Standing room only for Disney movie, taking to the air: This week in Mohawk Valley history

1938, 86 years ago

Standing room only

Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" — the world's first full-length animation feature movie — continues to make history in Utica. After a long run in the Stanley Theater — where it drew tens of thousands of moviegoers — it is being moved this week to the Avon Theater on the north side of Lafayette Street, just west of Washington Street.

It is the first time in Utica that a first-run movie has been moved from one theater to another. An official with the Avon says, "We're letting the kiddies in for 15 cents so that they can enjoy once again the adventures if Doc, Happy, Bashful, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy and Dopey."

By the way, the dwarfs worked in a diamond mine and enjoyed it for to and from work each day they would sing, "Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work we go."

1924, 100 years ago

Into the wild blue

Uticans and their neighbors now can fly over the Upper Mohawk Valley region via Thomas E. King's air-trip service. The 23-year-old King, who lives on Mathews Avenue, owns a four-passenger Curtiss and has leased the Wicks Flying Field on the Parkway East in Utica. He not only flies passengers over and around the area but also does skywriting advertising and takes aerial photographs for area newspapers.

1949, 75 years ago

Isaac Walton

The Utica chapter of the Isaac Walton League celebrates its 25th anniversary. Edward S. Cookinham is president. For many years, club members have maintained the Barneveld Fish Hatchery and have raised and released thousands of game birds.

1974, 50 years ago

Rail service

Highways and railroads between Utica and Binghamton are vital and must be maintained and improved, say state and local officials. Raymond T. Schuler, state commissioner of transportation, says that every community served by the Erie Lackawanna Railroad in Oneida and Chenango counties must continue to have that service. Gerald Atwater, new chief administrator of Marine Midland Bank Central, says, "A four-lane, north-south expressway from Utica to Binghamton must be built. Such an expressway would do for Utica what Route 81 is doing for Syracuse."

Meanwhile, Detective Joseph Grande is appointed police chief of Rome.

1999, 25 years ago

DAR awards

The Oneida chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presents awards to fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grade students for their winning participation in an essay contest titled, "A Naval Hero of the Early American Republic, 1789-1850." First-place winners are: Sarah Brower, 5th grade, Hugh R. Jones School; Matthew P. Romano, 6th grade, Our Lady of Lourdes School; and Shawn Ryan, 7th grade, Clinton Middle School.

The Maynard Volunteer Fire Department elects Joe Mack as its president. Other officers include Joseph T. White, vice president; Brian Smith, treasurer; Jared A. Pearl, corresponding secretary, and Steve Sperbeck, recording secretary. Dan Crossway is chief; Glenn Stevener Jr. is deputy chierf; and assistant chiefs are Michael Magnitzky, Dave Strzepek and Lani Wagner.

In high school basketball, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill defeated Jamesville-DeWitt, 55-35, to win the Section III Class B-1 title. The Al Knapp-coached team is led by Rob Thorpe, Tom Cummings and Rich Snyder.

2014, 10 years ago

Firefighters honored

Austin Szkotak is named "firefighter of the year" by members of the Yorkville Fire and Hose Company. Pat Bradford is "EMT of the Year" and Pat Kealy wins the "Ironman Award. Tina Farley wins the "President's Award." Meanwhile, Joseph Morosco is elected chief. Assistant chiefs are John Constas, Dave and Nick Morosco. Pat Collea is president. Other officers include Pat Kealy, vice president, Tina Farley, treasurer; Tony Joaquin, financial secretary, and Mike Spellman, recording secretary.

In high school basketball, New York Mills defeated Oriskany, 64-37, to win its sixth consecutive Section III Class D title. Nick Comenale scored 31 points and has 11 rebounds and eight steals. Zach Vennaro has 10 points, Ali Hassan has eight and Andrew Suprenant adds five assists. Ryan Schmadel leads Oriskany with eight points and 13 rebounds.

Trivia quiz

I'll give you some presidential "firsts," and you name the presidents. (1) the first president to die in office, (2) the first born on the Fourth of July, (3) the first born west of the Mississippi River, (4) the first Democratic president to win Vermont, (5) the first to head a labor union. (Answers will appear here next week.)

Answers to last week's question: Washington is the only state named for a president. Four state capitals, meanwhile, bear the names of presidents: Madison, Wisconsin; Jackson, Mississippi; Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jefferson City, Missouri.

This Week in History is researched and written by Frank Tomaino. E-mail him at ftomaino221@gmail.com. 

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: This week in Mohawk Valley history