The Theater
The Pastime theater was built by Mr. Nedry around 1913. N.J. Nielsen became the proprietor in 1917 and operated it until 1941 when he sold it to Carl Rupe who renamed it "The Roxy". During the early days of "The Pastime Theater", it served as the civic center for countless activities. Mr. Nielsen, who was known as N.J. to everyone in the area, offered the use of the 'show hall', as it was commonly called, to numberous civic groups for it was the only place in town which could accommodate large crowds. In the 1920's it was a popular place not only for its weekend silent movies, but for vaudeville shows, basketball games, boxing matches (the Herman brothers of Waskish used to put on some exciting exhibitions there}; "Ole Skratholt's" orchestra played for some dances, as did the local orchestra whose members were Cash Murphy, Homer Whiting, Mr. Melby, Maurinus Kaupanger, the Stortroens (Morris and Bill) from Saum} and Solveig Nielsen who played the piano.
After a movie on Saturday night, the folding chairs were quickly stacked in a corner, except for those needed along the walls where the ladies would sit, patiently waiting for the right guys to ask them to dance. The floors were swept and the dance came to life. Whee! What fun! The Charleston dance became popular; people hummed and sang such favorites as Stumbling, Linger Awhile, Doodle Doo Doo, Sleepy Time Gal, My Blue Heaven, I'm sorry I Made You Cry, The Sheik of Araby and many others. Among the famous movies stars of the early 1920's were Gloria Swanson, Lon Chaney, Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow and Charlie Chaplin.
The show hall was also used for the first church services and Sunday School for Our Savior's Lutheran Church before the present church was built. High School and 8th grad graduation exercises, basketball practices, and various programs as well as school plays were held in the theater building. Remember the heavy curtain that sometimes came down with a band at the end of a performance? On it was painted a scenic picture, in the center, surrounded by interesting ads of local business.
N.J.'s daughter, Solveig, played the piano for the silent movies until the advent of the 'talkies' in about 1928. At times she'd become so engrossed in the picture, she'd forget to play; the blinking of the piano light by her dad would quickly get her back to her duty. If the hero chased the villain, her fingers beat like mad as she banged a wild crescendo till the good guy got the bad. Sometimes the show was funny - Charlie Chaplin convulsed his audience with his hilarious antics - then the music fairly chuckled; there were sad scenes, and eerie ones, and fast ones with Indians and cowboys on horseback, war scenes, dance scenes and oh, the love scenes, when she played a tender song soft and sweet to match the lines. The munching of crackerjacks, and the rustle of candy and gum wrappers added to the atmosphere, as did the excitement of the little ones who fought for places in the front rows, and who yelled, screamed and laughed aloud. Lumberjacks came to town once a month to 'live it up'. It was not unusual for one or more o walk up front to Solveig and plunk a silver dollar on the piano keys and ask her to play a favorite tune reminiscent of home or a sweetheart. Solveig used those tips to buy more music pieces from Sear Roebuck.
There were some viewers who chose not to enjoy the comforts of a seat inside the theater. They saw the movie free by arranging a very precarious stand outside beneath the high windows. Occasionally there could be hear a crash and convulsive laughter outside, when the weight of the 'audience' was too much for the stacked up boxes. But the free show was enjoyed piecemeal in hot or below zero weather by several of the innovative teenagers in town back in the '20's.
The crowning achievement of the Pastime, was the arrival of the talking movies in 1928 and with them the introduction of theme songs such as Sonny Boy, Ramona, Rock-a-by Your Baby with a Dixie Melody, Over the Rainbow and many others. Outstanding movies were Ben Hur, Gone with the Wind, Ramona, Wizard of Oz, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, etc. You name the star, silent or talking, and they appeared at the Pastime or Roxy since before World War I.
The theater building has been closed since the last movies were shown in 1964. It gradually deteriorated and was demolished the week end of March 25, 1978, when it gave its last performance ever.
After a movie on Saturday night, the folding chairs were quickly stacked in a corner, except for those needed along the walls where the ladies would sit, patiently waiting for the right guys to ask them to dance. The floors were swept and the dance came to life. Whee! What fun! The Charleston dance became popular; people hummed and sang such favorites as Stumbling, Linger Awhile, Doodle Doo Doo, Sleepy Time Gal, My Blue Heaven, I'm sorry I Made You Cry, The Sheik of Araby and many others. Among the famous movies stars of the early 1920's were Gloria Swanson, Lon Chaney, Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow and Charlie Chaplin.
The show hall was also used for the first church services and Sunday School for Our Savior's Lutheran Church before the present church was built. High School and 8th grad graduation exercises, basketball practices, and various programs as well as school plays were held in the theater building. Remember the heavy curtain that sometimes came down with a band at the end of a performance? On it was painted a scenic picture, in the center, surrounded by interesting ads of local business.
N.J.'s daughter, Solveig, played the piano for the silent movies until the advent of the 'talkies' in about 1928. At times she'd become so engrossed in the picture, she'd forget to play; the blinking of the piano light by her dad would quickly get her back to her duty. If the hero chased the villain, her fingers beat like mad as she banged a wild crescendo till the good guy got the bad. Sometimes the show was funny - Charlie Chaplin convulsed his audience with his hilarious antics - then the music fairly chuckled; there were sad scenes, and eerie ones, and fast ones with Indians and cowboys on horseback, war scenes, dance scenes and oh, the love scenes, when she played a tender song soft and sweet to match the lines. The munching of crackerjacks, and the rustle of candy and gum wrappers added to the atmosphere, as did the excitement of the little ones who fought for places in the front rows, and who yelled, screamed and laughed aloud. Lumberjacks came to town once a month to 'live it up'. It was not unusual for one or more o walk up front to Solveig and plunk a silver dollar on the piano keys and ask her to play a favorite tune reminiscent of home or a sweetheart. Solveig used those tips to buy more music pieces from Sear Roebuck.
There were some viewers who chose not to enjoy the comforts of a seat inside the theater. They saw the movie free by arranging a very precarious stand outside beneath the high windows. Occasionally there could be hear a crash and convulsive laughter outside, when the weight of the 'audience' was too much for the stacked up boxes. But the free show was enjoyed piecemeal in hot or below zero weather by several of the innovative teenagers in town back in the '20's.
The crowning achievement of the Pastime, was the arrival of the talking movies in 1928 and with them the introduction of theme songs such as Sonny Boy, Ramona, Rock-a-by Your Baby with a Dixie Melody, Over the Rainbow and many others. Outstanding movies were Ben Hur, Gone with the Wind, Ramona, Wizard of Oz, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, etc. You name the star, silent or talking, and they appeared at the Pastime or Roxy since before World War I.
The theater building has been closed since the last movies were shown in 1964. It gradually deteriorated and was demolished the week end of March 25, 1978, when it gave its last performance ever.
