Larry Goldstein and The Roxy Theatre of Carleton Place

 

Larry Goldstein was a huge part of some our local kids lifestyle in the 1930s. Larry dealt in scrap metal and paper in a big way. On Saturday morning some of the Carleton Place kids would collect piles of newspapers and pieces of iron as much as two American Flyer wagons would hold. The kids were dependent on him as they needed to get their fix of western movies, and this was a good way to raise the cash.

Larry’s operation was at the bottom of Tannery Hill at the corner of Albert & Princess Street. The Carleton Place Town dump was across from his yard, located where the ball diamond site now is. Larry lived at the corner of Townline and Bridge Street

After the kids felt they did their best, they would present their small loads to Larry at his holding dock. The smaller boys Jack Hastie, Gerry Townsend, Teddy Graham and Del Dunlop had to fork over a whopping 15 cents each to Bill Irvine, the Roxy Theatre manager, and Larry was their only hope.

Larry Goldstein weighed each load, mulled over the value, and handed them the cash. If he gave them over 60 cents they were laughing–if it was less, then the kids would begin to mope around, staring at the money with discontent. Larry whose office overlooked the loading platform would reappear after a short period of time.

“What’s wrong lads?” he would ask.

One of the bolder boys would come forward and tell Larry they were eight cents short for the movie and ask if he could reweigh the paper. (in later years the kids wet the paper down before they took it in so it would weigh more)

Larry never batted an eye. He would tell them immediately that they were probably right, and he made mistake. He would then hand them a dime. Off they would go to Bill Irvin’s afternoon matinees at the Roxy Theatre (across from The Eating Place) featuring the cowboy adventures of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry or Hopalong Cassidy. Irvine also had two bowling alleys paid 3 cents a string to anyone who wanted a job setting up the pins.

One June 27 in the Almonte Gazette 1901 Mr. Larry Goldstein of Carleton Place, is erecting a building 50 x25, in . which h e will manufacture shoddy.

Carleton Place’s Nickel Theatre

 

This is an interesting photograph of Johnson’s “Nickel Theatre”. (Admission was 5 cents.) “She Was His Mother – A Big Human Drama” seemed to be the main attraction of the day. The theatre was located in the Masonic Temple Building, later the Carleton Place Canadian newspaper offices, and most recently, the home of Apple Cheeks Consignment Store. Pop in to the store and gaze up at the black tin ceilings – the one remnant remaining of the theatre today…

Blaine–Interesting post—the bowling alley proprietor was Bill Irwin

With files from the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Buy Linda Secaspina’s Books— Flashbacks of Little Miss Flash Cadilac– Tilting the Kilt-Vintage Whispers of Carleton Place and 4 others on Amazon or Amazon Canada or Wisteria at 62 Bridge Street in Carleton Place