Sherburne History Center Blog

Transitioning from silent movies to “talkies” challenged any number of local movie theaters in the United States.  Elk River held a unique position in entertainment history as the local newspaper documented and criticized the efforts to introduce sound motion pictures to Sherburne County.  Advertisement for the first sound motion picture at the Elk Theatre, March 1930 The manager of the Elk Theatre announced plans to introduce “talkies” in the spring of 1930.  Referred to as “Manager Kizer,” the Sherburne County Star News reported the theater manager would close entertainment spot in February.  After two weeks of redecorating and remodeling, “talkies” would entertain the Sherburne County public.  The theater set a goal of February 22, 1930 to introduce the new technology.  Kizer missed his deadline and opened in March.  The technology to the new motion pictures “gives the very best of sound picture effects,” Kizer promised.  And, wit...

We found these two advertisements side-by-side in the Elk River Star News.   It struck us as interesting that it highlights the challenges of jobs versus new technologies.  The ad ran in May 1, 1930 issue of the newspaper. 

Senior Class photo of Jack Bade, 1938. When I first arrived in Sherburne County I began to explore the history of the county through biography.  I was developing my list of “profiles in courage” in Sherburne county, a type of historical/biographical exploration.  Recently I was directed to the life of one man in Sherburne County that most assuredly should be on a list of “profiles in courage:”  Jack A. Bade was born in 1920 in Minneapolis.  His family moved to Elk River when he was still an infant.  He grew up in Elk River.  In high school he played football and basketball, and had the lead in the school play, Robin Hood.  After he graduated in 1938, he attended the University of Minnesota majoring in engineering.   For a time he worked at Honeywell Corporation before enlisting in the Army Air Corps.   He received his commission and flight wings at Luke Airfield on July 26, 1942.  He then joined the 44th fighter squadro...

During World War One, the United States first recognized gold star families, families who lost a member during war time.  In Sherburne County, the only gold star family in the area of Big Lake came with the death of Arthur Embretson in 1918.  Serving aboard the U.S.S. Cyclops, Embretson was one of 306 sailors lost when the ship sank in March 1918.  Because of failed radio transmissions, the exact location of the ship was lost for many years.  The ship could have been captured or sunk as it sailed along the North Carolina coast.  The exact cause of the sinking remained inconclusive, although maritime experts believe the Cyclops had been overloaded and storms in the Atlantic Ocean caused the ship to founder or break apart.  The sinking of the Cyclops remains the single largest loss of life aboard a United states naval ship not directly involved in combat.     Before he enlisted in the navy in 1917, Arthur Bernard Embretson left a small mark...