The LaNora Theater

Here's the picture sent to me by Alice Virden Price.  Both David Sallee and Don Cates worked in this theater for some years.  Both of them have comments below.  All of us have memories of the movies shown here, all the way from grade school until sometime in our high school years.  I was reminded that it had a balcony.  I had forgotten that.  I recall some of the scary midnight previews - ran all the way home afterward!  I can't begin to tell what memories were made there.  Initially it cost 9 cents to go to the movie before having to pay the adult price of 25 cents.  Mike Conway

How many movies did we sit through and never watch?  It was all so innocent then, and I just wish my children and grandchildren could know what  it was like to be a teen in the 50's. They have no clue what 'the drag' was. That's a shame, because you could see everyone that was out. You'd  have to stop at Caldwell's for awhile and then change directions. What a time it was back then! Thanks for posting the pic.    Alice Virden Price

What a great picture! I went to work at the LaNora in 1952 as the lowest usher making $19 every two weeks. I worked for the movies in Pampa until 1957.  The LaNora burned down but I can't remember what year. The LaNora was 50 cents for adults and 25 for kids. The Crown was on the other side of Cuyler and other side of Foster about middle of the block just this side of White Deer Land Company. The Crown charged 25 cents for adults and 9 for kids. My best buddy Kenneth Mitchell and I would go there on Saturday and see a movie, 2 serials, and 2 cartoons with popcorn and a drink all for 25 cents. We were about 9 years old. The Rex theater was rebuilt and renamed to the LaVista.  David Sallee

I don't know if you remember or not but I worked at the theater all thru high school and managed several towns for Video theatres' who owned the

theatres in Pampa.  I was to be the projectionist that day that the theatre burned and had worked the drive in the night before and just got up to go

to work and had no idea of what had happened until I got there. I can still remember the feeling that I had walking down the sidewalk to the entrance.  I felt like I had lost a Best Buddy.  As for old stories I have seen a few things from the projection booth in the balcony that I will leave alone as I still like living.  Don Cates
 

I was told that the LaNora Theater was named for Lanora McMurtry who was a ballet teacher in Pampa.  Georgia Collins Mason