The featured movie on the Evangeline marquee is “The Big Drive.” Its Chicago opening was December 14, 1932. General release was in 1933. That is how Bob Mhoon from Arlington, Texas, dated the photo of the 4th of July parade down Main Street.

“The lady on horseback wearing a vest is my mother Olga F. Indest Mhoon,” said Bob Mhoon. “She was the daughter of Henry Otto Indest and Marie Rose Girard. Her grandparents were Louis Indest Sr. and Marie Mathilde Duperier. When Dodson Elementary opened 1n 1948 she was the first grade teacher and taught in the same classroom until her retirement in 1966.”

Times have changed as exhibited by both photos from the past this week, examples of celebrations of today’s Birthday for the United States of America. Opinions might vary drastically as to the reason the crowds have dwendled, or why they were the size shown in the 1933 photograph, pre-World War II. Patriotism has changed and the exhibition of the same is evident at the many events sponsored by local groups working to preserve the memory of days gone by. Embracing the advances in technolgy and the increased opportunities for today’s young people does not dispell the cause for freedom celebrated each 4th of July. It is the right and responsibility of all citizens to tell their ancestors about the reason for celebration.

Mhoon shared a bit more history about New Iberia.

“The Palace Theater was open until sometime in the early 1960s and I believe the area is now a parking lot. In the 1940s and 50s movies were 12-cents and on Tuesdays 6-cents. Same price when there was a double feature,” said Mhoon. “All the kids filled the theater on Saturdays to watch the next episode of serial action movies. It never mattered what time you came to the theater. You simply watched the remaining show and waited for the the movie’s next opening to start from the beginning. You could watch as many times as you liked. The second spire in the photo is the old courthouse.”

Movie experiences also have changed in modern times.