The Gem Theater: July 2016

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.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Mighty Mouse

Okay, I admit it, I was a huge fan of any comic book with Mighty Mouse inside even through my teenage years. He was my hero. I even learned to draw using Might Mouse as a model. But those were long ago days, and my illustrious art period is long past. But I still like the character.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

The Marvel Family

Although the first comic books I ever found were Superman and Batman at 7 years old, and were my first heroes, I became a fan of The Marvel Family by my teenage years. This issue has a good cover featuring the whole Marvel family. Actually, Mary Marvel was my favorite of the series, though.