NATIVE SON OF PARKER COUNTY ; ENTREPRENEUR , ENTERTAINER THAT WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE ITSELF !
NATIVE SON OF PARKER COUNTY ; ENTREPRENEUR , ENTERTAINER THAT WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE ITSELF !
SEPTEMBER 2018 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
106
Jerry Lynn Carter , 67 , husband , best friend , mentor , founder of The Texas Opry Theater and The Parker and Palo Pinto County Shoppers died on June 18 , 2018 . Over the past 32 years , he was the business partner to wife Marilyn Carter . Jerry was born and raised in Weatherford . A 1969 graduate of Weatherford High School , Jerry was a born entertainer and entrepreneur . He started his first venture at the age of eight . As a young man , he delivered newspapers for the Fort Worth Press , USA Today , Dallas Morning News , and The Weatherford Democrat .
A born salesman , Jerry used to go door-to-door with a wagon selling Grit Newspapers , flower and vegetable seeds and magazine subscriptions and he delivered newspapers on his bicycle . He used to ride by the York Ave . Baptist Church and thought that the building should be a theater , never dreaming he would someday own it and convert it to a theater . Jerry also raised competition homing and racing pigeons , and won awards for the largest watermelon one year in a FFA contest .
Jerry became interested in the snow cone business , and with his dad ’ s help , built several snow cone stands including the one that was on the corner of North Denton Dr . and Jameson in the front yard of his family home . It was well known as the Carter Snow Cone Stand and , his parents , Mr . and Mrs . Carter operated it every season for over 35 years .
Jerry was always intrigued by movies on the big screen and operated the projectors for Mr . Jones in his theaters on the square . He stood on an apple cart to reach the controls . He grew up with Mr . Jones ’ daughter , Roberta and granddaughter Carla , working in the movie houses and later in the drive-in theater . He learned how to sell concessions , popcorn , hot dogs , candy and soft drinks and developed his methods of keeping a theater clean and sanitary for every show . Jerry recounted a conversation with Mr . Jones about a candy bar he was chewing on at one time . Mr . Jones asked , “ Do you like that candy bar , Jerry ? Well , yes , Jonesy , I do ! Well , Jerrrrrry , you know that candy bars are made to sell and not eat , don ’ t you ?” That made a life-long impression on Jerry Carter , the entrepreneur and concessionaire . Jerry was a projectionist at Mr . Jone ’ s theaters in Weatherford and later , at almost every movie house and drive in theater within 50 miles . He was a member of the local Projectionist Union and the local Stage Hands Union in Tarrant County . He ran the laser lights and later toured with Elvis Presley , Paul McCartney and Wings , Pavarotti , and nearly any and all stage events at the Tarrant County Convention Center in the 70 ’ s . The Stagehands Union sent him to Arizona and California to work on the Gunsmoke sets where he met and became friends with James Arness ( Matt Dillon ) and all the crew and cast of the long running series . Jerry was a huge fan of John Wayne , Ernest Tubb , Hank Williams , Sr ., Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash . He could sing and do impressions of these and many other entertainers . Tommy Cash once told Jerry that he sounded more like his brother than anyone else he ever heard . In high school , Jerry was a member of the Weatherford High School Band and he quickly learned the art of songwriting . Soon , Jerry went on to front his own band in the 60 ’ s and 70 ’ s named Jerry Carter and the Chaparrals . He hosted his own radio show and broadcasted on nine radio stations from Fort Worth to Big Spring .
In 1982 , Jerry partnerd with Wayne Haney in publishing The Parker County Shopper and later established The Palo Pinto County Shopper , delivering the Shopper to every home or mailbox in Parker and Palo Pinto County every week . In 1991 , Jerry and Wayne purchased the York Ave . Baptist Church at 315 York Ave . They totally renovated it and , in 1992 opened The Texas Opry Theater . They relocated The Parker County Shopper offices to this building and had opry shows every Saturday night , gospel and 50 ’ s shows on Friday nights and published weekly Shoppers for 14 years . When Jerry lost his sight , a result of diabetes , in 2005 , he was forced to close The Shopping Spot in Granbury and The Texas Opry Theater Shows in Weatherford until 2010 , when Jerry and Marilyn again re-opened the theater with regular live concerts featuring traditional country , classic rock , oldies rock and roll and gospel music shows several times per month . The Texas Opry Theater has become well known across Texas for its family-friendly productions and to Nashville , Branson , and Las Vegas entertainers as a viable venue for their shows .