There was a time when a small theater in the middle of the state was a place of dreams and great fun - The “Disneyland” in the desert if you will. Every Sunday beginning at 10 a.m., kids from every corner of Socorro County began lining up on the sidewalk in front of the Loma Theatre. The Loma was the epicenter of Socorro County every Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Parents brought their children from Magdalena, San Antonio, Polvadera and Lemitar and from Ranches and Farms all across the land.
Everyone came for the huge double features and fantastic cartoons. It was the coolest thing in the world to be there for an Elvis, John Wayne or Beach Blanket double feature along with the super cartoon lineup with Bugs, Donald, Sylvester, Roadrunner, Wile Coyote, Pepe le Pew, Daffy and all the rest of the Warner Bros. characters. But the best part of the day long outing at the Loma was the INTERMISSION!
Man, everything under that huge auditorium ceiling was tried at least once. Basketball, foot races, pie eating contests, dance contests, battle of the bands, singing contests and any other kind of game or competition my father, my brothers and sisters and I could come up with. It was THE best place in the whole wide world to be on Sunday.
The lines outside would grow around the old Fair Store on the corner at California Street and continue to grow down the road all the way to the corner next to the Torres’ Sunset Lounge. We would fill the Loma to capacity each and every Sunday. Moms and dads would drop their children off with a dollar and that would buy a double feature, a coke, candy bar and a bag of popcorn – and – all the fun with your friends that you could possibly stand.
Dad never left the kids outside who couldn’t afford to get in the Loma because they had no money. He’d wave them through the front door and take them to the concession and give each of them a coke, popcorn and candy – then run them up and find them a seat.
No one ever missed a show because they didn’t have the money to get in. Ever!
The Loma was the place where probably 98 percent of the kids had their first peck on the cheek or kiss on the mouth. Every kid fell in love a time or two at the Loma Theatre. Some kids fell in love and never fell out of love with that special someone and they are still together and in love today. Married even.
Do you have a special Loma Theatre memory? Would you like to tell that story here in the Mountain Mail? We’d love to hear your Loma Theatre story. How about the annual Easter Egg Hunt? Have a story about that? How about a story about the Ham and Turkey and Candy family giveaways during the holidays? How about Spanish night or Cougar Country Festivals nights? Tell us your stories. Everyone would love to hear them.
Email your story to mountainmaileditor@yahoo.com or send them regular mail to Mountain Mail - PO Box 62 – Socorro, NM 87801.
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they didn’t have thesbobet money to get in. Ever!
ReplyDeleteThe Loma was the place where probably 98 percent of the kids had their first peck on the cheek or kiss on the mouth. Every kid fell in love a time or two at the Loma Theibcbetatre. Some kids fell in love and never fell out of love with that special someone