Historic Hood River
Liberty Theater, 1917
Notes
Here’s another view of the Liberty Theater. The Selective Service poster at the box office makes it clear this was wartime. The sign says:
Every Man! between the ages of 18 and 45 (both inclusive) except those previously registered Must Register for the Selective Service Draft September. Penalty For Failure to Register is one year in prison, and No man can exonerate himself by the payment of a fine. Patriots will register– others must. Register Promptly!
One million copies of this poster were distributed around the country to publicize the new draft.
Another sign promises it is “Cool and Comfortable Inside,” so presumably they had air conditioning.
The Cecil B. DeMille feature “Joan the Woman” starred Geraldine Farrar as Joan of Arc. It was known for the first use of a process which added color in certain scenes. Red and yellow highlighted the scene of Joan of Arc being burned at the stake, which must have offered the moviegoers in Hood River a real thrill.
Charlott
Geraldine Farrar was the daughter of a professional baseball player. She started her career as an opera singer. She had a great following of young admiring women who were referred to as "Gerryflappers." She had a seven year affair with the musical great Arturo Toscanini and may have had that type of relationship with Caruso. There was a time that she was with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, prior to getting into the film industry.
Note the Statue of Liberty on top of the ticket booth.
Definitely summer photo as you have plant pots that wouldn’t thrive in a Hood River winter. Like I think I said earlier this was a small narrow theatre, that was later called "The Cascadian."
The door you see at the extreme left was the door that went into "The Pastime" Tavern. Whether it was a tavern in the era this picture was taken I have no idea.
Charlott
Oops…The door is at the extreme right of photo
Bill Pattison
I am quite sure the gentleman is Arthur Kolstad, owner of the theater. I’d like to check the door again Charlott. I recall a stairway into Morrison’s Electric Kitchen. I’m sure we have some Oak St. photos.
Arthur
Bill– I’m confused. I though Art Kolstad owned the Rialto. I thought the Liberty became the Cascadia, and was one block east of the Rialto. Can you clear up the history of these theaters?
Charlott
Well maybe "The Pastime" was on the other side. I thought it was the bank then the saloon and then the theatre. Could Kolstad have owned and operated both theatre? The Cascadia was east of the Rialto I know that much for certain.
I know as a child I jetted past the saloon, though I was always curious to look in the window, but knew better…
Jeffrey Bryant
A 1911 Hood River News article writes about the closing of the Oak Moving Picture Show House.
http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83009939/1911-09-27/ed-1/seq-1/