Saturday at the Ulman
On a recent visit to the Plaza, I noticed some activity taking place on what has been a vacant lot for many years. The lot is next to Parker Place Antiques on the south side of Main St. Memories flashed back to the early 1950’s and what that spot meant to anyone of my generation. The building that had occupied that space was the Ulman Theater and, if it was Saturday, they were playing a Western movie - and more. For the princely sum of ten cents, you were able to see the main feature, a cartoon, the Movietone news of the day and another segment of a serialized story that kept you coming back week after week.
Before the events began, the theater was dimly lit just enough that the ever-present usher with his flashlight could throw an accusing beam of light upon anyone he suspected of chunking a Jujube at another attendee. When the lights dimmed and we had listened to at least thirty minutes of Humoresque, we knew the show was about to begin. A great roar went up and then silence. The show was about to begin and we did not want to miss a word.
This was the end of an era for Salisburians that began in 1888 when the Ulman family opened their Grand Opera House in the same building. What started out as vaudeville and the occasional traveling opera company to give it the elegant name, the Ulman Opera House later changed to the silent films complete with accompanying piano player. When the “talkies” came out, they had them at the Ulman. While the original entertainment facility was on the second floor, the first floor was the Ulman’s liquor store. With Prohibition came another change. The ground floor was now the Ulman Furniture Store. Until the Arcade Theater was build in 1914, the Ulman Opera House was the setting for any large gathering in Salisbury. Its 610 seat facility saw graduations, recitals and just about anything else that needed a large venue.
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wow brings back alot of good thoughts,like my first kiss,then we would all go down to reads drug store and get a brown cow, and off ot englishs,how nice it was
ReplyDeleteHeard alot about that theater from older relatives-they said the serials always kept you coming back each week to see what would happen-and it was safe to let your kids go off to the matinee with other kids while the mothers shopped at Woolworth and other stores.
ReplyDeleteSadly, those days of innocence are gone for all of America. I was not in Salisbury during that period, but there are many stories similar to this one, for other small towns across this Country. Time has now moved on. Just as my parents explained to me (and I refused to believe) the prior generation was always better than the existing generation. Technology is a very bad thing. For all of the good it brings, many many terrible things come with it. Until I grew older, I did not understand that each passing generation becomes less and less alive, plus more and more distant from nature itself. We live a pathetic existence now, barely able to appreciate each other or nature. We have become technologically enslaved by our own inventions.
ReplyDeleteI hope this is not a double post, I think I did something wrong the first time. Sorry. I remember the drug store and going to the 5 and Dime for the best lunch! Wow..am showing my age here. I also remember, when TV was black and white, and there was a show on TV from the top floor of White and Leonards...Jolly Jack? Dang..I can't remember. It was the coolest toy store! And if you sent your name in, every week they drew a winners name between Thanksgiving and Christmas for free toys!
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the Ulman theater when I was a teen snd sitting in the balcony and throwing a shoe down on the people below. Of course, my friends and I were asked to leave. I also remember the Arcade, Wicomico, and New theaters. This was when downtown was the place to go.
ReplyDeleteWhat Barrie Tilghman has allowed to happen at that site is disgusting -- first, she got it sold by the City (for a sweetheart price) under a deal that the new owner would fix it up and operate it as a garden center, and when they failed to do that they were given an extended period, but it has become a junkyard. It could have been a nice open space for the Downtown Plaza that BPT has also ruined. She was assisted in all this by Bubba Comegys.
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