The Clinton Theater
by Maralyn Fink
Here is a story about The Clinton Theater that was located in downtown St Johns in the first block that I will always remember from my era. Roy G. Beechler and Richard Willits Beechler owned the theater that opened on November 1, 1935. Bill Beechler’s office was located on the south side of the theater and on the north was a Barber Shop which always had barbers in it, the last one being Jim Viers.
Mr. Beechler always employed high school kids and, the fellows had to wear white shirts. If they did not have a white shirt and could not afford one, Bill would purchase one for them. Bill was a very generous man and a good businessman.
Bill and his wife Geraldine ran the theater, and their son Tom and daughter Jan also did their share of work. Every Saturday Jan had to clean the popcorn machine, and Tom had to help dad with whatever was needed to be done. Jan really did not like the cleaning of the popcorn machine because it was a huge chore and a lot of work!
Arnold (Red) Rademacher was the Manager and pretty much ran the operation. I knew Red as he would also usher; and his son Ron was in my class. Carl Pierson ran the projectors most of the time, and a fellow named Leo Garner Thrall who came from Lansing filled in when Carl was gone or Bill ran them.
Jan pretty much did everything but the projectors. She was a ticket girl, did popcorn and ushered and let her friends in for free. She started in the ticket office at 9 years of age, and her dad told her that if the patron said he gave her more money than what she gave him for change to not argue with him. He also told her that if anyone came to hold her up, to give them all the money! Sometimes she had to handle tickets and the popcorn while her dad disappeared to Walkers Café for coffee, and she really though he was just “testing” her.
Bill passed away in 1970, and Geraldine ran the business for a few years, then sold it to Howard Kortes who had the drive in. After that it had many owners ’till its demise. Anyone moving to St Johns of late would never guess there was a theater in our town.
I remember long lines on the sidewalk waiting to get into the theater and lines of cars after the picture waiting on the street to pick up kids that came. I remember the movie “Petyon Place” that I actually saw twice. It was a sad day when the time came to say goodbye, but the Marque was left for a time. That also came to an end.
Owosso still has their Marque and still running theater, and in Beulah, Michigan they still have a Drive-In. Another end to my era that was and still is missed in many hearts.
Thank you to Jan Beechler Workman for providing some of the information for this story, and thank you to the Beechler family for providing us a theater for all to enjoy.