Archive for the ‘Sociology’ Category

The Vaska Theatre Sign Still Lights the Lawton Sky.

Built in 1948, the Vaska Theatre, located at 1902 NW Ferris Avenue, is the oldest movie theatre in Lawton, OK.  It may not be as modern or have the latest technology like the multi-screen theatres in town, but it still has a lot to offer.  You can see movies for $3.00, you get free refills on large popcorns and sodas, and their longevity, having opened in 1948,  means they are dependable.  To point out the latter, Lawton suffered the worst ice storm, in anyone’s memory, on Thursday, January 28, 2010.  It shut the whole town down, taking out power to about 30,000 people and doing indescribable damage to trees throughout the city.  Many people were without electricity for 7 days, or longer, and the schools were closed for 7 days, too.  Well, you can imagine my surprise when looking out a back window of my house, I saw the top of the Vaska tower aglow from the red neon lights.  It didn’t surprise me that they had eclectricity, because we had been blessed and spared that particular misfortune at our house, only a block away.  What caught me offguard was that they were open, at all.  I thought to myself, “How great that during a time of hardship, for many, the Vaska was sending the message loud and clear of stability and strength, steadfastness in the face of adversity, and reaching out to all who sought refuge from the storm.”  This photo was taken the next night to record the proud moment in the Vaska’s rich history.

Christmas Lights Reflect in the waters of Bath Lake

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"Barns of Southwest Oklahoma"

It was late in the evening; the sun had already sank below the infinitely broad western horizon of Kiowa County.  Earlier in the day I had taken Hwy. 54 north to 152, then west to Cordell, and finally north on 183 into Clinton, OK.  I enjoyed the drive; I always do.  However, it’s not uncommon for me to return a different route.  Late in the afternoon, as I began my return trip, I decided to continue on 183 south out of Cordell then turn east on Hwy. 9, a couple miles south of Rocky.  This would take me to the intersection of Hwy. 9 & 54, at Gotebo.  Though several miles away, I could faintly see the lights of Gotebo ahead where Hwy. 9 intersects with Hwy. 54.  I had never traveled this eleven miles before and it was not out of the way, so what the heck?  I questioned my decision just south of Cordell as I came upon some extensive road construction.  The flagman had us stopped waiting our turn to go for so long I turned off the engine.  There was nothing else to do since I was hemmed-in, both front and rear.  After what seemed like twenty minutes, but was probably much less, the lead car came to lead us, slowly, to the other end of the construction, just a few short miles north of Rocky. Read the rest of this entry »

Another Gyros

The 29^th Annual International Festival has come and gone leaving behind flattened grass, car tracks, and happy food vendors.  The International Festival, for many years, was held within the confines of the Library Plaza south of the Lawton Muncicipal Library on 4^th Street and “B” Avenue.  Yes, this was a very tight fit and parking was anywhere you could find a place throughout the downtown area.  There were two stages, one on the east and one on the west with almost everything else fit in between.  I say almost everything else, because not everything could fit nicely into this space so there was some overflow.  However, everything was set up on either a concrete, brick, or asphalt surface and all the parking was on asphalt, too.  With the move to Elmer Thomas Park in 2008, many things changed besides just the location. Read the rest of this entry »