Eastwood Cinema and the Hess Family

Many East Siders know the Hess family name from the story of the Hess Cooperage, honored with a landmark plaque at its site in Schenk’s Corners and subject of presentations by cousins Gary and Jim Hess. A 1947 photo of the barrel-making Hess brothers Joe, Eddie, Foots (Frank Jr.), and Tony (the generation preceding Gary and Jim) with their father Frank Sr. adorned the cover of the East Side Album, published by this club in 2008.

Gary sent us this clipping from the Dec. 20, 1967 issue of The Capital Times of his aunt Josephine Hess, the movie theater’s house manager, with Mayor Otto Festge and others on the occasion of the reopening of the remodeled Eastwood Theater, renamed The Cinema.

An article in the Wisconsin State Journal on October 1, 1967 proudly (!) said, “The old Spanish rococo plaster and tile designs that covered the auditorium and balcony walls — familiar to thousands of Madison families who have patronized the Eastwood since it opened in 1929 — will be removed, ceilings lowered and a modern interior installed. The theater will drop about 200 seats, to 825 seats, to accommodate new style chairs. The orchestra pit will be eliminated and the movie screen moved forward to create a more intimate atmosphere. The color scheme will be blue, green and white.  On the exterior, the front canopy will be preserved, but with the new name in neon letters replacing the old.”

Originating as the Eastwood Theater in 1929, the Cinema closed in 1986, a victim of multiple personality disorder–in its last years it screened “XXX” films as well as feature-length cartoons such as Disney’s “Song of the South”. (Josephine Hess was no longer associated with the movie theater.)

In 1987 the Barrymore Theater replaced the Cinema with a venue for live music. Josephine would probably have been pleased.

A p.s. on History of Schoep’s Ice Cream

Jerry Reich and Susan Barthe, attendees of the April 21 presentation by John Thomsen on the history of Schoep’s Ice Cream, commented on this blog:

 “Enjoyed the program, and the ice cream! For about 5 years now, my wife & I have lived in the Kennedy Place apartments, just across Eastwood from Schoep’s, and from time to time we’ll observe a rainbow ending right at the factory…coincidence?–we don’t think so!”

Here is a photo they took–note the double rainbow, and the spot-on landing right in the ice cream production plant. Now that’s a “pot o’ gold”!

One of my favorite parts of John’s presentation was his child’s-eye view of the ice cream business (he’s a member of the third generation in this family-owned business). John described working in the plant over the change of shifts–which coincided with after-school for young family members–from the age of 8 or 9. His father’s generation did the same.

Responding from another childs’-eye view was an audience member who told of sneaking into the ice cream trucks (frequently left unlocked overnight) to swipe tasty ice cream under cover of darkness.

Every neighborhood needs an ice cream factory!

-Sarah White, for the East Side History Club

 

Saturday May 19: East Side Landmarks with Ann Waidelich

Local historian Ann Waidelich speaks about the East Side’s landmarks—the buildings that currently have Madison Landmark status and those that ought to be landmarks.

Ann Waidelich will also discuss the city’s landmark ordinance—what it takes for a building to become a landmark, and how to go about nominating a building or house.

All attendees are welcome to share memories and memorabilia at our club meetings.