Editor’s note:
Every small southern town must have a “picture show,” at least most did and do. Cleveland, Mississippi, did and does. In fact, at one time, our small Delta town had several theaters. But the theater that saw most of us through several decades was the Ellis.
The old Ellis building is presently being readied (that means fund-raising) for renovation to create an arts complex. As a part of the publicity, Ye Editor was asked to write a story about Ellis Theater memories -- so she sent out a call for help.
And did the help roll in. So many former Clevelanders had memories to share. Don’t omit a page of these comments. (Links are below.) The remarks are great fun, whether readers grew up in Cleveland, Mississippi, or not. Enjoy!
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The Ellis Theater was a landmark place of my youth. Back in ninth grade about 1963, my first real date was to the ‘picture show.’ It was also the first time I’d ever held hands with a boy. The Ellis was old, dark, and plushy. I remember the smell of popcorn mixed with English Leather and the warmth of a hand holding mine until it was numb. Sweet days! I started ‘going steady’ and went to the Ellis every Friday night, except during football and basketball seasons, to watch those good old movies wrapped in ‘60s culture.
We didn’t see brand new movies back then; all the new releases made the rounds before arriving in our small town theater. I remember Bridge on the River Kwai with its catchy whistling tune and The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! starring the girl who did Summer Blonde commercials. Spy shows were big—From Russia With Love and Goldfinger, with Agent 007, James Bond. There were Elvis movies, Beatle movies, and Gidget and Moondoggie movies. Then there were the classics: Dr. Zhivago, The Sound of Music, The Graduate. Who could forget The Blob and the scary I Saw What You Did (and I Know Who You Are)?
How did I ever, ever sit through all those silly summer beach movies with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon? About eighty percent of my dating was done at the Ellis; after all, there was absolutely nothing else to do in Cleveland!
The Ellis Theater was a place of "firsts" for me. The first movie my daddy and I went to see together was "Old Yeller," and we both cried. The first time I was allowed to walk to town was to a matinee on Saturday afternoon at the Ellis. My first date was to a double feature at the Ellis with David Clark and we doubled with A. B. Cox and Jennifer Holman. I had to be home by 10:00, which meant getting up in the middle of the second feature to get me home on time. The first time I realized how differently African-Americans were treated in the South was at the Ellis – they had to sit in the balcony.
I was born in Cleveland and moved away in 1968.
I remember several things about the Ellis Theater. I remember going to see the "Tingler" movie with Vincent Price and discovering that the theater had put buzzers under some of the seats that would buzz at scary times during the movie. I wasn’t lucky enough to have an 'electric chair,' but it was fun watching those who did.The Ellis was where I first watched James Bond (Goldfinger) with the original 007 Sean Connery. I've been a fan since.
On a more serious and less attractive note, I remember the divided balcony and the "colored" box office at the side of the building.
The Ellis Theater was about the one and only source of entertainment my freshman year at Delta State. (1963) As freshmen, we were not allowed to have a car on campus unless we submitted the keys to our dorm mother, and then we could use the car only to travel home; therefore, we had to hitch rides to and from the theater. My good friend (I called him "Big Brother") would pick up all of us girls and haul us to the movie, and if he could not get back to get us, he made sure one of his friends did and delivered us safe and sound back to the dorm BEFORE curfew time – quite a different story for the life of freshmen these days, huh?
Well, as you know, I had already put the comments of how "nasty" the bathroom was in that picture show in my Memories story, but you chose not to mention that! I guess we want good comments. Of course, I remember the balcony that was split into two halves – one side for the blacks, and that is the only place they could sit! I do remember that the "dates" or couples that wanted to smooch always sat in the dark in the balcony – rarely did any "singles" ever go up there. Of course, the ushers, with the flashlights, made us keep our feet down off the seats.
There was a stage, and I think we had some special events there before the movies or at intermission, and they were like talent shows. Once people could go up on the stage and dance during the intermission and they put on music, but most people were too embarrassed to do that, as I recall. I remember they had Elvis's first movie there and had tons of souvenirs in the lobby to buy. We used to get Red Hots and put them in our Cokes, and sometimes we floated peanuts in the bottled Cokes.
I remember the concessions stand in the lobby; we got fresh popcorn (in little white sacks) and later boxes. We loved the Milk Duds and the Holloway suckers on a stick! (Also the Sugar Babies in the bag.) Of course, I remember the marquee with the florescent lights and the little light bulbs that went around the marquee and the big black letters on the marquee. I remember being forbidden to see Peyton Place, as Mom thought it was too racy, and then Granny Emma took me to see Gone With the Wind when it first came out – I think I was still in elementary school or maybe Jr. High. That movie was loooonnnnggggg and mostly boring to me at that age. But Granny, being a 4th grade teacher, thought it very educational. I always liked the plush velvet seats and the designs on the lobby carpet, too. I believe they had big glass boxes with movie posters on the outside for the "upcoming" features, and we would park by the curb, jump out and check them out.
In the 50’s we paid 15 cents to get in on Saturday afternoon; I think night movies were 25 cents. I remember The Lone Ranger, Gene Autry, Tom Mix, and Flash Gordon. They came on as shorts before the feature, usually. Flash Gordon was a serial, and we had to go every Saturday to keep up with what was going on with that one. I think they also had some sort of "drawings," and we looked at the # on our ticket stubs to win. They tore our tickets in half and put one half in a big plexiglass barrel and rolled that thing around and then drew one. (Or maybe I'm wrong on that.) But we had drawings to win stuff!
I have many fond memories of the Ellis Theater, but they are mostly routine. One thing unusual I do remember is the balcony. At the Delta Theater in Ruleville, the balcony was reserved for Blacks, and I always wanted to sit up there, but couldn't. The Ellis solved that problem by partitioning the balcony. White folks sat on one side of the partition and black folks on the other so both got to enjoy the movie during this time of segregation.
I remember when I was 12 – but claiming to still be 11 so I could get in for less. Babe Ellis was selling tickets. She asked me how old I was and I told her 11. Well, she had known me all my life and wanted to know when my birthday was. Never being too good in math, I told her the wrong birthdate and suddenly I was 12. I was so embarrassed! I paid the extra and went in with a lot of shame . . . primarily because I got caught!
Hmmm, memories of the Ellis Theater – now THAT's gonna take some work!
How ‘bout these? Fifteen-cent movies on Saturday. Watching the newsreels before the ‘pitcher show.’ 3 Stooges and listening to Jody Correro howling in laughter. Playing up in the balcony. Wondering why the balcony was sectioned off (black/white). Trying to find a seat in the dark. Aching to make a trip to the head, but fearing missing 'the good part'!
The “picture show” memories came pouring in!
Click these links to read all the comments:
ELLIS THEATER MEMORIES – I -- Bettye
ELLIS MEMORIES – II -- Ann, KDD, Jim G., Paula, Don and Jim T.
ELLIS MEMORIES – III -- Gusty, Harvey, Buddy, Noel, Delia and Ken
ELLIS MEMORIES – IV -- Kathy, Lonnye Sue, Mick, Pat, Pam, Nancy, Tom, Eileen and Kent
ELLIS MEMORIES – V -- Clista, Eddie, Linda, Andy, Rosebud, George, Lamar and Marynell
For more movie theater stories at USADS, visit these pages:
Hail to the Chief Drive In Movie by Lonnye Sue Sims Pearson
Moorhead Picture Show by Jim Harrison
The Delta Theater by Tom Givens
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or write Ye Editor at bethjacks@hotmail.com.
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