This week in West Orange County history

OLD TIMES

50 years ago

The Chamber of Commerce is critically short of funds for the year, $8,600 to be exact. According to Jimmy Pitchford, Membership Committee chairman, this month must be realized in membership dues if the Chamber is to stay in business and provide the services so essential to the merchants and the Winter Garden-West Orange community.

Tapped for membership in the Lakeview High chapter of the National Honor Society are Jacque Dennis, Larry Elrod, Jolyn Haley, Deborah Holmes, Karen Lofton, Gwen Brown, Neal Carris, Ann Duppenthaler, Cindy Hodge, Janet McMillan, Sallie Youngblood, Todd Engstrom and Clyde Hicks.

40 years ago

Joe M. Valdes Jr. of Modern Stationery Inc. received a plaque for distinguished service as a director of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce from 1972-79.

Bay Hill Classic fans got a chance to watch Bob Hope and James Garner in the Pro-Am. Dave Eichelberger was the winner of the tournament.

30 years ago

Sam Wagster of Winter Garden and Carol Knighton of Ocoee appeared as Bohemians in the opera “La Boheme.” They are members of the Camarata Chorus, the performing chorus for the Orlando Opera Company.

Millie and Walt Cobb of Sleepy Harbor celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows at St. Pauls Presbyterian Church in Pine Hills.

20 years ago

The Health Central Foundation sponsored the third annual Taste on the West Side at Health Central. Proceeds benefited its School Nurse Program, which provides nurses in 26 area schools. Guests could try prime rib from Steak and Ale, barbecue from Choctaw Willie’s, oysters from Red Lobster, fajitas from Bennigan’s and smoked salmon from Sam Snead’s. Other participating restaurants included Taquitos Jaliscos, Downtown Brown’s and the hospital’s Garden Grille.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

The Winter Garden Times

March 2, 1967

Remember seeing “Batman” for the first time on the big screen and in color? The Star-Lite Drive-In movie theater — once located on East Plant Street in Winter Garden and a popular spot for students, families and couples — was one of the local theaters showing it on the outdoor screen.

The theater regularly advertised its weekend and weekday movies in “The Winter Garden Times.” On the first weekend of March 1967, folks could check out flicks featuring Michael Caine, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Adam West, Burt Ward and others.

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION ARCHIVES

Robert Luther Tilden visited the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation last week with his wife, Martha Byrd Tilden, and shared photographs depicting early generations of Oakland’s pioneer Tilden family from a century ago. This photograph shows Luther Willis Tilden; his wife, Virginia May Wise Tilden; and five of their children, Gladys, Clarence, Grace, Harold and Doris. The house they are posing in front of is Meadow Marsh, constructed around 1905. Greatly enlarged over the following years to accommodate the growing family — the Tildens eventually raised nine children — the house still stands on Tildenville School Road, in Winter Garden.