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The Rio

By Doug Fincher

…”thou God seest me...” Genesis 31:43

I drove Pam around the Square at Center, Texas last week to show her some of my old stomping grounds.  It looked generally like it did when I left to college sixty years ago but many buildings had obvious face-liftings. Stores like “L.C. Smith Hardware”, “Jess and Bob’s Café”, Winkie Warr’s Grocery” and “Payne & Payne Hardware” were noticeably missing but as we eased slowly around the square, a familiar sign suddenly burst into view:  it was “The Rio Theatre” sign …and it looked just like it did when I left Center in 1950.

When I was 15 years old, Rio owner George Smith gave me my first “up town” job taking up tickets on Saturdays for 35 cents an hour. (Admission at that time was 11 cents for children and 35 cents for adults).  After my first day’s work, he said, “Henry, kinda ‘spiff up’ when y0u come to work next week”.  I knew he was referring to my hand- me- down clothes.  So the next Monday I walked across the street to Polly’s Mercantile Store, told Mr. Simon that I had a job at The Rio Theatre, and asked if he would charge me with some dress pants, a pair of shoes and a shirt.  I promised to pay on it every week. “Henry, pay what you can every week and if you have to miss a week, always let me know.”  “Letting me know is the next thing to paying me”, he said.

The next Saturday, I was proudly standing at the entrance of the Rio sporting my new Endicott Johnson shoes, and my new pants and shirt.  My job gave me opportunity to watch the many families who made their weekly trip to town. Observing them and their barefoot children gazing into the store windows around the square was an interesting every-Saturday sight.  And watching the Saturday Western at the Rio was the reason most of them were there.    

1948 was a wonderful year for me.  I got my job at the Rio…and I became a Christian during a tent revival that year.   I’ll be eternally grateful to all those who saw my need and helped me in those days.  So thanks again, Mr. Simon… for my new clothes.

  And thanks to you, Dear Jesus… for my new heart.

Photo's by Doug and Pam