I recently received a letter from Cindy Beck Deppe, a former student of this writer at Northampton High School. Cindy’s father was Mr. William Beck, a local icon who founded Lehigh Valley landmark Becky’s Drive-In, Berlinsville, Lehigh Township.

I called Cindy and asked her to share her memories with our loyal readers. She sent a mountain of material to Mr. Larry Oberly, who works very closely with this writer.

William Beck was born in the family home in 1909 in Lehigh Township. William had three sisters — Iola, Virginia and Vera — and his brothers were Clifford, Roscoe and Eugene. William was a student at Berlinsville Elementary School. There he completed seven grades.

“During those years, my father saw his first movie in Slatington. He was so impressed that movies and films would later become his life’s ambition,” Cindy recalled.

At the time, there were more than a dozen slate quarries in the area. William’s father and uncles were employed at the Genuine Washington Slate Company in Berlinsville. The quarry slate was used for roofing, blackboards, sink tops and grave covers. The slaters worked in the quarry 12 months a year. The work was hard and dangerous.

Young Beck, at age 13, was told the quarry needed a water boy to carry water to the slaters. Working in 90-degree heat in a slate quarry was an exhausting job. He was promoted to bell ringer and hoist operator. While working at the quarry, William purchased his first film projector and camera.

A neighbor told Beck that Keystone Lamp Company was hiring. He left the quarry. The lamp company had hundreds of employees and distributed lamps nationwide. William operated a number of different pieces of equipment from cutting to grinding and even packing products. Each day he worked with metal, preparing for lamp assembly.

One afternoon while working with metal, a piece broke loose and struck his right eye. The insurance claim stated the accident was work related. He was given monetary compensation.

He used the money to purchase a new camera and projector. His film career had humble beginnings. A clean, white, cotton sheet in the living room of his home was his set for his first film showing. Charlie Chaplin entertained the Beck family and their neighbors on the screen.

While reading a film magazine, Mr. Beck found an article advertising New York Institute of Photography. The school offered a course in film making. William signed up for a correspondence course and earned a diploma in film making.

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See you all in two weeks!