TOT-MEOrORD MAIL '713X712
Sunday. Oct S3. 1844
"Take It Or Leave It," Radio Show, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
LATE
WAS PIONEER IN
THEATRE HERE
Back In 1918, a slim young
man by the name of George
Arthur Hunt first became Iden
tified In the operation of a mo
tion picture theatre in Medford
when, together with R. J.
Antle, he purchased the old
Paige and Rialto theatres.
Those were the closing days
of World War I and George
Hunt was at Camp Lewis, Wash
ington until shortly after the
armistice was signed. He then
became actively engaged In the
operation of the theatres with
Mr. Antle and the two men pre
sented valley showgoers with
not only the early "epics" of the
screen but also brought to Med
ford many of the outsanding
stars of the legitimate entertain
ment world. Among these, and
always a favorite of Mr. Hunt,
was May Robson, who appeared
here several times in different
productions. A few years ago,
while on a trip to Southern Cal
ifornia and the Hollywood stud
ios, Mr. Hunt and Miss Robson
enjoyed a reunion and compared
notes of old times.
Paige Destroyed
At 6:00 A. M., December 30,
1823, disaster overtook the part
ners when the Paige theatre was
destroyed by fire. One fireman.
Amos Willits, was killed and
Fire Chief Roy Elliott was badly
Injured, necessitating his hospit
alization for almost three
t friikintfi .t,iiiriiV4 i.liv,,
isamm
George A. Hunt
months.
In the spring of 1924, Porter
J. Neff and J. H. Cooley organ
ized the Medford Theatre Com
pany and built the building
which homes the Craterlan the
atre! The theatre was leased to
the George Hunt Co., Mr. Antle's
Interest having been purchased
by the late Julius Wolf.
Early in 1930, the George
Hunt Co. was sold to Fox West
Coast Theatres and the chain
operated the Craterlan and Ri
alto Theatres until May 1933,
when Mr. Hunt returned to Med
ford and again assumed owner
ship under the name of Geo. A.
Hunt Theatres, Inc.
Mr. Hunt's colorful career was
brought to an abrupt close on
August 31st of last year in an
automobile accident and his
death was a distinct shock to
the community and to the mo
tion picture industry.
BILL PROUTY ON
CRATERIAN STAFF
SINCE FIRST DAY
Of all the employees of the
Craterian Theatre in 1924, when
the theatre was first oponed,
the only one of the original
staff still at the theatre Is "Bill"
Prouty, chief projectionist of
the local theatres.
Bill's career in theatres goes
back 33 years, to 1911 when as
a youngster, he started working
at the Woodlawn Theatre in
Portland, using the old Edison
hand operated machines. In
1914, Bill went to Klamath
Falls to work for J. V. Huston
at the Star and Temple theatres
and, in 1919, for Harry Poole at
the Liberty theatre.
It was In 1921 that Bill came
to Medford, having been em
ployed by George Hunt to work
for him at the Paige theatre. It
is doubtful If anyone knows the
Craterian better than Bill
Prouty he watched its rise
from the very beginning and
the Craterlan has always been
watched over by Bill with Jeal
ous eyes.
Not only has he followed the
transition of motion pictures
from the crude, silent product i
in Its early stages to the mod-1
'4
Bill Prouty
em, stream-lined product of, to
day but Bill has also keen re
membrances of many "greats"
of the legitimate stage who have
appeared in Medford, at the
Paige and at the Craterlan.
Among these are the famous
musical shows Schubert's Mar
cus', and the Passing Shows
as well as Harry Lauder, Al
Jolson, 'May Robson, Ethel Bar
rymore, Eddie Cantor, George
Arliss and Kolb and Dill among
others.
And, although BUI looks back
on those early days and likes to
reminisce about them, he is also
looking forward with much ex
pectancy to the developments
that are sure to come soon after
the war is over telvision, 3rd
Dimentional film, and their like
Service Station
Gas Stamps Taken
Bupglers broke into the. Gen
eral Mobllgas Service Station,
320 West Main Street, Friday
night,- and stole a box in which
1,S00 to 2,000 gallons worth of
gas stamps were kept The sta
tion, operated by Richard Pruitt,
was entered by breaking the
window glass in the north side
of the building.
Certificates of title and re
ceipts and addresses of prospec-j
tive car buyers were also taken. ;
The cash register, which onlyj
contained small change, was not;
bothered.
COULD BE WORSE
Toledo, O. (U.R) Toledo
thieves are accommodating, Bt
least. After steeling a good tire
from Nicholas Wishowski's auto
mobile, the thief replaced it
with a badly worn one.
Congratulations
OYes, we are happy to Join in warm
est congratulations to the owners
. , and staff of the Craterian Theatre
upon this 20th Anniversary ....
WESTERN OIL &
BURNER CO.
FINE HEATING OILS
412 Cast Main St.
Phone 5266
Happy Birthday!
To our "neighbors", the management
and personnel of the Craterian, we
extend sincere congratulations and best
wishes for another 20 yean of semca
to this community!
QAltft ':
Ready-To-Wear And Millinery
17 South Central AreniM
1 C"
II VF0LL0r Trie BOYS ' i :i , J
- I
BEST
WISHES
for continued success and
long years of public service
to the management and
personnel of George A. Hunt
Theatres' fine . ,
CRATERIAN
THEATRE
Upon the
20fh ANNIVERSARY
OF THIS FINE SHOW HOUSE
O
MEDFORD
ICE & STORAGE
COMPANY
MEDFORD, OREGON
CITY CLEANING
& DYEING WORKS
324 West Sixth Street
Extends
CONGRATULATIONS
To the CRATERIAN
Medford is Justly proud of this fine
playhouse and recognises the iina con
tributions that have been made by
theatres here in the life of this community!
BEST WISHES
To the management and tha
entire staff of Hunt's Craterian
Theatre upon the completion
of 20 successful years in this
community.. May success be
yours in years ahead!
COMMERCIAL
PRINTING CO.
30 North Grapa
Phone 4545
The
HOTEL
HOLLAND
.
Extends Best Wishes To The Manage
ment And Personnel of The
CRATERIAN
THEATRE
Upon The 20th Birthday sf
This Popular Medford Show Hosss
Upon Tha Occasion Of Tha
CRATER. AN 'S
2Q)th.
ANNIVERSARY
We Pay Tribute To
GEO. A. HUNT
Medford people will net seen
iorget the late founder of the
Ceorae A. Hunt Theatres . .
this kindly, gtnial. publle-tplrlt-d
man who brought the finest of
entertainment to this valley and
helped in every worthy public
movement. Yes. we pay tribute to ,
George upon this occasion and
with those who carry on for him
success and pood luck I
BROWN'S
CAFE AND BILLIARDS
WMATUlnTIONS
GEORGE A. HUNT THEATRES
Upon The 20tlta.
OF
THE
All southern Oregon salutes the owners and operators of Tha Craterlan
upon this 20th Birthday. This theatre one of Oregon's best
has offered the finest of entertainment for tha people of thi
community through tha years. This Agency Is happy to extend to
all who are' associated with George A. Hunt Theatres and especially
tha Craterian sincere wishes for continued success!
mm
bl mm
123 East Main
Phone 3446