James Maloy Collection - Downtown Austin Movie Theaters (1952-4)

Duration: 0:15:48

Year Published: 195219531954

Sound: silent

Description: This edited home movie begins with a party celebrating the 1954 film, Red Garters, starring Rosemary Clooney, Guy Mitchell, and Jack Carson. Employees of the Interstate Theater Circuit and members of the original Austin American-Statesman meet with actors and actresses who starred in the motion picture. Red Garters premiered at Austin’s Paramount Theater on February 1, 1954. Mayor Tom Miller declared the day “Red Garters Day.” Before the screening, the cast participated in a benefit for March of Dimes, in which they auctioned off a red garter from Pat Crowley’s leg. In this footage, most of the women at the party wear red garters that the men remove. The home movie also captures employees of Gem Jewelry, also located on Congress Avenue. They watch with amusement as a “man from Mars” enters the shop, wearing a sign that advertises the 1953 science fiction film, Invaders from Mars. The film showed at the Queen Theater of Trans-Texas Theater chain, a rival company to Interstate Theater Circuit. The last clips from the footage capture a Christmas party for the Trans-Texas Theater chain in 1952. Employees wine, dine, and appear to have a fine time.