Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 24, 1935.
WHAT A PARTY, THAT’S VOTE OF CITY’S KIDDIES
Premier Theatre Packed for Annual Christmas Party. Santa and Gifts Spread Joy at Event.
FOOD BROUGHT TO SHOW FOR NEEDY
Boy! Oh! Boy! What a yowling good time those kids had at their annual Christmas party today.
Just ask any one of them, or any adult who peeked into Premier THeater this morning before the big show started. How those youngsters yelled when Santa Claus strode out on the stage to wish them all a Merry Christmas. How they cheered Commander T.O.Dillon of the American Legion who told them who sponsored the party and thanked all of the businessmen and and Vidette-Messenger readers for their contributions that made the swell gifts of candy and cracker jack possible The Premier Theater management donated all the films and show house for the part.
The event was to begin at 10:30 this morning with doors of the theater opening at 9:45. But who ever saw a youngster waiting at home until that time? Not many. Red checked, laughing kiddies, wide-eyed in anticipation of the fun to come, began to swarm about the show house entrance at nine o’clock. It wasn’t long after, that the legionnaire hosts and manager Justin Shauer of the theater, decided to open the doors. Then the stampede began. Each youngster was given a bag of candy and a box of popcorn confection on his way in and the lines seemed continuous until 10:30, completely filling the large show house.
Prior to the start of the move program Vernon L. Beach led his theater packed audience in several Christmas songs accompanied by Madge Lindall at the piano. Then, after several announcements by Manager Shauer and introduction of Santa and Commander Dillon the kiddies shook the theater with their singing of “Popeye the Sailor Man”, and the two-hour movie performance began.
Due to the help of many of the youngsters scores of needy families in Valparaiso will be treated to a bountiful Christmas dinner tomorrow, for over a truckload of foodstuffs was left in the lobby. This was loaded into the truck of George Grundell, legion member, who carted it to the veterans’ headquarters where it will be sorted and tonight distributed to poor families by the members of American Legion Auxiliary.
In addition to firemen, policemen, Mrs. Walter Vevia, Mrs. Bert Smith and Mrs. Schuyler Leffler, Legionnaires who helped at the theater party this morning were: Commander Dillon, Jack Yeager, chairman of the party committee, V.C. Lane, Ralph Kouns, Frank Reid, Paul McDonald and Ray Tuttle.
Vidette-Messenger carrier boys, all of whom did their bit by soliciting donations from their readers for the party, were represented at the theater today by the committee composed of John MacFarlane, Kenneth Rader, Arthur Van Arsdel and Glenn Reynolds. Harold Trapp was commended for his fine characterization of Santa. Donald Wertman, Bob Rex, MacFarlane, Trapp and Reynolds also did a fine job helping the management straighten up the theater.
