Old Times 12.25.14

80 years ago

Fire destroyed all but the walls of the Winter Garden Theater and swept across the roof to the adjoining Bray Hardware store and gutted it.

Editorial [W.L. Story]: A Burning Need. The theater fire shows Winter Garden to be without adequate fire protection. Had it not been for the timely arrival of the Orlando machine and crew, probably the entire block would have burned, possibly the whole town.

75 years ago

Melton Barker of Hollywood will arrive in Winter Garden soon to produce a two-reel comedy. It will be a kidnap story and will be shown at the Winter Garden Theater when completed. Barker has the distinction of having discovered Spanky McFarland now starring in “Our Gang” comedies.

70 years ago

Maj. Dan McKinnon, stationed at Fort Worth, Texas, arrived to spend the holidays with his mother, Mrs. Dan McKinnon.

Damages to truck crops and tender plants during the cold spell is expected to run into large figures.

45 years ago

Rae Heath will be on hand to entertain in the Gold Lion Room this New Year’s Eve when the Winter Garden Inn will help welcome in the new year by throwing its gala party. Everyone is welcome to join in the festivities. No cover. No reservations.

40 years ago

Mickey and Minnie were both on hand at the West Orange Chamber of Commerce Christmas program at the Winter Garden Inn.

25 years ago

The weatherman played a cruel trick on local citrus growers at Christmastime. Record-low temperatures throughout Central Florida from Dec. 23-25 have once more given grove owners reason to worry about the future of their groves. When thermometer readings hit the low 20’s, there was little the growers could do to protect their trees.