Lee's Traveller April 10, 1963 |
Ready for Shipment! The 1965 Silver Sabre on CD-ROM Your wait is over. Thanks to Cherri Polly Massey's generous loan of her own precious 1965 yearbook, the long awaited 1965 Silver Sabre CD is finished. For those of my class, the Class of 1964, here is a golden opportunity for you to own a yearbook and see how the juniors turned into seniors and followed in our footsteps down the hallowed halls of Lee High School. For the Classes of 1965 and 1966 here is your chance to replace the lost or never purchased yearbook of your highschool days. I am taking orders for the yearbooks in the Souvenir Shop. The price is $10 which includes shipping. The CD includes JPG photos, a Microsoft Word 2000 version of the yearbook, and an Adobe Acrobat PDF file of the same. Please click on the link below to go to the Souvenir Shop to order your's now. The following people had their notices bounce back for bad e-mail addresses: Arnold Clinton Anderson Annalee Milburn Hughes |
Est. March 31, 2000 15,908 Previous Hits September 24, 2001 Editor:Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Page Hits This Issue e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu |
This website maintained by Tommy Towery Class of '64 |
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Do You Remember... The Lyric Theater? by Tommy Towery I was eight years old and lived at 505 East Clinton when I first started going to the Lyric Theater alone. I would walk there from my house, usually by myself, from the time I was in the second grade at East Clinton School until I was in high school. Sometimes I would walk home by myself when the evening movie was over near 10pm. My fondest memories of the Lyric are: Going to see "Alice In Wonderland" with my grandmother and getting so scared when Alice started falling down the hole that I started crying and made her take me home before we saw the rest of the movie. Taking my Grandmother to see a John Wayne film there, which was the last movie I ever saw with her in a theater. Taking Golden Flake Potato Chip bags on a Saturday morning to get into the Cartoon Carnivals "free". Going to see "Forbidden Planet" there with a "free" ticket I got from a round box of Quaker Oats Oatmeal. That movies changed three or four times a week. The big movies started on a Sunday and ran through Wednesday. Then there was a movie on Thursday and Friday, and then there were sometimes two movies on Saturday usually a double-feature movie matinee and then a different one on Saturday night. That a normal movie visit included the feature film, sometimes a short like The Three Stooges or The Man Behind the Eight Ball, a color cartoon, the Movietone News of the Week, and the Previews of Coming Attractions. Many times the feature film was a double feature with two movies. The candy they sold, especially buying candy "Prize Boxes" which had saltwater taffy candy and a "prize" toy inside. I also remember candy that you can't find anymore most places, like Long Boy Kraut and 5th Avenues. When they got the first automatic drink machine where you put in a dime and pushed a button and you got your own soft drink in a paper cup. I also remember how mad we got when the cup didn't fall right and all the drink ran over the cup instead of inside it. That sometimes you would be sitting there and unannounced films were shown as "Sneak Previews". These were really sneaked in because they were not advertised and you never knew when they would show up. I saw "Gigi" at such a showing. The Crazy Races shorts on Saturday mornings where you were given a ticket when you entered the door with a number between 1 and 15 (I think) on it and they showed a race on the screen and if you had the number of the winner of the race, then you got a prize. They only had a limited number of race movies, but each movie had many different endings so the same number did not win the same race each time you saw it. I won one time and they had run out of prizes on the stage, but the manager took me up to the office and found me modeling clay set for my prize. The Saturday morning Talent Shows especially the one I won one Saturday by singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame". It was only later that I found out that my brother Don scurried through the isles and campaigned for me with all of his friends. With his friends and my friends both clapping for me, I was bound to win. They had blacklights in the back of the theater facing the screen, and if anyone had "ring worm" the ring would show up in that ultraviolet lighting. Sneaking out of "The Music Man" in 1962, when I was sixteen with a certain girl I was dating and sneaking out of the theater and walking all the way to my house on Webster Drive so that we could be alone, and then letting the time get away from us and having to run back to the theater to get there before her dad was supposed to pick her up. The balcony which was often closed off when the downstairs was not full, but sometimes was open (either officially or not) - need I say more about what went on? The big red velvet curtains that would open when the movies started. That it very seldom mattered as a kid what time the show started. If you got there late you would just sit through it until you saw what you missed in the next showing. The side rows having two seats on the front row, and those seats being the seats-of-honor if you got there first. This later changed when we got older. Seeing "The Tingler" there staring Vincent Price and everyone screaming and putting their feet in the seats when they announced over the loudspeaker that it had gotten loose in the theater and the only way to save yourself was to scream. Going to the movies with Gary Helms (?) from Huntsville Jr. High, and getting a dozen doughnuts from the bakery across the street and eating them while we watched the movie. He had a relative who worked in the bakery or the projection room, or both. Other Classmates' Memories of The Lyric Subject: Lyric trivia Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 13:07:48 -0600 From: "COCHRAN,BOB" <bob-tmo_cochran@agilent.com> Hi Tommy! It's Bob Cochran in St. Louis. I'm REALLY enjoying the web site, and all of the trivia questions. My family and I moved to Huntsville over the Labor Day weekend in 1956. We rented the top floor of a two-story house on Harrison Avenue in SE Huntsville, off California Street. The downtown area was a short bike ride or just slightly longer (timewise) walk, so my new friends and I spent lots of Saturday mornings at the Lyric. If I remember correctly, the price of a ticket to the Lyric increased when you turned 12, and I think it was from 15 cents to 35 cents, not a quarter. One of my buddies was "young for his age" and passed for 11 until he was 14 or 15. He finally got caught one Saturday morning, and I had to loan him the extra 20 cents; that left me short on money, so neither one of us had anything to eat or drink during the movie. Re your article about the X-Ray machine at Belk's, do you remember who at one time managed the Men's department at Belk's? It was one Wendell "Chief" Waters, later famous(?) as a real estate developer and for his "Chief's" mens' wear store at 5 Points. I remember Dwight Kephart and David Mullins worked there, perhaps other Lee alumni did as well. Also, I remember that Neal Neumann had a "trusty sidekick" on some of his broadcasts on WAAY, Butch Adcock! THANKS for all your great efforts!! Bob Subject: Memories of the Lyric Theater Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 13:07:35 -0500 From: dianna stephenson <dianna1@hiwaay.net> Here is my fondest memory of the Lyric Theater. When I was 13 years old, I went to my very first movie! I was not allowed to go to movies, as a rule, but I begged for days and finally my Dad gave in. I went with Neal Neuman, Venita Boyd, Milton Shelton, Adonna Johnson and Rusty Denton. Neal rode his bicycle to my house and we walked from there to catch the bus to downtown. We met the others on the bus, I think. The movies playing were "Mr. Roberts" and "Arson for Hire". (A Saturday double feature) That, I guess you might say was my "first date". The Lyric holds that very special memory for me and I will never forget it, especially since one of that group is no longer with us. I enjoy all these memories from our school days. I sit here reading the things each person remembers and it is almost like being back there in time. Thanks again! Dianna (May) Stephenson '64 Subject: RE: Lyric Theater Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 09:26:45 -0500 From: Butch Cryder <BCryder@acincorp.com> I remember my Grandmother working at the Lyric in the concession stand when I was 5 yrs old. I remember going to work there when I was 13 until I went in the Navy . I remember the civil rights demonstrations . I remember climbing the ladders everytime the movie changed to change the marquee. I remember sitting in the balcony with someone special when it was closed to everyone else.I wont go any further with that in order to protect some reputations. I remember making 55 cents an hour there. I remember working from 5PM until 11pm Mon thru Fri and from 9AM until 11 PM on Sat. and Sun. and doing home work in the projection booth. I almost got fired for asking for a day off to go to a football game. I remember lines of people from the box office to Dunnavants I remember tickets for 15 CENTS for children under 12 and 35 CENTS for adults The Lyric was good to me in the fact that it provided me not only a lively hood but it kept me busy and out of trouble. Your Friend Butch Cryder Subject: Re: Lyric Theater Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 10:27:46 -0500 From: Cheryl Massey <cherylmassey@home.com> When I was a junior, Johnny Roberts invited me to go to a Junior/Senior banquet at his church. After we ate, we all went downtown to see a movie. The kids went to see Mary Poppins, but we found out later that the chaperones sneaked across the street to see an "adult movie", Fanny Hill. How shocking! Our ideas of what movies are okay for kids to watch sure has changed,hasn't it? Cherri Polly Massey Subject: Re: Lyric Theater Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 22:45:01 EDT From: BamaYaYa@aol.com I worked at the Lyric the summer of 66, in the ticket booth. Ken Martz's (another 66 graduate) brother Ron was the manager. Ken Finley also 66 was the usher who took the tickets at the door. We would often let our good friends in free. As employees we could drink all the coke and eat all the popcorn we wanted. We could see any and every movie in Huntsville for free. I loved the double features where you saw two different movies for the price of one. A Butler grad, Ricky somebody also worked there and drove a beautiful blue corvette convertible. Lynn VanPelt Bozeman Subject: RE: Trivia Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 14:40:42 -0500 From: Butch Cryder <BCryder@acincorp.com> I worked at the Lyric as an usher and then as projectionist with Linda McAdams and her sister Sandra. Ricky Dyer worked at the Martin and the Center as usher and then as a projectionist. Justin Dickens, Jackie Montgomery and Ray Locke were 18 years old before they ever bought a ticket since Ricky and I were able to get passes. The Elks bldg was were we got our first drivers license also do you remember the two pool halls on the East side of the square? One of them was the Little Jim but I cant think of the name of the other one. HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON Butch Cryder (Editor's Note: Butch sent this the previous week and was the inspiration for the collection of other classmates' memories of the Lyric. I got to thinking that maybe that would be a good way to get others involved - by giving you a week's lead to send me your own memories, rather than just print your follow-ups. Thanks Butch!) Memories Scavenger Hunt Who can e-mail me a scanned photo of a movie ticket (or half-ticket) from the Lyric Theater the fastest? The prize is a 1965 Silver Sabre CD. ____________________________________________________________________ From Our Mailbag... Subject: Trivia Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:00:54 -0500 From: "Rick Edmonds" <safety@hsvutil.org> The grocery store on Oakwood was the J.D. Honea store - the name is still on the building! For Linda Walker: Mrs. Coon's desk was painted for the first time in June of 1965 by her Class of '65 students: me, Bob Dornbos, Gary Darby and Ray Dykes. We painted it early one morning at the end of the school year before she came in to school. I think it became a bit of a tradition after that, but I'm not sure. For Cheryll Massey: the Bon-Air was demolished during the building of I-565 several years back. Subject: Trivia Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 12:23:37 -0500 From: Butch Cryder <BCryder@acincorp.com> Tommy The name of the drive in was the 72 drive in not University. Also can you name any class mates that worked at the Lyric or the Martin or the Center theaters? The Grand was next to the Double Cola plant near the old post office and the Martin was across the street from the Lyric. By the way you are doing a fantastic job with this site. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy it Yours Butch Cryder Subject: Lee's Traveller Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 07:39:29 EDT From: DLemas1030@aol.com What an excellent website ! Keep up the good work. David Lemaster Richmond, Va. Subject: Lee's Traveller Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 11:15:22 -0500 From: Cheryl Massey <cherylmassey@home.com> Tommy, Now all 3 pages of the Traveller are the "dancing picture". Good luck! Cherri Polly Massey (Editor's Note: It just keeps getting worse. I guess I really want you to see that dancing picture! Okay, it's fixed again. I updated the links on the wrong page and then overwrote the good links again. Sorry!) Subject: Yesterday's events Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 10:56:31 EDT From: Barbdonn13@aol.com Tommy, Perhaps we could put something on the website regarding yesterday's (Sept 11) events. I noticed that the American Red Cross is asking for money to help the victims. Also, blood is needed badly. I'm sure most of our LHS classmates are already doing what they can, but I'd like to suggest that we all pray for the victims and their families. I pray that President Bush will make the right decision for our country. It's a job I wouldn't want to have right now. I never thought I'd see anything like this -- I guess we all thought that America was impenetrable. I hope you and all your loved ones are safe. Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly From: Susie Brown (formerly Susie Smith) Huntsville E-mail: susie@susiesellshomes.com Year of Graduation: 1966 Monday, 9/17/01, 6:27 PM This web site is great....Hello to all my friends! Susie Smith Brown From: Mike Boggs Guntersville E-mail: msboggs@charter.net Year of Graduation: 1964 Monday, 9/10/01, 8:29 PM Hello to all the guys and gals who made it thru six years at Lee. Dwight, Buford ,Larry, Jerry , Drummers Rule!!! Hope all you guys are doing well. Subject: I'm finally online Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 16:59:42 EDT From: JudyTigerFan@aol.com Hi Tommy, I finally got a computer and am learning how to use it. I signed up on the Lee website. I am so excited. I have a lot to learn. Maybe I will not miss so much now that I am "in the loop". Really enjoyed seeing you while you were here. I was sorry I couldn't go up to Carol Jean's with all of you. Maybe next time. Please come back soon. I can't wait till you update the website next time. Judy Scarborough Milner ____________________________________________________________________ |
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Est. March 31, 2000 15,908 Previous Hits September 24, 2001 Editor:Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Page Hits This Issue e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu |
Ready for Shipment! The 1965 Silver Sabre on CD-ROM Your wait is over. Thanks to Cherri Polly Massey's generous loan of her own precious 1965 yearbook, the long awaited 1965 Silver Sabre CD is finished. For those of my class, the Class of 1964, here is a golden opportunity for you to own a yearbook and see how the juniors turned into seniors and followed in our footsteps down the hallowed halls of Lee High School. For the Classes of 1965 and 1966 here is your chance to replace the lost or never purchased yearbook of your highschool days. I am taking orders for the yearbooks in the Souvenir Shop. The price is $10 which includes shipping. The CD includes JPG photos, a Microsoft Word 2000 version of the yearbook, and an Adobe Acrobat PDF file of the same. Please click on the link below to go to the Souvenir Shop to order your's now. The following people had their notices bounce back for bad e-mail addresses: Arnold Clinton Anderson Annalee Milburn Hughes |
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Lee's Traveller April 10, 1963 |
Lee Classmate's Nephew Missing In World Trade Center Attack I received several e-mails from classmates last week informing me that they had seen Penny Lenoir Sumners (Class of '67 and former principal of Lee High School) on an interview on TV talking about her nephew who was missing in the World Trade Center terrorist attack. I sent her a quick e-mail expressing our condolences from the Classes of 64-5-66 and that she and her family were in our prayers. She responded with the following: Thanks Tommy. My nephew is Rob Lenoir. He worked for Sandler Oneal Investment as an institutional trader on the 104th floor of the 2nd tower that was hit. He talked with my brother who lives in Knoxville after the first plane hit the other building to say that he was fine and that he was evacuating the building. He also called his wife to tell her the same. He was only 38 years old and the father of an 11 year old son and nine year old daughter. My family moved from Memphis when I was starting 9th grade so he is not from here as my two older brothers were in college at Memphis State. He came to my brother and sister-in- law while they were college students so my parents encouraged them to allow him to come to Huntsville for long periods during the summer and during exams. I also have two younger brothers - 6 years older and 3 years older than Rob so he just was part of our immediate family for most of his young life. Most of my very personal friends from Lee knew him because I took him with me alot. His parents never lived in Huntsville. They were in Columbia, South Carolina while he was in high school, where he received a football scholarship from Duke. He married his college girlfriend who was from Duke upon graduation and they have always lived in New York. My brother was always trying to entice him to move back to the South but he loved New York. He came back every year so we saw him at Christmas or during the summer. He was a very special person. He was quiet, kind, and very tender hearted and we loved him very much. We are all going to New York for a Memorial Service on Thursday, Sept. 20. Sorry for the long message but this is so hard to deal with. Thanks for caring. Penny |
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