Editor’s note: This is another column in Bill Boyd’s new series, “The Way It Was,” about growing up in Marysville. Bill continues to work with the Union County Historical Society to obtain information for his stories.
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Marysville’s Avalon Theater first opened its doors in 1936. I was only four years old, so I didn’t frequent the place for a few years. Eventually, however, it became one of my favorite places in town. I not only enjoyed the movies, but also in the 1940s I worked there running the popcorn machine. Of all the jobs I had as a kid, I think that was my favorite.
But Marysville was enjoying movies long before the Avalon came to town. In fact, the town’s first movie theater opened in 1906. It was called “Dreamland” and it was located at 118 East Fifth Street. It showed those old silent movies. Then in 1917, it was upgraded, and its name was changed to the “Strand.”
I think Marysville people really liked those old silent movies, because a second movie theater, The Rex, opened a year later at 127 South Main Street and Marysville became a “two theater” town.”
My sisters, Betty and Maryann, went to the Strand every now and then. Maryann was too young to read the captions, so Betty read them aloud to her. Boy I wouldn’t want to sit in front of them.
Then something happened that changed all this. “Talkies” were introduced. They required a special projector, and the Strand installed that equipment. Marysville people flocked to that theater, and the Rex, which couldn’t show talkies, eventually closed.
When the Avalon opened in 1936, it was owned by the same man who owned the Strand. He booked the most popular movies, seven days a week at the Avalon. He used the Strand only on weekends to show lower budget western movies. There was a good audience for both.
As a teenager, I occasionally went with my friends to the Strand. I think it was the smallest theater I have ever seen. It occupied a very narrow storefront, with one aisle down the center and maybe four or five seats on each side. It was also over 30 years old and in disrepair. The seats were tattered and uncomfortable. The carpet in the aisle was threadbare. Most of us kids didn’t call it the Strand. We called it the Dirty Shirt – “Hey Jimmy, let’s go to the Dirty Shirt tonight.”
I don’t go to movies anymore, but if I did, I’d love to go to any of those old Marysville theaters. But if I had to pick one, I think I would go to the “Dirty Shirt,” to see one of those old low budget cowboy movies. I always kinda liked them.
Those wishing to contact Bill Boyd can e-mail him at williamboyd514@gmail.com