Visiting the ghosts of theatres past

The Opera House – aka Young’s Theatre – has a history rich in entertainment. Originally built in 1907, it was a community center for Monticellians to play basketball, put on plays, hold dances, or watch movies (silent ones of course).
In 1918 a severe snowstorm dumped so much upon the building’s roof, it completely collapsed. Along came Alfred Young, who built a new building in a different location and called it Young’s Theatre. Naming things after one’s self is definitely a way to be remembered.
The Theare remained opened until 1931 and then was purchased by … The San Juan Record.
On May 10, 1934 on page five it was reported, “Marie M. Ogden last week purchased the Young Show Hall, a well-known building which has been idle for two or three years.
“It is expected that a community house will be made, that is, it will be converted into a place for her people to stop for rest while considering their future activities in this county.”
However, in 1935, the controversy over the death of Home of Truth member Edith Peshak forced Marie Ogden to close the theatre, and it has remained closed since that time.
While the Monticello Community Foundation made many attempts to obtain funding to renovate and save the building, it sadly didn’t happen.
Now it’s scheduled to be demolished as the San Juan County Public Safety Building Expansion Project plans to remodel and expand the existing facility, which houses the Sheriff’s Department, courts, and corrections.
However, entertainment was not lost to the citizens of Monticello. Mr. and Mrs. Claude Foy opened their first movie theatre on Main Street on June 15, 1936.
Then in 1939 they opened a larger 120-seat theatre, located in the Moab Garage warehouse, which Mr. Foy also managed.
The first movie featured was “Young Mr. Lincoln” with Henry Fonda. The seating was eventually increased to 225, and in 1953, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Randall bought the theatre, but alas, it too closed down.
Personal story time! Bill Boyle, editor of the San Juan Record, related to yours truly a story about his mother.
During the 1930s she would go to the theatre daily, and with leading actors such as Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Montgomery, and Errol Flynn…hubba hubba, someone get me some cold water please!
In 2015, the San Juan Record Editor hosted a haunted hayride, The Monticello Ghost Tour, and related ghostly stories of various buildings around the city. This was one of the best events for Pioneer Weekend, so Bill, please bring it back, I’m begging you!
Anyway, in 2015 the San Juan Credit Union was the former location of the movie theatre. The rooms over the San Juan Pharmacy (now Main Street Drug) were used for storage for the theatre.
Monticello was making headlines all over the United States when an armed gunman was noticed in the upper window.
A young police officer, Kent Adair (Monticello’s long time Chief of Police for 34 years) deftly disarmed the culprit with an expert karate chop.
Only then did Kent find out he had knocked off the arm of “Rambo”, a large cardboard display of Sylvester Stallone.
Kent’s call in to other officers: “The suspect has been disarmed.”
Now, after all that researching to find details and photos of the old theatres, I’m hungry! How about a comforting plate of creamed chicken over country biscuits?
The best part about this recipe is that you can make this dish over and over, but with different flavor enhancements.
This is a semi-homemade recipe, so using “cream of …” soups is okay for the sauce making.
Two cans (10.75 oz.) of cream of chicken gives that downhome chicken taste that is so satisfying.
Use one can of cream of chicken and one can of cream of celery or cream of potato and you’ve got pot pie.
For a more savory taste, one can of cream of chicken plus one can of cream of mushroom and adding some sliced mushrooms into the mesh won’t hurt either.
By the way, I boiled the chicken breasts in salted water over medium-high heat for about 20 minutes, then diced it up.
Creamed Chicken
Ingredients: 1 can (10.75 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 can (10.75 oz.) cream of (see variations above), 1 cup half n’ half, 1 (12 oz.) bag frozen peas, thawed and drained, ¼ tsp. ground black pepper, 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or diced
Preparation:
In a saucepan or large skillet, over medium-high heat, combine contents of the soup(s) plus half n’ half, and whisk until smooth.
Add in peas, black pepper, and chicken. Stir and let cook until bubbles begin to form around interior wall of pan.
Serve immediately over biscuits, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Makes 6 servings.
So, put on a movie, and enjoy a bowl full of creamed chicken.
Um... don’t watch a very scary movie though. Don’t want you throwing that bowl of food up in the air.