You never know what’s going to plant seeds for a column.
Sometimes they germinate right away and grow into something pleasing — my fervent hope each Saturday.
Last week a couple of “seeds” were planted.
I noticed Jim Smith, David Toland and several others were continuing to gut the Iola Theater, prepping its interior for a makeover that will give Iola another venue for any number of public and private events. Sunday, wife Beverly and I whizzed through the parking lot at the Sterling Six Cinema, to check what was playing.
The two events worked their way into the recesses of my mind far enough to kindle memories of when a movie — a Saturday matinee when I was younger and later for a date night — was at the top of my agenda.
Many Iolans today may not realize that years ago we had about as many movie choices in town as we do today with Sterling Six’s multiple screens.
In addition to the Iola, 202 S. Washington, there were the Pic, 10 N. Washington, and the Uptown, 109 E. Madison. By the ’50s, there also was the 54 Drive-in at the east edge of Gas. And, living in Humboldt, I also had choices of going to the hometown Cozy or trekking a few miles south to Chanute, which had two theaters and a drive-in.
I saw a few 3-D movies at the Pic, which was quite an experience for the time. I don’t recall what was playing the first time I donned those weird looking colored glasses, but I do remember that something shot out from the screen with enough realism that I ducked.
By the late ’50s, Beverly and I were dating — if a walk home qualifies — and the first car date was a double with Jane Clements (today John Carder’s wife) and Gary Hofer. We were infatuated by the daring romance of Sandra Dee and Troy Donohue in “A Summer Place” at one of the Chanute theaters. I spent the whole movie trying to wiggle my arm around Beverly’s shoulders, but never succeeded — it came later, though.
