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The Star Theater, on Last Main Street, owned by George Day was a forerunner of “talkies. George, whose stage name had been Alonzo Hiwanda. had retired as a circus performer. He was listed as one of the strongest men in the world. He could lift over 1.000 pounds. One of his favorite stunts was to have a barrel full of water, and have two large men sit on the barrel. He would lift the whole thing at one time. Quite a feat. After a successful career as a strong man. he retired and moved back to his native Greene County to open a theater. At first he charged 10 cents for viewing a film, but later reduced the price to 5 cents in order to keep up with the competition, as that was the “going price for viewingfilms in most of the city.*The Star Theater, known as an Electric Theaters, advertised that it would be open from 2 to 10:30 p.m. daily, and chance the bill twice a week. The first screening at the theater was “The Great TrainA piece of history.Robbery**He wanted to provide “talking movies for his customers, so in addition to the piano, he hired his nephew who was a competent lip reader. The nephew would stand where he could read the lips of the actors, and in his best voices, would share with audience what was being said on screen. No doubt that attracted many visitors to the theater.Some will remember El wood Smith, of Smith Bakery. When he was a young man. he was fascinated with the theater and wanted to become an actor. Charlie Chaplin w as one of the more popular film stars at the tunc; Elwood learned the jaunty step of the actor and was oftefi hired by the Xenia Bijou to walk around town with a sandwich-board sign advertis-
Newspaper Details
Xenia Gazette News Current
Xenia, Ohio, US
Wed, Jan 16, 2008
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Greene C.
OH, USA 19 Oct 2016
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