The Cameo Theatre opened May 15, 1926 with “Stage Struck.” Schine took on the Cameo on May 1, 1936. It positioned it as a sub-run third tier theatre in 1940. Listing end May 29, 1952 after a double feature of “Love is Better Than Ever” and “Wild Blue Yonder.” The Cameo was used a furniture warehouse thereafter until May of 1972 when its days were numbered.
The Princess Theatre opened in 1912 and transformed to sound in October 1927. Unfortunately, a fire ended its run in December of 1927. Architect Leander McCord drew a plan to revive the theatre for owner Morris Fogel launching in October of 1928 under the nameplate of the Rexy Theatre.
The theatre struggled in the TV age closing briefly in 1953. It was repositioned and retitled as the Rexy Art Theatre launching on March 21, 1953. The Rexy Art Theatre closed with “The Browning Version” on July 30, 1953 after just three months.
After being dormant for four years, the theatre got one more chance at exhibition being renamed the Fine Arts Theatre and launching April 24, 1958 with “The Three Faces of Eve”. During April of 1975, the art cinema turned X and XXX adult theatre. In September of 1976, the theatre’s 64 year run appears to end. The theatre was repurposed for other retail ventures.
The Arnett Theatre stopped showing films on November 30, 1957. It was auctioned in July of 1958. Plans to turn it into a art cinema were detailed in 1961 but appear to have stalled.
The original location of Harry F. Kurtz’s on the 600 block of Clinton Lyric Theatre proved so successful that he moved a few doors down re-opening this Lyric Theatre in 1911. The Lyric converted to sound and survived to the end of October 1962.
The theatre converted to an adult cinema and was constantly under city scrutiny. The final film appears to be “Analyze Your Sex” on July 4, 1971 with ads continuing the next four days but likely not shown due to arson at the theatre on July 4th. The Upper Falls Urban Renewal Project which had previously taken control of the building knocked it down less than two weeks after the last show.
Although movies were introduced to Waterloo, Iowa, at Turner Hall’s Electric Theatre, brother J.L. and O.C. McClinton brought nickel theaters to Waterloo, Iowa, including the Wonderland and the Dreamland. J.L.’s most ambitious project to date was when he created the Crystal Theatre launching September 12, 1910.
Publix purchased the Crystal Theatre in 1929 likely to take a competitor out of the market. The theatre closed with “Love and the Devil” on June 2, 1929 without converting to sound. In 1933, the theatre got a second chance acquired by a local resident. The theatre was expanded by gutting the Crystal and the neighboring Rowen Cafe creating the State Theatre. The State launched November 15, 1933 with “The White Sister.”
The State Theatre appears to have closed on January 31, 1954 with “The Great Diamond Robbery” playing with “Bad Blonde.” In 1956, the theatre was gutted to become a long-running Osco Drug store.
Beaumont firm, Stone and Pitts were the architects of the Arlyne Theatre in downtown Longview which opened May 24, 1939 with “Rose of Washington Square.” The Arlyne closed after a January 5, 1975 showing of “Super Stooges v. the Wonder Women.” The First National Bank bought the building in 1976 and following a salvage sale prior to its demolition in 1976.
A generation of Longview’s residents knew the Rembert and its neighboring hotel as its primary entertainment hub. Mayfield, Rembert and Company drew up plans for this 400-seat facility in 1879 when Davis Hall was found to be substandard for live performances. Frank T. Rembert was one of the visionaries of the project which on the drawing board was the Longview Opera House. The facility was known as the Rembert Opera House upon opening in 1883. Rembert would add the Palace Hotel as a neighbor to the theatre in 1909 which housed road show companies and provided theatre goers with a coffee shop for before and after shows.
The Opera House began to mix film into its repertoire at the turn of the century and was renamed the Rembert Theatre in 1916. It converted to sound on May 1, 1929 after a two week celebration with the equipment on display the last two weeks of April. The Rembert Theatre survived into the TV era closing for films on November 9, 1957 with a double feature of “The King and Four Queens” and “Bop Girl Goes Calypso.”
Sporadic events took the venue past its 75th anniversary and were held at the facility until 1960. A salvage sale listed in 1961 preceding its demolition. The Palace Hotel would last another ten years when it was demolished in 1972.
The genesis of this cinema tangentially dates back to a 1970 mall project called East Park Mall which would have an indoor twin-screen theatre called East Park Cinema I & II by Texas National Theatres Circuit. But the entire mall project stalled.
Five years later, a new spot and new mall called the Longview Mall was proposed. Martin Twin Cinema would open a twin-screen operation within the Longview Mall on May 18, 1978. It opened with “Return from Witch Mountain” and “The Turning Point”. The two cinemas had 350 seats each.
When Carmike took on the theatre, it remained the Martin Twin Cinema until closing. Carmike shuttered the Martin Twin Cinema on August 28, 1997 with “Face Off” and “Free Willy” very likely fulfilling a 20-year leasing agreement.
Kinney & Stone of Austin were the chief architects and Harold Deteau of Longview was also listed as an architect. Carmike dropped the theatre at the end of a 25-year lease after shows on September 30, 2006.
The local paper says the Nu-Way opened in 1948 and was purchased by the Comerford Theatre Circuit in 1955. Comerford installed a 60x120' screen for the 1956 season to show widescreen films.
The last shows at the Strong Theatre – a matinee of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and an evening showing of “Klute.” A fire on October 9, 1971 ended the theater’s long run.
The city of Rocky Mount passed an anti-pornography law August 1, 1977. The Cameo Theatre, which was showing adult films, switched to non-adult films but shut down on August 30, 1977. The last advertised show was a double feature of “The Screaming Tiger” and “Bucktown”. The Cameo was razed in May of 1980.
The Vern Theatre launched May 28, 1941 with “That Night in Rio” and “Topper Returns”. It was operated by the Eastland Theatres Circuit with architectural plans by veteran theatre architect Simon Charles Lee with 832 seats at opening. The Vern ended its theatrical run August 30, 1964 with “Flipper’s New Adventures” and “Wild and Wonderful.”
The space was converted to the Last Hour Deliverance Church in 1965. In 1978, Salvador Quezada converted the space to a nightclub and restaurant called Don Quixote’s East. The space continued into the 21st Century as the Don Quixote Reception Hall and Event Center.
Affiliated Theatre Circuit launched the Adelphi Theatre in 1938 using the architectural plans of David Supowitz which converted an automobile showroom.
The Paramount Theatre closed February 28, 1973 with “Innocent Bystanders.” On April 11, 1974, it became a very short-lived dinner theatre called Theatre Fabulous. That closed May 20, 1974 before reopening and closing in June of 1974 after just 39 nights of total operation. On July 30, 1974, it was renamed as the Country Club, a country western theatre closing early in 1975. After a salvage sale in July of 1979, the building was imploded as the Paramount Theatre on October 14, 1979.
The theatre hosted the World Premiere of “The Night of the Hunter” on what was deemed “Paul Gregory Day" as the local producer was there along with most of the stars of the film on July 26, 1955.
The Cameo Theatre opened May 15, 1926 with “Stage Struck.” Schine took on the Cameo on May 1, 1936. It positioned it as a sub-run third tier theatre in 1940. Listing end May 29, 1952 after a double feature of “Love is Better Than Ever” and “Wild Blue Yonder.” The Cameo was used a furniture warehouse thereafter until May of 1972 when its days were numbered.
The Princess Theatre opened in 1912 and transformed to sound in October 1927. Unfortunately, a fire ended its run in December of 1927. Architect Leander McCord drew a plan to revive the theatre for owner Morris Fogel launching in October of 1928 under the nameplate of the Rexy Theatre.
The theatre struggled in the TV age closing briefly in 1953. It was repositioned and retitled as the Rexy Art Theatre launching on March 21, 1953. The Rexy Art Theatre closed with “The Browning Version” on July 30, 1953 after just three months.
After being dormant for four years, the theatre got one more chance at exhibition being renamed the Fine Arts Theatre and launching April 24, 1958 with “The Three Faces of Eve”. During April of 1975, the art cinema turned X and XXX adult theatre. In September of 1976, the theatre’s 64 year run appears to end. The theatre was repurposed for other retail ventures.
The Arnett Theatre stopped showing films on November 30, 1957. It was auctioned in July of 1958. Plans to turn it into a art cinema were detailed in 1961 but appear to have stalled.
The original location of Harry F. Kurtz’s on the 600 block of Clinton Lyric Theatre proved so successful that he moved a few doors down re-opening this Lyric Theatre in 1911. The Lyric converted to sound and survived to the end of October 1962.
The theatre converted to an adult cinema and was constantly under city scrutiny. The final film appears to be “Analyze Your Sex” on July 4, 1971 with ads continuing the next four days but likely not shown due to arson at the theatre on July 4th. The Upper Falls Urban Renewal Project which had previously taken control of the building knocked it down less than two weeks after the last show.
Although movies were introduced to Waterloo, Iowa, at Turner Hall’s Electric Theatre, brother J.L. and O.C. McClinton brought nickel theaters to Waterloo, Iowa, including the Wonderland and the Dreamland. J.L.’s most ambitious project to date was when he created the Crystal Theatre launching September 12, 1910.
Publix purchased the Crystal Theatre in 1929 likely to take a competitor out of the market. The theatre closed with “Love and the Devil” on June 2, 1929 without converting to sound. In 1933, the theatre got a second chance acquired by a local resident. The theatre was expanded by gutting the Crystal and the neighboring Rowen Cafe creating the State Theatre. The State launched November 15, 1933 with “The White Sister.”
The State Theatre appears to have closed on January 31, 1954 with “The Great Diamond Robbery” playing with “Bad Blonde.” In 1956, the theatre was gutted to become a long-running Osco Drug store.
1939 look at the Stratford Theatre before a refresh
Beaumont firm, Stone and Pitts were the architects of the Arlyne Theatre in downtown Longview which opened May 24, 1939 with “Rose of Washington Square.” The Arlyne closed after a January 5, 1975 showing of “Super Stooges v. the Wonder Women.” The First National Bank bought the building in 1976 and following a salvage sale prior to its demolition in 1976.
A generation of Longview’s residents knew the Rembert and its neighboring hotel as its primary entertainment hub. Mayfield, Rembert and Company drew up plans for this 400-seat facility in 1879 when Davis Hall was found to be substandard for live performances. Frank T. Rembert was one of the visionaries of the project which on the drawing board was the Longview Opera House. The facility was known as the Rembert Opera House upon opening in 1883. Rembert would add the Palace Hotel as a neighbor to the theatre in 1909 which housed road show companies and provided theatre goers with a coffee shop for before and after shows.
The Opera House began to mix film into its repertoire at the turn of the century and was renamed the Rembert Theatre in 1916. It converted to sound on May 1, 1929 after a two week celebration with the equipment on display the last two weeks of April. The Rembert Theatre survived into the TV era closing for films on November 9, 1957 with a double feature of “The King and Four Queens” and “Bop Girl Goes Calypso.”
Sporadic events took the venue past its 75th anniversary and were held at the facility until 1960. A salvage sale listed in 1961 preceding its demolition. The Palace Hotel would last another ten years when it was demolished in 1972.
The genesis of this cinema tangentially dates back to a 1970 mall project called East Park Mall which would have an indoor twin-screen theatre called East Park Cinema I & II by Texas National Theatres Circuit. But the entire mall project stalled.
Five years later, a new spot and new mall called the Longview Mall was proposed. Martin Twin Cinema would open a twin-screen operation within the Longview Mall on May 18, 1978. It opened with “Return from Witch Mountain” and “The Turning Point”. The two cinemas had 350 seats each.
When Carmike took on the theatre, it remained the Martin Twin Cinema until closing. Carmike shuttered the Martin Twin Cinema on August 28, 1997 with “Face Off” and “Free Willy” very likely fulfilling a 20-year leasing agreement.
Kinney & Stone of Austin were the chief architects and Harold Deteau of Longview was also listed as an architect. Carmike dropped the theatre at the end of a 25-year lease after shows on September 30, 2006.
Photos of the 1939 refurbishing job by architects Thalheimer and Weitz in photos
Mowll & Rand were the architects who modernized the theatre in 1939 after 25 years of the previous look
Local architect Alfred L. Lublin transformed a hardware and furniture store into an art deco theatre in 1939 for Glasco Corp. Circuit.
Originally known as the Bijou Theatre, it became the Met Theatre in 1939.
The local paper says the Nu-Way opened in 1948 and was purchased by the Comerford Theatre Circuit in 1955. Comerford installed a 60x120' screen for the 1956 season to show widescreen films.
The last shows at the Strong Theatre – a matinee of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and an evening showing of “Klute.” A fire on October 9, 1971 ended the theater’s long run.
Fire on May 1, 1977 ended the theatre’s run. The State Theatre’s last film was “Bound for Glory.”
The city of Rocky Mount passed an anti-pornography law August 1, 1977. The Cameo Theatre, which was showing adult films, switched to non-adult films but shut down on August 30, 1977. The last advertised show was a double feature of “The Screaming Tiger” and “Bucktown”. The Cameo was razed in May of 1980.
The Vern Theatre launched May 28, 1941 with “That Night in Rio” and “Topper Returns”. It was operated by the Eastland Theatres Circuit with architectural plans by veteran theatre architect Simon Charles Lee with 832 seats at opening. The Vern ended its theatrical run August 30, 1964 with “Flipper’s New Adventures” and “Wild and Wonderful.”
The space was converted to the Last Hour Deliverance Church in 1965. In 1978, Salvador Quezada converted the space to a nightclub and restaurant called Don Quixote’s East. The space continued into the 21st Century as the Don Quixote Reception Hall and Event Center.
Technically, this theatre opened as Hable’s Palace Theatre owned by Henry H. Hable (see photos). It later became the Palace Theatre.
Affiliated Theatre Circuit launched the Adelphi Theatre in 1938 using the architectural plans of David Supowitz which converted an automobile showroom.
Fred A. Bishop was the architect of the theatre and his floor plan is in photos.
Wiliam T. Spann, Buffalo architect, drew the original plans
Harrison G. Weissman was the architect who gave the theatre its major makeover in 1938.
The Paramount Theatre closed February 28, 1973 with “Innocent Bystanders.” On April 11, 1974, it became a very short-lived dinner theatre called Theatre Fabulous. That closed May 20, 1974 before reopening and closing in June of 1974 after just 39 nights of total operation. On July 30, 1974, it was renamed as the Country Club, a country western theatre closing early in 1975. After a salvage sale in July of 1979, the building was imploded as the Paramount Theatre on October 14, 1979.
The theatre hosted the World Premiere of “The Night of the Hunter” on what was deemed “Paul Gregory Day" as the local producer was there along with most of the stars of the film on July 26, 1955.