The Struggle to Be Known

It really is a grand place – even in its current condition.

I entered the Saenger Theatre in Pine Bluff only a handful of times as I was growing up, but these precious few visits made a tremendous impact and have remained ever clear in my memory. It was a place which allowed me a brief escape from my hot, sticky mosquito-filled youth.

For a time there was a photography studio across the street from the Saenger. And late one hot Spring afternoon my family converged there to have a portrait taken. I think it was my very first time to actually notice the old theatre.

As we raced across Pine Bluff, heading for our portrait sitting (on our way from my eye doctor appointment after school) the plan was for me to change into my good dress clothes in the backseat of the car. So as my mom struggled to get these dress clothes on me (with dad giving her directions from the front seat) I managed to squirm loose and hang out the car window (half dressed I might add) to read the Saenger’s marquee.

“Sleeping Beauty” was playing that week. It had a dragon in it. I wanted to see him bad!

After that day, every time I would pass the theatre, I would make my appointed driver slow to a crawl so I could gaze at the movie posters.

There was something extra special about seeing a movie there. Even if it was a “bad” movie, I would still enjoy just being there, in that environment. For me at the time, it was other-worldly.

It was in the Saenger that I first learned the hazards of eating Milk Duds. I lost two fillings with one chomp. I removed the dud from my mouth with two complete fillings in-bedded in it … one upper and one lower. And it was in that theatre that I discovered a life-long passion for science fiction as I watched with wide eyes, open mouth and gapped teeth the “Planet of the Apes.”

The only drawback that I can remember about seeing movies there was that the parking meters outside the theatre would not hold enough change to last for an entire movie. I can remember several occasions when I was dragged from the theater in the middle of an exciting adventure to put money in a parking meter outside.

I’ve learned a lot about the history of the theater and have written several articles about it for several publications. As a child, I never knew that the world-famous magician Houdini performed on the stage and that (reportedly) a special tunnel was dug under the theater just for his act. I’ve seen a tunnel under the theatre with my own eyes. I also didn’t know that Gloria Swanson was in attendance at the opening night festivities. And I would never have guessed that for many years it was called the “finest theatre” west of the Mississippi! And to clarify, please know this is just a sampling of the talent that came through the old palace. It was the place to be. I’ve actually interviewed someone who attended the opening night festivities at the theatre. I’ll share that interview in a later post.

I can still remember the sights and sounds in the busy lobby like it was yesterday – the smell of the popcorn in the huge glass popcorn-popping machine, the brightly colored wrappers of the candy neatly lined up behind the glass in the counter display. And I can still see those two graceful staircases outlining the entrance into the wonderfully mysterious “dark.”

At the time there was bright red carpet with a bold design that covered the floors. I loved tracing the design with my steps. Little did I know the carpet was covering genuine Italian marble floors. But at the time I’m sure I would have preferred the carpet. (Who know what Italian marble was?) Carpet was something rich people had and I liked it!

My life goal at the time was to live in a home with shag carpet on the floor and wood paneling on the walls. My how times, and tastes change!

For me, there has always been a mysterious elegance that pervades that old movie palace. Even when I’ve returned there as an adult to tour the the building, I’ve felt that same way. Not until you walk down the aisle toward the stage, past the deep overhanging balcony, does the Saenger reveal its full glory. With the secrets of that huge space finally revealed, you can settle into your seat for the second show of the evening, the first was always the Saenger itself.

The photos I’ve included on this page, are from a tour I took of the facility back in the late 90s when restoration seemed to be fading from view. Today, with a renewed interest in downtown Pine Bluff, many remain hopeful that the building can be re-purposed for one more encore performance.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed!