|
Notes regarding the opening of the Ritz Theatre
January 19, 1932
The Winter Haven Daily Chief
Tuesday, January 19, 1932
Ritz Theatre Opened with Big Program
Addresses, Music, Screen Show Presented
Broadcast by WSUN
Marks 7th Anniversary of Williamson Modernized;
Name Changed
For the first time in the history of the state a
theatre’s dedicatory program was broadcast over the radio
when the new Ritz theatre in this city was opened last
evening with an audience that filled the big playhouse to
capacity. The ceremonies were put on at 8:15 o’clock
with a program that included addresses, vaudeville
numbers and a complete screen bill of fare.
Manager J. Toliver Webb had arranged the program in honor
of the seventh anniversary of the opening of the
Williamson theatre and its transformation into the new
Ritz Theatre. In honor of the coming event, the Winter
Haven Enterprises, Inc., operators of the theatre, had
made numerous improvements and changes in the building,
including a new and enlarged marquee, a 30-foot neon sign
carrying the new name, wall decorations, new shatterboxes
on the interior, new rubber mattings and carpets in
building and lobby, repainting of woodwork, a beautiful
new gold and blue stage curtain, and other changes
calculated to better the acoustic properties of the big room.
The repairs, running into some thousands of dollars, have
resulted in giving by outside authority the most
beautiful and most modern theatre in south central Florida.
Thousands Hear Program
After one matinee at 2 o’clock, the theatre doors were
closed and were not opened again until 7:50 when a big
stream of people began to pour into the building and soon
had occupied practically every one of the thousand seats.
The dedicatory program opened at 8:15, with an overture
by the new Ritz theatre orchestra, an able aggregation of
local musicians. Then followed 15 minutes of organ music
by Eddie Ford, noted organist of Tampa, who in his
masterful way brought out the excellent qualities of the
huge three manual Robert-Morton organ, which has been a
part of the theatre equipment since its opening seven years ago.
Carl Fritch, announcer for Station WSUN at St.
Petersburg, had had the theatre connected with his
station from the beginning of the program and after the
musical numbers, he explained the purpose of the ceremony
to the unseen radio audience and then introduced Judge E.
C. Wimberely as master of ceremonies. The Judge presented
Mayor O. P. Warren, who loudly proclaimed the new Ritz as
the “finest theatre in Florida,” and lauded the Winter
Haven Enterprises, Inc., on the achievement.
Special Features
The Three Whited Kuhns;, direct from the RKO vaudeville
circuit and engaged for the Orange Festival next week,
were kindly loaned by Manager Guthrie to Mr. Webb for the
occasion and put on 15 minutes of their inimitable skits,
ending with a parody of the orange festival which proved
the hit of the evening. Athe Ritz Harmony Girls, Misses
Beatrice Timmerman and Marjorie Holt, followed with a
catch number, “Songs of Yesterday.” After another organ
number by Eddie Ford and the close of the radio
broadcast, the Ritz management presented the movie
program, consisting of the feature picture “Good Sport.”
Starring John Boles and Linda Watkins, a travel picture,
“Harem Secrets,” and a comedy, “ Fainting Lover.”
The management and owners of the Rtiz are receiving the
congratulations of the movie-going public on their
achievement in giving Winter Haven an renovated and
greatly modernized theatre so soon after taking over the
old Grand theatre and making some repairs there. This
latest move puts both theatres under the operation of the
Winter Haven Enterprises, Inc., of which E. J. Sparks is
president and F. E. Williamson is vice president, and
gives Winter Haven the best theatre equipment of any town
of like size in the state. The change is nturally most
pronounced a the Williamson, many tourists remarking that
the new front, with the greatly enlarged marquee with its
160 lights, and the great neon sign overhead give it the
appearance of a large city theatre.
Manager Webb today expressed keen satisfaction over the
success of the opening program and extended his
appreciation to the public for its part in contributing
to the enjoyment of the evening.
====[ The End ]====
|
