The Niantic Cinema suspended operations after showtimes on September 14, 2022 awaiting more compelling features announced in December. (The theater did feature one short film screening of “Butterfield” on October 15, 2022 as a special event.) On December 7, 2022, the operators rethought that position and decided to make the announced September suspension of regular operations a permanent closure.
Chuck writes, “The Benson Theatre opened in December 1911 with seating listed at 489. The theatre closed on October 30, 1958.” For those who want more specific information on the Benson / Benalto Theatre, my research is below (and, sorry, should not be attributed to Chuck):
The original Benson Theater was located at what was then known as 4835 Main Street in Benson, Nebraska. It operated in the silent film era from 1911 until operator George H. “Mac” McArdle closed it in 1920 at the expiry of a 10-year lease. McArdle opened his new theater in Benson now annexed (as of 1917) by the City of Omaha. This theater’s entry begins in 1920 as the new-build facility is constructed, according to the movie industry trade press of the day.
McArdle’s new Benalto Theater opened at what was then 60th St and Military Avenue in North Omaha’s Benson neighborhood playing silent film. McArdle’s philosophy was, “I’m going to make every patron call me ‘Mac”… so when I say I have a good show, they’ll believe me.“ The Banalto Theater launched September 6, 1920 with Wallace Reid in “The Man from Funeral Range.” The Benalto name was then retired on May 29, 1926. The theater found new operators in World Realty, a Nebraska-based movie theater circuit, which closed the venue for four months and reopened it as the Benson Theatre on September 25, 1926 with Cecil B. DeMille’s “Silence.” The refresh cost $50,000 - more than the cost of the original construction - sporting a new Colonial design, increasing seat capacity to 700, and now with both a stage and an orchestra pit. The architect of the Colonial redesign was by Charles W. Rosenberry. Located next door to the venue was the Bensonette Confectionery which was the Benson Theater’s de facto concession stand in its early days.
On October 27, 1929, the Benson installed sound to remain viable and launching its talkies with “Showboat.” Epsteins Theatre Corp. / Epstein Brothers Circuit took on the venue running it with theaters including the Corby, Circle, Lothrop, Berkley, Roseland and Tivoli. They ran their own concession stand(s) and the Bensonette was replaced by a long-running bakery to its left and a jewelry store to its right. The circuit gave the theater a makeover to modernize it complete with new seats in 1946 and an interior streamline refresh in 1949 operating briefly as the “New” Benson. Seat count dropped down to just under 500.
Competition from television, drive-ins, and unruly teen patrons upended the Benson in the 1950s. The Epstiens closed or sold each of their seven theaters one by one with the Benson closing second to last on January 25, 1953 with Leslie Caron in “Lili” and Glenn Ford in “Terror on a Train.” The closure left the Epstiens with just the Corby Theatre which would last four additional years. The former Benson Theater was remodeled as a retail store for Best Appliance and Television opening later in the year.
The Benson made a comeback as a non-profit organization and predominantly stages live events in the 2020s. It has also played some repertory films and hosted film festival events.
Robert K. and Ralph Blank closed the Chief Theatre at the terminus of a 25-year lease on December 10, 1972 with “Billy Jack” and “When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth.”
This was a legit, live theater from opening on September 3, 1891 to its closing on January 31, 1920. Likely seated 1,500 with all 1,500 opera seats available for sale in the salvage sale that began following the last show.
The Roseland Theatre closed permanently on November 26, 1950 with “Young Man with a Horn” and “Wagon Master.” The space was converted for other retail purposes.
A.H. Blank opened the venue May 29, 1918 with John Barrymore in “Raffles”. The Publix Circuit took on the venue but was likely well dissatisfied with its acoustics upon being equipped with Vitaphone sound. The price of admission was reduced early in 1929 and the theater scuffled though hosting a variety of trade screenings and free kids matinees. The Rialto closed permanently on August 2, 1929 with Corinne Griffith in “The Divine Lady” supported by a Lloyd Hamilton comedy short. The Hilgreen-Lane pipe organ was sold to the local Central High School.
The Grand Opening of the Airport Drive-In Theatre took place on April 15, 1954 with “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” supported by “The Tournament of Roses (1954)” short and two cartoons. Ad in photos.
The Moorish Revival-styled Corby Theatre initially closed at the end of its second 20-year lease on July 29, 1956 with “I Am Camera.” A new operator gave it another shot in February 3, 1957. But the competition from television was too great and the theater closed permanently on June 16, 1957 following a double-feature of “Mister Cory” with Tony Curtis" and Ida Lupino in “Strange Intruder.” The space was converted into a retail department store and is currently used for storage.
The Cooper Foundation closed the Brandeis Theatre on April 30, 1959 with a double feature of The Prodigal" and “The Student Prince” followed by the salvage sale
The Diamond Theatre changed its name to the Lake Theatre beginning with showtimes on January 30, 1925. The African American theater was still operating in 1929.
The Loyal Theater had two periods of silent operation. It first advertised at 2406 Caldwell Street from 1910 to 1917. If known for anything, it was for boxing films which were screened every Friday night as part of “Fight Night.” The venue closed for three years.
The Loyal then reopened in its second operational period under African American operation as a theater targeting all audiences though advertising only in Omaha’s African American newspaper beginning in the May 26, 1920. The opening film was “Tillie’s Punctured Romance.” Ads were discontinued in 1921.
According to the information provided by user Chuck, “The Tivoli Theatre opened in the early-1930’s with seating for 510. The theatre closed in the early-1950’s.” Looking a bit deeper factually suggests that information to be inaccurate.
The Magic Theatre launched in the Richey Building in South Omaha as a vaudeville house that would additionally play contemporary films on the same bill. H.C. Wright of Chicago established the policy launching the Magic on July 23, 1912. The Epstein Brothers took on the venue in the early 1920s. They would upgrade the house stressing motion pictures and rename it on September 7, 1925 as the Tivoli Theatre with Colleen Moore in “The Desert Flower” supported by Lige Conley in “Treasure Bound.” They also reduced seat count by nearly 50 percent.
On March 3, 1929, the venue was upgraded with Vitaphone sound playing Pauline Frederick in “On Trial.” Early in 1948, the theatre switched to a policy of Czech films likely on a subleasing agreement. The Magic closed on June 1, 1949 for the summer months with Frantisek Smolík in “Jiný Vzduch.” The Tivoli did not return. The Epsteins sold the building to Hested Stores which spent $15,000 converting the store in 1950 for their retail purposes. That store launched December 30, 1950. The venue was still standing in the 2020s with a masked front.
The Military Theatre was located on Military Avenue and made a decision to have elaborate, militaristic stage shows including a regular bugler. Omaha Suburban Theatres sank $150,000 into the playhouse the opened February 7, 1928 with Viola Dana in “That Certain Thing.” “Percy” Pennington led the Military Band, Clara Waters played the Military Wonder Organ - a 2/7 Wurlitzer, the 8 Military Maids danced, and Jean Croft was the Military’s bugler / trumpeter. (She later appears to have gravitated to a Paramount Pictures contract.)
On January 29, 1929, the Military added sound to become the first suburban Omaha theater with talkies. A year later, the Military Theater was padlocked and auctioned off in February of 1930. Theaters Investment Group Co. purchased the venue and reopened it on a ten-year leasing agreement. It was also shared by a church for Sunday services.
The Military was told to stand down closing at the end of a leasing period on March 29, 1972 with a repertory screening of “King of Kings.” The venue became a long running home to the Grace Apostolic Church.
The Maryland Theatre opened in November of 1915. Following the terminus of its 25-year lease, Epstein’s Theatres took on the venue in 1940 renaming it as the Berkley Theatre (no “e” after the k). The Berkley Theatre is closed permanently after the November 13, 1953 showing of “Prulom” starring Ella Nollová. The theater had showed a heavy dose of Czech films along with standard Hollywood fare from the 1930s until closure.
The venue was offered for sale to no avail until 1957 when the floors were flattened and the theater’s interior was remodeled out of existence. A dance club moved in in 1957/1958 using the Berkley Theatre marquee and nameplate. The Dick Clark Fan Club held regular meet-up events there. But after a minor fire, the theater name was retired and a merry go round of retailers including a food store and an auto parts store came in during the 1960s. The theatre became home to a non-profit. And the theater is definitely closed… for more than 65 years.
Opened on February 4th, 1942 with Joan Blondell and John Wayne in “Lady for a Night,” the Admiral was a $175,000 project from Walter Green and Ralph Blank. The atmospheric theater conjured up its nautically-themed name by giving one the impression that they were on a ship in the evening. Portholes were on the wall along with the ship’s hull above and blue waves below. It was a great transformation of the Julius Wessel & Co. sheet metal factory (also pictured in photos).
The Admiral was altered from a single ship to two schooners upon its twinning on November 16, 1976 becoming the Admiral 2 Theatre. Its last heyday was showing “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Dick Blank of the Skyview and the Crossroads 2 announced a temporary closure on April 10, 1983 following showings of “Sweet Sixteen” and “The Last House on the Left” for remodeling. That decommissioning turned out to be permanent and the Admiral structure decayed with a bad roof over the next decade. The Admiral 2 Theatre was demolished in late 1996 into early 1997.
The Lothrop Theatre launched with movies and a live orchestra and organ recital on May 2, 1914 on 24th Street just off of Lothrop Street. J.F. Morgan built the venue which was almost shut down because it was legally 320 feet away from a school (the city prohibited theaters within 300 feet of a school) but protestors claimed that the corner of the lot was 280 feet from the school’s yard. William O. Jensen operated the theater in its early days with Charles Martini operating the adjoining Lothrop Theatre Confectionery serving ice cream, soft drinks and Kamer Chocolates. 1920s operators included J.H. Gaylord, R.P. Kissinger and George McArdle. A.H. Bland and Epstein Theatres were among its owners in the 1930s with Sidney Goldberg operating the theater much of its latter existence which included an upgrade to air conditioning in 1939.
The Lothrop celebrated its 40th Anniversary continuing operation until closure with a New Year’s Day 1955 double feature of “House of Frankenstein” and “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The Corinth Baptist Church took on the venue on June 24, 1955 operating it with religious services into 1961. Give the City of Omaha’s inspection unit credit for closing the church in February of 1961 due to safety concerns. On December 26, 1961, the former building turned church collapsed in a pile of rubble ending its existence.
The Niantic Cinema suspended operations after showtimes on September 14, 2022 awaiting more compelling features announced in December. (The theater did feature one short film screening of “Butterfield” on October 15, 2022 as a special event.) On December 7, 2022, the operators rethought that position and decided to make the announced September suspension of regular operations a permanent closure.
Chuck writes, “The Benson Theatre opened in December 1911 with seating listed at 489. The theatre closed on October 30, 1958.” For those who want more specific information on the Benson / Benalto Theatre, my research is below (and, sorry, should not be attributed to Chuck):
The original Benson Theater was located at what was then known as 4835 Main Street in Benson, Nebraska. It operated in the silent film era from 1911 until operator George H. “Mac” McArdle closed it in 1920 at the expiry of a 10-year lease. McArdle opened his new theater in Benson now annexed (as of 1917) by the City of Omaha. This theater’s entry begins in 1920 as the new-build facility is constructed, according to the movie industry trade press of the day.
McArdle’s new Benalto Theater opened at what was then 60th St and Military Avenue in North Omaha’s Benson neighborhood playing silent film. McArdle’s philosophy was, “I’m going to make every patron call me ‘Mac”… so when I say I have a good show, they’ll believe me.“ The Banalto Theater launched September 6, 1920 with Wallace Reid in “The Man from Funeral Range.” The Benalto name was then retired on May 29, 1926. The theater found new operators in World Realty, a Nebraska-based movie theater circuit, which closed the venue for four months and reopened it as the Benson Theatre on September 25, 1926 with Cecil B. DeMille’s “Silence.” The refresh cost $50,000 - more than the cost of the original construction - sporting a new Colonial design, increasing seat capacity to 700, and now with both a stage and an orchestra pit. The architect of the Colonial redesign was by Charles W. Rosenberry. Located next door to the venue was the Bensonette Confectionery which was the Benson Theater’s de facto concession stand in its early days.
On October 27, 1929, the Benson installed sound to remain viable and launching its talkies with “Showboat.” Epsteins Theatre Corp. / Epstein Brothers Circuit took on the venue running it with theaters including the Corby, Circle, Lothrop, Berkley, Roseland and Tivoli. They ran their own concession stand(s) and the Bensonette was replaced by a long-running bakery to its left and a jewelry store to its right. The circuit gave the theater a makeover to modernize it complete with new seats in 1946 and an interior streamline refresh in 1949 operating briefly as the “New” Benson. Seat count dropped down to just under 500.
Competition from television, drive-ins, and unruly teen patrons upended the Benson in the 1950s. The Epstiens closed or sold each of their seven theaters one by one with the Benson closing second to last on January 25, 1953 with Leslie Caron in “Lili” and Glenn Ford in “Terror on a Train.” The closure left the Epstiens with just the Corby Theatre which would last four additional years. The former Benson Theater was remodeled as a retail store for Best Appliance and Television opening later in the year.
The Benson made a comeback as a non-profit organization and predominantly stages live events in the 2020s. It has also played some repertory films and hosted film festival events.
The Epstein Brothers closed the Besse Theatre on September 1, 1923. The Besse was then converted to a retail store launching in 1924.
Robert K. and Ralph Blank closed the Chief Theatre at the terminus of a 25-year lease on December 10, 1972 with “Billy Jack” and “When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth.”
Final advertised show appears to be on October 14, 1952 with “Pat and Mike” and “We’re Not Married.”
This was a legit, live theater from opening on September 3, 1891 to its closing on January 31, 1920. Likely seated 1,500 with all 1,500 opera seats available for sale in the salvage sale that began following the last show.
The Roseland Theatre closed permanently on November 26, 1950 with “Young Man with a Horn” and “Wagon Master.” The space was converted for other retail purposes.
The Time Theatre exited March 4, 1938 with Marie DeForrest in “The Lash of the Penitentes” and a bonus feature of Guy Kibble in “The Big Shot.”
A.H. Blank opened the venue May 29, 1918 with John Barrymore in “Raffles”. The Publix Circuit took on the venue but was likely well dissatisfied with its acoustics upon being equipped with Vitaphone sound. The price of admission was reduced early in 1929 and the theater scuffled though hosting a variety of trade screenings and free kids matinees. The Rialto closed permanently on August 2, 1929 with Corinne Griffith in “The Divine Lady” supported by a Lloyd Hamilton comedy short. The Hilgreen-Lane pipe organ was sold to the local Central High School.
Closed at the 15-year opt out point of its lease in 1986.
The Grand Opening of the Airport Drive-In Theatre took place on April 15, 1954 with “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” supported by “The Tournament of Roses (1954)” short and two cartoons. Ad in photos.
The Moorish Revival-styled Corby Theatre initially closed at the end of its second 20-year lease on July 29, 1956 with “I Am Camera.” A new operator gave it another shot in February 3, 1957. But the competition from television was too great and the theater closed permanently on June 16, 1957 following a double-feature of “Mister Cory” with Tony Curtis" and Ida Lupino in “Strange Intruder.” The space was converted into a retail department store and is currently used for storage.
The Cooper Foundation closed the Brandeis Theatre on April 30, 1959 with a double feature of The Prodigal" and “The Student Prince” followed by the salvage sale
Demolished December 2022
The Diamond Theatre changed its name to the Lake Theatre beginning with showtimes on January 30, 1925. The African American theater was still operating in 1929.
The Loyal Theater had two periods of silent operation. It first advertised at 2406 Caldwell Street from 1910 to 1917. If known for anything, it was for boxing films which were screened every Friday night as part of “Fight Night.” The venue closed for three years.
The Loyal then reopened in its second operational period under African American operation as a theater targeting all audiences though advertising only in Omaha’s African American newspaper beginning in the May 26, 1920. The opening film was “Tillie’s Punctured Romance.” Ads were discontinued in 1921.
According to the information provided by user Chuck, “The Tivoli Theatre opened in the early-1930’s with seating for 510. The theatre closed in the early-1950’s.” Looking a bit deeper factually suggests that information to be inaccurate.
The Magic Theatre launched in the Richey Building in South Omaha as a vaudeville house that would additionally play contemporary films on the same bill. H.C. Wright of Chicago established the policy launching the Magic on July 23, 1912. The Epstein Brothers took on the venue in the early 1920s. They would upgrade the house stressing motion pictures and rename it on September 7, 1925 as the Tivoli Theatre with Colleen Moore in “The Desert Flower” supported by Lige Conley in “Treasure Bound.” They also reduced seat count by nearly 50 percent.
On March 3, 1929, the venue was upgraded with Vitaphone sound playing Pauline Frederick in “On Trial.” Early in 1948, the theatre switched to a policy of Czech films likely on a subleasing agreement. The Magic closed on June 1, 1949 for the summer months with Frantisek Smolík in “Jiný Vzduch.” The Tivoli did not return. The Epsteins sold the building to Hested Stores which spent $15,000 converting the store in 1950 for their retail purposes. That store launched December 30, 1950. The venue was still standing in the 2020s with a masked front.
The State Theatre closed September 4, 1969 with “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
The Military Theatre was located on Military Avenue and made a decision to have elaborate, militaristic stage shows including a regular bugler. Omaha Suburban Theatres sank $150,000 into the playhouse the opened February 7, 1928 with Viola Dana in “That Certain Thing.” “Percy” Pennington led the Military Band, Clara Waters played the Military Wonder Organ - a 2/7 Wurlitzer, the 8 Military Maids danced, and Jean Croft was the Military’s bugler / trumpeter. (She later appears to have gravitated to a Paramount Pictures contract.)
On January 29, 1929, the Military added sound to become the first suburban Omaha theater with talkies. A year later, the Military Theater was padlocked and auctioned off in February of 1930. Theaters Investment Group Co. purchased the venue and reopened it on a ten-year leasing agreement. It was also shared by a church for Sunday services.
The Military was told to stand down closing at the end of a leasing period on March 29, 1972 with a repertory screening of “King of Kings.” The venue became a long running home to the Grace Apostolic Church.
The Maryland Theatre opened in November of 1915. Following the terminus of its 25-year lease, Epstein’s Theatres took on the venue in 1940 renaming it as the Berkley Theatre (no “e” after the k). The Berkley Theatre is closed permanently after the November 13, 1953 showing of “Prulom” starring Ella Nollová. The theater had showed a heavy dose of Czech films along with standard Hollywood fare from the 1930s until closure.
The venue was offered for sale to no avail until 1957 when the floors were flattened and the theater’s interior was remodeled out of existence. A dance club moved in in 1957/1958 using the Berkley Theatre marquee and nameplate. The Dick Clark Fan Club held regular meet-up events there. But after a minor fire, the theater name was retired and a merry go round of retailers including a food store and an auto parts store came in during the 1960s. The theatre became home to a non-profit. And the theater is definitely closed… for more than 65 years.
Cooper Foundation closed the Avenue Theatre permanently on January 24, 1959 with a double feature of “Garden of Evil” and “All American.”
Central States ceased advertising its Golden Spike Drive-In Theatre on September 14, 1984 with “Revenge of the Nerds” likely ending its run.
Opened on February 4th, 1942 with Joan Blondell and John Wayne in “Lady for a Night,” the Admiral was a $175,000 project from Walter Green and Ralph Blank. The atmospheric theater conjured up its nautically-themed name by giving one the impression that they were on a ship in the evening. Portholes were on the wall along with the ship’s hull above and blue waves below. It was a great transformation of the Julius Wessel & Co. sheet metal factory (also pictured in photos).
The Admiral was altered from a single ship to two schooners upon its twinning on November 16, 1976 becoming the Admiral 2 Theatre. Its last heyday was showing “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Dick Blank of the Skyview and the Crossroads 2 announced a temporary closure on April 10, 1983 following showings of “Sweet Sixteen” and “The Last House on the Left” for remodeling. That decommissioning turned out to be permanent and the Admiral structure decayed with a bad roof over the next decade. The Admiral 2 Theatre was demolished in late 1996 into early 1997.
The Lothrop Theatre launched with movies and a live orchestra and organ recital on May 2, 1914 on 24th Street just off of Lothrop Street. J.F. Morgan built the venue which was almost shut down because it was legally 320 feet away from a school (the city prohibited theaters within 300 feet of a school) but protestors claimed that the corner of the lot was 280 feet from the school’s yard. William O. Jensen operated the theater in its early days with Charles Martini operating the adjoining Lothrop Theatre Confectionery serving ice cream, soft drinks and Kamer Chocolates. 1920s operators included J.H. Gaylord, R.P. Kissinger and George McArdle. A.H. Bland and Epstein Theatres were among its owners in the 1930s with Sidney Goldberg operating the theater much of its latter existence which included an upgrade to air conditioning in 1939.
The Lothrop celebrated its 40th Anniversary continuing operation until closure with a New Year’s Day 1955 double feature of “House of Frankenstein” and “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The Corinth Baptist Church took on the venue on June 24, 1955 operating it with religious services into 1961. Give the City of Omaha’s inspection unit credit for closing the church in February of 1961 due to safety concerns. On December 26, 1961, the former building turned church collapsed in a pile of rubble ending its existence.
The Maryland Theatre opened in November of 1915.