Changes

The original Arcade was built in the latter 1920s, burned in the 1950s and was permanently closed in the 1970s. On March 12, 2008, Dardenne presided at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Arcade, along with Mickey Gilley and one of Dardenne's predecessors, former Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner [[James H. "Jim" Brown]], a Ferriday native. That night Dardenne and Gilley joined the group Easy Eddie and the Party Rockers in the maiden performance in the new Arcade. The rebuilt Arcade, which cost $1 million, was funded by Dardenne's office. Prior to the restoration, the building had been a pawn shop. The sign at the Arcade is a replica of the original.<ref>"Arcade Theatre returns to downtown," ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 5.</ref>​

The original Arcade was built in the latter 1920s, burned in the 1950s and was permanently closed in the 1970s. On March 12, 2008, Dardenne presided at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Arcade, along with Mickey Gilley and one of Dardenne's predecessors, former Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner [[James H. "Jim" Brown]], a Ferriday native. That night Dardenne and Gilley joined the group Easy Eddie and the Party Rockers in the maiden performance in the new Arcade. The rebuilt Arcade, which cost $1 million, was funded by Dardenne's office. Prior to the restoration, the building had been a pawn shop. The sign at the Arcade is a replica of the original.<ref>"Arcade Theatre returns to downtown," ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 5.</ref>​

Bobby Jones (born ca. 1927) of Ferriday recalled having swept the Arcade for $1 a day. A graduate and[[football]] player at nearby Ferriday High School, Jones also recalls five-cent popcorn and nine-cent movie admission. "Those were the days. Nothing was real expensive. I always had money in my pocket," Jones reminisced for the ''Concordia Sentinel.''<ref>"Memories: Bobby Jones, Ferriday,” ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​

Robert Earl "Bobby" Jones, Sr. (1927-2021) of Ferriday recalled having swept the Arcade for $1 a day. A graduate and[[football]] player at nearby Ferriday High School, Jones also recalls five-cent popcorn and nine-cent movie admission. "Those were the days. Nothing was real expensive. I always had money in my pocket," Jones reminisced for the ''Concordia Sentinel.''<ref>"Memories: Bobby Jones, Ferriday,” ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​

Gaye Clark of Vidalia, the Concordia Parish seat of government, said that she worked at the Arcade as a cashier in 1954. "I have so many memories of the Arcade . . . Working there and being given the responsibility of being cashier gave me a work ethic that has stayed with me my entire life . . . ," Clark added.<ref>"Memories: Gaye Clark, Vidalia,” ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​ Dan Ratcliff of Natchez recalls that each year the Arcade had three free movie days prior to [[Christmas]]. "Each showing was packed, and I remember they mostly showedElvis Presley or  [[Jerry Lewis]] or  [[Dean Martin]] films.<ref>"Memories: Dan Ratcliff, Natchez", ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 7.</ref>

Gaye Clark of Vidalia, the Concordia Parish seat of government, said that she worked at the Arcade as a cashier in 1954. "I have so many memories of the Arcade . . . Working there and being given the responsibility of being cashier gave me a work ethic that has stayed with me my entire life . . . ," Clark added.<ref>"Memories: Gaye Clark, Vidalia,” ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 6.</ref>​ Dan Ratcliff of Natchez recalls that each year the Arcade had three free movie days prior to [[Christmas]]. "Each showing was packed, and I remember they mostly showedElvis Presley or  [[Jerry Lewis]] or  [[Dean Martin]] films.<ref>"Memories: Dan Ratcliff, Natchez", ''Concordia Sentinel,'' April 2, 2008, p. 7.</ref>