While working at General Dynamics, I met my husband (now my ex-husband), and we settled down to life as newlyweds just down the street from the Ridglea Theatre.  A routine we thoroughly enjoyed was Friday evenings at the Ridglea.  On the east side of the theater was a small and friendly little hamburger joint.  They grilled the hamburgers on the spot, and also made fried pies.

Every week, we ordered the same thing: "Two chili-cheese-and-onion burgers, and two fried pies."  We ate the burgers there and I would wrap the fried pies in double-thick napkins and carry them to the Ridglea in my purse, hoping the theater attendant wouldn't notice the fried-pie odors coming from my direction.

We would sit on the first row of the balcony, with our feet up on the railing, and eat our fried pies and watch a new movie every week.

-Fort Worth Star-Telegram article, August 14, 1994

My fondest memory of the beautiful, historical Ridglea Theatre was in 1955 when my wife and I attended the world premiere of Strategic Air Command.  I was public relations officer at Carswell Air Force Base and had a part in the movie.  Most of the stars of the movie were there -- Jimmy Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan --- along with many celebrities and Fort Worth officials.

I worked at the Ridglea Theatre when I was in high school.  I worked behind the candy counter -- which was always tempting.  All of the movies seem to have faded away except one: From Here to Eternity.  Every night I would leave the other girl behind the counter and rush out in time to see Montgomery Clift play taps for Frank Sinatra.  It made my cry every time.

-Fort Worth Star-Telegram article, August 14, 1994

The Ridglea was my very first "concert". I was 14 and my school choir was having a battle of the bands. I was so excited. I met one of my all time favorite bands, Maxwell Front and made a ton of friends. I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of my life.

I was a regular at the old Saturday morning matinees and one particular bittersweet memory comes to mind of the Ridglea Theatre.  THE DAY CAPTAIN SWABBY RUINED MY LIFE.  Channel 11's cartoon host was presiding over a drawing for a multitude of prizes, and the place was packed.  He would pull a ticket, read the number and the lucky winners would make their way to the stage to receive their prize.  To my amazement, he called my number.

I headed down the aisle, struck dumb by my good fortune.  I didn't know what I had won, and it didn't matter.  Unfortunately, what I had won was a football, and at that moment it was hurtling toward me in a tight spiral.

I looked up just in time to cover my face, and of course botched the reception.  Well, the crowd went wild, and even the Captain made some comment regarding my athleticism.

I wanted to yell out, "I never even saw it!" but the derisive chrotles of the crowd would have drowned me out.  Meanwhile, the football was rolling down the aisle with me in clumsy pursuit.  Finally, a girl (a girl!) retrieved it and handed it to me.

I had missed my moment.  Captain Swabby was well into the next presentation, so I slunk away, up the aisle, into the lobby and out the door where a group of hoods grabbed my ball and took off running toward the skillern's parking lot. 

I still carry the emotional scars.

-Fort Worth Star-Telegram article, August 14, 1994