The 30's were the heydey of the local movie theater. Caught in a depression, movies proved a welcome escape for the average citizen. In addition, for a penny, mothers could send kids off for the whole day to watch cowboys, gangsters, pug uglies, and rich heiresses go about their imagined daily business. Movies were made quickly & cheaply, recycling plots, scenery, and stock characters. These films were churned out on a weekly basis... on screen for one week, replaced the next. There was no expectation that you would ever see an old movie again. Until the dawn of television and retro playhouses, there was an ephemeral quality to film that no longer exists today.
