The Orpheum

* The closing of the Orpheum (“Ushering In a New Era,” Jan. 5) brings back memories. Last year on March 2 they held a special fund-raiser with the showing of “One Man’s Hero,” about an episode in the Mexican-American War. The last time I had attended the Orpheum was in 1945, with some school chums from Roosevelt High School. We had just quit school and lied about our age to join the armed forces. We tried the Orpheum that Oct. 13 (Sally Rand was the featured attraction). No luck. We would wait for Lionel Hampton.

On June 7, 1997, Roosevelt High School honored 46 former “Roughriders” (six never returned) who had quit to enlist, by awarding us our high school diplomas.

At the special fund-raiser I had a front-row seat. Not so at the Lionel Hampton performance. Young Chicanos knew their place--the balcony. Memories!

VAL RODRIGUEZ

Signal Hill