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Show Swili Ceutiwi Utali Supplement To: Gunnison Valley News - The Salina Sun Garfield County News - The Richfield Reaper 3 NUMBER WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1982 VOLUME 17 Theatres Reflect Changing Times, Trends of Region With the exception of television, the movies has, perhaps, had greater on the American public than any other one thing. The movies first became popular in the 1920's, nearly every small town had its own theatre. But like everything else, economics gradually squeezed out the small operator, and only the larger communites were left with operating show houses. And as the economy changes over the years, even some of the long-tim- e movie houses have closed, victims of and video recorders. Cassette movies and other things have changed Americans entertainment habits, and some theatres, just like the television, But Richfields only drive in showhouse has been closed for several Several theatres in this area and the Pamela Theatre in Salina continue to function, despite change. years is not only closed, but the building is for The Star Theatre in Gunnison is now sale. operating six nights a week after Richfield's colorful Lyric Theatre, several years of curtailed showings. The Huish in Richfield, along with two one of the early showhouses in the area, new theatres just opened, operate full has been closed for over two decades. time. The Star Theatre in Gunnison is housed in a beautiful old building which was known as the Casino Theatre when Simms Duggins completed construction in 1912. Owned and operated by Simms and his son Julius, it originally exhibited silent films, and the stage area added some 10 years later, also allowed vaudeville acts to perform, compete with elephants and horses. dance halls, no longer exist. Current owners are Gunnison dentist Ernest M. Larson and his wife Dawn, who purchased the theatre from the Max Curtis of Aurora in Curtis acquired the business from the Cy Andersen family who had changed the name from the Casino to the Star Theatre when they took over from the Duggins family in 1941. mid-Januar- Helping to manage the business is Ernies brother, J. Randall Larson. Randy has implemented many of the improvements which include new lights on the marquee and billboards, that can be seen for blocks. The owners have also increased leg room between the rows of seats and improved the heating system. The theatre still seats over 400 people and boasts a larger screen than in most theatres. The small lights in the ceiling medallions are now operable and similar to the original. The electrical system has been upgraded, and plans are to improve the insulation and purchase a new sound system. . Sunday, with two shows on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. There are also two Saturday matinees a month at 2 p.m. One movie usually plays Monday through Wednesday, with a different one Thursday through Saturday, and a childrens movie for the matinee. When a local hardware store opened new location at 25 East UK) North, Richfield, a local radio advertisement stated it was across from the beautiful at its states the letter. After the advent of motion pictures, an addition was built to accommodate a box office and a lobby and the opera house then became the Lyric Theater, Oct. 14, 1928. Local actors gaining fame there were Sarah Gardner, Walter Christensen, Otto Farnsworth and Deal Andelin Farnsworth, states the book, Sevier County Historic Sites. This theater was the second to go by the name Lyric. Its president was Far from beautiful, the deteriorating G. D. Johnston with Clarence theater has become a focal point of the vice president. Golden Downtown Merchants Associaton to Sheaves From a Rich Field states have it replaced with a parking lot, Sorrel and Son was the first show says Reed Madsen, secretary. presented April 29, 1929. Sound came later. The building has been abandoned for Then in 1946, another theater moved years and four letter words cover the the Lyric, in at 131 North Main. Charles Huish, building. But in its hey-daor Richfield Opera House before after buying the property, tore down becoming a theater, "was once the the old Southern Hotel. The new movie pride and joy of the people who lived house at that time had a wide screen here, stated Pearl Jacobson and Garr and a seating capatity of 1,000. My Curtis in a letter to the Richfield Brother Talks to Horses, was the first movie shown June 18, 1947. Reaper editor, Jan. 20, 1972. Lyric Theater. First a furniture store, a small room for merchandise was later built and the main hall was remodeled into a dance hall for the opera house in 1881 by H. P. Hansen and Ed Thm her. Hansen, a violinist, organized an orchestra and the hall became known as Hans Fiddlers Hall. A few years later, a stage was erected on the south end so the building could be used for a theatre and dance hall. Then on July 1, 1951, Van and Madge Anderson of Sevier Valley Amusement Company bought the Huish and Lyric Theaters and in 1954, they bought the Rich Drive-inear the west hills along Third North, from Jack Swanson. The drive-in- , built by mortician Alvey Peterson, had a parking space for 380 cars. n Ellis Christensen, Piute Canal Company engineer, said the canal was built bridge leading to the drive-iby Arlos Crofts, prior to the drive-in- s construction. n In 1891, the property was sold to a joint stock company and the building was renamed Social Hall. In 1894 and 1897, it was again enlarged. Many local dramatic groups and traveling stock companies produced plays for years, - - George Staples, who lives near the , states that after movies en-- ( drive-in- Continued on Page 8) i The Larsons hope to restore the building to it's original beauty. Plans include restoring the intricate lighting on the building face as well as refurbishing the front plaster work and the original arched entrance. ' Known by many as one of the most stately theaters in the s seats the Huish Theater in state with is 900-plu- r' Richfield, now owned by Modern Cinema Corporation. It continues to operate full time. Skin Damage From Sun Most Likely to Happen in Spring The most dangeorus part of the year for sun damage to your skin is not necessarily the hottest part of the year, according to a leading authority on the dangers of excessive sun exposure. Dr. Myra Barker, vice president of research and development for a cosmetics firm explains that sun exposure reaches a danger peak for ultraviolet B radiation (the type generally blamed for most skin damage) on June 21 in the Northern but that can be very Hemisphere, misleading, she says. The dangers begin building up in April and May. You may think more about it in August when the temperatures top 100 degrees, but the danger of skin damage actually peaked two months earlier, according to Dr. Barker,. The dangers of excessive exposure to the sun are many. Some signs we generally consider part of the normal aging process are not really from aging as much as from being in the sun, whether the exposure was planned or not. Wrinkling is one form of skin Dr. Barker says. It is damage, caused by permanent changes in the dermis, the underlying layer of skin. Theres nothing that can be done to reverse it other than plastic surgery once it happens. Sun damage is largely cumulative and irreversible, she says. The most serious consequence of sun damage, however, is skin cancer. Dr. Barker says an estimated 300.000 S persons this year will be treated for skin cancer, and that about 5,000 of these persons will die. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease in this country, she says, and the sad part is that most of these cases are unnecessary. It is strictly a question of our personal habits and of the choices we make for ourselves in terms of sun exposure, she says. Dr. Barker also cautions against A tan only thinking a tan is healthy. looks healthy, she says. One of the most misunderstood conceptions about sunlight is that a tan is protective and once youve tanned, you no longer need a sunscreen. "This is not true. Tanning will help prevent a sunburn, but tanning increases your risk of skin aging and skin cancer. It is not protective against skin aging. It is not protective against skin cancer. Dr. Barker also offers these thoughts on related subjects. Sunburning: A sunburn is not a simple phenomenon that is temporary, hurts a while and goes away. It is permanent form of skin damage and there is evidence that severe sunburning early in life tends to increase the chance of skin cancer later. Freckling: "People who freckle are more likely to develop skin cancer than other people because freckling is a sign the skin cannot adequately pigment itself evenly. If you have children who freckle, please, please - ir! Five old vaudeville dressing rooms in the basement are still intact and plans are to restore the stage and dressing areas with an eye towards having the building available for community theatre and other activiites. -- - Application is being made to have the building listed on the National Historic Register through the Utah Heritage Foundation. The building has rented office space on both sides of the theatre entrance. A barber shop has been on the north side for many years, and the space on the south side has been a confectionery shop, a beauty shop, grocery store, and is now the Gunnison Valley News office. An apartment above the theatre was an additional source of income, but has teach them to wear a sunscreen. been vacant for years. Work has begun Acne: Many people believe acne on the kitchen area which has suffered is lessened by sun exposure. Sometimes much water damage from an attractive this is so, but there are many people but leaky skylight. The projection room whose acne doesnt improve, it gets will be enlarged, and another room worse. No one knows exactly why this is converted into a theatre office. so and its difficult to predict what will The Larsons have expanded the show happen to any one person. hours to every night at 7 p.m. except only movie theatre, the Pamela, is now closed and the building fisted for sale. Movies Safinas haven't been shown there tor sometime and the future for it reopening is rather bleak. Spotting: Those brown spots you see on the back of the hands or face that we used to call liver spots dont have anything at all to do with your liver. It has to do with sun exposure. Fortunately, there are two things the average person can do to limited damage from the sun. First, dont expose yourself to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Once the damage is done, Dr. Barker says, there is no way to undo it. Second, if youre going to be in the sun, even for short periods of time, use a sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The higher the SPF number, the greater the amount of ultraviolet radiation it will absorb before your skin is damaged. Use of a high SPF sunscreen is particularly important for persons who sunburn easily. And, Dr. Barker adds, apply the sunscreen very liberally seven to 15 minutes before you go out, and reapply it often. Dont wait until you start to redden before putting it on. The protection you will receive takes awhile to begin working. The granduer and intricacies of design are evident in this early photogrpah of the Star Theatre in Gunnison. This picture was taken shortly after it opened as the Casino in 1911. Front still has much of the artistry. |