I read in yesterday's Sweetwater Reporter on-line that a task force is looking into restoring and re-opening the old Texas theatre.

I couldn't help but smile, and nod affirmatively.

My first encounter with the Texas theatre came on a Saturday morning and involved milk carton tops from Gandy's milk. (I don't even like Gandy's and have no idea where we would come up with the tops). Usually we were the guests of Mr. Walt Disney. For a long time a movie had to have his name on it before it was acceptable. I suppose Disney was a rating before G and PG, R and X, at least according to my Mom. (I think the movie theatre was another child care tool much like the interstate bridge. My Mom would drop us off and it would be almost like coordinating our watches because at a certain time the movie would be over and at a specific time she would be our front.).

A milk top, and taking serious study time to get the most for our money at the concession stand went a long way in a good Saturday morning. Usually a box of milk duds, a drink, and maybe some popcorn. In a new strategy, if we would share we could expand our tastes.

Ah, the big screen. In it's inner cloak of darkness, the theatre resembled most, but if they turned the lights on it lost it's luster. Not a very pretty site.

I can vaguely remember going to the movie at the Joy theatre in Roscoe with Uncle Wade and Freddy. We kept our feet up in the seats to keep the mice and rats from running over them! Yuk!

The Texas was the theatre through my teen years, and dating. One of my very special memories of the Texas theatre was going to see Hank Williams in Your Cheatin Heart with Uncle Wade and Aunt Judy, along with Freddy, and Steve and Becky Lincoln (I can't remember if Pat was included in that trip or not). It took a very special draw to go somewhere else. I can remember going to Colorado City with George Parks and the Boys Club to see The Alamo, (we still lost). I can remember going to the Majestic Theatre in Abilene more than once to see The Sound of Music, (once again with the boys club). I remember many trips to the gorgeous Paramount Theatre, its stars twinkling in the ceiling, and the grand opening of the Westwood theatre was major. There was the Westgate Mall theatre and several more during my college years. In fact I think Abilene used to have three or four downtown theatres that with their marquees lit up, gave the downtown area the look of the big city!

Many of the theatres were renovated during the seventies, catering to viewer comfort and smaller theatres. I had a banker once offer me 100% financing to put a new theatre in Sweetwater on Lamar street. I'm glad I didn't. That particular banker was trying to change the main flow from Broadway to Lamar, I think they had some money loaned in that area. It wasn't very many years until that banker (and the bank) were history.

The VCR made its debut at the expense of the theatre, the DVD another blow. I must confess, Krl and I have been to one movie during our dating and marriage spanning 20+ years. We will wait to see on HBO, or if we are really excited, on pay for view (now movies on demand).

Oh the thrill, to be in your seat, soft drink, popcorn, milk duds, as the curtain rolled back and the big screen came to life with "coming attractions", cartoons, and finally the main attraction. Ushers walked the aisles, flashlights in hand quieting some, seating others and of course patrolling the back rows. You could see the swirl of cigarette smoke in the air as the projector beam broke through it en route to posting the movie on the big screen.

Me, I preferred about halfway down, left hand side, aisle seat.

How about you?

FATHER, are we really progressing? Is this part of YOUR plan? Sometimes I think YOU need to save us from ourselves. I sing the song of the redeemed. Thank YOU FATHER.