Historical Context: July, 1943

The Royal Theatre in Valmeyer, Illinois booked the 1943 version of Phantom of the Opera July 1-2. This film was a remake of an earlier classic first released in 1925 and starring Lon Chaney as the Phantom.

For the 1943 version, movie-goers were offered Claude Rains, billed after leading man Nelson Eddy in this advertisement.

During July of 1943, famous births include: 

–(Jaime Royal) “Robbie” Robertson, Canadian-Mohawk singer-songwriter and rock guitarist for The Band. He was born July 5 in Toronto, Ontario. He died in 2023.

–Arthur Ashe, American tennis player who won the U.S. Open in 1968 and Wimbledon in 1975. He was born in Richmond, Virginia. He died in 1993.

–Jimmy Johnson, TV sports broadcaster and former NFL coach of both the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins. He was born July 16 in Port Arthur, Texas

–Mick Jagger, English rock vocalist and songwriter for the Rolling Stones. He was born in Dartford, Kent on July 26.