- Lyceum Theatre Program, 1924/25
Today I purchased a 1925 Central High School yearbook at an estate sale, and while I was flipping through the pages, a 1924/25 program for the Lyceum Theatre fell out. The yearbook was quite interesting, but the old theatre program was more fascinating for several reasons.
First of all, it was packed with ads for long-gone Memphis businesses and products. The Buckingham-Ensley-Carrigan Company (whew, they need a shorter name) was offering the new Garod Neutrodyne radio, “a five-tube receiver of the latest design, using the famous Hazeltine circuit.” This thing cost $195 — an enormous sum in those days. And if you wanted tubes, batteries, and a speaker (you know, all the things that would actually make it WORK), you’d have to pay $275. (By comparison, a ticket to a box seat at the Lyceum cost only $1.)
Elsewhere around town, Hull-Dobbs announced, “Our service floor and shop are open all night for adjustments and repairs on Ford cars.” The Romie Beauty Shoppe offered “marceling, permanent waving, and the latest cuts in shingles and bobs.” Roy Grinding Company (apparently a very specialized business) urged, “Ladies, bring us your scissors to grind and we will make them cut like new.” Cassie McNulty’s Hat Shop (oh, what a great name!) promoted their “beautiful line of Spring hats.” The Laird School of Dancing offered classes in “plain and fancy ballroom dancing.” And Permo Service Station advised readers that their car could be “called for and PERMANIZED within three hours.” Permanized?
