In the mid 1950s I worked for the owner, Earl Balthazar (sp?), doing a wide series of rather menial tasks. I took tickets, hauled in the boxes of candy, cleaned up after the ponies, changed the film names on the roadside sign, rewound films and sometimes met the truck that brought us new features to make the exchange.
It was not much, but it was “Show Biz” and a real thrill for a high school boy.
One of my earliest paying jobs in the 1950s was washing the Cadillac belonging to the owner of the Pacific Theatre, Earl Balthazar (sp?).
Later I increased my activities to include carrying in the candy, filling the popcorn hopper, and helping out in the projection room.
On quiet weeknights I was even trusted to act as “Manager”… which meant I took tickets.
Power outages were frequent in Reedsport at that time and there was some sort of arrangement for alternative power from the E.K.Wood sawmill. One of the duties of the “Manager” was to, flashlight in hand, assure the patrons that the film would continue as soon as possible and then go and throw a huge knife switch located in an area behind the screen.
It was a wonderful place, or so I thought at the time… and I got to watch all three programs each week… and got paid besides.
In the mid 1950s I worked for the owner, Earl Balthazar (sp?), doing a wide series of rather menial tasks. I took tickets, hauled in the boxes of candy, cleaned up after the ponies, changed the film names on the roadside sign, rewound films and sometimes met the truck that brought us new features to make the exchange.
It was not much, but it was “Show Biz” and a real thrill for a high school boy.
One of my earliest paying jobs in the 1950s was washing the Cadillac belonging to the owner of the Pacific Theatre, Earl Balthazar (sp?).
Later I increased my activities to include carrying in the candy, filling the popcorn hopper, and helping out in the projection room.
On quiet weeknights I was even trusted to act as “Manager”… which meant I took tickets.
Power outages were frequent in Reedsport at that time and there was some sort of arrangement for alternative power from the E.K.Wood sawmill. One of the duties of the “Manager” was to, flashlight in hand, assure the patrons that the film would continue as soon as possible and then go and throw a huge knife switch located in an area behind the screen.
It was a wonderful place, or so I thought at the time… and I got to watch all three programs each week… and got paid besides.