Our Past Is Present June 29, 2017

June 29, 2017

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

            The Cozy Theater opened in November of 1918.  It replaced the Aurora Theater, which had been established on the site in 1917.  The Cozy had the finest motion picture equipment in the Midwest and a new brown brick façade, which showed the influence of the Prairie Style of architecture, which originated with the Chicago architects Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. 

            The Cozy Theater opened during the era of silent films.  Mrs. George Brown was hired to play the piano to provide background music for the films.  She was often joined by a trumpet player and a violin player.  The trio received cue sheets with each new film in order to appropriately accompany the action on the screen. 

            When you take a walk and visit Junction City’s downtown district, look up at the top of the building at 616 North Washington and you will still see the word “Cozy” carved in the stone. This building is number 32 of the 41 buildings highlighted in our free pamphlet titled “A Walking Tour”.  Stop by and pick up a copy and take a walk through our downtown. Reflect on the beauty of the architecture of the buildings and appreciate that “Our Past IS Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.