Our Little Corner In Space And Time
(Reader-friendly viewing of news archives/historical archives material)
February, 1958
December, 1958
PPE Footnotes:
Word around town was that Dawson would remove snips of film that he felt were not suitable for family viewing at the theater.
Over the instrumental strains of his musical theme "My Happiness" the mellow voice of J. Dawson Clarke greeted his audience from WBOC's Pocomoke City radio studio located on the northeast block of Willow Street.
During the early days of local television Dawson accompanied Eastern Shore Of Virginia singer Brooks Russell on the piano on entertainment programs (Russell later started WESR radio in Tasley).
Dawson moved to Pocomoke City from Dover in the 1920's and for many years did professional photography.
He was a proud booster of Pocomoke City and was elected to nine terms as mayor serving from 1968-1986. He didn't run for a tenth term and passed away in April, 1986 less than a couple of weeks before his 81st birthday. Councilman Curt Lippoldt succeeded him as mayor.
J. Dawson Clarke
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Yes, Dawson did "edit" movies by snipping out scenes that he thought were racy. Of course he had to replace the edited footage before sending the movies back but that was not hard with 35mm film. The movies always arrived in big "hatboxes" on the Trailways bus and one could often see Dawson at the bus station picking up or returning the films.
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor was definitely not a morning person. He and Hattie rarely went to bed before 1:00 am and did not like to arise until at least 10:00 am.
Most of the customers of the MarVa were children and there was always much cheering, whistling and applause when the lights were dimmed for the show. I was astounded the first time I saw a movie in Salisbury because everyone was silent as the lights dimmed and that was just not the way I was accustomed to.
Your friend,
Slim
In the 70s at this theater, African Americans were required to sit up stairs in the hard wood seats, and enter the theater through the side door. If something was funny in the movie which would require laughter, Dawson Clark would shine his flashlight in our face and threaten to kick us out of the theater
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