Volume 11 , Issue 43

Perry, Oklahoma Memories

Roy says, "I too liked Perry the first time I saw it (in 1967). I was working for National Theatre Supply (in OKC) after I'd left KWTV and our secretary at "National," knowing that I was also operating two small town theatres (at Tuttle, and Minco) had suggested that I should lease or buy the theatres (an indoor and a drive-in) at Perry (from her brother in Tulsa).

Then the projectionist from the Perry Theatre had come into our place of business (asking how to fix some problems with the projectors there) and that same week, we'd had an order for some concessions supplies so I decided to deliver them myself and see if I could solve the projector problems (I was known as a projector 'trouble-shooter'). I drove the sixty miles north late that afternoon.

As I drove down the hill coming into town, I was awe-struck be the layout of the valley in which the town was built, and drove around the town square before reaching the theatre.

I delivered the concessions supplies before going to the projection booth. The projectionist was delighted that I'd come up to see his booth and check out its problems.

There was a bad case of 'travel-ghost' on the left projector [caused by the (fan-like) shutters between the arc lamp and the moving film]. After he changed over to the other projector, I reset the timing gear to its 'mid range' and reset the shutter (on its shaft) to as near perfect as possible on a 'stopped' projector; and then when he changed back to using that projector, I 'fine-tuned' the shutter by using its timing gear to remove the rest of the streaks caused by the 'travel-ghost'. After that problem was solved, I reversed the gears that fed the arc-light carbons to slow them down (they had been set up to feed a different size that were used by drive-in theatres for a more brilliant light, and burned at a much faster rate than the ones used here). Problems solved.

As I drove away, I kept thinking that this town looked a lot like the Britton, Oklahoma area where I'd spent my earlier years, and was thinking that this could be a much better place to rear my small children than our home in Minco. I convinced my wife to consider moving and set up a meeting with the theatre owner. He came to a local motel in Perry and we joined him in his room to discuss the details. We moved here within the next month.

Perry, OK Gas Prices

Oct. 19, 2009 -- Roy says, "Our Perry gasoline prices have been going up a penny or two almost daily and regular unleaded at the downtown Conoco is now at $2.44.9. The moisture finally stopped Thursday afternoon and we got sunshine again. Since then, it has also warmed up some.

Oct. 25, 2009 -- Roy says, "Perry's gasoline prices are still going up. The Conoco unleaded regular is now at $2.59.9 and I assume the Phillips station matches it (they're owned by the same folks). We've also received more moisture. My rain gauges show about 55/100's for the past few days (a slight amount is still coming down). Temperatures have been about the same as they were (mid 30s to 50s depending on time of day). I wonder why you don't receive reports from several other parts of the country? Are we the only ones that pay attention to these trends? Interesting."
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