Time warp (revisiting the Roxy)
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- Published on Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Photo by Rick Sparling. (L to R) Cam Smith, Gail Cathcart, Ron Kleven and Tubby Cathcart joined Rick Sparling on his tour of the Roxy Theatre.
Submitted by Rick Sparling
The Neepawa Press
When we first walked into the Roxy, we imagined John Kostenchuk taking tickets at the front door and we were ushered to our seats by Myrna Hawkins, Miriam Shulman, May Kostenchuk or one of the Montgomery sisters, Maureen or Gail, with their trusty club-like flashlights. On the way by the concession on the left side, the strong aroma of buttered popcorn made us stop there years ago, but now it was a waiting room. We were thinking that Al Pasosky鈥檚 mother took tickets at the front and Cheryl Thurston as well after Mrs. Pasosky鈥檚 retirement. Our pal from Morden, Kaz Holod, joined us for the tour which was led by Cecil Pittman and chaperoned by Tubby Cathcart. We four transplanted Winnipeggers, Ron Kleven, Barry Deveson, Cam Smith and I were deep into our memory bank having just used it for the bowling alley tour only moments earlier.
The moment we walked into the main part I noticed the wonderful scent and I can鈥檛 explain what it smelled like, but it was one of those moments when you really didn鈥檛 want to leave... just stay there and take it all in. At least two of us commented on it, so it was something that stayed with us for all of these years.
It was sad to see (not sure if our gang took too much advantage of it) the 鈥渘ecking section鈥� at the back had been boarded up on both sides. It also looked like the seats at the front had been removed to enlarge the stage. When we went to the show at 10, 11 or 12 years old, we were relegated to the first nine or 10 rows at the front. We used to leave the theater with huge 鈥榢inks鈥� in our necks from looking almost straight up! Those seats appeared to be gone now. (Just as well) The seats that are in place now seemed to be much more comfortable than the ones we used to sit in. The stage appeared to be much larger, as well.
There is an area on the main floor behind the stage that the ushers used to use as a change room and in behind some newly placed and painted drywall are signatures of all the girls who worked there over the years. I guess we were a couple of years too late to take a photo of these names. Dammit! As a consolation, we did have our very own tour guide, Gail Cathcart (nee Montgomery) and we had to be on our best behavior as she was carrying her original flashlight.
Heading up to the balcony, we all thought the stairs were much steeper than we remembered and we couldn鈥檛 remember there being that many! This is quite a challenge for anyone 65 years old and since we are all 71 or more, a well earned rest at the top was in order.
Ron went directly over to the balcony鈥檚 edge where he looked for his initials which might have been carved, but it was so dark he could only imagine taking aim with his pea shooter and using the edge to steady his aim. (Ron still wonders to this day why the ushers picked on him.)
My own personal memory of the Roxy... I went to see Cinderella when I was six years old at least five times as I was infatuated with the creatures who helped her get ready for the ball. Were they Gus Gus and Jaq? It was my all time favorite show. I also remember watching Randolph Scott鈥檚 cowboy movies and Blackboard Jungle with Glenn Ford and Sidney Poitier. One of the scarier moments at The Roxy was when 鈥楾he Blob鈥� hit town.
The Roxy. What a great history it has. I鈥檓 sure there have been many live shows there over the years and other productions of theater, political events and musicals. The people of Neepawa should be proud of the Roxy and should support it whenever it is possible to do so.
