Ten years is a long period to be ill at one's country home, separated, for much of that time, from active participation in the life of the community. In a commercial age, an industrial age, an age when the value of an idea is weighed with reference to the reaction of the commonwealth, the service rendered the cause of music and general culture by our beloved friend and neighbor, George Andrews, is outstanding.
    Born at Lake Washington, Minnesota in 1859, Mr. Andrews was one of a family of ten children, all of whom possessed musical talent of a high order. Eeducated in the public schools at the University of Ann Arbor, Michigan and under the best private teachers in America, he was for many years the head of the nationally known Andrews Opera Co. and toured the United States appearing in practically every state in the Union. While directing his own company he had many invitations to leave the road and join the great metropolitan organizations.
    Since coming to the Rogue river valley in 1910, Mr. Andrews was very closely identified wiht ht emusical and ulctural life of the community as well as with his business an dhorticultural interests. He and his wife opened studios in Medford for teaching thea rt of singing and associated with them were those also interested in that line of work, and it was from these studios that his greatest influence emanated. No sincere young musician ever left his presence wityhout a word of encouragement and inspiration. His rooms, both in the Sparta Building and in the St. Mark's Building, were a gathering place for friends and pupils where took place open discussions of books, literature, philosophy, economics and current events as well as music. Here daily were gathered leaders of thought, while visitors were often dropping in for a word of greeting and to say they had heard him in such a year in Texas, Florida or Montana singing the "Toreadore," "Mother o' Mine," "Nearer My God to Thee."
    Promptness in keeping all appointments, important or trivial, was to him on eof hte greatest virtues.
    The Medford Chorcal Society, successfully conducted for many years, was indeed a labor of love and all who wished to sing were welcome to participate in the study of the greatest choral music. No less important was his musical activity in various churches, where no music except the best was ever heard under his baton.
    Because of climatic and other attractive conditions, many musical people, former associates, were located in the valley, and by having an easily assembled local chorus of 50 or 100 voices it was possible to put on many light operas and to stage out-of-door pagenats. He could go out on our beautiful encircling foothill orchards and pick up "Martha," "Arline," "Devils Hoof" or "Excamillo" and by the time the

    Back in 1918, a slim young man by the name of George Arthur Hunt first became identified in the operation of a motion picture theater in Medford when, together with R. S. Antle, he purchased the old Page and Rialto theaters.
    Those were the closing days of World War I, and George Hunt was at Camp Lewis, Washington until shortly after the Armistice was signed. He then became actively engaged in the operation of the theaters with Mr. Antle, and the two men presented valley showgoers with not only the early "epics" of the screen but also brought to Medford many of the outstanding stars of the legitimate entertainment world. Among these, and always a favorite of Mr. Hunt, was May Robson, who appeared here several times in different productions. A few years ago, while on a trip to Southern California and the Hollywood studios, Mr. Hunt and Miss Robson enjoyed a reunion and compared notes of old times.
    At 8:00 a.m., December 30, 1923, disaster overtook the partners when the Page Theater was destroyed by fire. One fireman, Amos Willits, was killed and Fire Chief Roy Elliott was badly injured, necessitating his hospitalization for almost three months.
    In the spring of 1924, Porter J. Neff and J. H. Cooley organized the Medford Theater Company and built the building which houses the Craterian Theater. The theater was leased to the George Hunt Co., Mr. Antle's interest having been purchased by the late Julius Wolf.
    Early in 1930, the George Hunt Co. was sold to Fox West Coast Theaters, and the chain operated the Craterian and Rialto Theaters until May 1933, when Mr. Hunt returned to Medford and again assumed ownership under the name of Geo. A. Hunt Theaters, Inc.
    Mr. Hunt's colorful career was brought to an abrupt close on August 31st of last year in an automobile accident, and his death was a distinct shock to the community and to the motion picture industry.

Last revised May 15, 2010