Forum Flashbacks: Dec. 28-Jan. 3

A poster for “West of the Water Tower,” a 1924 movie based on Maryville native Homer Croy’s book by the same name that used elements of his youth in Maryville, including the eponymous water tower. The film premiered at the Empire Theater in Maryville on Jan. 6, 1924.

25 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Dec. 29, 1998

The Human Resources Task Force of the Maryville Citizens for Community Action (MCCA) sponsored “It’s a Real Christmas” again this year.

The annual dinner began in 1990 and was previously held at the Maryville High School building. It has been held at the Senior Center in Maryville for the last three years.

50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Jan. 2, 1974

The Maryville public safety department had a busy evening on New Year’s Eve, as some 15 persons took advantage of a free police chauffeuring service.

The service, offered for the fifth consecutive year, was for persons who had been drinking during the evening and who felt they should not be driving.

For the first time since the program has been offered, there were no persons who got mixed up and called the sheriff’s department instead, according to Sheriff John F. Middleton.

100 years ago
Maryville Tribune, Jan. 1, 1924

Film Version of Croy Novel Very Pleasing

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Maryville people who saw the Famous Players-Lasky screen version of Homer Croy’s “West of the Water Tower” at a special screening at the Empire Theater yesterday afternoon were favorably impressed with the photoplay adaption of the Maryville author’s novel. Several of those who saw the picture yesterday were of the opinion that the screen version which leaves the story of the novel in many places, is much better from a moral and artistic viewpoint and leaves a more wholesome impression on the individual than if the story had been followed more closely.

Two local pastors, one of whom had read the novel, declared after seeing the Paramount version that it is a clean picture and that several delicate situations are most scrupulously handled.

Several scenes taken in Maryville are shown in the picture, and a sketch of the water tower, very faithfully drawn, decorates all the sub-titles.

The film was brought to Maryville by J. R. Young of the Paramount office at Kansas City.

“West of the Water Tower” will be released for its first public showing in the United States at the Empire Theater here during January, Albert Kuchs, manager, said this afternoon.

EDITOR’S NOTES: “West of the Water Tower” is listed as a “lost film” on Wikipedia, with no known copies in existence.

The 50-year and 100-year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.

MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, JAN. 3, 1999
25 YEARS AGO: Snowy Slopes – Brady From, on the sled, gets a push from his brother and cousins Geoffrey, Aaron and Corey From, while they enjoyed the snow at their grandparents’ home in Maryville this week. The Maryville Water Plant recorded 3.7 inches of snow on Friday.