The history of the Ozark Theatre does not jibe with the local newspaper or the trade press of the era. So if they are both incorrect, the above is fine. According to the local newspaper and the trade press, they claim that the Ozark Theatre launched May 2, 1929 with “Craig’s Wife.” It was a new build venue with sloped floors and was the new home of the former Gem Theatre. The building was built by Carry Hall and the theatre was opened as a silent house.
A big deal was made about the wiring for sound which took place in 1930. “Lord Byron of Broadway” was the first sound feature and carried a hefty $1 admission on November 2, 1930. The south side of the square venue closed August 11, 1946 when Glen Hall launched the new Hall Theatre.
The Belle Theatre launched as a 600-seat venue on February 21, 1942 with “"Three Girls About Town” and “Outlaws of the Panhandle.” The converted Gleck Garage was equipped with Simplex projection and Western Electric sound.
Judge Thomas N. Rigney of Albany selected architect Carl Boller of Kansas City to build a 900-seat theatre capable of staging live events and motion pictures. It launched December 30, 1914 with a live stage play but would also have motion pictures within months of its launch.
In 1931, the orchestra pit was torn out with the full conversion to full time talking pictures. On December 6, 1956, the Rigney converted to widescreen equipment to show CinemaScope titles. In 1966, the venue was sold and became the Wilcox Theatre. It would later get its original name back before closing.
The Horsefield Brothers launched the Gasconade Theatre on February 2, 1919 with “Grandma’s Boy.” Mrs. F.H. Gail was there taking a $5 prize for suggesting the name. The picture shows at been held previously at Henneke’s Hall. The Gasconade installed a new sound system on May 19, 1929. In 1955, the theatre installed widescreen to play CinemaScope titles.
The Cozy Theatre launched August 1, 1934 with “Paddy the Next Big Thing” likely on a ten year lease. Don Harlo was next up relaunching as the Harlo Theatre on October 21, 1944 with “Cobra Woman.” The Harlo closed in 1952 becoming a place of worship for the Church of Christ in 1953.
The Family Theatre opened in 1909 likely on a 5 year lease with moving pictures and songs. In July of 1910, under new owners, the theatre changed to the Park Picture Parlor. In November, under new operation, it changed to the Princess Theatre mixing in a few live events with the predominate motion picture operation.
In 1914, it renewed is lease for 20 years and on April 28, 1929 switched to talkies with “The Carnation Kid” under F.M. Meyer. A new lease in 1934 brought new ownership. Re-launching June 30, 1934, new operator J.J. Huston remodeled the operation with new projection and improved sound as the Huston Theatre.
Under new operator T.A. Spurgin, the name was changed June 18, 1937 to the Moderne Theatre in a name contest in which actor Wallace Beery picked from the entries. After more than 30 years under his guidance, Spurgin closed the Moderne on January 3, 1969. Rex Eckard reopened the venue as the Stanberry Theatre operating it from 1970 to closing on December 8, 1974 with “Mr. Majestyk” likely at end of lease. The 65-year old theatre does not appear to have reopened. It was then used as storage.
Opened Christmas Day 1938 with “Young Dr. Kildare”, the Range was the first theatre in Hurley since the silent-era Rivoli Theatre that closed in 1927/8. That theatre was at the same location though demolished
Richard J. Budd and C. Robert Budd had an idea of opening a billiard parlor in the Heilner Building in Lykens. But a friend said to take a shot at moving pictures. The Budds opened the Theatorium in 1907 raking in $7.05 in nickels on opening day. Bullish business continued in Lykens for the Budds who enlarged the Theatorium in 1913.
The Theotorium converted to talking pictures in June of 1929. On November 13, 1941, the Theatorium became the Budd Theatre. Richard Budd would give the theatre a new front and sign a year later. The theatre would eventually celebrate 60 years of operation.
The Victoria Theatre launched November 9, 1911 by L.J. Chamberlin. With two Powers projectors, diminutive lobby, and sloped floor, the Victoria was a mainstay in silent film presentation in Sunbury. When the Victoria was sold to Comerford Circuit in 1930, it was changed to the Rialto Theatre, the name which it retained until 1978.
A.J. “Ace” and John J. Stuckey opened the Stuckey Theatre in 1923. The architect was T.W. Biddle Jr of Cumberland, Maryland. The theatre converted to sound and the Stuckey Brothers later sold the theatre after Christmas of 1945 to Theodore Grance.
Grance took the Stuckey Bros. businesses including the Stuckey Theatre, Hotel, Bowling, and Restaurant converting them all to the Everett Theatre, Everett Hotel, Everett Bowling Alleys, and Everett Restaurant.
The Columbia Theatre launched December 24, 1919. It closed on June 19, 1954 after a 50% year-over-year decrease in attendance due to television. It doesn’t appear to have reopened.
L.T. Rockenstein bought the properties of the Wentzville Theatre, Reuter’s Blacksmith Shop and Schramm Chevrolet to create the American Theatre. They were razed and the new American Theatre launched November 3, 1941 with “Men of Boys Town.”
The Scenic Theatre was launched at this address in 1910. It became the Ritz Theatre. Warners took on the Ritz on a 20-year lease on April 21, 1938 with “Snow White.” The theatre was demolished in December of 1957.
The Appell Building was built in 1889 at 43-51 East Market Street. The Wizard Theatre had its grand opening on October 27, 1908 running as a silent theatre until 1928. The space was then retrofitted for other retail purposes. The Appell Building was torn down late in 1952.
The Lion Theatre opened December 31, 1926 with Walter J. Rothensies as the listed owner but operated Nathan and Louis Appell of the Appell Circuit. The theatre converted to Western Electric Movietone and Vitaphone equipment in August of 1929. Appell sold to Warner Bros. Circuit which continued operation in 1930.
Warner closed the Lion Theatre on May 10, 1958 in part because of a 1957 law disallowing Sunday showings. Robert J. Heller reopened the theatre May 20, 1959 on a sublease. When the city decided to enforce its no-Sunday law, Heller abruptly shut down the Lion on June 6, 1959 – its last day of operation. In 1969, the theatre was demolished.
The building was home to a trolley car manufacturing plant in 1897 that sat idle for two decades becoming the York in 1934. The York Theatre discontinued film operations in 1952. It became a live venue for three years. It then became the Holiday Theatre from 1955 to 1968. After a salvage sale, it was torn down in September of 1969.
J.H. Plymire ran the Crystal Theatre in New Oxford on Lincoln Way West from 1914 to 1930 without converting to sound. The business became home to the Crystal Restaurant for almost the entire decade of the 1930s. But Earl W. Rohrbaugh re-opened the venue as the Earl Theatre in December of 1939. William Snyder Jr. bought the theatre three months later running the Earl from 1940 to its closure in July of 1957. The venue was destroyed by fire in 2002.
In August of 1930, the Warner Bros. Theatre Circuit bought the still-operating Opera House to close the facility. In June of 1936, it was razed after a salvage sale. Harry Houdini and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. performd there. And Charles C. Krantz served as stage manager for 50 years to closing.
The Moose Hall had opened a silent theatre to the public in its long-standing operation in 1925. George W. Osman programmed movies at Tremont’s Opera House beginning in 1917. He took over the Moose Hall venue here renaming it the New Moose Hall Theatre / Moose Theatre in August of 1927. On October 10, 1930, new operators changed it to the Littleton Theatre. In 1934, the theatre under new owners changed the name to the Tremont Theatre which it held for more than 50 years.
Just to add a bit of history, this project was commissioned in 1896 to the plans of local architect Frank X. Reilly. It launched as the Opera House on July 4, 1897. The widow of former state senator Samuel A. Losch bought the struggling opera house operating it as the Losch Opera House and adding vaudeville and movies to the mix. It went dormant in 1914 and put up for auction in 1918. It appears to be used for storage.
The Refowich Brothers relaunched the house August 28, 1924 becoming the Refowich Theatre. The 453 seat venue added fire exits, a third floor dance hall, Powers projectors, and – in addition to the existing third floor rest rooms – a ladies room on the main floor. On mMarch 29, 1930, RCA Photophone installation brought talkies to Schuylkill Haven with the short, “Harmony at Home.”
A new operator purchased the Refowich and changed it to the Rio Theatre on Christmas of 1937. In 1953, the theatre was under big pressure from television and dropped to weekend only operation. The theatre adopted a free admission / pay what it was worth upon exit admission policy for the month of April of 1953. It closed by June of 1953 ending its cinematic run. It became a storage facility.
In 1957, the theatre was refreshed becoming the long-running Masonic Lodge meeting place. In 2017, the again-vacant property could be purchased for $125,000.
The history of the Ozark Theatre does not jibe with the local newspaper or the trade press of the era. So if they are both incorrect, the above is fine. According to the local newspaper and the trade press, they claim that the Ozark Theatre launched May 2, 1929 with “Craig’s Wife.” It was a new build venue with sloped floors and was the new home of the former Gem Theatre. The building was built by Carry Hall and the theatre was opened as a silent house.
A big deal was made about the wiring for sound which took place in 1930. “Lord Byron of Broadway” was the first sound feature and carried a hefty $1 admission on November 2, 1930. The south side of the square venue closed August 11, 1946 when Glen Hall launched the new Hall Theatre.
The Belle Theatre launched as a 600-seat venue on February 21, 1942 with “"Three Girls About Town” and “Outlaws of the Panhandle.” The converted Gleck Garage was equipped with Simplex projection and Western Electric sound.
Judge Thomas N. Rigney of Albany selected architect Carl Boller of Kansas City to build a 900-seat theatre capable of staging live events and motion pictures. It launched December 30, 1914 with a live stage play but would also have motion pictures within months of its launch.
In 1931, the orchestra pit was torn out with the full conversion to full time talking pictures. On December 6, 1956, the Rigney converted to widescreen equipment to show CinemaScope titles. In 1966, the venue was sold and became the Wilcox Theatre. It would later get its original name back before closing.
The Horsefield Brothers launched the Gasconade Theatre on February 2, 1919 with “Grandma’s Boy.” Mrs. F.H. Gail was there taking a $5 prize for suggesting the name. The picture shows at been held previously at Henneke’s Hall. The Gasconade installed a new sound system on May 19, 1929. In 1955, the theatre installed widescreen to play CinemaScope titles.
Lott R. Champion opened the Capitol in 1923 and closed his Gem Theatre there. Architects were T.H. Moss & Co. of Rochester, Minnesota.
The Cozy Theatre launched August 1, 1934 with “Paddy the Next Big Thing” likely on a ten year lease. Don Harlo was next up relaunching as the Harlo Theatre on October 21, 1944 with “Cobra Woman.” The Harlo closed in 1952 becoming a place of worship for the Church of Christ in 1953.
The Family Theatre opened in 1909 likely on a 5 year lease with moving pictures and songs. In July of 1910, under new owners, the theatre changed to the Park Picture Parlor. In November, under new operation, it changed to the Princess Theatre mixing in a few live events with the predominate motion picture operation.
In 1914, it renewed is lease for 20 years and on April 28, 1929 switched to talkies with “The Carnation Kid” under F.M. Meyer. A new lease in 1934 brought new ownership. Re-launching June 30, 1934, new operator J.J. Huston remodeled the operation with new projection and improved sound as the Huston Theatre.
Under new operator T.A. Spurgin, the name was changed June 18, 1937 to the Moderne Theatre in a name contest in which actor Wallace Beery picked from the entries. After more than 30 years under his guidance, Spurgin closed the Moderne on January 3, 1969. Rex Eckard reopened the venue as the Stanberry Theatre operating it from 1970 to closing on December 8, 1974 with “Mr. Majestyk” likely at end of lease. The 65-year old theatre does not appear to have reopened. It was then used as storage.
Opened Christmas Day 1938 with “Young Dr. Kildare”, the Range was the first theatre in Hurley since the silent-era Rivoli Theatre that closed in 1927/8. That theatre was at the same location though demolished
Richard J. Budd and C. Robert Budd had an idea of opening a billiard parlor in the Heilner Building in Lykens. But a friend said to take a shot at moving pictures. The Budds opened the Theatorium in 1907 raking in $7.05 in nickels on opening day. Bullish business continued in Lykens for the Budds who enlarged the Theatorium in 1913.
The Theotorium converted to talking pictures in June of 1929. On November 13, 1941, the Theatorium became the Budd Theatre. Richard Budd would give the theatre a new front and sign a year later. The theatre would eventually celebrate 60 years of operation.
The Victoria Theatre launched November 9, 1911 by L.J. Chamberlin. With two Powers projectors, diminutive lobby, and sloped floor, the Victoria was a mainstay in silent film presentation in Sunbury. When the Victoria was sold to Comerford Circuit in 1930, it was changed to the Rialto Theatre, the name which it retained until 1978.
The Strand doubled in size installing the Moller organ and had its Spanish architectural style when it closed and re-launched November 12, 1928.
A.J. “Ace” and John J. Stuckey opened the Stuckey Theatre in 1923. The architect was T.W. Biddle Jr of Cumberland, Maryland. The theatre converted to sound and the Stuckey Brothers later sold the theatre after Christmas of 1945 to Theodore Grance.
Grance took the Stuckey Bros. businesses including the Stuckey Theatre, Hotel, Bowling, and Restaurant converting them all to the Everett Theatre, Everett Hotel, Everett Bowling Alleys, and Everett Restaurant.
Opened as the City Theatre in November of 1926. Converted to sound in March of 1930.
The Columbia Theatre launched December 24, 1919. It closed on June 19, 1954 after a 50% year-over-year decrease in attendance due to television. It doesn’t appear to have reopened.
L.T. Rockenstein bought the properties of the Wentzville Theatre, Reuter’s Blacksmith Shop and Schramm Chevrolet to create the American Theatre. They were razed and the new American Theatre launched November 3, 1941 with “Men of Boys Town.”
The Scenic Theatre was launched at this address in 1910. It became the Ritz Theatre. Warners took on the Ritz on a 20-year lease on April 21, 1938 with “Snow White.” The theatre was demolished in December of 1957.
The Appell Building was built in 1889 at 43-51 East Market Street. The Wizard Theatre had its grand opening on October 27, 1908 running as a silent theatre until 1928. The space was then retrofitted for other retail purposes. The Appell Building was torn down late in 1952.
The Lion Theatre opened December 31, 1926 with Walter J. Rothensies as the listed owner but operated Nathan and Louis Appell of the Appell Circuit. The theatre converted to Western Electric Movietone and Vitaphone equipment in August of 1929. Appell sold to Warner Bros. Circuit which continued operation in 1930.
Warner closed the Lion Theatre on May 10, 1958 in part because of a 1957 law disallowing Sunday showings. Robert J. Heller reopened the theatre May 20, 1959 on a sublease. When the city decided to enforce its no-Sunday law, Heller abruptly shut down the Lion on June 6, 1959 – its last day of operation. In 1969, the theatre was demolished.
The building was home to a trolley car manufacturing plant in 1897 that sat idle for two decades becoming the York in 1934. The York Theatre discontinued film operations in 1952. It became a live venue for three years. It then became the Holiday Theatre from 1955 to 1968. After a salvage sale, it was torn down in September of 1969.
J.H. Plymire ran the Crystal Theatre in New Oxford on Lincoln Way West from 1914 to 1930 without converting to sound. The business became home to the Crystal Restaurant for almost the entire decade of the 1930s. But Earl W. Rohrbaugh re-opened the venue as the Earl Theatre in December of 1939. William Snyder Jr. bought the theatre three months later running the Earl from 1940 to its closure in July of 1957. The venue was destroyed by fire in 2002.
In August of 1930, the Warner Bros. Theatre Circuit bought the still-operating Opera House to close the facility. In June of 1936, it was razed after a salvage sale. Harry Houdini and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. performd there. And Charles C. Krantz served as stage manager for 50 years to closing.
Launched June 4, 1957 with the film, “Canyon River”, the theatre shares its name with the Zuni Highway itself ultimately named after the Zuni people.
The Moose Hall had opened a silent theatre to the public in its long-standing operation in 1925. George W. Osman programmed movies at Tremont’s Opera House beginning in 1917. He took over the Moose Hall venue here renaming it the New Moose Hall Theatre / Moose Theatre in August of 1927. On October 10, 1930, new operators changed it to the Littleton Theatre. In 1934, the theatre under new owners changed the name to the Tremont Theatre which it held for more than 50 years.
Just to add a bit of history, this project was commissioned in 1896 to the plans of local architect Frank X. Reilly. It launched as the Opera House on July 4, 1897. The widow of former state senator Samuel A. Losch bought the struggling opera house operating it as the Losch Opera House and adding vaudeville and movies to the mix. It went dormant in 1914 and put up for auction in 1918. It appears to be used for storage.
The Refowich Brothers relaunched the house August 28, 1924 becoming the Refowich Theatre. The 453 seat venue added fire exits, a third floor dance hall, Powers projectors, and – in addition to the existing third floor rest rooms – a ladies room on the main floor. On mMarch 29, 1930, RCA Photophone installation brought talkies to Schuylkill Haven with the short, “Harmony at Home.”
A new operator purchased the Refowich and changed it to the Rio Theatre on Christmas of 1937. In 1953, the theatre was under big pressure from television and dropped to weekend only operation. The theatre adopted a free admission / pay what it was worth upon exit admission policy for the month of April of 1953. It closed by June of 1953 ending its cinematic run. It became a storage facility.
In 1957, the theatre was refreshed becoming the long-running Masonic Lodge meeting place. In 2017, the again-vacant property could be purchased for $125,000.
The San Toy was reopened in 1936 by Harry J. Schaad who bought the theatre at a sherif’s auction. A fire in 1939 ends its run.