THe intersting thing about this picture is the u shaped object on the floor. That was the original box office for the Alabama. It was moved over to the far wall in the 1960’s for additional space and 2 windows. My sister was robbed at gunpoint in this box office. A man in line chased the guy around the corner into the back parking lot and tackled him to the ground. The gun went sliding under a car. Howard Skelton gave this man a free pass to the Alabama for a year for his bravery and all the free cokes and popcorn he wanted.
Dad was quite a showman. Do you remember the pogo stick competition? One kid rode one straight for 3 hours until it started smoking and locked up. He won a car. And Holla Hoop contests. I never saw so many holla Hoops in my life. But his best accomplishment was being a good citizen and business man in the Alabama area. He always supported things for kids, sometimes out of his own pocket. Interstate had a motto, “Dedicated to Community Service!” Howard always did that and his theaters were a reflection of what a great influence show biz can be on community values.
My favorite thing I did at the Alabama was the comic book swap. It started when my mother said I had too many comic books and I needed to do something with them. If you remember, we kept the balcony closed for Kid shows – for obvious reasons. My cousin, Barney and I cooked up this deal to swap 2 comic books for 1. Bring in two and trade them for 1. So, 2 months into this deal, I had taken 200 comic books and multiplied them to 2500 comic books. And they were all the classics. Batman, Superman, Archie, alll the Dells. Finally Dad said, they have to go, they are fire hazard. I had filled up the storage room on the second floor. We donated them all to Children’s Home in West Houston. Those would have been worth millions today.
Thanks Ennis, your are right! I was about ten and had the run of the theater on Saturday. Always sitting on the front row for the Kid Show. If you remember, my Dad always had acts come and perform. The Duncan Yo Yo man was my favorite. He had clowns and magicians. I think I bugged him so bad about showing “The Invisible Man” Series that he called Interstate booking in Dallas and told them the Alabama had to have “The Invisible Man”. He used to ask every kid, “have you seen the Invisibe Man?” If you respoinded “Well no!” He would give you a pass to the Alabama for the show.
My Dad, Howard Skelton, ran the Village from the time he returned from WWII to the 1950’s. He had alot of friends in the Village, including The Swayze’s, Red Adair and Coots, along with his banker Mr. Whiteside. Mr. Stevenson was the TV repairman. The Fun Clubs were the best. I have lots of pictures to post when I can. Howard went from the Village to the Alabama when it opened and then on to the Metropolitan.
My Mother, Natalie Skelton, worked at the Eastwood in th 1940’s. My Father, Howard Skelton was working at the Majestic. I have the original Interstate photo of the Eastwood, when the online phot comes online.
The address was actually 1016 Main, Houston, Texas
THe intersting thing about this picture is the u shaped object on the floor. That was the original box office for the Alabama. It was moved over to the far wall in the 1960’s for additional space and 2 windows. My sister was robbed at gunpoint in this box office. A man in line chased the guy around the corner into the back parking lot and tackled him to the ground. The gun went sliding under a car. Howard Skelton gave this man a free pass to the Alabama for a year for his bravery and all the free cokes and popcorn he wanted.
Dad was quite a showman. Do you remember the pogo stick competition? One kid rode one straight for 3 hours until it started smoking and locked up. He won a car. And Holla Hoop contests. I never saw so many holla Hoops in my life. But his best accomplishment was being a good citizen and business man in the Alabama area. He always supported things for kids, sometimes out of his own pocket. Interstate had a motto, “Dedicated to Community Service!” Howard always did that and his theaters were a reflection of what a great influence show biz can be on community values.
My favorite thing I did at the Alabama was the comic book swap. It started when my mother said I had too many comic books and I needed to do something with them. If you remember, we kept the balcony closed for Kid shows – for obvious reasons. My cousin, Barney and I cooked up this deal to swap 2 comic books for 1. Bring in two and trade them for 1. So, 2 months into this deal, I had taken 200 comic books and multiplied them to 2500 comic books. And they were all the classics. Batman, Superman, Archie, alll the Dells. Finally Dad said, they have to go, they are fire hazard. I had filled up the storage room on the second floor. We donated them all to Children’s Home in West Houston. Those would have been worth millions today.
Thanks Ennis, your are right! I was about ten and had the run of the theater on Saturday. Always sitting on the front row for the Kid Show. If you remember, my Dad always had acts come and perform. The Duncan Yo Yo man was my favorite. He had clowns and magicians. I think I bugged him so bad about showing “The Invisible Man” Series that he called Interstate booking in Dallas and told them the Alabama had to have “The Invisible Man”. He used to ask every kid, “have you seen the Invisibe Man?” If you respoinded “Well no!” He would give you a pass to the Alabama for the show.
My Dad, Howard Skelton, ran the Village from the time he returned from WWII to the 1950’s. He had alot of friends in the Village, including The Swayze’s, Red Adair and Coots, along with his banker Mr. Whiteside. Mr. Stevenson was the TV repairman. The Fun Clubs were the best. I have lots of pictures to post when I can. Howard went from the Village to the Alabama when it opened and then on to the Metropolitan.
My Mother, Natalie Skelton, worked at the Eastwood in th 1940’s. My Father, Howard Skelton was working at the Majestic. I have the original Interstate photo of the Eastwood, when the online phot comes online.
Ennis,
Good to hear from you. My Dad, Howard passed away on August 15, 2007. Can you contact me at as I need to talk to you.
Thanks
George Skelton