The January 28, 1944 fire happened around 4:00 PM ET, and a few minutes after comes an explosion which blew the entire roof off. Many of the roof parts landed on top of a few buildings including an old barn owned by W.H. Rand & Son and the neighboring Dartmouth Cooperative Store. Neighboring fire departments from several cities across Vermont and New Hampshire raced to put out the fire. Despite the fire dangerously spreading, water immediately played over the building over the most of the forenoon.
It was later reported that the theater have closed two days prior to the fire due to renovation.
This started life as a single-screener for a time while Screen 2 was still under construction. Esquire Theatres of America opened the Plaza Cinema on April 12, 1968 with “The Graduate”, and was twinned several months later.
It has a total capacity of 700 seats, with 400 seats in Screen 1 and 300 seats in Screen 2. It was first managed by Stephen Hanson of Keene. Some original features of the theater include 9x20ft screens and gold fireproof fiberglass material.
The White River Drive-In actually closed on September 2, 1986 with “Legal Eagles” and “Back To The Future”. The drive-in never reopened for the 1987 season due to VHS popularity. It was last owned by Peter Flanagan and managed by Andre Rocheleau.
The Golden Nugget Theatre opened its doors on February 12, 1966 with Jay North in “Zebra In The Kitchen”, and closed on October 5, 1969 with Walter Matthau in “A Guide For A Married Man” along with a cartoon due to increased freight/film charges and failed to draw major audiences.
Todd West operated the theater throughout its life, and was managed by the husband-and-wife team of Jim and Alma Gilchrist.
The earliest information I can find about the original Sunrise Drive-In dates back as early as 1956. It was already in operation by the following year judging by aerial views.
Also Brad, got your answer. When General Cinema opened the Turfland on December 22, 1967 with “The Ambushers” as a single-screener, it has an original capacity of 928 seats.
During its final days of operation, the Turfland Cinemas had a couple of brief name changes. In late-August 2006, the Turfland Cinemas was renamed the “Turfland Mall Cinemas 99” after the theater changed its format from a $1.50 first-run house to a 99-cent second-run discount house.
Right after Lucas Peck took over the Turfland Cinemas from Thomas Abdoo in early-2007, the Turfland Cinemas was renamed the “Lucas Theatres 2” for a few months until its final closure on May 24, 2007.
The Crossroads Cinemas opened its doors on January 6, 1973 with “Fiddler On The Roof” in Screen 1 and “Butterflies Are Free” in Screen 2. It was originally operated by Showtime Cinemas (which appears only operating for its first few years of operation) and first managed by James Mullikin.
Throughout time, the Crossroads went through many chains over the years. The Crossroads throughout its history was operated by Showtime Cinemas, followed by independently owned Henry Sagg, then Mid-State Theaters, then USA Cinemas, then Loews, and finally Bluegrass Theatres.
The theater closed on August 3, 1997 after being a dollar house for its last few years of operation.
I saw more advertisements right after January 3, 1967, but I think you are right about closure in 1967. It also appears that it last operated as a weekend-only theater.
Yes, two 16-year-old boys that is. Both were charged with one count each of first-degree arson, third-degree burglary and second-degree wanton endangerment in connection of the October 3, 1988 burning of the Starlight’s screen. If they found guilty of all three charges, they would receive 30 years in prison. Unfortunately I cannot find the headline on both pleas.
The Mall Cinema opened WAY earlier than 2005, here’s the information I gathered.
The strip mall was constructed between 1970 and 1971 judging by aerial views, but the theater part of the building appears that it didn’t start operating as a twin-screen movie theater until sometime before 1982. As of 1982, the Mall Cinema I & II was operated by Darrell Moseley, who also operated three other theaters in the area.
The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer began picking up showtimes for the Hartford Mall Cinema in September 1987 alongside several other theaters that are still in operation at the time and beforehand.
The Colver Theatre was renamed the Rivoli Theatre on June 23, 1932 after a short closure for improvements. This also replaced ANOTHER Rivoli Theatre which closed on May 21, 1932.
The fire at the Rivoli Theatre happened on the early morning of February 7, 1940 causing an estimate $55,000 in damage alongside its Ebensburg Municipal Building and the city’s fire hall. The smoke was discovered around 2:30 AM by a jailkeeper who also gave the alarm to the fire department. The Ebensburg FD alongside other units from six other neighboring towns were the ones to fight the blaze.
After more than 38 years since its October 1985 closure, the Rose City Drive-In on April 5, 2024 HAS REOPENED just in time for the 2024 season, screening “Frozen Empire” as its first film right after being dark and abandoned for almost four decades.
The January 28, 1944 fire happened around 4:00 PM ET, and a few minutes after comes an explosion which blew the entire roof off. Many of the roof parts landed on top of a few buildings including an old barn owned by W.H. Rand & Son and the neighboring Dartmouth Cooperative Store. Neighboring fire departments from several cities across Vermont and New Hampshire raced to put out the fire. Despite the fire dangerously spreading, water immediately played over the building over the most of the forenoon.
It was later reported that the theater have closed two days prior to the fire due to renovation.
Last operated by Cate Enterprises.
This started life as a single-screener for a time while Screen 2 was still under construction. Esquire Theatres of America opened the Plaza Cinema on April 12, 1968 with “The Graduate”, and was twinned several months later.
It has a total capacity of 700 seats, with 400 seats in Screen 1 and 300 seats in Screen 2. It was first managed by Stephen Hanson of Keene. Some original features of the theater include 9x20ft screens and gold fireproof fiberglass material.
The White River Drive-In actually closed on September 2, 1986 with “Legal Eagles” and “Back To The Future”. The drive-in never reopened for the 1987 season due to VHS popularity. It was last owned by Peter Flanagan and managed by Andre Rocheleau.
Opened in August 1936, closed in early 1966.
The Golden Nugget Theatre opened its doors on February 12, 1966 with Jay North in “Zebra In The Kitchen”, and closed on October 5, 1969 with Walter Matthau in “A Guide For A Married Man” along with a cartoon due to increased freight/film charges and failed to draw major audiences.
Todd West operated the theater throughout its life, and was managed by the husband-and-wife team of Jim and Alma Gilchrist.
Closed in 1973 when the Voy Theater opened nearby.
The earliest information I can find about the original Sunrise Drive-In dates back as early as 1956. It was already in operation by the following year judging by aerial views.
This opened less than a decade ago as a replacement of Tate’s Application & Information Center of Window Rock.
Also Brad, got your answer. When General Cinema opened the Turfland on December 22, 1967 with “The Ambushers” as a single-screener, it has an original capacity of 928 seats.
December 13, 1986
During its final days of operation, the Turfland Cinemas had a couple of brief name changes. In late-August 2006, the Turfland Cinemas was renamed the “Turfland Mall Cinemas 99” after the theater changed its format from a $1.50 first-run house to a 99-cent second-run discount house.
Right after Lucas Peck took over the Turfland Cinemas from Thomas Abdoo in early-2007, the Turfland Cinemas was renamed the “Lucas Theatres 2” for a few months until its final closure on May 24, 2007.
The Crossroads Cinemas opened its doors on January 6, 1973 with “Fiddler On The Roof” in Screen 1 and “Butterflies Are Free” in Screen 2. It was originally operated by Showtime Cinemas (which appears only operating for its first few years of operation) and first managed by James Mullikin.
Throughout time, the Crossroads went through many chains over the years. The Crossroads throughout its history was operated by Showtime Cinemas, followed by independently owned Henry Sagg, then Mid-State Theaters, then USA Cinemas, then Loews, and finally Bluegrass Theatres.
The theater closed on August 3, 1997 after being a dollar house for its last few years of operation.
It was announced that the Autokino Koln Porz will close for the final time on October 31, 2024.
https://www.ksta.de/koeln/porz/porz-veedel/koeln-porz-autokino-schliesst-zum-31-oktober-814185
The actual opening date is November 23, 2001. The total capacity is 2,020 seats.
Gone by 1991.
Correction: The Empire was never once operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp, it’s just a goof that I mistakenly added a few years ago.
The Bar-Ann Drive-In opened its gates on May 28, 1955 with “Thunder Pass” and “Project Moon-Base” along with a cartoon as a one-day Saturday matinee.
I saw more advertisements right after January 3, 1967, but I think you are right about closure in 1967. It also appears that it last operated as a weekend-only theater.
Yes, two 16-year-old boys that is. Both were charged with one count each of first-degree arson, third-degree burglary and second-degree wanton endangerment in connection of the October 3, 1988 burning of the Starlight’s screen. If they found guilty of all three charges, they would receive 30 years in prison. Unfortunately I cannot find the headline on both pleas.
This has to be the “once known” as Towne Theatre, which later became the Towne Cinema after the original auditorium was twinned in the mid-1970s.
The Mall Cinema opened WAY earlier than 2005, here’s the information I gathered.
The strip mall was constructed between 1970 and 1971 judging by aerial views, but the theater part of the building appears that it didn’t start operating as a twin-screen movie theater until sometime before 1982. As of 1982, the Mall Cinema I & II was operated by Darrell Moseley, who also operated three other theaters in the area.
The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer began picking up showtimes for the Hartford Mall Cinema in September 1987 alongside several other theaters that are still in operation at the time and beforehand.
The Colver Theatre was renamed the Rivoli Theatre on June 23, 1932 after a short closure for improvements. This also replaced ANOTHER Rivoli Theatre which closed on May 21, 1932.
The fire at the Rivoli Theatre happened on the early morning of February 7, 1940 causing an estimate $55,000 in damage alongside its Ebensburg Municipal Building and the city’s fire hall. The smoke was discovered around 2:30 AM by a jailkeeper who also gave the alarm to the fire department. The Ebensburg FD alongside other units from six other neighboring towns were the ones to fight the blaze.
The screen also appears to be low-mounted as well.
After more than 38 years since its October 1985 closure, the Rose City Drive-In on April 5, 2024 HAS REOPENED just in time for the 2024 season, screening “Frozen Empire” as its first film right after being dark and abandoned for almost four decades.
https://web.archive.org/web/20240405015023/https://rosecitydrivein.com/