Logansport Restaurants 

and Entertainment of the Past

By: Kyle Deas

Logansport High School – April 2014

Foreword

             For this project, I have interviewed three individuals (Pat Arbuckle, Jimmy Henderson, and Mary Mac Thompson) who were past residents in the Logansport area many years ago. Each person was separately interviewed on the subject of the past entertainment centers and restaurants in the Logansport area. All of their accounts and personal experiences were combined to create a near accurate account for each of the places and things listed in this report.

*Note: Some of the information in the articles may be subjected to miscommunication and/or exaggeration.

The Movie Theatre

        Believe it or not, Logansport was home to many popular places for entertainment, and one of the most enjoyed places was the Logansport Movie Theatre. Locally owned, the movie theatre was a popular place for kids of all ages while their parents were in town on Saturday shopping for the week. Each month, the movie theatre workers would distribute posters with the movies and dates for the month. Once someone wanted to see a movie, all they needed was a quarter in their pocket to enter and get their popcorn. While their parents were busy, kids were having a blast watching an old western or laughing at the comedy of classic cartoons. Sadly, the movie theatre has since been destroyed in a fire.  

Hedrick’s Bar

           Hedrick’s drug store, one of the more iconic businesses in Logansport, wasn’t just a drug store since its establishment.  It used to have a bar with a companion soda fountain, attracting any customers wanting a good refreshing drink.  Due to the small number of jobs available in  Logansport in those days, many people worked at multiple places in their working days. Workers would get off of their shift somewhere else and come and start their shift at the fountain.  Once they filled their post, they would begin to serve the thirsty customers with the popular Coca-Cola and 7 up, along with popular root beer floats.

Reece’s Burgers

        If you happen to be in Logansport and needed a place to get a quality meal, there weren’t any fast food restaurants available at the time, so you might stop by the locally famous Reece’s. Although it wasn’t properly challenged, anyone who had ever experienced Reece’s would tell you that it was the best, hands down.  The prices were also as good as the food.  For one dollar, you could get eight burgers.  Although they were half the size of a modern burger, the price and flavors made the combination for success that the restaurant achieved.  Those who enjoyed it  dearly miss the establishment       

The Bowling Alley

Out of all the possible things Logansport could have had, it had a bowling alley.  The site of present day Smith’s Furniture was the location of this entertainment center.  Before the days of automated pin setting, workers would quickly reset pins after each bowl to ensure the entertainment of the customers. 

Roller Skating Rink

            Before the roadway was built beside the riverfront, another kind of attraction occupied the land.  This space was the site of a collapsible roller skating rink.  Kids of all ages would come and enjoy the roller skating rink as well as watch the amazing skaters who already obtained seemingly impossible skating skills. 

Crystal Lake

        This next place of enjoyment falls outside of the city limits of Logansport, but was enjoyed by many of its residents.  A plot of private land held a natural spring fed lake.  Taking advantage of this natural wonder, the owners established what would soon become one of the most popular places in the area.  Built in the area were buildings, zip lines, a dance hall, and other lake necessities to create a wondrous safe haven from the summer heat.  This attraction attracted people from as far as Shreveport to come and enjoy this lake

 to create a wondrous safe haven from the summer heat.  This attraction attracted people from as far as Shreveport to come and enjoy this lake.