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Show Cooper's Store, also served as (Midvale) post ca. the 1866, family one of the earliest stores in the home and at office. Located on one time West Center, as area. Frederick and Mary A. Cooper built the store that is It the West Jordan now remodeled now Rosse apartment. as the Rosse apartments. ELECTRIC THEATRE In 1906-1907 Midvale's first F. A. COOPER STORE came West Jordan (Midvale) 1910. Dealer in all kinds of into existence. The Joseph B. moving picture theatre originators and owners were Wright and John Dunn. The theatre was merchandise. Every thing up to date. Sells at the very lowest prices. Spring and Summer goods arriving daily. All kinds of Produce taken in exchange. Cash not located at 35 North Main. (It is presently a vacant lot, but prior to the burnout, it was Bern's Super Foods. The refused. building.) Rasmussens had their business in the This first theatre was Elysium Theatre called The Electric Theatre because the movie projector was electrically powered; one of the first in the valley. Prior to this moving picture machines were hand cranked. Film was black and white, and of course, silent. Conversations of the stars were on the screen in written words. This required flashed vivid arid dramatic pantomime, exaggerated facial ex pressions and bodily movements. A train wreck or an explosion were BANG BOOM flashed or emphasized by the words CRASH or on the screen with vibrating lines racing outward from the word. The effect was heightened by the piano player at stage front who wild and blatant for played a tune to fit the situation soft scenes of horror, suspense, action and meanness - - and melodious for love scenes, tenderness Mo'st of the films reelers news or events or Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Cooper 128 I labeled one sadness. reelers, two comedies, ones were serials continued week after week. generally ran for 1112 to 2 hours, two evening. At the end of each performance, the film had to be rewound, thus an intermission of ten to fifteen minues was required. To keep the crowd quiet and happy, the piano player went into action. Sometimes he acted as an accompanist for a vocal act. Occasionally the audience joined in song. Two of the earlier moving picture producing com panies were "The Essanay Company," of East and West Coast fame, and the D. W. Griffith Biograph Co. Performance shows , were five reelers. The short or an |
