King Theatre—The King of Theatres
Click on photos to enlarge.
Exterior shot, late 1930s
Originally, the theater had 550 seats on the main floor and 200 in the balcony, for a total of 750. In 1999, rocking seats were installed. Today, the total capacity is 500. Milton operated the King Theatre until 1959, retiring at the age of 90. Roy and Jeanne, who met while working at the theater in the late 30s as manager and ticket seller respectively, took over the theater in 1960. Their son Steve has owned the theater since 2000. |
Moviegoers lined up outside the theater
Exact date unknown, but the sign Cash Prizes Every Tuesday Night, indicates the 1930s when films changed 4 times a week, with westerns on Saturday and bank night (a popular lottery game franchise during the Great Depression) on Tuesday. The marquee pictured here was replaced in the 1950s. |
The Black Bird Grill
Patrons could purchase a plate lunch or an evening dinner (both with meat, potatoes, vegetable salad, and bread) for 35 cents. The fountain menu ( left) shows the variety of ice cream treats and sodas available--from Fancy Sundaes to Fancy Drinks. Hungry patrons could purchase lunch and a dessert and have change left over from their dollar. |
All Talking Sign
The sign is from an unknown theater that went from showing silent films to showing talkies after adding sound. The original projection used in the King Theatre was a carbon-arc, two projector 35mm system. In 1978, a xenon single projector automated platter system was installed. A digital projection system was installed in 2012, replacing the 35 mm film format. |