The Ellaville Sun Friday, August 5, 1938 No. 6 SCHLEY SLANTS by Raymond Duncan RECALLS OLD DAYS Showing of a tent movie house here this week recalls the days of less than a decade ago when canvas-top theatres thrilled sell-out audiences in country towns. Only a few still carry on the hopeless fight against a changed entertainment world. They roll into the small towns almost unnoticed, show worn films--mostly "westerns"---several nights before sparse crowds and rumble off to the next disappointment. These ghost troupes may blame talkies for their deaths. The talkies, and the highways and the automobiles. This trio brought modern theatres to places that previously had gone along hoping a tent unit would pass through, and attracted people from the far reaches of the backwoods country to them. "THE SHOW IS COMING" Advance notice of the coming of a canvas theatre and alert publicity men gave the word two weeks or more before the showing, created lots of excitement in the old days. The promotion man bought large space in the county seat newspaper, plastered every store with vividly-colored posters and, when the week's run had started, delivered circulars at each house. Everybody made plans to go just about every night, for it might be a long time before another such opportunity came. The "show" reached town on Sunday afternoon and, like the well-known circus story, the town's small boys were on the lot early Monday morning. The luckier ones were hired to help lace the tent. They got passes, and the fun of hearing the men cuss. Not that the others who stood by and watched the raising couldn't hear them too, but they couldn't hear them as often and didn't feel the fraternal spirit. THERE WAS A "CONCERT" A small brass band began a "concert" in front of the play house about 45 minutes before the show was to open each night. The musicians wore red coats and white breeches and caps to match. They use a sound wagon these days. Inside, white general admission customers kept to the right, negroes to the left, and the better seats in the middle demanded reserved seat tickets. Before the show, hawkers sold candy containing "valuable prizes" while a man drummed a piano that somehow was never in tune. And somehow he always played the same general tune every night. The program consisted of a several-reel movie which of course had to be stopped at the most leimactic (climatic?) stages for changing the reels----and a vaudeville performance afterwards. Along towards the latter part of the week, the announcer who stepped out between the motion picture and vaudeville acts to boost coming attractions had to use high-pressure talk, for every night trips to the box offices were draining! the family's pleasure money. And little boys and girls sometimes had to do the same thing at home. Modernity has left few youngsters who become wide-eyed over the prospect of seeing a movie, and still fewer who know the old urge to crowd the tent theatres. BIRTHDAY WISHES August 1 was a birthday for Jeanette Barwick and Suzanne Wilson, Norman Manning, Hoser Perry. Miss Frances Rainey and Mrs. Elizabeth Smith observed anniversaries August 2. A.L. DeVane observed one July 26. UNCOVERS "BASKET" Mr. Coleman Daniel, foreman of a WPA ditch digging project here uncovered a freak root growth this week. The roots grew in the form of a basket nine inches in diameter and three inches in height. MONTEZUMA MAN HELD FOR SLAYING Irvin Clark about 35, Montezuma barber, was being held Thursday for the slaying there Wednesday afternoon of R.L. Britt, Montezuma business man after ill feeling over a 35-cent account. Chief of Police R.R. Beeland said no argument preceded the shooting which occurred at Britt's place of business, but they previously had disagreed because Britt refused to pay a 35-cent account which Clark claimed he owed him. The barber admitted firing the two shots which pierced Britt's chest and caused his death about 10 minutes later. COUNTY WILL BUILD BUCK CREEK BRIDGE Cost of Project Will be From $8,000 to $12,000 Work will be begun soon on construction of a creosoted timber bridge over Buck Creek on the new upper turnpike route. County commissioners voted Tuesday to build the bridge for the state post roads commission. Cost will be between $8,000 and $12,000 and public roads camp labor will be used. Work will be started as soon as final plans are received here, Chairman C.S. Wall of the county board of commissioners said. MISS MARTHA STRANGE ENTERTAINS FRIENDS AT PING PONG PARTY Miss Martha Strange was hostess at an enjoyable ping pong party Monday night. Mixed garden flowers decorated the entertaining rooms. At the conclusion of the games, Julian Gill was presented a carton of Coca-Cola as tournament winner. Delicious punch was served throughout the evening. The guests included Mr. and Mrs. Frank Alexander, Dr. and Mrs. Arch Avary, Mrs. A.C. Kimble, Roney Jordan, Edwards Murray, Misses Wynelle and Eloise Johnson, Misses Frances and Virginia Rainey, Julian Gill, Joe Gettys, T.H. Stevens, Jr., W.R. McDonald and Julian Strange. end # 6