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Every Sunday after church and lunch, Dena Potter and her three sisters went to The Colony Theater, though sometimes they would switch things up and go to The Carolina, instead.
"They had the best musicals back then," Dena said. "Betty Grable came to the Prince Charles during the war, around '42 or '43. My dad put me up on his shoulders to see her over the crowds. In the movies she had glamorous blonde hair, but that day she had dirty brown hair framed by a big hair net, with a flip in the front."
Ann Newberry Augustine and her classmates frequented The Haymount Theater on Saturdays, which was where the Cape Fear Regional Theater is now. Following her weekly time listening to "The John and Sparky Show", Augustine's father would give her a dime — enough for an entire afternoon of entertainment. The double feature show was 9 cents and she'd get a lollipop for a penny from the variety store next to the theater. The lollipop had candy on both ends and she said she saved one for Rocky Lane and enjoyed the other during the Hopalong Cassidy feature.
Favorite movies for her then were anything with Allan "Rocky" Lane or Esther Williams.
"I saw my first Cinemascope movie down at The Miracle Theater," said Augustine. "It was called "The Road", in color."
Treats during the show were popcorn and cokes. The Haymount Theater also hosted the Kiwanis talent shows and variety shows on Friday nights. One year, Augustine's husband won playing "Suwanee River" on the harmonica. CV
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