Children of yesteryears frequented movie theaters; present-day kids have the internet as their primary source of entertainment. (Mike Tussey)

In the heart of Ashland, Kentucky, during the 1940s and 1950s, local theaters provided a captivating source of entertainment for children. Earle Bruce, a legendary sports announcer and later a writer, lived near the Paramount, Alfon, and Capital theaters, beginning his cinematic journey at the tender age of 9.

The town boasted four local theaters: the Paramount, Alfon, Capital, and Lyric. Each theater offered a unique lineup of films, from the action-packed cowboy movies of KEN MAYNARD, TEX RITTER, BUSTER CRABBE, and ROY ROGERS, to the serials like Superman and Gangbusters at the Capital.

The Lyric theater, however, had its challenges with roaming rodents, adding a bit of excitement to the movie-going experience. Meanwhile, the Alfon theater screened popular series such as Red Ryder & Little Beaver, Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy, Johnny Mack Brown, and Bob Steele.

One of the most iconic cowboy actors was Roy Rogers, known as the "King of the Cowboys." His horse, Trigger, and his signature song "Happy Trails" sung with his wife Dale and the Sons of the Pioneers, became famous. Sunset Carson, another popular cowboy actor, made an appearance at the Capital theater, and the young Bruce had an encounter with him. Carson even shot out six lit candles on stage using a repeating rifle during his appearance.

Admission tickets for a double feature, cartoons, a serial, and news headlines in the mid-1940s cost a mere 10-15 cents. Candy bars, priced at a nickel, were a sweet treat for the kids. In stark contrast, the same candy bar today costs around $2.

Kids in those days often had to travel by bike, bus, or foot to reach the downtown theaters. The Rand theater, which showed more adult-oriented movies, opened in the mid-1950s. Despite the efforts of local churches and powers that be, the Rand theater did not last long due to low attendance.

Today, children have more entertainment options on their fingertips than ever before, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. The average American child between 8-12 years old watches 3 hours of online videos per day. Mike Tussey, a retired play-by-play announcer, grew up in Eastern Kentucky and is now a regular columnist for the NKyTribune, reminiscing about those simpler times.

As we look back at these nostalgic memories, we can't help but appreciate the impact local theaters had on shaping the childhood experiences of many, including Earle Bruce. The movies shown during the 1940s and 1950s included a mix of classics like "Gone with the Wind," musicals such as "Showboat," and popular cowboy movies that continue to be cherished today.