Comments from 50sSNIPES

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50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Strand Theatre on Jul 27, 2024 at 7:46 pm

Closed on October 1, 1966 with Jack Lemmon’s “The Great Race”.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Naples Theatre on Jul 27, 2024 at 7:42 pm

The Pictureland opened in October 1920, but I cannot find the actual opening date. The Naples Theatre is still open in 1960.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Castle Drive-In on Jul 27, 2024 at 4:20 pm

A 1964 aerial shows the property without anything built in site, but a 1969 aerial shows the theater completely in operation. Also to note is that a 1968 topo also shows the theater being listed.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about AMC Classic Village Mall 6 on Jul 27, 2024 at 3:38 pm

Danville has announced yesterday evening that a new cinema will be coming to the Village Mall as planned announced by the owner of the mall. This came right after Jimmy Virk acquired two of the three parcels of the 35-acre property.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Sidney Cinema on Jul 26, 2024 at 7:34 pm

The actual opening date is September 21, 1922 with Norma Talmadge in “Smilin' Through” along with an unnamed comedy and newsreel. The Smalley’s Theatre was named after the owner, William C. Smalley (1890-1952), who lived in various areas across New York including Cooperstown and Oneonta.

  • Until his death on December 31, 1952, Smalley used to own 16 theaters, but owns only 12 just before his death. Mrs. Hazel Smalley then took over operations after his passing.

On the afternoon of March 20, 1957, the theater was damaged by a rear-end fire, forcing a short closure for reinstallations of a new screen and some other equipment. The Smalley Theatre was then renamed the Sidney Theatre the following year in 1958.

The Sidney Theatre was renamed the Sidney Cinema in mid-to-late 1977 right after its management takeover by Nelson Smith that July. Janet Gleason took it over in February 1981.

During the Sidney Cinema’s final days in operation during the late-1990s, it did have a brief closure in 1997 before reopening. Unfortunately it reopening didn’t last long, and the Sidney Cinema closed the following year in 1998.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Woods Theatre on Jul 26, 2024 at 3:30 pm

Opened as early as 1948.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Paramount Theatre on Jul 26, 2024 at 6:14 am

During the late-1930s, the Paramount was operated by the Southio Theatre Corporation.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Castle Drive-In on Jul 25, 2024 at 5:02 pm

Do you have any information on when it opened and the other details on the Castle? I think MichaelKilgore has the history somewhere.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Fargo Cinema Grill on Jul 25, 2024 at 1:08 pm

The Lark Theatre opened in 1970, cannot find its opening date though.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Castle Drive-In on Jul 24, 2024 at 1:22 pm

Once operated by Delft Theaters Inc.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Capitol Theatre on Jul 23, 2024 at 7:06 pm

The Jewel Theatre opened its doors on April 15, 1908 with four acts (“The Two Orphans”, “A Burglar Or A Midnight Surprise”, “A Night In Dreamland”, and an illustrated song titled “Near The Boughs Of The Old Maple Tree”).

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about New Theatre on Jul 23, 2024 at 6:59 pm

The New Theatre was briefly renamed the Melba Theatre in 1903, but was reverted back to its New Theatre name for unknown reasons a few days later.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Dakota Theatre on Jul 23, 2024 at 5:19 pm

This started life as the Princess Theatre in 1912, and was renamed the Dakota Theatre in January 1931.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about East Park Drive-In on Jul 23, 2024 at 5:10 pm

The Kmart closed in December 2016, it is now a Runnings.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Sioux Falls State Theatre on Jul 23, 2024 at 4:26 pm

Once operated by ABC Theatres and later Plitt Theatres in the mid-1970s.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about K-Cinema Theatre on Jul 23, 2024 at 4:23 pm

The K-Cinema Theatre opened its doors on August 31, 1968 with Walt Disney’s “Never A Dull Moment”.

Midcontinent Theatres closed the K-Cinema Theatre on January 13, 1983 with Walt Disney’s “Peter Pan” due to the theater falling in disrepair. The management (managed by Marshall Fine and Mark Spencer) said that a strong gust of wind can cause the outside walls to either crack or bundle.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about West Mall 1, 2, 3 on Jul 23, 2024 at 4:17 pm

The West Mall Cinema opened its doors on November 22, 1968 with “West Side Story”, and was tripled in November 1984.

Last operated by Plitt, the West Mall 3 closed on June 23, 1988 when the West Mall 7 opened the following day.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Hollywood Theatre on Jul 23, 2024 at 4:11 pm

The Hollywood Theatre opened its doors on January 28, 1939 with Penny Singleton in “Blondie” along with the Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony cartoon “Mother Goose Goes Hollywood”, a technicolor travel film on Bermuda, and RKO Pathé News. Joe Floyd was the first main manager who previously operated the Granada Theatre there beforehand, and the assistant manager is then-21-year-old Harold Boyd. The chief projectionists are longtime theater operators Kenneth Blood and Earl Nason. The cashiers are Dorothy Buck and Marion Ray, the ushers are Milton Knutson, John Rock, and two unknown other men, and Tony Johnson is the maintenance man.

Information about the Hollywood Theatre as of 1939 goes as follows: The original front exterior of the showhouse as of 1939 features the panels of blue-gray porcelain with the buff-colored brickwork and black slate cornices. The marquee itself measures 36ft in height with spells the name of the theater, and a total of more than 1,500 electric bulbs combining with neon tubing to provide more lighting. Walking through the entrance doors, patrons will pass through a vestibule which planned to afford protection during inclement weather. The floors, ceiling, and walls are made of flexible rubber, and the lobby features an unusual ceiling height and vari-colored floor patterns. There is also fluorescent lamps and a picture of a much-heralded photo mural created by ace cameraman Whitey Schaefer of Columbia Pictures. The original lobby then leads into the foyer which is unique in its circular architecture. A circular staircase winds its way down to the general lounge as well as restrooms.

After the foyer is the oval-shaped auditorium with an original capacity of 736 self-lifting springless cushioned seats arranged spaciously and on a sweeping incline to provide the maximum of comfort and visibility. The seats were also invented from the northwest and was shipped to Sioux Falls. Aisle lights are also built right into the seats. Simplex projections and Western Electric sound were the original installers for the Hollywood.

It was a decades-long Hollywood Theatre, running first-run movies for over 47 years, until final operator Midcontinent Theatres (or Midco Theatres) closed the Hollywood Theatre for the final time on September 27, 1987 with a special run of “The Last Picture Show” and was demolished in February 1990 to make way for parking lots.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Empire 6 Cinemas on Jul 23, 2024 at 3:44 pm

Originally opened as a triplex, expanded to six in August 1986 following the closure of the nearby Plaza Twin Theatre. The Empire 6 Cinemas closed on January 12, 2001.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Plaza Twin Theatre on Jul 23, 2024 at 3:42 pm

The Plaza Twin opened on August 9, 1975 with “Jaws” in Screen 1 and “The Great Waldo Pepper” in Screen 2.

Midco operated the Plaza Twin throughout its life until the chain closed the Plaza Twin in late-August 1986 with “The Karate Kid Part II” in Screen 1 and “Shanghai Surprise” in Screen 2 when the Empire Cinemas nearby expanded to six screens.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Somerville Circle Triplex on Jul 23, 2024 at 8:01 am

Actually, General Cinema operated the Somerville Circle throughout its entire life.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Hollowbrook Drive-In on Jul 23, 2024 at 6:52 am

Anytime!

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Sierra Community Theatre on Jul 22, 2024 at 5:50 pm

The Head’s Opera House was actually renamed the Iowa Theatre after its March 1931 remodeling. It was renamed the Iowa Theatre on March 28, 1931 reopening with Claudette Colbert in “Honor Among Lovers” along with a Strange As It Seems short, a Grantland Rice Sportlight, and an unknown cartoon.

After World War II died, the Pioneer Theatres chain took over both the Iowa Theatre and the Howard Theatre in October 1945 following the chain’s 15th anniversary.

The Iowa Theatre was remodeled in March 1974 but was still open at the time. On March 27, 1974, it was renamed the Sierra Theatre, screening Walt Disney’s “Robin Hood” as its first film under the Sierra name.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Westchester Mall I-IV on Jul 22, 2024 at 3:48 pm

GCC operated the Westchester Mall I-IV throughout most of its life until United Artists took the quad over from General Cinema in 1994. UA operated the theater for another four additional years until closing in mid-September 1998.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Hollowbrook Drive-In on Jul 22, 2024 at 3:39 pm

Closed on October 24, 1984 with Prince’s “Purple Rain” and the 1971 classic “A Clockwork Orange”.