Taking A Walk In The Past

For millenia, people have sought entertainment to fill their leisure time, and the early residents of Grant County, Kan., were no exception. While some enjoyed card games or joining local organizations, it was the allure of operas and moving picture shows that truly brought the outside world closer to home. For many, movies became more than just entertainment - they were a place for shared memories: a first date, a laugh with friends, or the moment Mrs. Dudley strolled down the aisle, flashlight in hand, to keep an eye on the audience.

Grant County's early brush with performance arts began with a short-lived Opera House, though its time as a hub for operas was brief. The arrival of electric power. By October 1922, the Grant County Republican announced the opening of a picture show at the Pettijohn building on East Main. By December, ads promoted the "Moonlight Theatre," managed by M.R. Worthington, with admission set a just five cents.

In its infancy, the Moonlight Theatre showed shorter reels, many sponsored by local groups and tailored to the community's tastes. By 1925, it was featuring Westerns and comedies, with films like The Covered Wagon filling the venue. But it wasn't just entertainment - the theater became a source of education as well. By 1926, it hosted programs from the Kansas State Agriculture College, aimed at educating local farmers.

As time passed, the theater evolved. By 1926, it was re-branded as "the Ulysses Theater" operated by C.O. Wenholz. That March, construction began on a modern, fireproof building made of concrete and tile, seating 200 patrons. The original structure was sold to H.F. Teeter and re-purposed as a produce house. A major improvement came in 1927 when the theater upgraded to a new projector, eliminating the need to stop between reels, and adding heat for the colder months.

The 1930s brought further improvements, including 200 leather-cushioned seats and an expanded schedule with four showings per week. In October 1936,  Ben Crocker reopened the theater under a new name: the "Grant Theatre". The Crockers, who had run a theater in Tribune, Kan., brought their expertise to Ulysses. Ben's son, Bo, served as both manager and projectionist.

By 1948, the Crockers had grander plans, building a new 490-seat theater on the corner of Main and Kansas. On March 30, the new venue opened with the film Always Together. For a time, both the Grant Theatre and the new Crocker Theatre operated simultaneously. Then, in the 1950st55fttf, the Crocker family expanded again, opening a drive-in theater east of Ulysses, creating cherished memories for the community, especially the younger generations.

A major shift came in 1972, when Richard Dudley took over operations of both the Crocker Theater and the Drive-In. With his wife, Norma, and their four children: Tina, Terry, Laurie Ann, and Linda Kay - Richard set out to revitalize the theater. Under the Dudleys, the theater opened seven days a week, with double features on some nights and Spanish-language films on Wednesdays. Longtime employee Mary Miller, who had worked for the Crockers, remained on staff as the theater transitioned.

Richard wasted no time in updating the theater's interior, transforming it into a bright, colorful space. In the mid-1970s, the family renamed it "The Movies", a name that endures to this day. The drive-in continued to operate during the warmer months until its closure in 1989. While Norma passed away in 2012, and Richard followed in 2015, their legacy lives on through their daughter, Linda Kay Velasquez, who continues to run the family business.

When reflecting on more than five decades of family involvement, Linda quoted her father: "We provide the happiest place on Earth, if only for awhile." Through years of change, The Movies has remained a staple in Grant County, showing films that resonate with the community and keeping the magic of the movies alive.