The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. These are random subjects, topics, and trivia.

Forums work "when" people "participate" - so "don't be bashful"!  Click the "Post Message" button to add "your" comments to the forum! You'll be glad you did!

John Doyal

Rex, that Apple wrist watch would only be a braclet  for me.  I have a simple flip phone because I can't see the letters on any others.  My up close vision was really bad until two years ago when I got cataract surgery. Because of that I could not learn how to text,  I still do snailmail and with new glasses still can't see the letters on watch phones or most perscription bottles(have to go old school magnifying glass).  Nelda tries to show me things on her I phone and it looks like you would need 20-0 vision to read it.  Therefore I talk on my phone and don't wear out my thumbs texting.

John Landess

John D.

I am with you...I don't text, and tell my friends and family (specially grand-kids) "hey, you want to talk to me, CALL"

Let see, what did we do before we got all these 'conveniences'....read books, listen to radios,watch a little TV in the evenings, visit in person, occasional movies (BTW, all the theaters near me have closed, as well as the bowling alleys), have a lot of hobbies, and so on and on. I mean DO THINGS.

ps. I miss my flip phone

as for Beretta, "Do the Crime, do the time"...apparently that was not true for Robert Blake..

Rex Booth

John L.

That’s too bad about the closing of movie theatres and bowling alley in your town.  Does anyone remember the "name of the theatre" and the "town" in the 1971 movie “The Last Picture Show”?  In the movie, actor Ben Johnson operated a burger joint and pool hall right next door to the theatre.

John Landess

Rex,

I know and I will go one better...What was the name of the last movie shown? And who was the star??

Fred Miller

Rex Booth

Fred,

Very good!  You gave a lot of good background information, and first hand, too!

The setting of the 1971 “Last Picture Show” took place during 1951-52 Korean War era. The 1948 movie ‘Red River’ was the last movie Sonny and Duane watched together during the filming at the ‘Royal’. 

The question is still lit: What was the name of the "last picture show" at the Royal Theatre just before it burned and was gutted in 1965…?  To date, it remains a mystery...

John Landess

Rex,

This turning into a real trivia quiz!!

The name of the town in the movie was Anarene.. (an actual ghost town 8 miles from Archer)

As far as the actual movie being shown when the Royal burned in 1965....now that was a real poser????

BUT then I reacher out to my old buddy Jerry, who works for the Archer County News, and he gave me the answer..

@@@@@drum roll!  Dear Brigette, starring Jimmy Stewart, and Fabian....

John Landess

Fred,

I also found out from Jerry, that the bookstore was bought last year by Chip Gaines.... (you know..the guy from wacko Texas!!)

You can follow the story by looking for 'Chip Gaines buys Booked Up bookstore' on several sites.

Rex Booth

John L.

Good sleuthing. I understand the “interior” of Anarene Theatre was used to film some shots  of the Royal Theatre because the Royal's interior was gutted by fire in 1965.

The movie “Dear Brigitte” released by 20^th Century-Fox on January 8, 1965 . Many movies produced in the early to mid ‘60’s took anywhere from a year and a half to two years for movies to be distributed to small towns. Not doubting your source, but even Roswell had a long wait for popular movies. If it’s no trouble, call your “old buddy” Jerry again at Archer County News and ask him if he can verify the “last picture show” as 'Dear Brigitte' and if he or someone else knows the exact month and day the Royal burned down in ’65. Would be most interesting!

Fred Miller

I reached out to Jerry's co-worker, Ben, at the Archer City News.  .

Ben told me that he and Jerry had searched extensively for the date the Royal Theater burned.  He said they narrowed the date down to Aug. of 1965, and could  not narrow it down any further.

Ben did share something else with me.  In the process of their research, they discovered a recipe for a no-churn ice cream flavor.  They are currently in talks to market the the ice cream. 

The new flavor will be called Overpopped Popcorn...

Rex Booth

Fred,

Thanks for checking with Ben at Archer County News.  Did either Ben or Jerry agree the ‘last’ picture show was “Dear Brigitte”?

I did find an article in Cinema Treasures written in 2012 regarding the fire at the Royal. Scroll down to the post by Lou Rugani July 25, 2012.  Lou posted an article written in the 'Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register' October 2007 titled A ‘Royal’ Rebirth by: Kristen Tribe. Somewhere in the middle of the article you’ll find the date of the fire. If you do the math, the date will become clear. Did Peter Bogdanovich reveal the (hush) "Dear Brigitte"… in his movie sequel “Texasville”?  Only the Shadow knows…

https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4785/comments

Now only Ben and Jerry could invent ice cream with an Orville Redenbacher flavor… Gotta love the humor!

John Landess

I'm not sure who Ben is, but Jerry Phillips and wife were publishers of the Archer County News for many years. Following some confusion about the sale and closing of the weekly, it was back in circulation with Nate Lawson at the helm. He prevailed on Jerry to come back and assist as needed. 

In addition to closings of theaters and bowling alleys, small town papers are going away also....sad.

Is the bowling alley in Roswell still alive???

Fred Miller

John L., my story about Ben was told with tongue firmly planted in cheek...

John Landess

Fred,

I was pretty sure you were joking, but didn't want to question you!!!

Ben and Jerry's might well have that flavor. Here in Tennessee, they have Herr's potato chip in about 35 flavors including pull pork, old bay, and hot dog.... amazingly, I have tried some and they really do taste like flavor on the bag..... Makes me wonder how many "chemicals" they had to use!!!

Rex Booth

John L

Be careful... with that many chemical flavors your tongue could get stuck to your cheek... 

Couldn't help myself... the devil made me do it!!

John Landess

Rex, I think you were thinking of Fred (the tongue in cheek) as I ALWAYS give the straight goods.

I attempted to paste some photos of the chips, but as usual............sorry

John,  using Fred's great sense of 'humah' for illustration.

If you are having problems posting pictures, select "Posting Tips" left column on Home Page. Scroll down to #3 & 4 for "posting a picture" (image).  Good luck!

Rex Booth

John Landess

Oh, now that was "classic".

I dun et, but thanx y'all..

According to Brother Dave Gardner...

Brutus say: "Hail Caesar"! And Caesar sayeth: "Hell Yes!!

Rex Booth

Irish Blessing...

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

My brother, Roger, just sent me a very sad note. James ( Jimmy Gill) , who owned the seed store in Roswell, passed away on the 16th. They lived near us when we lived on McGaffey and my parents owned Carl's Cooler Pads. Jimmy and Roger dug tunnels, pitched tents, and rode bikes together. They were a lovely family and I'm so sorry for their loss. 

Sherry Hester (Trasp)

I am sorry to say Sharon Montgomery's Husband Chuck Baker,
posted this on Facebook. 
March 14 at 11:44 AM  · 

This is Chuck, Sharon's husband. Sharon passed away at 10:25 am today. To all of you I want you to know how much fun, tears, and joy you brought to Sharon over the years, I thank you. Chuck

Rex Booth

Little Darlin'

From what country were the Diamonds and who sang baritone?

Contrary to a popular myth, the father of Tom Hanks was never a member of the group.

Patrick Riley

The Diamonds were a Canadian group ... no idea, though, as to any of the member's names or roles.

Fred Miller

Rex Booth

Hey,  this is good!  Both Pat and Fred contributed their thoughts about the Diamonds. 

How bout you Ladies and other Gents...?