With this year being the 75th anniversary I thought it might be interesting as well as fun to look back at Greendale’s beginnings from the viewpoint of its own residents and local news stories of the day. Every Thursday through the end of the year, I will be posting humorous, relevant or just interesting stories from Greendale’s original newspapers.
The following selected stories are copied exactly as they were originally written (including some misspellings) unless otherwise noted. Some may be shortened with “…”. They will be in bold and italicized type.
Also, just a reminder - Greendale first opened to residents on May 1, 1938
Find out what's happening in Greendalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
GREENDALE REVIEW – Wednesday, October 7, 1939
SAFETY FIRST
Find out what's happening in Greendalefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The following safety provisions for children of Greendale have been set:
1. Cadets will be stationed at the curb of the following cross-walks to direct children in crossing from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 12:40 to 1:00 p.m. Broad Street and Schoolway, Broad Street and Northway, Northway and Arrowwood, Northway and Azalea.
2. Children should cross at the points where cadets are stationed to guard them.
3. Cadets will give instructions about proper cross-walks as determined by Chief of Police Taylor.
4. Children must not cross against the advice of a cadet.
5. Children who do not obey will be reported to the Supervisor.
6. Children are asked not to cross over lawns and parkways.
Adults are requested to abide by these regulations and set the example for their children’s safety and consideration for the property of others.
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Guest Speaker At Women’s Club Meeting
Miss Aimee Zillmer, lecturer with the State Board of Health, will speak before the Greendale Women’s Club at their regular evening meeting to be held Wednesday evening, October 18.
Miss Zillmer has been with the state board for several years, working through the cooperation of high schools with teen-aged girls through the state. Her topic will be “Whose Responsibility Is Social Hygiene”.
Block Printing Described
At the last evening meeting held September 20, Mr. Ringer, craft director with the Works Progress Administration, demonstrated many crafts, especially the making of block print draperies.
Election of officers will be the main business before the Greendale Women’s Club at their regular meeting to be held Wednesday afternoon, October 4.
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HOUSE NUMBERS MUST BE SEEN
Vines and shrubbery around many Greendale homes have certainly helped improve the general appearance of the community. Some vines, however have grown so thick that they have completely covered house numbers. It has been suggested by the management that every tenant remove vines or other obstructions from house numbers.
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“Inside Story” Of The Greendale Theatre
Greendale is more fortunate than her sister village, Greenhills Ohio, as far as entertainment facilities are concerned. Greendale boasts of a theatre all its own, especially constructed by the government to satisfy the villagers’ desire for cinema entertainment.
Nothing in the way of furnishings or equipment was overlooked in making Greendale’s theatre the most modern to be found anywhere in the country. Nothing better is to be had in any theatre in the way of sound, projection, and air conditioning. Seating 650 persons, the theatre offers the best in comfort and entertainment.
Comfort and safety have been the first concern in building the theatre. On the exterior the building has been constructed to harmonize with the architecture of the other business establishments, both in design and color. In the interior everything has been built with an eye to safety, and comfort. Brick, concrete, and steel give assurance against fires. Soft seats and fresh clean air add to comfort. A special screen, high fidelity sound, and extraordinary projection equipment effect a pleasant evening’s entertainment.
Air Conditioning Ideal
A gigantic fan operated by a 7-1/2 H.P. motor feeds fresh air, completely washed, heated or cooled to meet the requirements of the seasons, at the rate of 19,000 cubic feet per minute. A small tornado, with a miniature Niagara Falls, is created in the air conditioning system to insure clean, fresh air, at all times of the year. Air is drawn in from the outside, where it automatically registers its own temperature. In cool weather sensitive thermostats operate heating coils to warm the air. Then it passes through a sea of water and is washed and all dust removed. Further heating takes place automatically, and then the air, fresh and clean, is fed into the theatre in a deflected manner from a long duct that runs the entire length of the theatre. Other ducts along the floor on both sides draw off the cooler air and expel it outside. A mechanical brain, located in the main auditorium, controls the entire air conditioning system by means of compressed air, insuring a uniform temperature and comfort at all times.
The lounge rooms have their own fresh air ducts with special suction fans not operated by the main system. Each of the two lavatories has an independent fan system. Even the projection room is air conditioned and ventilated.
Emergency Lighting System
Greendale’s theatre has what is believed to be one of the very few emergency lighting systems which goes into operation automatically in case of a power failure from the main feed lines. A relay operates off the main electric lines the same instant any power failure occurs. A 7-1/2 kilowatt generator, driven by an auxiliary gasoline motor goes into action immediately and the whole switch-over takes place so fast, that no break is noticeable. This auxiliary system, while not sufficiently powerful to run the projection equipment, does provide light for all the exits, the main auditorium, foyer, lobby, stairways, projection room and the lounge rooms. Each day before the show begins this system is put in operation for a brief period as a precautionary measure. Nothing has been overlooked in providing for safety. Everything works with the precision of a fine watch.
Sound Equipment Perfect
So far advanced is the sound and projection equipment, that no comparison can be made with the equipment of earlier days. The equipment in Greendale’s theatre is superlative. The best and latest screen known to movie science has been installed for eye comfort. A new degree of eye relaxation, not heretofore known is enjoyed by Greendale’s theatre-goers. Of special design and material, which is perfectly suited to reflecting all shades of color and color combinations, the screen provides for sound, as well as for vision, being fifty per cent porous, sound passes through freely. In both instances, the sound and light have to be reduced in volume, to effect perfect entertainment. Behind the porous screen are two gigantic speakers. One is suited to reproduce the higher pitch sounds, while the other is adapted to the lower tone notes. Both speakers operate to give a well modulated, true tone. Overloading is impossible with these speakers. The operation is controlled by an amplifier system connected with a photo-electric cell that is connected with the projection machines. A sound track incorporated on the same film showing the picture produces the sound. In the early days of sound pictures, the sound was produced by phonograph records. Today both sound and vision come from the same film.
“Inside Story” Of The Theatre - To be continued next week.
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Next week – Local Business Men Plan Annual Event; Bargains To Be Offered.
Thanks to the Greendale Historical Society, for which I am a member, for providing the original newspapers.
Steve Peters