Blankenship, W B 1989-01-09
W. B. "Dub" Blankenship discusses his ownership of movie theaters throughout the Lubbock area.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: W. B. "Dub" Blankenship
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: January 9, 1989
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Leo Goodsell
Length: 33 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Wallace Theaters,
Formation of chain in 1920,
His father Wallace Blankenship, was the owner,
Maintained theaters for a 150-mile radius from Lubbock,
Built drive-ins in 1950s,
Advancement of technology,
Sound equipment a problem for small towns,
150s introduced cinemascope,
Adjusted equipment to accommodate cinemascope,
Cinerama became popular,
Theaters,
Different types of architecture,
Investments and returns,
Hired architect--Harvey Allan,
Bidding process on movies,
Block booking on movies--ended with numerous lawsuits,
Average run of a movie,
Background,
Born--1924 in Ropes,
Earliest memory of silent movies,
Lived on second floor of a theater,
Education,
Graduated from Texas Tech in 1947,
Career,
Began working with father,
Theaters (again),
Decline began with introduction of television,
Background (again),
Parents--Wallace and Rose Blankenship,
Brother--Roger Blankenship,
Theaters (again),
Cost to build drive-in--$25,000 with land,
Cost to build indoor theater--$50,000,
Levelland Theater,
Gave theater to ex-manager
Tape 1, Side 2:
Harvey Allan,
Impressed with quality of designs
Range Dates: 1920-1989
Bulk Dates: 1948-1970
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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