The movie theater that revitalized the Chandler community following World War II.
At the conclusion of World War II, a couple by the names of Joe and Alice Woods would purchase the Monroe Building, which was built in 1912 and was considered the oldest commercial structure in Chandler, from the Chandler Improvement Company. Joe and Alice converted it into the Parkway Theater, one out of three theaters that the couple would own in their lifetime. To construct the Parkway Theater, the couple sent a request to the Department of Defense (DOD), arguing that the theater could provide entertainment to local GIs. With the support of other Chandler residents, the DOD approved the request and Parkway Theater was fully constructed in 1945.
The 725-seat theater served both GI and residents for more than 30 years. Parkway Theater gave soldiers discounts, paying 36 cents for tickets instead of the usual 42 cents. Ticket holders were allowed one seat inside the theater where they could view a movie with sound that was handpicked by Joe and Alice Woods. Their daughter, Dorothy Ruoff, would say during an interview, “the salesmen always traveled in pairs because one would play gin rummy while the other sold movies.” These meetings with film salesmen occurred at the Woods’ own home, and the films had to fit the couple’s personal criteria before they would be approved for showing. Their choices were entertaining enough, as it became a practice among the local Chandler people — especially the youth — to show up every Tuesday and Thursday night for a showing.
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