The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-06-03
Senior Mercy
|tOCelebrate
Silver Jubilee


Impatient Indians whooped and
cowboys squirmed on their merry
go-round chairs as Fred Mercy per-
spired in the hot projection booth
so that 'The Great Train Robbery"
could continue on the bed sheet
serving IS silver screen
That Was Is years ago. when the
motion picture was = feeble, nicker-
ing apology for entertainmnt. Fred
Mercy, ST., recalled those days as he
contempla*ed celebrating. the silver
anniversary jubilee this month,
marking his quarter century in the
snow business.
Folding Chairs Used
"Only Indians and cowboys went
to the show in those days." Mercy
said There was no art in the the
atre then"
The theatres of those days had
folding chairs, and q piano player
who did his best to initiate every
thing from shrieks Of the heorine
to q train wreck.
The majestic theatre in Yakima
was Mr.. Mercy's first venture in
the Yakima valley. Now he has
five shows in Yakima and eight out
side the city. One, the Capitol. was
the largest west Of the Mississippi
when it was built and its stage
ranks today with the largest west Of
Chicago.
Feature Pictures Short
In the days Of the Gem, Lyric
and other early Mercy theatres, fea-
ture pictures were about 80 minutes
long, but the operator often dragged
them out longer. for he turned the
projection machine by hand and
could pad a program at viii. An
evenings entertainment was from
As to 60 minutes long. Song slides
and. advertisements took up time
and audiences joined Justify in the
singing between changing Of reels.
Theda Bara, william Farmum,
Maude Adams. Sarah Bernhardt,
Maurice Costello, Pearl White and
Flora Finch-those and others play
ed their enthralled theatregoers IS
years ago. Indians and fire pic
lures attracted the biggest crowds.
Mercy remembered, and patrons,
| not content with seeing one show in
an evening, visited them all.
Glamoreus Days Gone
THE Bird Of Paradise" 1.-THE
Million Dollar Mystery" 1.-THE Dia-
mond From the Sky" and rum
away June" were some Of the fav-
orite films. Only 1000 feet long. It
took three reels to make feature
picture, while today the feature will
be around $4,000 feet long.
In that first theatre. Mercy took
turns operating the projection ma
chine and Mrs. Mercy took tickets
from the e&ger Indians who never
tired Of the uncomfortable seats or
were bothered by the somewhat
strong odor that hung over the hot
theatre.
Those glamorous days Of the bus
mess are over" Mercy sighed. But
I'll never forget how terrible Sarah
Bernhardt was in Queen Eliza
BETH"
The Kennewick Liberty is partic-
ipating in the Mercy Silver Jubilee,
as are the other seven houses in
the circuit outside the city Of Yak
ina. The Kennewick chamber Of
commerce is sponsoring testimon-
ial dinner next Thursday, June 10,
at which time Mr.. Mercy, ST., and
one or two Of his sons will be guests
of honor, as well as the local thea
tire employees. A program suitable
to the occasion is being worked out,
and all members Of the organiza-
ton are invited to the affair, Don
Visger, local manager. states.
The Kennewick theatre became
unit In the Mercy chain in 1926 and
has for the past four years been ,ln-
der the management Of Mr.. Visger.
Several interesting things concern
ing the Liberty chain have been
pointed out in connection with the
jubilee by MIR. Visger.
The local house has an annual
local expenditure approximating ten
thousand dollars, Mr.. Visger states.
Nine people are permanently en-
ployed in the operation Of the house
which ranks among the best in the
Mercy chain.
The recent overhauling OF the
theatre here, which included the
latest type air conditioning plant,
new acoustical appliances, new pro-
lection equipment, new automatic
furnace, new seats, new carpets and
new foyer, has all been Of the best
and most modern type Of equipment,
Mr.. Visger stated.
In honor of the jubilee month,
Frederick Mercy, it., has spent the
past three months on the coast and
at Hollywood booking some Of the
outstanding shows of the season.
The ensuing month will have these