The Silent Screen Goes Dark in Richland
A local entrepreneur pulls the plug on the town's only movie theater after the community fails to support the expense.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
C. S. Gibbs has been compelled to discontinue his moving picture shows on account of a lack of patronage. This is greatly to be regretted, as Mr. Gibbs put on a good, clean show and it was really the only form of amusement which the little folks of the community had a chance to attend. Of course, most of the grown-ups can go to Kennewick to the show once in a while, but the little fellows enjoyed the show at home, and for their sakes, it is to be regretted that it must be discontinued on account of the fact that Mr. Gibbs could not make expenses.
“Mr. Gibbs put on a good, clean show and it was really the only form of amusement which the little folks of the community had a chance to attend.”
This reflects the ongoing tension between local entertainment and the lure of larger, more accessible hubs—a struggle Richland and many small Washington towns continue to face today.
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