfast like most people, I would run downstairs and grab a bag of popcorn and a Coke or candy bar before rushing off to school.”
“Going to school in Keyes was quite an adventure. I was a city girl. I had never played basketball before and played a musical instrument. In Guymon, girls weren’t allowed to play sports. That all changed when I moved to Keyes. Living in a small town was so different. You knew everyone and I got to meet so many people that came to the movie theatre.”
Billie said she loved living above the theatre and enjoyed spending time with her cousins, nieces, nephew and friends. “Sometimes we took our shoes off and walked on the arms of the chairs and used to have bike races up and down the aisles. We would also play hide-and-seek in the dark theatre. That was very scary sometimes”
Billie said movies were such a big deal in the 1950s and up. “Before TV, families came together and enjoyed a night out. Life was so simple back then.”
Billie said the most memorable movies were “The Ten Commandments,” “Ben Hur,” “Gone With the Wind,” all of the John Wayne movies and several others. “The westerns, biblical and war movies always drew a huge crowd. I remember dad brought back ‘Gone With the Wind’ at least three different times and we always had huge crowds.”
“How I miss those special, innocent times growing up. I was so fortunate to have lived the life I had. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Thank you to the entire community of Keyes for letting a city girl be a part of a wonderful community that I will always call home,” said Billie.
Fond Memories
Granddaughters Wanda Oswald, Wilma Nelson, Rose Marsh and Brenda Owens all have many fond memories of being inside the movie theatre.
“I have so many wonderful memories of the theatre. The sweeping, riding our bikes, walking on the arm rests in the dark, the smell of the popcorn and how Sylvia would walk down the aisles and pop people with her cane to keep their feet off the chairs,” said Wanda. “Others include watching Eddy Nash and others checking and splicing the film, sitting in the ticket booth with my grandfather and him showing me the importance of keeping the bills straight and facing the same direction.”
“I loved seeing the colorful neon light go on the marque letting people know the theatre was open,” said Wanda. “When my grandfather fell ill, my husband, Jim Oswald, and I, helped run the theatre for a short time. We learned so many things about the business at that time. For example, bids would be placed on movies in order to run them and the reels would be rewound and taken to Oklahoma City. It’s hard for me to really pick out one favorite memory because I have so many. I had the best grandparents anyone could ask for. The Long Theatre was truly my second home.”
“I remember that Punky (the nickname his grandchildren gave Bill) taught me how to roll the change. Another job I had was filling the coke and candy machine. I used to love to sit up by the sign and watch the teenagers drag main. Since I was the oldest grandchild, I nicknamed my grandparents Punky and Granny. That stuck with everyone,” said Wilma.
“My earliest memory is when I would spend the weekend with my sisters Wilma and Wanda and aunt Billie at the theatre. Being about five or six, I used to think the theatre was huge and spooky when it was dark. I loved playing with our dolls in the cry room and pretended selling show tickets in grandpa’s chair,” said Rose Alee.
“One Sunday while cleaning the theatre after church, I was cleaning the aisles and found a roll of money with a rubber band around it. I started yelling and waving it around. We had no clue how much money was there until Punky counted out $50. Punky told me it wasn’t my money and that he would put it in the ticket booth for two weeks to see if the person claimed it. Waiting was the hardest thing. After the two weeks, he said no one claimed it and gave it to me. I remember buying shoes for myself and my two sisters. Recently, I found out that the person did claim the money but my grandpa never told me. He was simply amazing. His teaching inspired me to teach my children and grandchildren patience and giving back what does not belong to you.”
Brenda said, “I remember visiting Punky and Granny at the theatre. They would always put us to work by cleaning the theatre. That place was a mess. Popcorn was everywhere and the floors were so sticky from all the spilled pop. We did get to keep any loose change we found. I know that often Punky would put his own money on the ground so we could find it. I’ll never forget the smell of that popcorn or the smell of Punky’s cigars burning upstairs in his office. He always has a cigar in his hand or pocket.”
“After their death, my family moved here. My mom (Betty Aaron) got the American Theatre going in Guymon so that was my job after school. I would work the ticket booth and the concession stand. I still had to sweep the aisles which was about as much fun as it was when I was younger,” said Brenda.
Later Years
Edelvis Hoch later operated the theatre under the supervision of Betty, who later moved back from Wyoming since Sylvia was in poor health. Sylvia died in 1980.
The Long family sold the Long Theatre in June of 1984 to Raymond Smalts. Mrs. Smalts donated the building to the City of Keyes. It has since been sold to Blake Wells, who has spent countless days and hours cleaning out the old theatre.
Also attempting to make his own mark on history, Wells is trying to refurbish the old theatre and has announced that an outdoor movie will be shown at the Long Theatre on Saturday, July 7 at 7 p.m.
Although there is no admission charge, a donation box will be set up and all proceeds will go towards community development in Keyes. The public is invited to attend the event.
As Bill used to always say, “Rain, snow, sleet or shine … the show must go on.”
A gofundme has been setup at https://www.facebook.com/184954942217755/posts/195453434501239/
https://www.facebook.com/184954942217755/posts/185203922192857/
Since many were interested in the story yesterday about the Long Theatre, I found this story from 2007 about the drive-in in Guymon.
Editor’s Note: The following article was taken from the memories of Ferol Riggs, Betty Aaron and Billie Grabeal, daughters of the late Lewis and Sylvia Long.
Written by Kristi (Grabeal) Hayes
Lewis W. (Bill) and Sylvia Long brought a little piece of Hollywood to the small Oklahoma town of Guymon by building a drive-in theatre. The theatre may no longer exist but the memories entrenched in the lives of their families and community will live on forever. During the year 1929, Bill Reese, who lived in Plains, Kan., bought a farm at Eva, Okla. He asked Lewis and Sylvia Long to move on the farm and they continued to reside there until 1939 when they purchased five quarters of land a few miles west on the Texas, Cimarron county line.
The couple engaged in farming and ranching and Bill got the idea to build a movie theatre in Keyes. The opening date was May 31, 1947. Lewis heard about the “new thing” happening across the country in the form of drive-in theaters and thus the 54 Drive-In Theatre was built. It was almost unthinkable that you could come to a place where you watched a movie in your car and even wore what you wanted to. Lewis purchased 13 acres of land from Henry Hitch on Highway 54 in Guymon (behind Standard Supply today) and construction began in 1948. The area was large enough to accommodate 600 cars, a solid concrete screen tower of 100 feet tall, ticket booth, projection room and concession stand. As with most construction projects, there was still some things that needed to be finalized when the theatre was opened for business on Oct. 28, 1948.
The 54 Drive-In Theatre was the first drive-in to be built west of Oklahoma City. Opening night was a tremendous success as people drove from all over the Oklahoma Panhandle, Texas Panhandle and southwest Kansas. Free popcorn was given to the movie goers that night. When all was said and done that night a 100-pound sack of corn was used to accommodate all the popcorn requests. In the beginning, admission for adults was $1 and $.25 for children. Popcorn sold for $.10 and soft drinks were $.25. Popular soft drinks during the era included six-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola, 7 Up, Dr. Pepper, Grape, Strawberry, Orange and Root Beer. The theatre was also well-known for its food at the concession stand. Some of the most popular items included barbecue, which was homemade for years, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, chili dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. It was nothing unusual for families to come out, especially on Sundays, to eat supper at the drive-in. The bigger movies were played Sunday through Wednesday. Double features were shown on the weekends. Thursdays were set aside for $1 car night. Anywhere from 12 to 15 people would pack into a car, including the hood and trunk, to get into the theatre. Lewis always said that the lost admission prices were made up from the concession stand. Regardless of the low ticket prices some people would try and sneak in from the side and back. Most of them were usually caught by an usher, typically from Charles Rogers, and he would take them to Lewis. Most of the time Lewis would go ahead and let them stay and watch the remainder of the movie. Saturday and Sunday nights were also big attractions at the theatre. It was no surprise to see cars lined up as far as what is now the Townsman Motel. One of the largest crowds was at the showing of “Prince of Peace.” Each night the program at the drive-in consisted of a news reel, cartoons, coming attractions and the main feature. Westerns were some of the most popular movies shown at the time. Other favorites included “The Ten Commandments,” “Greatest Show on Earth,” “Gone With the Wind,” “Giant,” and “From Here to Eternity.” The 54 Drive-In Theatre played host to massive fireworks displays every Fourth of July. The display was set up between the projection booth and screen tower. Expansion Needed When cinemascope began in approximately 1952, it was necessary to widen the screen tower. At this time the concession stand was also remodeled to twice its original size. A sno-cone machine was also purchased. Blocks of ice were purchased from the ice plant and wrapped in burlap sacks. The ice would stay frozen through much of the evening. It was nothing each night to grind some 300 pounds of ice. Sno-cone prices were $.25 and best-sellers included blueberry, strawberry, orange, grape, lime and a “suicide” which included all flavors. To enable the theatre to stay open during winter, a glassed-front building was constructed to accommodate about 200 people. Lewis always referred to this building as “the bullpen.” A few years later this building caught fire and was totally demolished. It was suspected that some college kids were trying to smoke and consequently caused the fire. People also had a hard time occasionally when they would start their cars before leaving. Lewis rigged up a small tractor with a big metal guard on the front and would give the cars a starter push. Countless speakers were also stolen or damaged as many people stole the speakers to use in their cars. Robbery Victims Owning a successful business, however, also meant Lewis and Sylvia also had to deal with crime.
During the summer of 1953, Lewis and Leonard Matzek were visiting in the ticket booth when a lone gunman opened the door and pulled out a German pistol. After taking their money, he made the two get into the car and took them hostage. He took them out on a road east of the cemetery. He used duct tape on their legs, hands and mouth and made them lie down on the road. He then got into the car, backed it up about 100 feet and drove towards the two hostages, intending to run over them. Getting within 10 feet of them, he slammed on the brakes and drove around the two men. He got out of his car and said, “Bill, I can’t do it. You will find your car near the drive-in.” The car was eventually found at the Knutson Elevator. Little did the gunman know that Betty, the middle child of Lewis and Sylvia, was sitting in her car and witnessed the event. As soon as they drove off she went inside the booth and called the police. They searched several hours in the area before finally locating the hostages, who had managed to remove the duct tape and started walking back towards the drive-in.
Although both men escaped without injury, the robber was never found. Sylvia also had a string of back luck. A few years later, another gunman robbed Sylvia as she was selling tickets. She was not taken as a hostage, but had to be taken to the hospital for stress and shock. The robber was never found and Sylvia refused to sit in the ticket booth afterwards. One summer night after a rain shower, Sylvia was sitting in the car watching a movie. Unaware, she laid her arm on top of the speaker when lighting struck the speaker post and went through her. She was hospitalized for three days but luckily suffered no lasting effects. Lewis said when the lightning hit he thought the car was going to explode because it was so bright. Change of Times In 1957, the drive-in was leased for five years to Everette Mahaney until 1962. During 1965 it was reopened and Rex and Billie Grabeal managed it. Both were working full-time jobs at the time at the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant and at First National Bank and would run the theatre at night. In 1968, Lewis purchased the American Theatre in downtown Guymon from Clem Funk. John McConnell eventually leased the downtown theatre and immediately made it into a double screen. After the theatre purchase on Main Street, the drive-in closed down during the winter months. By this time televisions were in almost every home in Guymon and the movie business declined because people started staying home and watching shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza,” “Rawhide,” “I Love Lucy,” “Jackie Gleeson,” “Red Skelton,” “Dragnet,” “Ed Sullivan,” “Andy Griffith” and more. At the end of the lease at the downtown theatre, the front part of the building was converted into “The Sweet Shop,” which served several flavors of ice cream, malts, shakes, sundaes, sandwiches and broasted chicken in January 1976. After the business was closed in 1982 the building was sold to the Guymon Community Theatre group.
Lewis and Sylvia continued to operate the Long Theatre in Keyes until his death in April of 1973 from stroke and aneurysm complications. Lewis spent some 26 years in the theatre business and left a legacy in Guymon. Following his death, the drive-in was completely shut down in 1974. Shortly thereafter the screen tower and concession stand were demolished, with plans for future building of an apartment complex. Later, the land was sold to a development company out of Kansas. The Long Theatre in Keyes continued to run until 1978-79. Sylvia’s health eventually forced her to move to Cheyenne, Wy. with her daughter, Betty. She eventually moved back to Guymon and had an apartment at Hotel Dale and took care of her youngest granddaughter, Kristi. She died in January of 1980 from congestive heart failure. Today, nothing remains to indicate the property was once the location of a drive-in theatre, but it was a part of the early days in the development of Statehood and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Over the years many people have remembered the good times they shared, how they used to sneak in, how they stole speakers and watched movies in their pajamas. As Lewis used to always say, “Rain, snow, sleet or shine … the show must go on.” ————— It is difficult to remember the many people who worked in the drive-in but a few of them were Leonard Matzek, Charles and Nell Rogers, Cleo and Joan Sturdivan, Acey Bridges, Dud and Kappy Smith, Dean and Nida Huckins, Ronnie and Shirley Huckins, Juanita Quesenbury-Quinn, Linda Quesenbury, Kenny Huckins (who was eight to nine years old at the time), Jo Unruh, Shirley Talcott, Wynona Greer, Dalton Freeman, Darrell Gann and Bryon Holder.
Editor’s Note: The following story was compiled from the memories and journals of Bill and Sylvia Long’s children, Ferol Riggs, the late Betty Aaron and Billie Grabeal. The story was written by Kristi Grabeal Hayes, granddaughter of the late Bill and Sylvia Long.
KEYES, Okla. — Lewis W. “Bill” Long lived the American dream and wanted a better life for his wife Sylvia and daughters Ferol, Betty and Billie and brought a small piece of Hollywood to the tiny Oklahoma Panhandle town of Keyes. The old, abandoned Long Theatre that sits quietly on Fourth Street and Polk Avenue is undergoing some major repairs with the hopes it will once again delight movie-goers of all ages, thanks to the hard work and determination of owner Blake Wells.
You can even get a sneak peak of what to expect in the future at the theatre on Saturday, July 7 when the Long Theatre will shine once again … but more on that later. The Early Years In early fall of 1946, an unexpected early blizzard hit the Oklahoma Panhandle, killing 175 head of newly-purchased cattle. It was then that Bill Long realized that farming and cattle raising was not the only way of life. Oldest daughter Ferol Riggs said, “We were living on the farm 15 miles esat of Keyes when dad began pondering the idea of opening a theatre in Keyes. I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Keyes was a growing town out in the middle of nowhere. They were building a huge helium plant northeast of town. The oil companies were drilling for oil and gas wells everywhere,” said Ferol. “People began moving to Keyes to work. Dad was looking to build there because it was growing so fast. I remember in the summer of 1945 or 1946 dad, mom, Betty and I went to Oklahoma City. Dad was looking for a place to buy the bricks for the theatre. We looked at several places and dad finally made a deal with one of the places to buy the brick for the theatre. We made other trips to Oklahoma City to buy different things he needed.” With much anticipation the 422-seat theatre opened on Memorial Day of 1947 and was named the Long Theatre. The first movie was “Trail Street” starring Randolph Scott. Adult tickets sold for $.50, children for $.25 and a sack of popcorn sold for $.10. The theatre sold over 100 pounds of popcorn on opening night. One unique feature of the Long Theatre was the “cry room.” This room permitted parents to take their crying babies into the little room and it enabled them to continue to see and hear the movies without disturbing other viewers. Many other theatre owners in various parts of the country came to see the Long Theatre and added this feature to their own theatres. On the north side of the building was a little sandwich and ice cream shop, known as The Sweet Shop. Sylvia, and later Ferol, managed the shop and several high school girls worked there. Some of the biggest events at the Long Theatre was the personal appearance of Monte Hale, a western movie star, who performed on stage. Rex Allen and his horse Coco also made a stop at the theatre. Bill further etched his place in history and opened the 54 Drive-In Theatre in Guymon in October of 1948. This was a marvel to the Panhandle as this was the first drive-in theatre to be built in this part of the country. Bill stayed in Guymon to operate the drive-in. Daughter Betty drove each night to manage the concession stand, driving a car that she purchased with her popcorn money. Sylvia and Billie moved to Guymon in November of 1949 and Betty remained in Keyes to manage the theatre. When Betty went off to college in September of 1950, Bill and Valarie Miller were employed to manage the theatre. After Betty graduated she returned home and took over management. Leaving the City In 1957, Bill, Sylvia and Billie moved from Guymon to Keyes and operated the theatre. Billie became the popcorn seller until she married Rex Grabeal in 1964. Bill and Sylvia operated the theatre until his death in 1973. Billie remembers when her parents announced they were moving to Keyes. “I was so upset with them because they were taking me away from everything … my friends, dance classes, piano classes. My life as I knew it was gone,” said Billie. “I guess my parents knew what they were doing because it later turned out to be the happiest and best part of my life. I have so many special memories of a place that will forever be very close and dear to my heart.” “I don’t know how my dad managed to do everything he did. He would get up, get everything ready for the evening showing, eat breakfast and then head out to the farm. He wouldn’t get back until at least 5:30 p.m. and would then work at the theatre. He was an incredible man and I never heard him complain about working so much. He was doing what he loved and loved bringing happiness to the community.” Billie said he would have to travel to Oklahoma City to purchase the films and they were delivered by Beaver Express. Living upstairs above the movie theatre was both good and bad. “When I would wake up each morning I could still smell the aroma of the popcorn that we popped the night before. Instead of eating a normal breakfast like most people, I would run downstairs and grab a bag of popcorn and a Coke or candy bar before rushing off to school.” “Going to school in Keyes was quite an adventure. I was a city girl. I had never played basketball before and played a musical instrument. In Guymon, girls weren’t allowed to play sports. That all changed when I moved to Keyes. Living in a small town was so different. You knew everyone and I got to meet so many people that came to the movie theatre.” Billie said she loved living above the theatre and enjoyed spending time with her cousins, nieces, nephew and friends. “Sometimes we took our shoes off and walked on the arms of the chairs and used to have bike races up and down the aisles. We would also play hide-and-seek in the dark theatre. That was very scary sometimes” Billie said movies were such a big deal in the 1950s and up. “Before TV, families came together and enjoyed a night out. Life was so simple back then.” Billie said the most memorable movies were “The Ten Commandments,” “Ben Hur,” “Gone With the Wind,” all of the John Wayne movies and several others. “The westerns, biblical and war movies always drew a huge crowd. I remember dad brought back ‘Gone With the Wind’ at least three different times and we always had huge crowds.” “How I miss those special, innocent times growing up. I was so fortunate to have lived the life I had. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Thank you to the entire community of Keyes for letting a city girl be a part of a wonderful community that I will always call home,” said Billie. Fond Memories Granddaughters Wanda Oswald, Wilma Nelson, Rose Marsh and Brenda Owens all have many fond memories of being inside the movie theatre. “I have so many wonderful memories of the theatre. The sweeping, riding our bikes, walking on the arm rests in the dark, the smell of the popcorn and how Sylvia would walk down the aisles and pop people with her cane to keep their feet off the chairs,” said Wanda. “Others include watching Eddy Nash and others checking and splicing the film, sitting in the ticket booth with my grandfather and him showing me the importance of keeping the bills straight and facing the same direction.” “I loved seeing the colorful neon light go on the marque letting people know the theatre was open,” said Wanda. “When my grandfather fell ill, my husband, Jim Oswald, and I, helped run the theatre for a short time. We learned so many things about the business at that time. For example, bids would be placed on movies in order to run them and the reels would be rewound and taken to Oklahoma City. It’s hard for me to really pick out one favorite memory because I have so many. I had the best grandparents anyone could ask for. The Long Theatre was truly my second home.” “I remember that Punky (the nickname his grandchildren gave Bill) taught me how to roll the change. Another job I had was filling the coke and candy machine. I used to love to sit up by the sign and watch the teenagers drag main. Since I was the oldest grandchild, I nicknamed my grandparents Punky and Granny. That stuck with everyone,” said Wilma. “My earliest memory is when I would spend the weekend with my sisters Wilma and Wanda and aunt Billie at the theatre. Being about five or six, I used to think the theatre was huge and spooky when it was dark. I loved playing with our dolls in the cry room and pretended selling show tickets in grandpa’s chair,” said Rose Alee. “One Sunday while cleaning the theatre after church, I was cleaning the aisles and found a roll of money with a rubber band around it. I started yelling and waving it around. We had no clue how much money was there until Punky counted out $50. Punky told me it wasn’t my money and that he would put it in the ticket booth for two weeks to see if the person claimed it. Waiting was the hardest thing. After the two weeks, he said no one claimed it and gave it to me. I remember buying shoes for myself and my two sisters. Recently, I found out that the person did claim the money but my grandpa never told me. He was simply amazing. His teaching inspired me to teach my children and grandchildren patience and giving back what does not belong to you.” Brenda said, “I remember visiting Punky and Granny at the theatre. They would always put us to work by cleaning the theatre. That place was a mess. Popcorn was everywhere and the floors were so sticky from all the spilled pop. We did get to keep any loose change we found. I know that often Punky would put his own money on the ground so we could find it. I’ll never forget the smell of that popcorn or the smell of Punky’s cigars burning upstairs in his office. He always has a cigar in his hand or pocket.” “After their death, my family moved here. My mom (Betty Aaron) got the American Theatre going in Guymon so that was my job after school. I would work the ticket booth and the concession stand. I still had to sweep the aisles which was about as much fun as it was when I was younger,” said Brenda. Later Years Edelvis Hoch later operated the theatre under the supervision of Betty, who later moved back from Wyoming since Sylvia was in poor health. Sylvia died in 1980. The Long family sold the Long Theatre in June of 1984 to Raymond Smalts. Mrs. Smalts donated the building to the City of Keyes. It has since been sold to Blake Wells, who has spent countless days and hours cleaning out the old theatre. Also attempting to make his own mark on history, Wells is trying to refurbish the old theatre and has announced that an outdoor movie will be shown at the Long Theatre on Saturday, July 7 at 7 p.m. Although there is no admission charge, a donation box will be set up and all proceeds will go towards community development in Keyes. The public is invited to attend the event. As Bill used to always say, “Rain, snow, sleet or shine … the show must go on.”