Bud Foley Remembers his days as an usher: Do you remember the RKO theatre chain? Do YOU remember what the letters "RKO" stood for? R" for Radio, "K" for Kieth's, and "O” for Orpheum---right? How about these delicious nostalgia tidbits from yesterday: Do you remember walking into the entrance to one of the many Plush RKO theatres and walking on those thick rugs in the lobby? ….Those maroon, velvet-covered ropes they string up between those chrome-plated poles? …..The "one-sheets" (big, colored movie posters) which lined the walls of the entrance to the theatre? …..The concession stand with the delightful aroma of buttered pop corn?.....Buying "Milk Duds," “Jujy Fruits," “Indian Nuts,” and how much better they tasted when you ate them while watching a movie?.... Remember sliding your admission (25c) under that little half moon shaped glass and how the ticket came out of that little slot ...a few mechanical "clicks" and out slid your ticket onto the stainless steed counter top. Taking that ticket and surrendering it to a smartly uniformed gentleman who represented the ultimate authority? He was an usher; impeccably dressed in a stiffly starched white collar, a bow tie, a blazing red jacket with black collar trim, and jet black trousers with a contrasting stripe up either side of his trouser leg. Hamilton’s Francis ("Bud ") Foley recalls his days as an usher in the RKO chain of theatres here in Trenton. Bud's reminiscences will be familiar to many visitors to this site. So return with us now to the year 1947. Here's Bud Foley: During the years of 1947 to 1949 when the movie house era was at its peak, some local gentlemen, including myself, were employed as ushers for the RKO theatres. To name a few: the Lincoln, Trent, Capitol, State, Palace, and Broad. Our starting pay was 60 cents an hour, and as a student, the hours were from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Neatness was a prerequisite of the usher's job. Prior to receiving an assignment, each of us was required to stand inspection before our Chief of Service. If the uniform was wrinkled or needed cleaning, or if the shoes weren't properly shined, the usher would be removed from service until he could pass the critical inspection of the chief. When not ushering, other duties included hanging "Coming Attraction" posters outside on billboards using brushes and "gooey:" paste. We also assisted the maintenance men in changing the letters on the marquee, changing fabric on the seats, and scraping tons of chewing gum from under the seats. I worked at the Lincoln, where Albert Brogel was the chief of service, with Waiter Krawczun as his assistant. At the time, the district manager for all of Trenton's RKO theatre chain was a gentleman by the name of Ed Sniderman. Our winter uniform was a red jacket with black trousers. In the summer months, we wore light blue. In place of a shirt, we wore a cardboard "dickie" type shirt with a cardboard, white wing tipped collar with a collar button, all topped off with a black bow tie. At times, we would be put on loan to other theatres for special attractions. I recall being leased to the Capitol when the "Doctor Spook Fright Show" was staged during Halloween. Dr. Frankenstein would cut off the head of a victim, (cherry soda syrup was made to look like blood.) As the "blood" hit the floor, the lights in the theatre went out and the announcement was made that the monster was loose in the theatre with the dripping head looking for a body. Dr. Frankenstein would wind up in the balcony and thrown someone down on the people below. A very realistic dummy was used. All of us in the usher fraternity were coached prior to the incident by the fright show staff. When we finished work on those evenings in the 40s, we would spend our time at the Capitol Tomato Pie restaurant, located on Front Street between Broad and Warren. I also remember the times prior to getting dressed to go on duty, we would listen to Bolton Holmes practice on that huge and beautiful pipe organ which is now a permanent fixture in Trenton's War Memorial Building. When Bolton Holmes laid his fingers on the keys, the organ would really sing for him. It was a great sounding organ; they don't make them like that any more. I remember when Ernie Kovacs used to broadcast over WTTM from the Lincoln Theatre. I believe it was twice a week, featuring the great Bolton Holmes at the organ. I'm glad I was a part of that famous era. I'm sorry that it is no longer here; the only thing left is all the wonderful memories. Thanks to Bud for sharing that nostalgic look back at the golden age of the movies. I'm sure many viewers of this site will experience a wave of bittersweet nostalgia as they read your memories of those fabulous RKO theatre days. The photo that follows shows Bud and his usher companions back in the "Golden Age of the Movies."
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Saturday, December 17, 2005
Hamilton's Bud Foley Remembers
Bud Foley Remembers his days as an usher: Do you remember the RKO theatre chain? Do YOU remember what the letters "RKO" stood for? R" for Radio, "K" for Kieth's, and "O” for Orpheum---right? How about these delicious nostalgia tidbits from yesterday: Do you remember walking into the entrance to one of the many Plush RKO theatres and walking on those thick rugs in the lobby? ….Those maroon, velvet-covered ropes they string up between those chrome-plated poles? …..The "one-sheets" (big, colored movie posters) which lined the walls of the entrance to the theatre? …..The concession stand with the delightful aroma of buttered pop corn?.....Buying "Milk Duds," “Jujy Fruits," “Indian Nuts,” and how much better they tasted when you ate them while watching a movie?.... Remember sliding your admission (25c) under that little half moon shaped glass and how the ticket came out of that little slot ...a few mechanical "clicks" and out slid your ticket onto the stainless steed counter top. Taking that ticket and surrendering it to a smartly uniformed gentleman who represented the ultimate authority? He was an usher; impeccably dressed in a stiffly starched white collar, a bow tie, a blazing red jacket with black collar trim, and jet black trousers with a contrasting stripe up either side of his trouser leg. Hamilton’s Francis ("Bud ") Foley recalls his days as an usher in the RKO chain of theatres here in Trenton. Bud's reminiscences will be familiar to many visitors to this site. So return with us now to the year 1947. Here's Bud Foley: During the years of 1947 to 1949 when the movie house era was at its peak, some local gentlemen, including myself, were employed as ushers for the RKO theatres. To name a few: the Lincoln, Trent, Capitol, State, Palace, and Broad. Our starting pay was 60 cents an hour, and as a student, the hours were from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Neatness was a prerequisite of the usher's job. Prior to receiving an assignment, each of us was required to stand inspection before our Chief of Service. If the uniform was wrinkled or needed cleaning, or if the shoes weren't properly shined, the usher would be removed from service until he could pass the critical inspection of the chief. When not ushering, other duties included hanging "Coming Attraction" posters outside on billboards using brushes and "gooey:" paste. We also assisted the maintenance men in changing the letters on the marquee, changing fabric on the seats, and scraping tons of chewing gum from under the seats. I worked at the Lincoln, where Albert Brogel was the chief of service, with Waiter Krawczun as his assistant. At the time, the district manager for all of Trenton's RKO theatre chain was a gentleman by the name of Ed Sniderman. Our winter uniform was a red jacket with black trousers. In the summer months, we wore light blue. In place of a shirt, we wore a cardboard "dickie" type shirt with a cardboard, white wing tipped collar with a collar button, all topped off with a black bow tie. At times, we would be put on loan to other theatres for special attractions. I recall being leased to the Capitol when the "Doctor Spook Fright Show" was staged during Halloween. Dr. Frankenstein would cut off the head of a victim, (cherry soda syrup was made to look like blood.) As the "blood" hit the floor, the lights in the theatre went out and the announcement was made that the monster was loose in the theatre with the dripping head looking for a body. Dr. Frankenstein would wind up in the balcony and thrown someone down on the people below. A very realistic dummy was used. All of us in the usher fraternity were coached prior to the incident by the fright show staff. When we finished work on those evenings in the 40s, we would spend our time at the Capitol Tomato Pie restaurant, located on Front Street between Broad and Warren. I also remember the times prior to getting dressed to go on duty, we would listen to Bolton Holmes practice on that huge and beautiful pipe organ which is now a permanent fixture in Trenton's War Memorial Building. When Bolton Holmes laid his fingers on the keys, the organ would really sing for him. It was a great sounding organ; they don't make them like that any more. I remember when Ernie Kovacs used to broadcast over WTTM from the Lincoln Theatre. I believe it was twice a week, featuring the great Bolton Holmes at the organ. I'm glad I was a part of that famous era. I'm sorry that it is no longer here; the only thing left is all the wonderful memories. Thanks to Bud for sharing that nostalgic look back at the golden age of the movies. I'm sure many viewers of this site will experience a wave of bittersweet nostalgia as they read your memories of those fabulous RKO theatre days. The photo that follows shows Bud and his usher companions back in the "Golden Age of the Movies."
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My dad also worked as an usher at the Lincoln around that time frame. He also has pictures of the ushers. In the picture you have of the ushers my dad is not in there but his friend Rudy is. My mother was a candy girl at the Lincoln as well.
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