Mary Ann Clark contributes: The Saturday "serials" were, indeed, wonderful. Half the fun was being in line down the block visiting with friends before the movie started.   remembered them as being at the Orpheum only--did the WYO have them, too??  Roy Rogers was my idol.   had all the paraphernalia--pictures, plastic cup which served as a pitcher, and a decoder ring or something.   named my first Shetland Trigger, not that they bore any resemblance to each other, you understand. I was devastated to learn that Roy was married to Dale.  learned that about the time I learned there was no Santa Claus.   had wanted to marry him when I grew up! Dang! Gene Autry, Hoppy, Rocky Lane, and Lash LaRue were all good, too, but Roy was "thee" best. (Maybe because he had the most beautiful and talented horse??) I'm sure my family literally saw every movie that came to the WYO and Orpheum, and then the Skyline and the other drive-in north (?) of town.  Remember Dollar A Car Night at the Skyline? And the incredible Fourth of July fireworks??   can only wonder if those fireworks would be as impressive today as they were then. As I recall you could feel the percussion from them, as well as see the dazzling sights. Life was very grand. Then TV arrived in '55 or so, and another world was born... Mary Ann Clark '61

Sharon Ridgway adds: Although my memory isn't what it used to be, I think the Saturday movies were just at the Orpheum. Maybe somebody else can tell us. I loved Roy Rogers...but, loved Trigger even more. When my dad bought a beautiful palamino at one of the wild horse sales, I was sure he was my "trigger". But, he was SO wild nobody could ride him. Lash LaRue was my hearthrob....until I learned that he was only about 4'3" tall. Drat! My dreams dashed again. I'd love to know how many cartoons everybody remembers. My favorites were always the Roadrunner. In spite of all the beautiful fireworks we've all seen through the years, the ones at the Skyline Theater will always be remembered as "the best".....and "dollar a car night" will always make me laugh....stuffing extra people in the trunk.....driving a truck, complete with chairs and a huge pot of chili in the back for everybody.....so much fun! Thanks for bringing back these happy memories. Sharon Green '58

Mary Alice Wright Gunderston , 1953 writes: I remember most of the Saturday programs as being at the Wyo, as well as a couple "cultural" events held for all grade school kids. Once there were some Russian dancers--i desperately wanted a pair of their red leather boots. Another time an opera singer. Some kid in the back had a squeaky seat he squeaked in time to her arias, until a teacher got him by the ear. I do remember the fabulous Halloween trek from Linden, the whole school walking down to the Orpheum for a special Halloween movie treat. Businessmen sponsored this, I believe. At crisis points in the movie, the screaming was deafening--usually a kid and a dog story. Once, I think we saw "Henry Aldrich and the Haunted House," or possibly it was Abbott and Costello. For years, I think I saw almost anything that came to town. I can remember hearing on the Linden School playground there was a really great movie that kids weren't supposed to see--so Carolee Ramsey, JoAnn Panetta and I went to the WYO to see Howard Hughes'"The Outlaw.'" We didn't know what was wrong with people rolling around in the hay as the lights in the barn dimmed. One of Robert Taylor's wives was the stunningly beautiful LInda Christian, tiny and dark. During the McCarthy era, many actors, producers and writers were brought in to testify as to whether they, or certain others had ever been, ever attended a "communist party meeting." Some refused to testify, and didn't work for years. Others named names to save their jobs...i think the Hollywood Ten refused to testify...correct me if I"m wrong. Mary Alice Gunderson '53

From: James Marron-1957 Ah, for the "Good Old Days" - The recent sharings certainly have been stirring up old and buried memories. For starters, I do recall the "Halloween Parades". But the ones I remember terminated in the football field at Central School with all sorts of festivities there. For the most part I attended Holy Name elementary school. We, too, "paraded" downtown to take in a movie on special occasions. One movie that just came to mind as I wrote this was "The Wizard of Oz". I can certainly relate with the "Dollar a car nights" at the drive in. Our family had a station wagon. Not only did we take our own family, but we took as many of the neighbor kids as we could cram in. One thing that I haven't noticed yet was the "free passes" sponsored by the various bakeries in town. I can recall visiting neighbors to get enough bread wrappers to earn a "pass" to the Saturday afternoon matinee, and you got your money's (pass's) worth, too - main feature (sometimes a "serial): cartoon: news: and previews of coming attractions. I haven't been to a movie in years, so I don't have any idea of what is shown in this day and age. And then there is Robert Taylor. I can't say that I ever socialized with him personally, but he did buy his gasoline at the Mid Continent station at the foot of Courthouse hill where I worked in the late 50's. My how time flies, Huh? Br Jim '57 Lee Hart This collection really brings back memories. I lived in Monarch, but used to spend my week end in Sheridan with my cousins, Larry & Dean Johnson--They lived just up the street from Bob Ford then. I recall the kid's show at the WYO on Saturday morning, which was broadcast on KWYO. It was as described by so many, with the talent show, the coke bottle admission. They also gave away prizes too, and I think I won a 6-pack of Coke in the 7 oz size. The Orpheum didn't have as much going on, but it was only a dime and we kids lined up for blocks past the Elk's waiting for the box office to open. That show also included a serial (I especially remember Captain America). a movie and cartoons. I don't participate much, but I do enjoy reading and reminiscing about those days. That was a long, long time ago.

Bob Wakefield, 57 replies: As a kid from the sticks, I found my first visit to the Wyo in the late 1940s a life changing experience. My eyes were bad. Didn't get bifocals until age 12, so going to the movies was a visit to another planet up until then. The huge screen and awesome sound brought this young man a real otherworldly sensation. If I squinted, I could actually see the picture in focus. Going into the nearly pitch black Wyo from a blinding sun Main Street afternoon, I was the butterfly and cocoon in reverse. It was twenty degrees cooler inside and a vault in which to hide from the outside world. Even the water fountain in the lounge was magic. For a quarter, I bought luxury, escape, laughs. It was the movie experience for sure. Afterward, going out into the late afternoon sun was for me like being reborn. My bike was there in the alley behind the Wyo. No thought of locking it. There was still daylight in which to enjoy riding the streets and alleys. I am still a movie fanatic. Perhaps that is my way of paying homage to the fabulous Wyo, where a country kid could find worlds apart from his own. Bob Wakefield '57

SLIM PICKENS:
Jane Rice wrote: Slim Pickens came to our ranch one summer. My family's John E. Rice & Sons ranch used to show our Polled Herefords at the North Montana State Fair at Great Falls, then Billings' Fair and so on. Slim Pickens entertained at Great Falls with his trick horse. Dad got to visiting with him at the Rainbow Hotel, where we always stayed, and invited him to lay over at our ranch, which he did. I was just a young girl, so my memory is piecemeal, but I remember Slim and his wife having breakfast with us, so they probably stayed in our home. They were young and fun. Slim gave us all a special demonstration of his horse's tricks there at the ranch. I have Mother's 16mm home movie of the event somewhere! He had quite a drawl! Jane Rice '56

Mary Alice Gunderson, 1953 writes: The summer I worked at Totman's Frontier Shop, Slim PIckens came in, with a bunch of others visiting Eaton's Ranch. As I remember, he looked nothing like his screen roles as hayseed. He was very tall, wore expensive clothes and ring and watch, actually moved kind of elegantly--certainly without his old cowpuncher ways. I went into the back and told Bob Totman he was an actor-- at first he didn't believe me. They got to talking and bob learned it was so. I think he had been a rodeo rider and stunt man before they gave him bigger roles. We recently sent our son an old movie in which he has a part, along with the late Peter Sellars--"How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb." A Cold War film...Sellars plays 5 or 6 parts. Mary Alice Gunderson '53

Walter Bales writes: Hi Jane and all, I was working for the Rice Ranch when Slim Pickens visited there. He did stay all night and demonstrated his trick horse in the morning for me. He'd already performed for the Rice family but did it again for me. It was fantastic and I'll never forget it. He was a good hand!
Walter Bales 42