The Wednesday Night Drawing at the Palace Theatre
He’s as gentle as a lamb. A part of his job is to direct traffic, both people and cars, when the movie is over.
As the doors of the Palace Theatre swing open, the bigger kids come out first, followed by the little ones and later the adults. The moviegoers spread in all directions, some walking to Central Park or Luthy’s Bowling Alley and others heading to their homes on Magnolia, Elm, and Walnut Streets. No matter what direction or destination they choose, in the dark or under the street lights, everyone is safe. Locked doors are unnecessary. Chaperones are superfluous. Slim is there.
Sixty years later, Elmwood still exists; movies are still shown at the Palace Theatre. But the people, who made the theatre live, are all gone – Arwin Archibald, the projectionist; the Batemans who sold tickets, and Eddie and Vivian, the proprietors. Slim, too, is no longer there.
One thing has not changed: the Palace Theatre is still a vital part of a small country town in Illinois. end
Karl Taylor was born, raised, and educated in Elmwood, Illinois. After graduating from Knox College and the University of Illinois, he taught English at Illinois Central College and worked as an administrator at Bradley University in Peoria. Karl’s father and mother operated The Penny Super Market in Elmwood for over 30 years and were good friends of Ed and Vivian Hahn as well as many of the other people mentioned in this memoir. Friday, June 18, 2010 3:08 PM
