Comments from prodriguez

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prodriguez
prodriguez commented about State Theater on Oct 4, 2013 at 5:37 am

Least favorite part of the job was taking the bucket of grease out the front door to Main Street to pour it down the sewer. People would drag Main Street in those days, including yours truly. People would yell at me and throw the occasional beer can.

Best part – watching random parts of the same movie 24 to 28 times in 14 days. My pay – minimum wage of $3.35/hour.

prodriguez
prodriguez commented about State Theater on Oct 4, 2013 at 5:31 am

I worked at the State Theater in 1984. My boss was James Drake who was also the city manager. I spent more time at the Drive In theater. I’ll never forget the crusty old guy named Barney. Great Job! Paul R

prodriguez
prodriguez commented about Commonwealth Amusement Company/Corporation on Oct 4, 2013 at 5:15 am

I was just a high school summer worker in 1983-84, but LOVED working for Commonwealth Theaters. I worked at the downtown “State Theater” and the drive in theater in Garden City KS. My boss was James Drake who was also the city manager. We had a crusty old guy names Barney who had received a ring from Commonwealth for 40 years of service.

I miss the drive-in, it shut down in the late 80s. A classmate of mine has refurbished the downtown theater building to make it a live theater house.

I still remember watching my training video on “suggestive selling”, “Would you like a large soft drink with that popcorn?” If we took tickets we wore an ugly red blazer with a commonwealth patch. We were constantly on the look-out for “checkers”, who were the Commonwealth “police” sent to do an incognito surprise inspection disguised as customers.

Fond memories!