Rains Co.TX Moving Pictures Come to the County
By 1900 motion pictures had become a popular attraction in amusement arcades, music halls, traveling fairs, wax museums, and vaudeville theaters. By 1910 theater owners began to direct their efforts to the middle class and, hence, created the most profitable mass entertainment industry.The earliest mention of this type of entertainment in Rains County is found in the spring of 1912 when the people of Rains County are notified that "Mr. H.W. Green has arranged a pleasant place for his moving picture exhibition just south of the Edwards building on Railroad Street. He had the territory between this building and the picture gallery enclosed with a high wall and seated and is giving some good entertainments. (The Rains County Leader, April 14, 1912)
The picture show last night is said to be a bum affair by those who attended. (The Rains County Leader, May 16, 1913) Moving Pictures
There will be a High Class Moving Picture Show in Emory every night next week, interspersed with music by the band, which gets one-third of the proceeds. Our people do not often have a chance to see as good a show as this and our band boys will appreciate the help it will be to them. Admission 15 cents. (The Rains County Leader, August 15, 1913)The moving picture show, which was in Emory last week, had an overflowing tent Saturday night, and the audience seemed to be well pleased. They are doing their stunt in Golden this week. (The Rains County Leader, August 22, 1913) Harkey Buys Movies
L.H. Harkey has bought the moving picture outfit from Mr. Potts of Wolfe City, who has been operating the show here the past two weeks. Mr. Harkey will continue the show business here, and we understand he expects to locate it in a new brick building soon. Well let er go, Lester, but p-l-e-a-s-e dont forget to send around those comps. (The Rains County Leader, September 19, 1913)Gigantic Special Feature Program
On Friday night, October 17th, The Emoryl will put on a Special Feature Program, the entire proceeds to benefit the Emory Brass Band. 4,000 feet of Special Features Western, Dramatic and Comical Scenes. Music by the Band. Admission 10 cents.
(The Rains County Leader, October 17, 1913)A lamp explosion at the home of L.O. Burnside last Friday did considerable damage and came very near burning up the house. The family was at The Emoryl but fortunately some men passing saw the fire and went in and extinguished it. A dresser, the window shades and several other things were ruined. (The Rains County Leader, October 24, 1913)
The Emoryl
The management of the Emoryl, Emorys best and only playhouse, has contracted for a new home. D.J. Nabors will have a 28x75 foot building erected on the west side of the square to be occupied by the Emoryl under a five-year contract. The tiling, or hollow fire proof brick, manufactured at Ginger, will be used in the construction of the building, and they expect to have it completed in twenty or thirty days. The building will be a nice one, with inclined floor and have a regular show stage. The purpose of the management of the Emoryl is to have a building in which to accommodate small opera troops that may want to make Emory, and the Leader is sure our people will appreciate the efforts the Emoryl is making to please. Let the old town grow. (The Rains County Leader, October 31, 1913)The Emoryl
Tuesday Nights, Thursday Nights, Saturday Nights
Something good each night
Neal of the Navy, Saturday nights
(The Rains County Leader, November 14, 1913)Recital
Music and Expression by pupils of Miss Odeal Reeves
Reading Opening address&&&..Emerson by Miss Bessie Ivie
Piano Moonlight Ore the Sea&&..Heins by Miss Irene Cox
Duet Day Dreams of Youth&&..Harnish by Misses Allie and May Alexander
Piano Angels Twilight Serenade&&.Crabb by Miss Claudia Ivie
Reading When Mama was a Little Girl by Miss Mavis Pirtle
Piano Bright Star of Heaven&&.Kimball by Miss Leta Rogers
Piano Farewell to the Alps&&Bohn by Miss Rosa Reeves
Piano Coming Thru the Rye&..Bellak by Miss Bessie Ivie
Reading Miss January Jones Womans Rights by Miss Allie Alexander
Piano Sweet Hours of Prayer&&.Butler by Miss May Alexander
Piano Loves Golden Dream&&Sawyer by Miss Lola Woosley
Piano Tin Soldier March&&Fearis by Miss Mavis Pirtle
Piano Spinning Song&&&.Ellmenrich by Miss Aletha Amis
Piano Home of the Soul&&&.Allen by Miss Willie Duffey
Reading When Huldy Spics her Beau by Miss Rosa Reeves
Duet Scherzo&&&Merz by Misses Mavis Pirtle and Bessie Ivie
Piano A Dream of the South&&..Lincoln by Mrs. J.B. Reeves
Solo When a College Boy Meets a College Girl&&.Morse by Miss Lola Woosley
Piano Bells at Eventide&&&Koeling by Miss Allie Alexander
Reading Closing Address by J.T. Reeves, Jr.
Place Emoryl Theatre tonight (Dec. 19th)
(The Rains County Leader, December 19, 1913)By 1916 The Emoryl was showing features on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. The theater was located in the town of Emory, evidently in the same place as Mr. Green had shown moving pictures four years earlier; "John Henry has moved his pressing parlor to the Edwards building North of the Emory Theatre, where he invites his friends to call on him." (The Rains County Leader, October 12, 1917) The Crimson Wing, a high class feature in six acts was shown at the Emoryl on Friday, March 24th for the price of 20 cents to all. Movie serials were also shown; the "Secret of the Submarine" is the title of the next serial at the Emoryl - Thursday nights. (The Rains County Leader, October 27, 1916)
The local theater was used for other gatherings and public performances as well. "Piano recital given by Miss Dixon and pupils, assisted by Miss Margaret E. Dixon and Mr. Ben Mercer, at the Emoryl Wednesday night. Program:
Feathered Songsters (Haenens) - Mildred Dixon and Irene Cox
Poppies (Graufield) - Carl Whittle
Courtship Under Difficulties -- Margaret Dixon
Melody in F (Rubenstein) - Mavis Pirtle and Mildred Dixon
Serenade (Smith) - Lola Woosley
Signs of Spring (Spaulding) - Carl Whittle
The Swallows - Ilma Rodes
The Sunshine of Your Smile - Mr. Mercer
Fanfare (Bohm) - Irene Cox and Ilma Rodes
Il Trovatore (arr. by Williams) - Ruby Henslee
Roudo Burlesque (Kuhlan) - Lola Woosley
When Jack Comes Late - Margaret Dixon
Valse Arabesque (Lach) - Irene Cox
My Little Girl - Mr. Mercer with chorus" (The Rains County Leader, April 7, 1916)During the summer "The pupils of Mrs. T.R. Potts' music class gave a recital at the Emoryl Tuesday night. Those who attended reported an excellent program well rendered." (The Rains County Leader, June 30, 1916)
Mr. L.H. Harkey was manager of the Emoryl and published the following notice.
"To the Patrons of the Emoryl Picture Show:
With the end in view of securing better order in the picture show, we have decided to suspend the free list and charge every person, regardless of age, except infants in arms. This step is taken in the hope that better order will be had, as many complaints have been made to us with reference to the bad order that has been observed heretofore, and we hope that our patrons will appreciate our efforts
to the extend that they will assist us in every way possible in preserving order in the future.
Respectfully, L.H. Harkey, Manager."
(The Rains County Leader, April 28, 1916)During these early beginnings of motion pictures, concerned parents and citizens voiced their reservations about the content of the films as shown by the following unsigned article published in the local paper.
Moving Picture Shows
Editor Leader: One of the greatest forces for good or evil of today is the moving picture show. Almost every little town and city in this great land have from one to several hundred of these shows. They are open to the public practically every evening, and in many places they are also allowed to do business on Sunday evenings. Now, it is not my purpose to condemn moving picture shows in general. I realize that proper moving picture shows may have considerable educational value. But it is my intention to sound a warning note in regard to these moving pictures that are often sent out which ought not to be exhibited where children are allowed to be present. The power of suggestion is tremendous. Psychologists are realizing this fact more and more almost every day. And at no age is this power greater than in childhood, when the mind is plastic and easily influenced. Pictures which represent holdups, burglaries, and trickery of any kind are responsible for many commitments to the jail or penitentiary, for they leave suggestions in the minds of the young which sooner or latter tends to work themselves out in such crimes. It is a well known truth that a child is an imitative being. Every child will unconsciously imitate that which it admires. If, then, the hero in a moving picture is represented as committing some act of trickery without being caught, how very natural that the child should try to do likewise. Since then we have this force with us, would it not be well for us as parents to keep a vigilant eye on our children lest they see pictures which are full of suggestions.
(The Rains County Leader, October 20, 1916)