Not a great deal is known about the life of Thomas J. Watson. He was born in Cherryville, Kansas on July 10, 1891. During the later 1890's the family relocated to Freeport, Illinois. According to photographs received with the collection, in 1911 when he was about 20 years of age, Watson was employed as a projectionist at the Majestic Theatre, in Freeport, Illinois. In December 1917 he began operating the Superba Theatre, 123 Stephenson Street, in Freeport, eventually purchasing the property from William S. Nichols. Watson's management of the theater was interrupted by service in the military during World War I, and during this period he apparently leased the theater back to the Nichols family. In 1920 Watson and W. H. Seitzler organized the Capitol Amusement Co., both men sharing equally in the proceeds from the Superba Theatre. Watson also operated the Harvard Theatre during this time.
In response to ongoing financial problems, in 1925 Watson formed Freeport Theatres, Inc., with Charles H. Miller, A.G. Spencer, and F.B. Swanson, all of Chicago, and transferred the Superba Theatre to the corporation. At that time Watson's partners agreed to acquire another Freeport theater which Watson was to manage and in which he was to have a one-quarter share. There is some evidence that Watson considered the construction of a $100,000, Law and Law-designed theater during this period. These plans did not work out, and as a result of continued financial problems Watson withdrew from the operation, leasing the theater to W.B. Jury (who had previously worked for him and who also operated the Royal Theatre in Warren, Illinois), and found other employment including work as a travelling salesman and as janitor at the local schools. In 1927 Jury took over full control of the theater. In 1930 Jury also took over operation of the Stockton Theatre in Freeport. Then, under unexplained circumstances in 1931 Watson again took over management of the Stockton Theatre. There is some evidence in the papers that he operated a theater in Warren, Illinois during the late 1930's. Later he began operating the Blanchard Theatre in Blanchardville, Wisconsin, although the date of this transition is not documented in the papers. Watson died about 1977.
