When the "Birth of the Nation", a 12 reel Civil war picture termed a classic, was featured in 1916, admission was raised to 50¢, 75¢ and $1.

The movie house changed hands several times over the next few years. Owners included: Walter Seaman, 1915; Clyde Eddington, 1916; A. F. Becker, 1919; Schmitz & Ward, 1919; and Schmitz & Palmer. The latter were destined to operate the Princess Theatre for many years. This name change was unexplained.

This writer's recollections are of the Princess during the stewardship of Mr. Schmitz. We recall that a pianist accompanied the old silent pictures with mood music. These tunes enhanced the viewer's enjoyment of the film—soft and sweet melodies during love scenes; lively, stirring rhythm accompanied the chase; and patriotic marches improved the Battle scenes. Marie Lansing sold tickets at the Princess for many years in addition to her duties of linotypist at the Bee.

Featured pictures were usually preceded by one reel comedies. Some of our favorite comedians were Charley Chaplin, Fattie Arbuckle, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Early cowboy heroes included Buck Jones, Tom Mix and William S. Hart. Quite often there would be a continued adventure short. This exciting film was designed to motivate the viewer's return for the next sequence. Without exception, the reel would end with a perilous scene—the pretty heroine threatened with disaster, and the handsome hero rushing to the rescue. Fortunately, he always arrived in the nick of time--a great comfort to us young, unsophisticated movie-goers.

The first film projectors were far from the efficient standards of today. Rare, indeed, was the film without at least one breakdown requiring immediate splicing by the projectionist. Repair was often lengthy, with the audience sometimes losing patience and expressing their displeasure with whistles and stomping of feet. (Of course, Ossian youths never engaged in such obnoxious behavior.) When the theater was modernized and two projectors installed allowing continuous viewing without the accustomed delay caused by changing the reels, we felt that great progress had been made.

The advent of talking pictures doomed the silent projections of the Princess. L. E. Palmer, now sole owner, moved the theater seats to his more lucrative movie house at Postville. The old Princess Theatre was no more.

At a later date, Paul Swanson and his successor, James Felix, conducted a movie house, with sound, in the old Blanchaine drug store building on Lydia street. This theater was unique in one respect--the screen was located in the front of the building. It was elevated a sufficient height to allow the entrance and exit of patrons without interfering with the audience's view of the picture.

OSSIAN MARKETS

BUSINESS CHANGES

1924

Merchants R. B. Jones and Anderson & Klein offered a "bucket full of soap" for 99¢. This bargain included a large galvanized pail with 15 bars of P. & G. soap,