I worked as an usher at the Laurel 1949-50. Doug Naylor and Bob O'Donnell were the managers at that time. I met my wife at the Laurel. She was a cashier. We have been married for 64 years and we have alwys thought the Laurel was part of our lives.On a serious note the there was fire in the projection booth shortly after the theater opened (1939 I think). It was during the showing of Pride of the Yankees which was the Lou Gehrig story. Film was highly flammable and something went wrong. Anyway, I remember watching “The Great Caruso” many times. Also, I recall when the Marx Brothers “A Night at the Opera” played to SRO night after night. Admission was 75 cents and popcorn cost around 25 cents. We had a kiddie matinee on Saturdays and it was a fairly rough crowd. Kept the balcony open which was probably a mistake. Lot’s of other memories like going to Sommers Drug Store on the corner having a soda or ice cream. They actually had a soda fountain which has disappeard in the USA. We have a photo showing my wife and I dancing with the Laurel superimposed in the background. We are dancing in the middle of San Pedro avenue. Lots of other memories. A comment that I read mentioned Tom Sumner as a manager. He actually was the owner of the Laurel, Woodlawn and Josephine Theaters. I think he bought the Laurel and Woodlawn from Interstate Theaters who owned the Laurel when I was there.
I remember going to the Uptown in 1946 when we moved to SA and I attended St. Ann’s school. I recall a big conflict between the Uptown and St. Ann’s (possible with the archdiocese of SA) when the Uptown started showing foreign “Art” films. They were pretty mild by today’s standards, but St Ann’s felt insulted by the fact that the church was situated next door and the nun’s residence was across the street (Ashby, I think). St Ann’s got the ultimate revenge by buying the building and converting it into a parish hall. This was after the new church was constructed. The Uptown continued showing “Art” films. “And God created Woman” was an example. Such memories!
I worked as an usher at the Laurel 1949-50. Doug Naylor and Bob O'Donnell were the managers at that time. I met my wife at the Laurel. She was a cashier. We have been married for 64 years and we have alwys thought the Laurel was part of our lives.On a serious note the there was fire in the projection booth shortly after the theater opened (1939 I think). It was during the showing of Pride of the Yankees which was the Lou Gehrig story. Film was highly flammable and something went wrong. Anyway, I remember watching “The Great Caruso” many times. Also, I recall when the Marx Brothers “A Night at the Opera” played to SRO night after night. Admission was 75 cents and popcorn cost around 25 cents. We had a kiddie matinee on Saturdays and it was a fairly rough crowd. Kept the balcony open which was probably a mistake. Lot’s of other memories like going to Sommers Drug Store on the corner having a soda or ice cream. They actually had a soda fountain which has disappeard in the USA. We have a photo showing my wife and I dancing with the Laurel superimposed in the background. We are dancing in the middle of San Pedro avenue. Lots of other memories. A comment that I read mentioned Tom Sumner as a manager. He actually was the owner of the Laurel, Woodlawn and Josephine Theaters. I think he bought the Laurel and Woodlawn from Interstate Theaters who owned the Laurel when I was there.
I remember going to the Uptown in 1946 when we moved to SA and I attended St. Ann’s school. I recall a big conflict between the Uptown and St. Ann’s (possible with the archdiocese of SA) when the Uptown started showing foreign “Art” films. They were pretty mild by today’s standards, but St Ann’s felt insulted by the fact that the church was situated next door and the nun’s residence was across the street (Ashby, I think). St Ann’s got the ultimate revenge by buying the building and converting it into a parish hall. This was after the new church was constructed. The Uptown continued showing “Art” films. “And God created Woman” was an example. Such memories!