Among the wide-awake and progressive young business men of Provo is Raymond E. Sutton, the proprietor of the Strand theatre at No. 150 West Center street. He was born in Provo, March 29, 1891, and is a son of Ephraim D. and Fannie (Sutherland) Sutton, the former a native of Salt Lake City and the latter of Springville, Utah county. The paternal grandfather was Isaac Sutton, a native of England, who in the period of early development in Utah became a resident of this state. The maternal grandfather was Alexander Sutherland, who also arrived in Utah in pioneer times. Ephraim D. Sutton was one of the early merchants of Park City and won success in the conduct of his business affairs there but is now living retired, enjoying well earned rest. The mother is a sister of Senator George Sutherland. Raymond E. Sutton is the only survivor of a family of three children. The public school system of Provo provided him with his early educational opportunities and later he continued his studies in a high school of San Diego, California, and afterward pursued college and university work in the George Washington University at Washington, D. C. He specialized in the study of architecture there and after completing his course he returned to Provo and entered upon his active business career in mercantile lines. For five years he was the manager of the grocery department of The Sutton Market and he was also the manager of the grocery and hardware departments of the Tintic Mercantile Company at Eureka, Utah, for a year. On the expiration of that period he established the Strand theatre, which he opened on the 18th of May, 1917. From a small start he has built up and developed one of the leading moving picture theatres in southern Utah. The house is modern in every equipment and detail and the film features present the leading attractions of the screen. The house has a seating capacity of four hundred, is conducted on the popular price plan and is most liberally patronized. Mr. Sutton also has other business interests and in everything that he undertakes displays sound judgment and a progressive spirit. On the 24th of February, 1915, in Provo, Mr. Sutton was married to Miss Helen Daley, a native of Provo and a daughter of Joseph Daley. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have become the parents of twin daughters, Virginia Frances and Helen Kathleen, who were born May 3, 1916. The family occupies an attractive home at No. 239 East First North street, which is owned by Mr. Sutton. In his political views Mr. Sutton has always been an earnest republican, giving stalwart allegiance to the party and its principles. Fraternally he is a Mason. He was initiated into the order in Story Lodge, No. 4, of Provo, on the 27th of March, 1919. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, with the Provo Commercial Club and with the Kappa Sigma, a Greek letter fraternity. These connections show the nature and breadth of his interests and are indicative of the progressive spirit which actuates him in every relation of life. He is a young man, alert and energetic, and what he has already accomplished through his own efforts indicates that his future career will be well worth watching.
(contributor L Despain)