Comments from dallasmovietheaters

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Gem Theatre on Jul 27, 2015 at 3:59 pm

Opened April 9, 1913 as the Outaga Theatre named after the Illinois county in which Alton resides. New operators took on the 250-seat Outaga and changed the name on August 26, 1913 calling it the Gem. The scrappy theater had around ten different owners leading to a wide array of grand openings. The Gem went out of business numerous times including November 16, 1929 for failure to pay $100 in back rent and finally late in 1939.

The theater was put on the market in 1940. It was a tough sell and the building is rented out for church events and Republican party meetings. On October 31, 1942, the Gem gave it one more shot as a theatre with a run lasting until March of 1944. It then becomes a live theater for a local college in the middle of 1944. It then continues as a place for special events and church usage until divided up into “business suits” housing a variety of retail stores in June of 1948. The theater building was razed in 1977.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Warner Theatre on Jul 26, 2015 at 2:07 pm

Peter S. Dawe opened his third and final cinema in Bridgeport as Dawe’s Theatre in 1921. He took over the Bijou in 1910 and built the Palace in 1912 on the city’s east side. But the theatre carrying his name was sold and became the Cameo Theatre in 1924. On September 19, 1925, it became Warners' Cameo as part of the Warner Brothers Circuit. Warner would change the theater to the Warner Theatre. An explosion on April 12, 1963 during “Prince of Peace” closed the theater for a few days but just weeks later it would close for good going out with “"The Last Sunset” on June 2, 1963. Demolition occurred February 1964.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Astor Theatre on Jul 24, 2015 at 10:33 am

Grand opening for the Capitol Theatre was February 22, 1922 with all 1,000 seats filled for the feature, “Molly O.” Also featured was Buster Keaton in “The Play House.” The theatre closed in 1923 for almost a year and was offered for sale reopening in 1924. The Capitol Theater was rebooted as the Astor Theatre launching Dec. 2, 1947. William Riseman, architect from Boston, totally re-imagined the theater stripping out the floor and everything but the walls in creating the post-Capitol Astor.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Pocomoke Drive-In on Jul 24, 2015 at 7:39 am

Opened August 14, 1953 with the film, “Bird of Paradise.” The first 250 cards to the 270-space drive-in lot would receive free Hawaiian leis and free popcorn. The 35' by 25' screen was built to accommodate wide screen presentations as well as traditional films. Stage atop the screening booth allowed for live stage shows prior to showtime. Owner William G. Myers also had a bottle warming service for those bringing babies to screenings. The theater’s lot is still somewhat visible and its entrance is at 872 Ocean Highway / Route 13 two miles south of town. However, the drive-in was demolished though visible in the 1967 Historical Aerial satellite shot and the 1972 Topos.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Ritz Theatre on Jul 22, 2015 at 1:17 pm

The Ritz Theatre at 103 Lake St. was operated by the Schine Theatre Circuit. It was purchased by E. Coston Cordery in 1957 who operated the theater for the Schines from 1942 to 1957. The African American theatre at Lake and Main St. ran into a spate of fires under independent ownership. A fire at a neighboring nightclub caused smoke damage to the Ritz on April 24, 1958; the next fire damaged its marquee and was on April 4, 1960.

On February 16, 1963, a spectacular fire severely damaged destroyed the Blue Moon Nightclub and Sport Restaurant, Polan’s Five and Dime Store and severely damaged the Ritz. The Salisbury fire boat was implemented and looked to have saved the Ritz. According to reports, the fire rekindled in the seating area and the theatre was devastated. The theater was about ready to open and no injuries were reported at the theater. But February 15, 1963 was the Ritz’s final day of operation.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Ulman Theatre on Jul 22, 2015 at 12:22 pm

The Ulman Opera House was on the second floor while Ulman stores operated on the main floor beginning in 1888. But when fire struck in 1941, the Ulman Opera House and store were no more. So the Ulman heirs decided to build the Ulman Theatre with a completely fireproof booth in its second balcony. It opened March 2, 1942 with “Cadet Girl” which originally had 900 seats and was architected by Newell Howard and Raymond Todd.

On December 30 1963, the Ulman Theatre was screening the top half of a double feature with “The Three Stooges Around the World in a Daze” when fire broke out. Due to the flames which destroyed the Ulman Theatre, patrons would not get to see the bottom half of the double bill “The Big Beat”. The theatre became a total loss and after a lengthy eight month delay, the debris was cleared and the site became a vacant lot. Old posters from the Ulman were presented ten years after its burning as part of the county’s historical society exhibition. Five Salisbury theaters were destroyed by fire, the Ulman twice, the New Theatre, the Arcade and the Ritz Theatre.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Hager Drive-In on Jul 21, 2015 at 4:01 am

The original Hager Drive-In opened on June 29, 1949 with spaces for 400 cars. Located on Highway 11 4.5 miles south of Hagerstown in Williamsport, MD. The original Hager was Washington County’s second drive-in theatre along with the Hiway Open Air Drive-In Theatre. It generally was open from March to the end of October closing for the season right around Halloween. The Hager concluded a 15-year lease closing October 25, 1964 with an Elvis triple feature of “Follow the Dream,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and “Kid Galahad.” A good way to close out the season and, as it would turn out, the run of the original Hager D-I.

The sale of the land for $75,000 was finalized in late February of 1965 and a new spot was soon identified for Hager Drive-In’s reboot within Hagerstown to the north ostensibly a lot adjoining the contemporary 20145 Leitersburg Pike location.The new Hager launched July 23, 1966 with “Music City U.S.A.” and “Phantom Hill.” It fulfilled a 20-year lease closing in 1986. But movies and limited drive-in activity would continue on the site. That’s because on Thanksgiving Day 1970, the neighboring Cinema I & II would open for business. It would expand its screen capacity over the years and become Leitersburg Cinemas, now a ten-screen facility. The Leitersburg operators would pay tribute to the demolished Hager D-I by having annual inflatable drive-in screen offerings on the lot of the former Hager.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Super 40 Drive-In on Jul 20, 2015 at 4:39 pm

On April 8, 1950 and the Super 40 Drive-In Theatre had its grand opening with “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.” They had free popcorn while casting moon beams with their continuous lighting. You could watch the movie from the snack bar. The theatre closed on October 29, 1961 with “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” and “The Empress Princess.” It’s final duty was a lot for a Christmas trees in December of 1961 and then would be demolished in March of 1962 for a Miracle Mart, a fledgling national chain of retail stores. And the Allegany County Tax Collector came calling for back taxes later in 1962.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Moorefield Drive-In on Jul 20, 2015 at 3:44 pm

The Moorefield Drive-In Theatre had its grand opening on July 9, 1948 on its 50' by 50' screen tower. It was operated by Harness Bensenhaver and James Miley and the venerable ozone closed in 1994.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Diamond Theater on Jul 17, 2015 at 12:51 pm

The original Diamond Theatre opened November 7, 1910 launching with live vaudeville shows and equipped for motion pictures. It replaced the Electric Theatre. In the Blue Front business district at 23d Avenue and Seventh St., Tuscaloosa built its first theater for the African American community. The New Diamond Theatre opened July 4, 1946 for African American audiences and serving what appears to be a twenty year lease and closing.

The 500-seat Diamond was an improvement over accommodations for the African American community which was restricted to the 125-seat balcony of the Ritz. The neighboring Diamond Drug Store soda fountain / lunch counter and Diamond Theatre provided the community with a place for a night out and provided some of the only rest room facilities in downtown for the African American community. In 1965, a group of African American picketers successfully ended what they called reverse segregation and the Diamond would become desegregated for its waning days of operation. In September of 1967, a furniture store used the then vacant theatre building to display overstock and discontinued sale merchandise. The furniture company also begins offering the Diamond Theatre seats for sale at $5 each at their sale as the theater’s days of exhibition are over. And 40 years later, the theater was a memory following its demolition.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Troy Theatre on Jul 17, 2015 at 6:05 am

Opened February 21, 1923 with 2,000 patrons but just 1,934 seats showing “My American Wife” with Gloria Swanson. The theater closed in 1967. It was razed in April of 1973 in a demolition that went a awry damaging another building. Its demolition was for the Uncle Sam Mall project that became the Uncle Sam Atrium / glass box building.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Astor Theatre on Jul 16, 2015 at 2:15 pm

Opened as the Majestic Theatre in 1912. In 1923, the Majestic became the Astor Theatre. It was acquired by the VFW for its auditorium but the plans stalled during WW2 and was ready to go by November of 1946.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Palace Theater on Jul 16, 2015 at 2:04 pm

Listed for the first time in the 1922 directory as 2387 5th Avenue.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Lincoln Theatre on Jul 16, 2015 at 1:59 pm

Opened September 2, 1922 with “The Masqueraders,” Buster Keaton’s “The Blacksmith,” a sports short, International newsreel, and the Lincoln Symphonic Orchestra. Closed May 31, 1960 at the end of a lease period with “A Woman Like Satan” and “Outlaw’s Son.” Demolition began July 31, 1961 by Bloomfield Wrecking.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Rivoli Theatre on Jul 16, 2015 at 1:27 pm

The Monroe Theater changed names to the Rivoli Theater in 1932. The theater appears to operate on a 20-year lease ceasing operations in spring of 1952. Apparently, it was used to store items for a period before being remodeled It as a Feiden Furniture and Appliance store beginning in 1957 and then became Cue Tyme Billiard Parlor before the Ancient Order of Hibernians took over the space as a meeting hall.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Valley-Vu Drive-In on Jul 9, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Regular advertisements begin March of 1958 with “Legend of the Lost” and “The Girl in Black Stockings.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Richy Theatre. on Jul 9, 2015 at 12:39 pm

Opened as the New Ritchy Theatre with 500 seats on April 21, 1950 by Alvie Peterson at 838 W. North Temple. Its first film was “Red River.” Bathed in green and coral, the $95,000 theater had crying rooms for the youngsters. Beginning in 1959, the Richy Theatre switched to Spanish language films on Sundays and extended that to twice weekly. Under new ownership in 1963, the foreign language options expanded with regular Japanese films in the mix. Regular German offerings and many others continued. The snack bar expanded to have more international treats, as well. The theatre appears to have ceased operations in August of 1986.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Trolley Square Cinemas on Jul 9, 2015 at 4:01 am

The Trolley Theatres 1•2•3•4 opened June 1972. In 1976, Trolley Theatres begins advertising the theater as the Trolley Square Theatre 1•2•3•4. Competition came from the nearby The Flick. Cineplex Odeon opened the Trolley Square Cinemas in late June 1988. Ten years later, Loews and Cineplex merged but at the end of February 2001, Loews under extreme financial pressure nationwide shuttered the Trolley Square Cinema.

Madstone Films theatre division founded in 2000 by Chip Seelig and Tom Gruenberg took on the Trolley in August 2003 reopening the dormant cinema geared to art films and young childless couples including gourmet food and adult beverages. The theatre was vastly improved in terms of presentation and auditorium seating. On June 7, 2004 the entire Madstone circuit ceased operations closing theatres all over the country including the Trolley Square.

Finally, Regency Theatres based in California relaunched the Trolley Square on Christmas of 2004. The theatre was closed at the end of January 2008 and the space repurposed for other retail concepts.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Park-Vu Drive-In on Jul 8, 2015 at 1:01 pm

The original Park-Vu Drive-In opened within the Salt Lake City city limits at 540 West 13th South on June 7, 1950 with “Little Women.“ Less than two years later, it was over for the Park-Vu as torrential rains and a flood decimated the Park-Vu. It would move south to establish a drier position.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Autorium Drive-In on Jul 8, 2015 at 12:20 pm

Opened at 345 W. 21st South on June 5, 1947 with “Northwest Mounted Police”.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Woodland Drive-In on Jul 8, 2015 at 6:26 am

Architected by Cartwright & Wilson, the Starlit Woodland Drive-In Theatre launched on July 1, 1949. Opening films were Abbot and Costello’s “Mexican Hayride” and “Man Eater of Kumaon” along with two MGM cartoons. The $75,000 drive-in wasn’t cheap and some of that went toward the original 65' by 70' screen tower in its 70' x 70' frame which was impressive — supposedly the second largest screen in the nation at that time although unverifiable — and the theatre offered parking for 600 cars. Starlit was removed from the moniker of the theater early on becoming just the Woodland Drive-In. The Granite Park neighborhood was well served by this ozoner whose service was just shy of 35 years.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Riverside Motor-Vu Drive-In on Jul 7, 2015 at 6:37 pm

This theatre was architected by Cartwright and Wilson and the 300 car facility was located behind the Wood’s Motel and Wood’s Café all operated by Charles Wood. The theater had its Grand Opening in July of 1947.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Grand Theatre on Jul 6, 2015 at 4:00 pm

It’s final film was “Simon and Laura” on April 17, 1960. It was used for live plays, speeches, and odd events though was being considered as a performance hall in the summer of 1963 which appears to not have materialized.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Oregon Theatre on Jul 6, 2015 at 2:39 pm

Opened November 5, 1912 as the Globe Theatre. Closed very briefly in March of 1915 for a re-branding to the Oregon Theatre launching March 18, 1915 Closed April 14, 1929 as a silent movie house with vaudeville. Last film was “Moran of the Marines.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Wexford Theater on Jul 6, 2015 at 2:23 pm

Grand Opening for the 450-seat Wexford Theatre was May 25, 1910 managed by Harry Moyer and built by Judge P.H. Darcy. The theater is on financially ailing and a management change in January of 1915 was followed by a brief closure in October of 1915 as the theater awaits new management. In November, the Wexford re-opens very briefly with new management under E.K. Dennison. The last advertised show is November 13, 1915. Just three weeks later a fire on Dec. 7, 1915 destroys the financially-doomed and now fire-doomed theater. Darcy rebuilt the property for Greer & Kreuger Furniture though calling the new building, The Wexford Building.