Beverly Theatre

December 23rd, 1938 grand opening ad in photo section.

We lived in Apt A, the first apartment on the street, sharing a wall with the Sinclair Service Station at the corner of F and 15th Streets. Our front window looked directly out across F St. to an alley behind the row of apartments between D and F Sts on 15th St., which we could see on the right, and to the American Ice and Coal Co., which we could see on the left. We played softball there, too, dodging oil and coal trucks, and in the summer throwing snowballs with the ice scraped off the coolers of the ice house. Many wonderful memories; many of them sad, as well: kid getting run over by a truck, turf wars between gangs, etc.
Anyone out there listening?

Earlier I submitted a commentary on my close relationship with the Beverly Theatre: I moved into 1508 St., immediately across the alley from the Beverly, in 1941, with my family when I was less than a year old. I grew up with the theatre, used its outside walls for “wall ball” into our back yards across the alley, used the parking lot behind the theatre and 16th Street for softball and football, and tormented the custodians at times by frequently sneaking into the theatre when they were cleaning it before showtime. I am eager to exchange stories of life in that neighborhood with anyone familiar with it at the time. There were other businesses attached to the theatre: the Beverly Grille, a radio store, a small convenience store.
I attended the showings of nearly every movie there nearly every Saturday matinee, and hung around the theatre booth chatting with the ticket sellers. Watched the changing of the posters and lobby cards, and the marquees frequently, and roller skated in front of the theatre on its wide apron of a sidewalk in front.
It was a great movie house, and one of my earliest memories is that of winning first prize during the Halloween costume contest, with neighborhood kids and families in attendance. Many other stories to share with anyone.
Bill