<Begin Segment 3>

JS: So I remember when we spoke before, you told me you also worked concessions. Can you tell us about that?

DM: Worked?

JS: At the softball games in the evening, you used to have a little part-time job?

DM: (Yes). They had a candy store, or whatever they serve, whatever. So I was the only one Japanese kid that used to work on that. So he gave me a box of candy to go sell it, and a few change in my pocket, and I got out to the stand and (to sell)... and all those kids used to follow me around. [Laughs]

JS: So what did they sell?

DM: They have candy and... what else did they have? This is back in the '30s. Had a lot of stuff for... he didn't have any hotdogs or hamburger or whatever that is. Just mainly I think he had... did he have popcorn? It's been a while, so I can't remember.

JS: How old were you when you were working there?

DM: I think I was about ten. So, '39, yeah, I'd say I was ten years old.

JS: So how did you get that job? Who asked you to do that?

DM: I don't know.

JS: You don't remember?

DM: No. It's just, probably come right out and said, "You want to work?" "Sure."

JS: So did you do other jobs in town? What other jobs?

DM: Yes. That same guy, relative, owned the Walnut Grove theater. (This was in 1956). I used to run that theater. When I worked in the Walnut Grove post office, and I was gonna get married, so I needed the extra money. So when he asked me to work at the theater, so I could run it, sure, I tried. And he had me working Saturday and Sunday, and he was watching me, and, "You could do it by yourself." So I started, he started giving me Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

JS: Wow. So you would run the front of the theater?

DM: (Yes), the theater.

JS: And what was, what was your job there?

DM: Running the movie, you know...

JS: Oh, actually do the --

DM: (Yes), projection, the two projections. That was exciting.

TI: And can you describe that? Was it like big reels? Was it film projection?

DM: Oh, yes. You know, the regular, not sixteen, but what, I don't know what (size reel).

TI: So these were big, heavy reels that you...

DM: (Yes), it's about that size reel, you know.

JS: Can you tell us about the...

DM: This was back in the '50s, because after the camps.

JS: Right. So before the war, the Japanese had their own theater and entertainment? Do you remember that?

DM: Well, that, (yes), that's... they built that, too. Like auditorium, arena. And they'd show Japanese movies in the area, stage (and some live plays).

JS: Do you remember, did you go and watch the films, the Japanese movies? Do you remember that?

DM: (Yes), we used to go see the movies, Japanese movies. But that building is old, so we used to sneak in, all the kids used to sneak in. [Laughs] (This was in 1938-1940). 'Cause we didn't have no money, so, you know... and Japanese movies, we don't care to see that much, so kids, you know how kids are, we'd all sneak in there and go into that theater.

JS: And so did they have a, do you remember the projection, the equipment they used there at the movie theater?

DM: For the Japanese?

JS: (Yes).

DM: (...) Well, it's similar to the one, I guess, one they use in American theater.

JS: Uh-huh. Did you ever go see any of the live performances and plays?

DM: You know, as much as I'm shy, I used to perform, too.

JS: You did?

DM: (Yes). Well, you got the lines, so you just read the lines, more or less. You memorize the lines, so that was no problem. But if you had to get up and make a speech, that was a no-no. [Laughs]

JS: So what kind of performance were you in?

DM: Well, this lady that used to, like I was in the Methodist church, so every Christmas time we used to have a program, and she used to have a show (...). And there's three of us that's always in the same group. Her brother and me and another (guy), couple other gals, we used to perform all the time.

JS: What were the names of the other, the others that performed with you? Do you remember any names?

DM: Other what?

JS: The other people who performed with you who were in the play with you? Do you remember the names of the other people?

DM: Yes. Goro -- there's a picture of him, I think -- Goro Kawamura, the oldest sister was a teacher, an instructor. And who else was there? (Shoji)...

JS: That's okay.

<End Segment 3> - Copyright (c) 2009 Densho and Preserving California's Japantowns. All Rights Reserved.