The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-07-21
Marathon News
By JACK N. LEVINE

MARATHON - There was q de-
1T within : debut here Sunday.
Re American Red Cross for
q first time ia the history Of the
Ommunity, unfaried IL nag Of ser
We, In an equally historic event
as marked he grand opening of
- Marathon Theater the hfyt
90 seat, air conditioned, indoor
movie house ever constructed In
SI'Ae heart Of the Florida Keys"
3 was . eoincidental, happy
h'ending q services that are ira.
lionally part 81 our way 81 LIE
= every progressive, enterpFising
oemmunity In the United States.
Last night, the Red Cross and the
11arath0n TheatsR brought into
dear focus . picture Of 3 new
lGarathOn community that has
really come Il age. The residents
witnessed 3 version Of . local
'.eoming out party" that they VIII
lOng remember.
HeEbert Wood, Jr., Marathon
Theater manager, had Get the open
~ data for last night At Q time
when he was not certain whether
~ would have seats for his pat
eOns, or whether they would Be
asksd % participate In the open
ine night festivities seated on the
concrete hoor. japanese style. A
Chicago supply house had sent him
she wrong type of seats. which
necessItated revising plans Of .
800 seat movie house downward 70
co. A 20 ton air conditioning unit
rot lost n transit. The ensuing ma
Honwiae search was . veritable
large screen version Of seeking the
proverblaI needle IN Z haystack. At
the last minute, hall of the unit
arrived and was not ready 10 be
turned On untn about IN hour and
4 hall before show time.
Il was, therefore, . fitting com
munity tribute % woods deter.
minatioa and perseverance, In
making 4 much needed entertain
ment service available % The Mara
thoa area, and envtrons, that he
was selected 10 introduce the Rev.
Ralph Rogers ~ Key West, Mon
roe Ccumty Chairman Of the Am
erIean National Red Cross, TO his
iirst nisht audience. Earl Therkild-
non, originally scheduled % intro
Aacs Tha Rev. Rogers, added his
tribute 70 Wood BY foregoing the
honor On behalf of the theater
manager.
Or FOX. Monroe County Red
Cross Director for the Marathon
Theatar's opening night ceremon-
les. TIE Rev. Rogers. his wife and
Ton Keaehings, Red Cross First
Aid instructor for the Key West
Chapaer welcomed the opportunity
% pafticlpate b IN event that was
dosienad 70 inaugurate fully inte-
areisd Red Cross services In this
thriving community. Ellis Finch,
Key West Citizen staff Photograph
er. also accompanied Rev. Rogers.
The Lights went on IN the huge
theater 81 the conclusion Of the
first show. Wood afUse to introduce
the Rev. Rogers. The audience
was relaxed ~ Il waited. The Witt
lng Red Cross Chairman annOunc-
"a that the community was honor
ing tie volunteers, who despite
many obstacles, succeeded In q
most challenging Red Cross cam
paign earlier this year.
h his introductory remarks, the
Rev. Rogers informed his audience
that the Marathon community
would receive every service and
every consideration 10 which the
American Red Cross Il dedicated.
He urged al residents to avail
themselves Of Red Cross facilities
through Don FOX, who as Monroe
County director COR Marathon, was
prepared 10 handle al service re-
guests. II would no longer Be nee
essary 10 travel 10 Key West for
these services, the Rev. Rogers
stated.
~ A Implanted coincidence, the
feature movie, Battle Circus, star
ring Humphrey Bogars and June
Allyson. was the story Of the Army
Medical Corps In Korea. Conferred
directly beneath the movie screen
was pinned the Key West Chap