Earle Theatre

The Earle was a “second run” center city theater. In the late 50s, a local radio station sponsored Saturday matinees that featured auctions, ticket drawings and guest appearances of teen idols. Kids brought labels and bottle caps of certain local products to the showings in exchange for “dollars” that they’d use to bid on auction items. I won a bicycle in one week’s ticket drawing and opted to take $50 ($440 today) instead of the bike. I also saw my first rock stars there, Fabian and Frankie Avalon.