The Gem Theater: June 2015

Introduction

Downtown Wichita Falls, Texas, in the mid 1940’s was a bustling metropolis for a boy of 7 just away from the farm and ranch community where he was born. My father, a cook and cowboy by trade, had just started as one of the first cooks for the Casa Manana restaurant in 1947. He moved us to an apartment on Ohio Street, right across from the Gem Theater, between 7^th and 8^th Streets. It’s here that we would stay for the next three years. The Gem Theater became a magic palace for a young mind. But it had to share that distinction with the rest of the magic that was Wichita Falls. I attended San Jacinto and Carrigan elementary schools, as well as Reagan Junior High, and belonged to the Boys Club on 6th Street. Please join, and share your stories and pictures through a Guest Blog, of early Wichita Falls - or your home town. Contact me at fadingshadows40@gmail.com or leave a comment. We could use old pictures of movie houses, drive-in theaters, and other nostalgic pictures related to our youths.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Comic Book Racks

Comic Book Racks. Here are more pictures of old stores with comic book racks. Remember as a kid looking through those racks?

On our block (Ohio Street) in Wichita Falls we had the Miller Drug Store where I could look through them every day. Kress’s was a block away from Ohio Street, but I usually went there every day also. Then there was the magazine exchange on 7^th Street, where comic books were two-for-a-nickel coverless or in bad shape, or a full nickel if in good condition. Ah, for those days again!

Friday, June 19, 2015

Drive-In Restaurants

The drive-ins of the 1950s, with great cars and sexy carhops, remember them?

Friday, June 12, 2015

Batman & Robin

Batman & Robin. Like most of us, I discovered Batman & Robin as a kid. I was 7 years old, in fact, when we moved to Wichita Falls and I discovered comic books and the two biggest names in comics at that time, Batman & Superman. I liked both, but Batman & Robin was it for all of us, I think. We read Superman, but deep down we wanted to be Batman or Robin. And they did have the better costumes. I remained a fan until about 1980, when I gave up all the comic books. But I still hold Batman & Robin in a special place in my heart.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Two Town Theaters

Two Town Theaters. The 4-Star Theater today, and The Rex in 1948. These are out of state theaters, but of interest to anyone who loves pictures of old theaters.

The Gem Theater