The Gem Theater: July 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.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Back In The Day

Back in the day. After playing outside all day, I would come in to listen to The Shadow or Gunsmoke on the radio, and look through comic books. What do kids to today?

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Mighty Mouse

Mighty Mouse. Okay, another one of my favorite comic books was Mighty Mouse. I practiced art by illustrating Mighty Mouse, and got pretty good at drawing his image as a teenager.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

The Marvel Family

The Marvel Family. Although my first heroes were Batman and Superman, when I discovered the Marvel Family, I became a big fan. Mary Marvel was probably my first love (sigh).

The Gem Theater