Notes for Henry Joseph PRECIADO

Thompson Family Ancestry

Surname Search Utility - GenealogyBuff.com - SSDI-Search.com - YourFamilyFacts.com - HonorStudentsArchive.com - Marriage Search Engines

Alaine's JORDAN Family Tree
Family Group Sheets
Compiled by Alaine

All Marriage & Divorce results for Jordan

Notes for Henry Joseph PRECIADO

When you think of Henry, the youngest of the family of twelve children, you also think of Ben, the eighth child, because they did so many things together. You associate them with community affairs, politics, visiting dignitaries, and the theater. One incident in particular that Ben and Henry will be remembered for is the promotion of the movie career of a Madera boy, "Spec" O'Donnell. They took him under their wings and proceeded in helping him to attain a special place in the movie world. "Spec" appeared in many movies as a character actor, but his greatest role was in 1925 with Mary Pickford in "Little Annie Rooney".

Ben and Henry were also instrumental in starting another Madera boy on his way to recognition, Tony Romano, who became well known as a singer and member of Al Pearce's Gang. A well know singing group at the time.

Ben and Henry worked with Fox Theater Organizations and finally opened the Rex Theater, first on "C" street, Madera and later on East Yosemite Avenue's main street. Henry said their reason for the name "Rex" was that it was the shortest word they could think of in order to save on the cost of a neon sign. He started the Ponderosa Pines Theater in 1946. It was originally an outdoor theater with wooden benches, with the stars shinning overhead. In the spring of 1948, with the help of his son Thomas, the Ponderosa Pines Theater at Bass Lake, a permanent structure was constructed.

Henry opened the El Rio Drive-In Theater, in the city of Madera, also in 1948. Henry was active in its day to day running with this two children Tom and Daughter Mary Pat. Tom's two boys also worked at the Drive-in Theater after school and on weekends.

Henry was a man who took charge of any situation all of his life, so when three young men attempted to rob the Drive-in theater late one night in September of 1972, Henry at age 80 attempted to take their gun away from one of the robbers. Henry was fatally wounded and died instantly. His wife and son continued running the theater until 1974 when it was sold.

Henry will be remembered by many for his Great generosity to the neighborhood children. While running the Rex theater until it was sold in 1957, and the drive-in theater until his tragic death, he was always popular with the Young children. If some didn't have the funds to enter, they were always welcomed by Henry and seated to watch the movies free. Everyone in town remembers Henry's Kindness
and his love for others.

Henry Preciado's godmother was also Teodora Arrondondo.
He was mentioned as attending St. Mary's college in 1911.

Numerous trips were made by the Ygnacio Preciado family members to San Andreas in the late 1800's and early 1900's to visit relatives.

Check out the newest additions to Ancestry.com data!
(Hint: Right click on an item and open in a new window)