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Show THE PAYSON CHRONICLE S Thursday, June 18, 1970 Payson history of theatres History of the Gayety Theatre home of the first silent movies of Payson. Owned and operated by the late George Henry Done. Compiled by his daughter Sarah D. Tanner and assisted by her sister Iris D. Amos and brother Ralph H. Done of Shreveport, La. How many old timers who remember the very are left in Payson first silent movie It was located west of Dixons Market in a building where Dons Cafe used to be. In April 1907 two men from Delta, Colorado started up this new form of entertainment and called it the Gayety theatre? Rosmond Ballard is presenting a check in the amount of $154.00 to Middle School PTA President Colleen Wilson and officers Mrs. Carlos Schramm and Mrs. Kenneth Butler. PTA raises funds Both parents and students alike Middle School were delighted with the PTA Fund Raising Project under the direction of Rosmond Ballard. Mrs. Ballard made arrangements with Principal LaMar Wilson to carry out the project, which was extremely successful. The school was presented with a check in the amount of $154.00. A fine ceramic kiln will be purchased for the Art Departments of the school. The balance of funds will remain with the PTA for functioning experiences the coming year. EAT BEEF for Fathers Day Georg L. Olsen These were silent pictures. Theatre. Illustrated songs sung and colored slide pictures told the story of the song while the singer sang the words, and they were put on between shows. Tickets were five and ten cents. They didnt take in enough money to pay the rent on the films let alone their other expenses and after about 3 months they sold out to some men from Salem, who in turn kept it 6 weeks when they wanted My father, George Henry Done, was teaching music in the Public Schools of Payson, Salem, Benjamin, Lake Shore and He traveled from one town to Santaquin. another in a topless one horse buggy, also farming on the side. His health was beginning to fail, so he gave up teaching music, sold his farm and bought the show in August. We had a large family, 9 boys and 3 girls and father figured we could make it pay as he wouldnt need to hire So all who were home and old help. enough had a job to do. Tiff, as he was called took tickets. Mother sold them with the aid of my oldest sister, the late Vina D. Ottesen, who also sang the songs. With 10 lessons on the piano and quite young I had to take over the piano playing. I knew I wasnt ready for it, and spent a lot of sleepless nights. But I had it to do and after awhile I got used to it and wasnt so frightened. I later took 9 more lessons to improve my technique. Ralph, who lives in Shreveport, Louisiana and the only one of the 9 boys still The folliving, was the first operator. lowing is taken from notes sent to me by Ralph (quote) We ran 2 shows each night two reels long on a one Powers Machine, hand operated. All the reels had to be n before they could be shown to the Films used to break while being public. shown, the operator would stop and pin the film together and cement it together while he was it. Some operators were a little careless about making the repairs and the film s would be shipped to the next exhibitor pinned. Some times the films would come wound backward. So we always had to re-rthem before show time. In those days the light which put the picture on the screen was produced by two sticks of carbon electrically fused, one on a hard core stick and one a soft core. They were pointed and came together at about a 120 degree angle, and were about six to eight inches long and about 12 inch in diameter. The hard core would last for the two shows but the soft core had to be replaced at half time, or after one show of two or three reels. For best results the points had to be kept at a certain distance apart, as they burned this distance widened. If it got too wide a black streak would show across the middle of the screen, the operator controlled this distance by turning a little knob that closed the gap. The proper setting of the carbons was the key to a good bright picture on the screen. I know most of this is too technical for an interesting story, but I mentioned it for your information knowing that you knew very little about this part of the picture show business. I was taught the operating end by the folks Dad bought the show from. It is no doubt done somewhat different today as a lot of changes and improvements can be made over a period of sixty years or more. (unquote) We had 3 changes of shows a week, from Monday through Saturday. It was years later before we opened on Sunday. Vina and I were kept busy learning new songs that came with each change of program. After a while we became real pros at sight reading as some times the films wouldnt arrive in time to learn them before show time. It was up-hbusiness at first, with tickets just 5 and 10 cents it took a lot of customers to pay all the expenses and many nights our receipts would total $2.50, just enough to pay the rent on the films. Father worked every angle he could to interest the people in this new form of entertainment. He used local talent that could sing between shows. The late Mandy Hansen Douglas, wife of Stan Douglas and mother of Marie Stevenson and the late Cob Barney, husband of Inez Done Barney who now lives in Salt Lake were the first two I remember to sing. Later the late Gladys Peery, Maxine Simons and many others were regular singers. Many transient musicians traveled through town, stopped and would beg for a week or two engagement at the Gayety to make just enough to continue on their way. Father always gave them a job. One of these was Jack Mack, a wonderful baritone singer. He stayed with us for a while but he was a drinker and a dope addict and as soon as he received money from father for his services he was never sober again and father had to let him go. He went for some time before he would accept any money. He knew himself better than any one else did. He loved mother s casserole of macaroni, cheese and tomatoes and tried to convince her that macaroni was good for the voice so she would make it often. A tenor singer, Mr. Schaffer, who after a try-owas given a job to sing between shows. He left at midnight one night after re-ru- un Mrs. Glen F. Cowan presents a roast from CowBelles to George L Olsen Father of year named by CowBelles Mr. George L. Olsen was nominated as Paysons Father of the Year for 1970. Presenting him with a roast is Mrs. Glenn F. Cowan, President of Spanish Fork and Payson Cowbelles. r Father to receive roast from cowbelles will be the lucky father? This question will be answered this coming week when the Spanish Fork-PaysCowBelles present a choice beef roast to a lucky father in this area. The beef roast will be given to the father of the first baby born on or after Fathers Day June 21, 1970. A gift of a cookbook on beef cookery will be presented by the CowBelles to the babys mother. Mrs. Ellen Jensen, Spanish Fork, is chairman of the Spanish Fork-PaysCowBelles beef promotion and the special beef for Fathers Day event with Mrs. Helen Cowan, Payson; Mrs. Allie and Mrs. Lois Nash, Spanish Fork, assisting. Colorful posters displaying choice cuts of delicious beef have been placed in many of the food stores to help emphasize the CowBelle slogan for this month, Beef for Fathers Day. Who on on Ober-hansl- - 4-- H News ey George L. Olsen was born February 12, 1914 in Santaquin, Utah to Elva and Oley Olsen. He lived with Heber and Georgina Cushing and attended school in Santaquin and later in Payson. On June 21, 1940 he married Reba Butler. Mr. Olsen has always been active in the Latter-da- y Saint Church serving as Scout Master, Elder Quorum President, Sunday School Superintendent, General Secretary of Aaronic Priesthood and at the present time counselor in the Third Ward Bishop- ric. served in the Army during World War II in the European area and he is an active member of the American Legion organization. George Olsen teaches a gun safety and survival course for the state fish and game. He formed the Payson City Rifle Club and has served as an instructor for this club. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen are the parents of four children, Mrs. Van (Georgia) Can-am- n, Mrs. Douglas (Darlene) Curtis, Elva a student at SUSC at Cedar City and David. They have seven grandchildren. Mr. Olsen will be honored later at the Cattlemans banquet to which his friends are invited to see him honored. He - ill COOKS FROM MANY LANDS The Cooks from Many Lands met for the second meeting Monday. A delicious After the tuna casserole was made. casserole was made it was enjoyed by six hungry people. Kathy Shelley - Reporter FATHERS DAY DRESSY DOERS are taking clothing and we are called the Dressy Doers. The girls in our club are Cindy DeGraw, Shelly Weight, Julie Openshaw, Jolene Olsen, Jackie Perry, Dianne Haskell. Our leader is Sue Fielding. Today we talked about fabrics; All of us are in our second year. The president of our club is Cindv DeGraw vice president is Jolene Olsen, secretary is Dianne Haskell, Shelley Weight is our reporter, song leader is Julie Openshaw, and our telephone chairman is Jackie Perry. Shelley Weight - Reporter We I am a girl. I am 12 years old and I love my daddy very much. I hope that when Im old enough to get married, I shaU find someone as nice as my father. Im glad there is such a day as Fathers Day So I can do something nice for the man who has cared and loved me all year long. I think that if I write a note to him, he wiU appreciate it as much as anything I could give him. Dear Daddy: F is for the faith you have in me, trusting that I shall be clean and pure all the days of my life. is for your attitude toward things that good and your ambition to live out your life as God would have you do. T is for the many important things you have taught me. H is for your humor that I so enjoy when I am with you. R is for the righteous man I call my father. Happy Fathers Day Daddy, I shall always love you. Your Daughter A FLOUR CHILDREN We met at Mrs. Sandra Spencers house Thursday at 2:30. Sherrie Jones, Annette Dansie and Kim Cook made broiled sandth Carla Crouch and Peggy wiches. made egg salad sandwiches. Carri Peck and Kathryn Perry made baked EUs-wor- sandwiches. Mrs. Spencer served carrot sticks and fruit milk. We did egg experiments. Kathryn Perry - Reporter tuna-chee- se are jfc. out. ut Front view of old Gayety Theatre between on Utah Avenue We a weeks pay in advance. later discovered he was wanted by the How many remember the Mighty law. Samson, who (hold on to your hats folks, this is true) lifted a horse and six men with his teeth. He also bit big nails into. My sister Vina and I went to the old Wightman Hotel to see his wife by invitation and to return her purse she left in the show house the night before. We knocked and I guess she put on her wig in too big a hurry and got it on crooked. She was the first woman we ever saw smoke. We operated in the old building for about 2 years when father decided to build a larger one, business was growing. It was built in the vacant spot between what used to be Tanner Paint & Wall-pap- er and He built it to accomodate Chipmans. 700 people. It was the longest building in Utah County at that time and was one of the longest in the State. He still called it the Gayety Theatre, Paysons Popular PhotoAfter the first year, Ivan, play Palace. who had been out of the state working, started to help with the operating. Other little towns like Payson were starting their own picture shows and father would send Ralph to help them get started with the operating end, charging them for his service. It was at these periods that Ivan became the fuU time operator. Ralph was in High School, played basketball, football, baseball and track events trying to graduated with enough credits to enter college. He also played for dances two nights a week, so he had very little time for show When we moved into the new work. convinced my father to buy Ivan building new machines, operated electrically, which were a big help over the hand operated one. The late Harry Peery was an electrician who idolized Ivan or Ike as he called him and had to be with him all the time. He was a help to Ivan as he could handle the operating problems as well as any one. These two did the operating until Ivan went to Boston in 1912 to study music. He died while there from the effects of an appendicitis operation. Harry stayed to help Lee, a younger brother until he married and moved to Main and 100 West. Note prices: 5 for Kids I 10 Adults. drawing Goshen. Some nights Tiff the ticket taker would show father a big lot of tickets he had collected indicating of course a big night, only to discover later that Mother the ticket seller had been in a very generous mood that night and had passed out a lot of complimentary tickets. Any child who looked with longing togoinside and mother knew that familys circumstances were low, couldnt resist giving him a ticket. One man with a large family came every change. He worked on the section and was tired and slept most of the show. When mother found this out she didnt charge Norman Brimhall, a familiar figure in his wheel chair on Main street for many years, had a standing free pass and a place of honor directly below the operating room where he could see the pictures without being disturbed. Mothers generosity built up a lot of good will for the business which showed up when competition tried to enter the show business. In order to increase patronage father organized an orchestra in the family and they would play the fore part of the evening and I would finish out the night alone on the piano. He also gave prizes to the lucky number and also held a most popular girl competition. Goldia Tanner, wife of Wells Wignal, both deceased, won him for his ticket after that. out. There was always a serial picture each The Black Box and Perils of week. Pauline" are two I recall very vividly. Every one waited anxiously for the next week to see how the stars came out, as it always left them in a perilous position. While we were still in the old building another stranded, but super musician of Germany, lived with us, sang and accompanied himself on the piano. He was an old German Opera singer with a beautiful and powerful tenor voice. He had sung for Royalty abroad, with his twin brother Carl. He carried a trunk full of writeall over ups of concert engagements Europe. They were billed as the Vienna Their names were Louis and Duettest. Carl Fenz. They came to America and while touring the East Carl was stricken with pneumonia and died. Louie (as we called him) took to drinking and a beautiful career was ended. Our family life wasnt quite the same after he came to live with us or perhaps I should say we lived with Louie. He was so happy to be one in a family and wanted to help with everything, even house work. It seemed he was always under foot and as mother put it, was more bother than help. It took some time before she could I Georg Henry Done, owner of the Gayety Theatre from 1907 to 1921. Owner Mr. Done inside the Theatre. It would seat 700 people, and was often filled to capacity. Photos courtesy of Mrs. Iris D. Amos, daughter of Mr. Done. get it through to him, without hurting his feelings, we didnt need his help. Father let him pass hand bills around town announcing each change of programs. We discovered some time later he was also passing out free tickets to his friends. He always called me little Alice with the Angel face and would insist on kissing my hand. At first it was kind of amusing to a teenager, but after awhile it became monotonous having my hand kissed a dozen or more times a day. But it was useless to protest to Louie. One Sunday evening while I was washing the supper dishes he came home from town and insisted on kissing my hand. I didnt wash the greasy dishwater off (detergents were not heard of then,, every thing was washed with Grannys home made lye soap") he kissed it any way. That ended the hand kissing, much to my relief. While Louie was still with us Gertie The Banjo Queen appeared on our show for a weeks engagement. She sang and accompnied herself on the banjo. She and Louie knew each other as they had performed on the same bill one time back east. They were tickled to see each other again, but the professional jealousy soon crept in. After about a year Louie was drinking so heavy father had to tell him to go. He was gone some time when he came back and begged father to give him another chance. He tried hard to overcome the drink habit, but couldnt and after a few months he was never sober, so father had to let him go. He cried like a child and begged to stay and work for just his board and room, but mother said she had stood enough. As he hoboed around the country he would often write and beg to come back. The last time we heard from him he was in Chicago, of tickets. He always showed the best grade and first run pictures. He later bought a large Wurlitzer Organ with sound effects he could operate himself until my younger sister Iris D. Amos was large enough to change the rolls. She used to alternate with mother selling tickets. Stanley or Husk as he was called was now old enough to help Lee with the operating and they continued t6 do so until father sold the show in April, 1921 to Charles Huish. Mr. Huish told father if he didnt sell to him he would put up one of his own, a bigger and more up to date one, and father knowing that Payson was not large enough to support two theatres finally deciced to sell. Father died the following October while on a visit to his son George in Salt Lake City. Mother said he just couldnt adjust to living without the show. He had bought it in its infancy and nursed it along building it up until it was a paying proposition. Mr. Huish changed the name to The Star Theatre. Brickey Electronics 274 Nor Hi 100 TV Will Provo and Stereo Repair Color Experts 111. Father finished the top part of the new show house for living quarters and we moved there in November, 1910 and I was married in January, 1911. After I married, Virginia Harriman Loveless, Pearl Curtis Fillmore, both now of Spanish Fork and Jennie Mitchell Wilson, Cora Hiatt Pierce, Lucile Wightman Simmons and Laura Daniels Ferraday Laura played the piano for Father. would accompany her two younger sisters Verna Cloward and Donna Edwards as they sang and acted out songs. They were a popular attraction for some time. The silent movies were improving their type of pictures and charging more for them, but father never raised the price 373-966- 5 Service the day you call. 757r of all sets repaired in the home. 90 day parts guarantee. Same rate in Payson as Provo |