Comments from dallasmovietheaters

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Hastings Drive-In on Jul 3, 2015 at 4:23 am

Architected by the drive-in specialists, the Utah firm of Cartright & Wilson, its color-changing sign was both an attraction and distraction. Some cities banned the use of similar color changing signs for traffic safety reasons. Comet Theatre Enterprises Circuit launched the Hastings in 1950 operating it for just five years before moving on.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Pawnee Drive-In on Jul 2, 2015 at 3:03 pm

Architected by the drive-in specialists, the Utah firm of Cartright & Wilson, one report has September 18, 1948 as the grand opening date.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Miracle Mile Drive-In on Jul 2, 2015 at 7:00 am

E.B. Peagram launched the $125,000 Biltmore Motor-Vu drive-in on March 18, 1949. Architected by the drive-in specialists, the Utah firm of Cartright & Wilson, the theater was built behind the Biltmore Hotel. The Biltmore was Pegram’s 21st drive-in but first in the southwest so he opted for what he termed the first drive-in with Spanish motif. The 500-car drive-in opened with “Albuquerque” and “Easy Come, Easy Go.” Under Paramount-Nace Circuit operation, the name would be changed on April 12, 1963 to the Biltmore Miracle-Mile Drive-In Theatre. The theatre would pass from Paramount-Nace to ABC Theatres. The theatre was impacted by Mountain zone Daylight Savings Time with business dropping about 30% in 1967. Plitt would take on the ABC Theatres and ABC-Interstate Theatres steering the Miracle-Mile to its closure.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Loft Cinema on Jul 2, 2015 at 6:29 am

B-movie producer Robert L. Lippert was a widescreen expert having produced low-budget Regalscope films during his movie producing days. So it was little surprise that when he started Tucson’s Showcase Luxury Cinema, it was a single-screen roadhouse theatre. Lippert’s Transcontinental Theatres Circuit would hit 120 theaters but the Showcase was his first in Tucson and #67 in the San Francisco based chain. The $350,000 Showcase launched May 29, 1969 with “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.” Its curved 22x55' screen seated 600 patrons in continental loge seating and was going to make every effort to book 70mm films. The theater appears to be architected by Tucson’s Terry Atkinson though similar to other Transcontinental theaters around the country of this period has some differences likely incorporated by Atkinson. It featured a beautiful double-storied glass front leading into a spacious high-ceiling and open lobby area. Well prior to the opening, the Showcase was advertising a road show of “Oliver” that was two months away from opening.

“Oliver’s” road show run was 2.5 months and replaced with the popular, “Easy Rider” and would have the road show of “Dr. Zhivago” and a three-month run of “Hello, Dolly” during its first year of exhibition. In the battle for clearances, Lippert had to bid $50,000 for “Dolly” and said he would never fight / bid that much for a clearance again despite the film’s success.

As the booking of a single-screen film was high risk, the theatre had some losers in 1970 and opted to add a second screen called the Penthouse. This was the circuit’s practice all over the country as they would transform their high-ceiling entryway lobbies into a lobby housing a 175-seat auditorium above which was reachable by stairway. Similar setups with in Lawton, OK, Chattanooga, TN, and Richmond, VA were placed in those luxury roadshow houses. To make life easier, the theater used an automated Cinemeccanica Victoria 18 projector that could handle 2.5 hours of film on a single reel.

On July 28, 1972, the Penthouse was renamed and the theater marketed as the Showcase Cinema 1 & 2. The Penthouse/Cinema 2 concept paid dividends. Among the theater’s most successful runs was “Fiddler on the Roof.” It ran as a road show for 13 weeks and would have left the theater were it not for the renamed Cinema 2. “Fiddler” switched to the Showcase 2 running 17 more weeks for a profitable 30-week run. “The Sting” beat that playing 40 weeks between 1973 and 1974. “Earthquake” in Sensurround was a revelation. But beginning in 1975 with new competition and other chains more eager to pay high for clearances for “Jaws,” “Star Wars,” and other films, the Showcase drifted as “the place” for big films.

Under AMC, the theater would become the Showcase 2 moving to art house fare much of the time. The New Loft closed on Fremont and would move here in 1992. Ten years later, it would become a non-profit membership art house still called The Loft adding a third screen in 2014.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about New Loft Theatre on Jul 1, 2015 at 12:05 pm

Opened as the Play Box on November 19, 1959 doing legit theater with its first performance of “The Silver Whistle,” a community theater presentation and seems to have ended during its 1962/63 season. The Art Theater Guild Circuit of Scottsdale which was operating the Park Theater at the time spent $10,000 remodeling the former Play Box. On October 17, 1963, the theater reopens as “The Loft” and has its first film, “Promises, Promises” with Jayne Mansfield. The 153-seat auditorium used “European style” floor design with the main floor sloping up to the screen.

The theater began as an art house catering only to those aged 18 and above. Controversy over the potentially obscene film, “The Starlet,” led to a huge line and 30 minute wait to see the film in August of 1969. From that period in 1969 until 1972, the Loft drifted into porno chic and away from traditional arthouse cinema. And Judge Richard O. Roylston ruled that “Starlet” was not obscene. The biggest error made by The Loft was when “Deep Throat” played on a short-run and was returned to the distributor. The film caught fire and The Loft had to wait months for a print causing a big loss of potential revenue.

The Loft would change in 1972. Beginning at the end of August 1972, the theater is advertised as “The New Loft” still remaining at the original location but reverting to art films for an adult audience. The porno chic was gone. This is when the clock starts ticking for the current lineage of the Loft on Speedway which states that it’s been showing films “since 1972.” The New Loft would continue on Fremont Ave. until 1991 as a single-screen arthouse and ran midnight cult shows including “Rocky Horror Picture Show” which drew customers from the nearby University of Arizona campus. The New Loft would become The New New Loft (though just called The Loft) moving to its new location on East Speedway Boulevard in 1992. Ten years later, it would become a non-profit membership art house still called The Loft. The University of Arizona took on the old New Loft on Fremont and used it for classes. On October 24, 1997, the theater turned classroom space was demolished making the site, The former old New Loft.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Park Theatre on Jul 1, 2015 at 6:24 am

In the former Lambert’s Restaurant, two businessmen led by Tuscon Biltmore Hotel owner Paul Robinson decided that an art house was needed near the University of Arizona campus. There would be no traditional concessions as the snack bar was high end. The 300 seat (296 to be precise) luxury cinema was filled its first night when “The Lavender Hill Mob” launched the theater January 22, 1952.

In 1960, the theater closed for six weeks going even more high end and ending what it termed a “grind” presentation where shows were back to back to back to a single, well-presented show per night. That policy lasted until the theater was failing and taken over June 19, 1963 by The Art Theatre Guild Inc. Circuit. They also took over The Movie at 1039 E. 6th St. transforming it to an adult cinema. The circuit would also subtly change the name of the Park to the Park Art Theatre also showing adults only fare. The theatre goes out of business May 31, 1964 with “Heavenly Bodies” and “Wild Gals of the Wicked West” as their last shows. The University of Arizona gets the theatre calling it the Drama Annex for a brief period and switching to the theater’s original name of Park Theatre.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Arizonan Theatre on Jul 1, 2015 at 5:42 am

On August 11, 1950 the Arizonan Theatre opened with “Francis, the Talking Mule.” Had Francis been there on May 4, 1954, he would have shouted “Fire” and saved the building. But he wasn’t and the $61,000 theater was consumed by an apparent gas explosion. There was nothing really left so the theater’s final screenings were May 3, 1954 with “Charge of the Lancer!” and “The Wild One.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Cineworld 4 Theatre on Jul 1, 2015 at 4:12 am

Mid-century modern architecture specialist Ann Rysdale, pioneering female architect as Arizona’s only licensed female architect from the 1940s to the 1960s, designed Cineworld. She designed more than 400 projects in greater Tucson area. The 1,000 seat facility cost $350,000 and had four equal 250-seat auditoria. The theatre was automated which was a good thing as the it had four double features at its opening. After Cineworld Corp. of California, the theatre was operated by TM Theatre Circuit which launched the Oracle in 1976.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Park Mall Theatres 1,2,3, 4 on Jun 30, 2015 at 6:02 pm

The Mann Park Mall Theatres 1•2•3•4 was always a four screen theater as you can see from the opening diagram. (Never known as the Mann Park Mall 2.) Its opening day had “The Wind and the Lion” ready on two screens and “Jaws” and “Benji.” Mann paid a massive $65,000 for the Jaws clearance. Jaws might have been the better feature on two screens which is what would happen in week 2. That would pay out as Jaws runs nearly a year and paid for much of the theater’s construction costs.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Buena Vista Theatre on Jun 30, 2015 at 5:11 pm

Architectural firm of Friedman & Jobusch designed the original 820-seat single screen theater.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about La Placita Cinema 3 on Jun 30, 2015 at 1:49 pm

One of the more unsuccessful theaters in the history of Tuscon was La Placita Cinema 3. But don’t blame architect Michael S. Harris and the firm Architecture One Ltd. The theater won a design award. It launched by Syufy Enterprises of San Francisco as a luxury cinema and housed in La Placita Village. You could reach the theaters via winding staircase or glass elevator. Old images from classic Hollywood adorned the high-ceiling lobby.

The 750 seat triplex opened April 3, 1974 with “McQ,” “Serpico,” and “Cinderella Liberty.” News came in March of 1976 that the theater’s graphic arts design had won an award from Print, a trade press magazine. It was the only theater winner in the group of 18 honorees. The massive displays of Butch Cassiday and the Marx Brothers worked at that time. But the euphoria of the design award was short-lived. Just three weeks later, the theater closed April 6, 1976 by Syufy Enterprises citing parking issues, lack of clientele, and inability to renegotiate a sublease situation. It closed with “Man of the East” and “Moonrunners.” The good news was that movies could be seen in 2015 at La Placita as Cinema La Placita — an outdoor classic film series shown weekly on Thursday nights was available for $3 in downtown Tuscon.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Fiesta Drive-In on Jun 30, 2015 at 1:22 pm

Wes Becker and Hugh Downs of the Cactus Drive-In had a great notion to start a Mexico City-centric Spanish Language drive-in at 3230 S. Park Road. On March 21, 1952, La Fiesta Drive-In Theatre — a 400 car drive-in was having its gran inauguración with “Dueña y señora” and “el Muchaacho Alegre.” Mi Cafetal was ready with free ice cream for the opening as well as tamales. The policy lasted for nine months when the drive-in went with Spanish language just three days a week and art films — primarily foreign language films in German, French and Italian — four days a week.

That didn’t work so well either so in December of 1953, the drive-in create a new, more traditional snack bar and had new rest rooms installed re-launching with more standard American double features. The drive-in pulls out all the stops running five features on some nights. But it’s not enough and in June of 1954, the Fiesta is back to Hispanic fare with some English language mixed in on weekends. In October of 1963, it’s again out with the Spanish language fare and back to exploitation and popular priced double features in English. In December of 1964, the theater switches back to Spanish language fare.

On August 16, 1966, the Fiesta starts an all-adult English language program which is then scaled back to popular price double features with one adult feature on weekends and mixing in Spanish language films on weekdays. Following the September 19, 1966 showings, the theater is listed as “closed until further notice.” There was no further notice.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Isis Theater on Jun 28, 2015 at 11:29 am

The movie theaters operating at this time in Fort Wayne were the Jefferson, Strand, Grand, Hippodrome, Knitters, Creighton, Fairfield, Idle Hour, Wells Theater, Oprheum, and Transfer theaters. Vaudeville was the Palace, Lyric and Majestic. The Isis Theater in Kokomo is owned by the operators of the Orpheum in Fort Wayne and there are many Isis theaters in Indiana… but just see nothing abou this theater.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Strand Theatre on Jun 28, 2015 at 5:34 am

March 9, 1913 was the grand opening of the Empress Theatre at 134 East Wayne St. Articles about the forthcoming theater start in the fall of 1912 but each one is about another facet of the theater’s construction and hiring as personnel are on board months prior to the theater opening. The theater adopts a Kinemacolor projector that was only marketed on more year and the theater only lasts three years and three months as the Empress. The Rialto Amusement Company took on the location opening its Strand Theatre on October 29, 1916. Ads said they spent $15,000 to transform the the Empress to a fairyland with nothing but the walls the same.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about New Theater on Jun 27, 2015 at 1:04 am

Architect was Wilbur T. Mills which became Mills & Millspaugh whose best known work was the Kearse Theatre in Charleston, WV.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about State Drive-In on Jun 26, 2015 at 5:49 am

Grand opening was July 6, 1950 as part of Redwood Theatres Circuit launching with “Streets of Laredo.” In addition to spaces for 500 cars, the theater had a walk-in auditorium for those who preferred to leave their cars at home. Closed October 27, 1979 with a 65 cent show. Offered for $14,000 in 1980 with the city changing zoning from commercial to multi-residential and demolished. Replaced with residential complexes.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Fox Van Nuys Theatre on Jun 26, 2015 at 5:43 am

The original Van Nuys Theatre opened May 26, 1917. The New Van Nuys Theatre relocated from Sherman Way to its new $35,000 home in the Shacklett Building on Van Nuys Blvd. The theatre launched with Rinty in “Find Your Man” October 9, 1924. On August 2, 1936, the theatre along with the Rivoli become part of the Fox West Coast Circuit. It was renamed the Fox Van Nuys Theatre, a moniker it held until its closure. Though when Fox was forced to divest itself of theaters by consent decree in 1951, National General took on the Fox West theaters. In March of 1973, the sale of National General to Mann Theaters was announced and became effective in July 1973. Mann would drop the theater at the end of January 1977 with the theater becoming an independent in February 1977. A month into its indy run the Fox Van Nuys becomes a sub-run 99 cent house.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Holiday I & II on Jun 26, 2015 at 4:11 am

Closed by Regal as a sub-run discount house on August 31, 2000 as the then financially-troubled circuit was looking to get out of lease situations all over the U.S. It kept operating the nearby Holiday 6 as a first-run house, converting it to sub-run discount status in April 2004, and then finally going for a full-price art/indy-centric operation until its closure November 13, 2005.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Gateway Cinemas 1-2-3 on Jun 26, 2015 at 4:03 am

Closed in 1998.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Southtown Mall Cinemas 1-2-3 on Jun 26, 2015 at 3:59 am

The timeline is close enough to correct. Just some refinements: General Cinema leased and opted out of the leasing situation. Bluegrass Cinemas of Lexington, KY was the 1993 circuit that came in to operate the theater closing it January 17, 1999 as a sub-run discount house. The greyfield-status / aka dead mall was on life support. That’s when Midwest Movie Works came in and operated it as the third and final operator. MWM closed it with controversy in 2001. Instead of simply blaming the moribund mall, the theater management blamed the African American patrons. The operator apologized and decided not to re-open due to the financial conditions of the mall. The Southtown Mall was then closed – years too late – and then demolished for a nondescript, though better performing shopping strip including a Walmart.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Glenbrook Cinema 3 on Jun 26, 2015 at 3:27 am

Closed January 20, 2002.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Ritz Theatre on Jun 24, 2015 at 3:43 pm

Robb & Rowley Circuit open the New Ritz June 13, 1939 with “Boy Friend.” It replaced the old Ritz that got decimated in a fire in December of 1938. That theater’s spot would be taken by R&R’s Texas Theatre. The second Ritz Theater’s final listed screening is December 22, 1962 with a double feature of “Mothra” in Tohovision and “Brushfire.” The Waco Junior Chamber of Commerce purchased the former Ritz in November of 1964 to build a parking lot. From December 28-31, 1964 the theater is demolished.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Empire Theatre on Jun 23, 2015 at 6:25 pm

The Empire Theater opened in April of 1907 by the Empire Amusement Co. at 115 West Franklin on the south side of the square. It’s remodeled in 1908 and later it’s in the hands of the Waxahachie Amusement Company which also was the operator of the Dixie. In 1927, Robb & Rowley Theatre Circuit takes on the Empire and the Dixie. Whether in the silent age or the sound era, the Dixie is the “A” theater with the Empire the “B” house. Sound pictures are finally added to the Empire on September 12, 1930.

In the 1940s, the theater is generally open just two days a week on Friday and Saturday and toward the very end appears to close down in the summer months bowing to the Ellis Drive-In. The Empire appears to cease operations as a regular movie house following the double-feature on January 13, 1951 of “The Kid Rides Again” and “Let Down Your Aerial.” In 1954, Waxahachie Bank & Trust is remodeling the theater for an expansion project when vandals set back construction work. Infrequent meetings still take place in the auditorium at least through 1959, however.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Crystal Theatre on Jun 23, 2015 at 12:42 pm

This entry is for the New Crystal which was at 415 Austin Avenue. Louis Santikos of the still operating Santikos Theatre Circuit started his career with the neighboring Rex in Waco at 405 Austin as his first opening in 1911. Santikos would divest himself of the theater in 1915 concentrating at that time distributing films in Oklahoma and Texas. But he would return to the Waco exhibition market just a couple of doors away to operate the Royal Theatre at this address of 415 Austin Ave.

Meanwhile, a year before Santikos started his movie theater, Julius A. Lemke began running films regularly in Waco starting with the Elmo Theatre in 1910. He took on the Huaco Theatre from Paul Negroponte one block up from the Royal Theatre changing the Huaco to the Crystal Theatre in 1913. To get an advantage, he installed the brightest attraction sign and entryway on the row. Lemke bought the former Royal Theatre property at 415 Austin Avenue and moved establishing his the “new” Crystal Theatre in 1927.

Lemke would then acquire the arch-rival near-neighbor Rex Theatre and steer both the Crystal and Rex into the sound era running them until his death in 1934. After Lemke’s death in 1934, Newman Theatres acquired the Rex Theater operating it for another 21 years until his new Imperial downtown theater was readied. Julius Lemke’s son Carl ran the Crystal until August 21, 1958 when the theatre showed its last films. The theater was dismantled for future retail purposes.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Rex Theatre on Jun 22, 2015 at 7:32 pm

Louis Santikos of the still operating Santikos Theatre Circuit started with the Rex in Waco at 405 Austin as his first opening in 1911. Santikos would divest himself of the theater in 1915 concentrating at that time distributing films in Oklahoma and Texas. The theatre becomes part of the Hulsey-Lynch Theatre Circuit thereafter. On April 10, 1920, the Washington Theatre merged with the Rex with all future Washington bookings added to the slate of Rex films. The Rex would become part of Southern Enterprises Theatre Circuit along with Waco’s Hippodrome and Victory.

The theater is then owned by Waco’s longest-standing movie theater owner in Julius A. Lemke who started the Elmo Theater in 1910 and the Crystal and Fox theaters. He takes the Rex into the sound era. After Lemke’s death in 1934, Newman Theatres acquired the theater while Lemke’s son, Carl, retained the near neighbor Crystal. Newman continues to operate the Rex for another 21 years until his new Imperial downtown theater is readied. The final shows on April 30, 1955 are “Lure of the Wilderness” and John Wayne’s “In Old California.” The theater is retrofitted for the long-standing Waco Barber College which opens in 1957.