Varsity Theater & Harold's Club

This all took place in the 1950s in Amory, Mississippi. Not a lot of boys even had cars back then, if people remember. Toady Boyd and Tommy Gene Whitaker were a few that did. They were in a group from Quincy which is right outside of Amory. Guys who had no cars would catch rides with them to go to the Varsity Theatre or, what most called it back then – “the picture show.” The first show was at 7:00 and the second at about 8:30.
A man from Smithville had a bus and he brought a load of boys and girls from there to the show every Saturday night. My cousin Toady and I met two pretty girls there one night at the show. They were from Toran, just north of Smithville and they had come in on the bus. The one I met was named Mary Robinson and her nickname was “Baby.” I can’t remember her sister’s name now. After the movie, we would go back to the bus and talk and maybe kiss! All “puppy love” stuff back then.
One night I stayed too long on the bus and it was ready to leave. I went on back to the theater and all my buddies had left. Tommy Gene was long gone!
I then headed down to Harold’s Café. It stayed open 24 hours a day. I went in and must have looked lost because a nice waitress asked if I was lost. I said “No, just missed my ride to Quincy.” By then it was about 10:30. She said, “Go sit in a booth and maybe someone will come back and get you.” Back then most people out in the country didn’t have phones. A few had party lines. But I had no way to call for help or a ride.
I guess I must have gone to sleep; it being so late. The next morning around 8:00 a.m. I awoke. The Sea-Borg “jukebox” was playing “Shame, Shame On You” by Spade Cooley. Then, sometime after that, one of the boys came back and got me.
I will end this by saying Mary “Baby” Robinson – wherever you
are, I still remember you!