Our Past Is Present March 30, 2018

March 30, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Doug Otnes of Dwight, Kansas remembered some of the best days of his life being spent at the Junction Theater, where he worked as the projectionist from 1936 to 1939.  He also worked at the Cozy Theater, where he earned $18.00 a week.  When he began work at the Junction Theater, he earned $20.00 a week.  “That was good money for those days,” Otnes said.  A person could get in to enjoy a matinee for 15 to 20 cents or an evening show for 25 to 35 cents.  “When times got hard everyone could get in for 25 to 35 cents.” 

            The Junction, formerly known as the Dickinson Theater and before that The Uptown, opened its doors to the public on October 1, 1928.  The theater was elite for its time with three sets of plate glass doors, a tiled ticket booth with a black marble counter and plate glass windows adorned with red velvet curtains. 

            When Tex Ritter came to town for a promotion of one of his movies, he stayed at the Bartell Hotel, but was asked to move to the Harvey Hotel on East Seventh Street, because he got “sassy” about something, according to Otnes.  Mr. Otnes had opportunities to be around Tex Ritter and said he liked Tex and thought he liked Otnes.  He always called me lad, Otnes recalled.

            Old westerns are a favorite of your host.  Gene Autry and Roy Rogers were my favorites.  How about you?  Who were your favorite western movie stars?

            Well… that’s our time together today on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.