A new kind of technology in the moviegoing experience has always been enough of an attraction to draw a larger audience.
When one of the movie co-stars was from your hometown, in addition to such a new technology, the attraction simply got better.
Three-dimensional, or 3-D, movies made their debut in Oneonta in the spring of 1953. The second 3-D show to play in Oneonta started at The Oneonta Theatre on May 11, called "House of Wax." It was a greater attraction than the first 3-D film, a pioneer in such features, called "Bwana Devil."
It opened April 10, also at The Oneonta Theatre.
What made the difference with "House of Wax" was one of the co-stars. Opposite Vincent Price was Phyllis Kirk. Phyllis' last name was actually Kirkgaard, shortened for Hollywood.
Kirkgaard lived in Oneonta for a few years during her youth.
As a result, thousands attended the 3-D movie in the opening
days at the Chestnut Street theatre.
The Kirkgaards lived at 83 East St., and Phyllis attended Bugbee School.
Her father, Theodore, was plant superintendent at Elmore Milling Co., which was then located in the area of today's Carbon Street, next to the millrace.
Some of Phyllis' former teachers at Bugbee apparently saw great potential talent in their young pupil.
"Phyllis showed distinct dramatic ability, even in first grade," said Miss Agnes Nelson in a December 1957 interview with The Oneonta Star. "When she talked the other children listened attentively. She talked on and on, and the children would say, We want Phyllis to tell us stories "¦ we want more.'"
In the third grade, "Alice in Wonderland" was produced by Miss Edith Laue. Phyllis starred as Alice.
"She had a marvelous memory at that age," Laue said. "I remember that she would take home these long passages and memorize them overnight.
"The one thing she had was simplicity, which I worked for in presenting the scenes. We decided on the scenes we wanted, and it was her utter simplicity that made a convincing performance even at that age."
One of Phyllis' contemporaries in third grade was Joe Campbell, who went on to become a longtime teacher and radio personality in Oneonta.
"I had a very small role in Alice in Wonderland,'" Campbell recalled. "She was the show. Miss Laue was strict in academics but she really loved theatre and saw a lot of talent in Phyllis."
"We had a unit on Greek mythology. That's full of great stories. Periodically, Phyllis would get up in front of the class and she'd mesmerize everyone."
"We lived on Union Street," Campbell said. Several of the Bugbee boys had an innocent crush on Phyllis, and after school they'd go visit her on East Street.
"We'd call out Phyllis!' and out the door she'd come with all that grace and elegance. She'd smile and wave to us. One thing about her, she was good to everyone, and that isn't always the case at that age," Campbell said.
Campbell was among the thousands who saw "House of Wax" when it opened at The Oneonta Theatre.
The Kirkgaards moved to Laurens for a short time. That family name was familiar in the village, as Phyllis' grandfather, the Rev. Anders A. Kirkgaard, founded St. Matthews Lutheran Church.
The family then moved to Elizabeth, N.J., according to The Star. Being close to New York, as a teen Phyllis studied acting and changed her stage name to Kirk. She began her career on Broadway before embarking on a television and film career.
In addition to "House of Wax," Kirk notably appeared in the 1956 film "Johnny Concho," opposite Frank Sinatra and the 1957 film "The Sad Sack" with Jerry Lewis. On television, Kirk's most recognized role was opposite Peter Lawford in "The Thin Man" from 1957-59, where they played Nick and Nora Charles. Kirk was also a regular on "The Red Buttons Show" and a guest on several other programs.
As her acting career slowed down, Kirk became an activist for several social causes. To Campbell's knowledge, she never returned to Oneonta to visit. She passed away in 2006.
This weekend: Hartwick College was still very new to the community in the autumn of 1929 and let Oneonta know about their presence.
