The New Grand replaced the Ferris Grand Opera House, a large and fancy opera house which was constructed between 1886 and 1890. On the 1914 Sanborn map it is listed as ‘Ruins of Fire’, so this site seems to have been unlucky.
I think this theater was on the corner with E Mulberry St, in which case it has been demolished. The July 1916 Sanborn shows a house on that lot, so it was opened sometime after that.
On the 1916 Sanborn, 2-story storefronts have filled the empty space, and there is a long, wide entrance hall in the center going back to the auditorium. Narrow exit hallways are at either side, flanking the storefronts (which are a confectionery and tailor at this point). Seating capacity is 1,050, and on each side of the balcony the front has been replaced by a pair of boxes.
On the 1909 Sanborn, the entire area taken up by the ugly modern storefront is empty. The theater is set back nearly half the depth of the neighboring buildings, and starts abruptly at the two-story auditorium. The balcony is a deep horseshoe extending nearly to the stage. It’s unclear where the entrance is, although there appears to be an exterior staircase on the 5th St side behind the store next door.
On the 1916 Sanborn, the Logan has 750 seats, and is also showing vaudeville. To the south, behind some tiny wooden storefronts, is a large lot labeled ‘Air Dome’ and ‘open seats’. The little shack on the corner with Vine is serving as a ticket office. I assume this was an associated operation, probably showing movies outside when the weather was warm.
I cannot figure out exactly where this was, but it has been demolished. There’s a photo of it on this page: http://tjrhino1.umsl.edu/whmc/view.php?description_get=Macon+Centennial
I cannot match any existing buildings to a view of Rollins in any way that makes sense.
Either the address or dates are wrong. There is no theater on the east side of Rollins on the 1916 Sanborn. The building that was then 114 was a tiny jewelers shop, and is now a parking lot behind an ugly ‘60s bank. The current 114 is a florist, and certainly large enough to be a theater, but is noted as a news stand and confectionery. I suggest 111, which is a theater on the 1916 map. That building still exists as some sort of office, but has been badly mutilated by remodels.
Wrong street. Address was almost certainly 101 N Gex St. Reesman’s Theatre (note the spelling, not sure which is right) is on the 1916 Sanborn, in the top floor of a 2-story brick building which had two storefronts downstairs. It was also offering vaudeville at this point. Either this received a severe remodel, or it was demolished. At any rate, an exceedingly unattractive one story mess of metal siding occupies the lot now.
Should be listed as demolished. Was almost certainly on the courthouse square, and only one older building remains, which looks nothing like a theater.
It’s hard to tell, since almost all of downtown is gone, but this might still be here. Assuming it’s the same one shown on the 1915 Sanborn, the theater was on the north side, 6th building west of N 4th.
I think this theater opened a lot earlier. The 1917 Sanborn shows a small wooden theater at 6 S Green. The number is a guess, but it’s the third from the corner. The building looks like it’s still there, but streetview coverage is terrible for this town. It may have been replaced at some point by a brick building, but it’s clear from the satellite view that the structure is very old. 402 seats seems like a pretty big theater for such a tiny town.
Since three of the corner lots have been demolished for parking, the theater was on the SE corner. You can see the Princess and post office in the background of the main photo.
Shame this building got such an awful, ugly remodel. Given its original appearance, I was surprised to see the August 1914 Sanborn still showing a fairly substantial Presbyterian church on the lot. The theater can’t have been constructed too many years later.
Address is wrong. The theater was at 209 W Prime. Although its neighbors have all been demolished, it is still in use as a lawnmower shop. It must have opened earlier than Chris thought, as it appears on the 1921 Sanborn.
Either the description or the address or both are wrong. The Majestic is shown on the 1921 Sanborn at 108 W Madison. It has long been demolished, judging by the busted pavement in front of the fire station that occupies part of the lot it was on. On the map, the Majestic is listed as having 500 seats. The map does not show the bay windows on the building in the photo, but none of the buildings either on the map or still existing which have two bays are on a corner.
How did the map marker get so badly lost?
The New Grand replaced the Ferris Grand Opera House, a large and fancy opera house which was constructed between 1886 and 1890. On the 1914 Sanborn map it is listed as ‘Ruins of Fire’, so this site seems to have been unlucky.
The building has been retail or offices for many years. Not too badly remodeled.
I don’t know if they’ve opened yet, but the interior had nothing left inside when I went in last year. The lobby is now a coffee/sandwich place.
I think this theater was on the corner with E Mulberry St, in which case it has been demolished. The July 1916 Sanborn shows a house on that lot, so it was opened sometime after that.
I think the reference to a 3rd St was just sloppiness. Even on the 1884 Sanborn, Williams is Williams and only 4th and 5th are numbers.
On the 1916 Sanborn, 2-story storefronts have filled the empty space, and there is a long, wide entrance hall in the center going back to the auditorium. Narrow exit hallways are at either side, flanking the storefronts (which are a confectionery and tailor at this point). Seating capacity is 1,050, and on each side of the balcony the front has been replaced by a pair of boxes.
On the 1909 Sanborn, the entire area taken up by the ugly modern storefront is empty. The theater is set back nearly half the depth of the neighboring buildings, and starts abruptly at the two-story auditorium. The balcony is a deep horseshoe extending nearly to the stage. It’s unclear where the entrance is, although there appears to be an exterior staircase on the 5th St side behind the store next door.
On the 1916 Sanborn, the Logan has 750 seats, and is also showing vaudeville. To the south, behind some tiny wooden storefronts, is a large lot labeled ‘Air Dome’ and ‘open seats’. The little shack on the corner with Vine is serving as a ticket office. I assume this was an associated operation, probably showing movies outside when the weather was warm.
I cannot figure out exactly where this was, but it has been demolished. There’s a photo of it on this page: http://tjrhino1.umsl.edu/whmc/view.php?description_get=Macon+Centennial
I cannot match any existing buildings to a view of Rollins in any way that makes sense.
Either the address or dates are wrong. There is no theater on the east side of Rollins on the 1916 Sanborn. The building that was then 114 was a tiny jewelers shop, and is now a parking lot behind an ugly ‘60s bank. The current 114 is a florist, and certainly large enough to be a theater, but is noted as a news stand and confectionery. I suggest 111, which is a theater on the 1916 map. That building still exists as some sort of office, but has been badly mutilated by remodels.
Wrong street. Address was almost certainly 101 N Gex St. Reesman’s Theatre (note the spelling, not sure which is right) is on the 1916 Sanborn, in the top floor of a 2-story brick building which had two storefronts downstairs. It was also offering vaudeville at this point. Either this received a severe remodel, or it was demolished. At any rate, an exceedingly unattractive one story mess of metal siding occupies the lot now.
Should be listed as demolished. Was almost certainly on the courthouse square, and only one older building remains, which looks nothing like a theater.
It’s hard to tell, since almost all of downtown is gone, but this might still be here. Assuming it’s the same one shown on the 1915 Sanborn, the theater was on the north side, 6th building west of N 4th.
Or lowered.
Almost certainly demolished. The few older buildings left on S Main are too small to have been a theater.
I think this was later renamed the Emerald. Number was probably 16, and the 1917 map shows this storefront as a feed store.
I think this theater opened a lot earlier. The 1917 Sanborn shows a small wooden theater at 6 S Green. The number is a guess, but it’s the third from the corner. The building looks like it’s still there, but streetview coverage is terrible for this town. It may have been replaced at some point by a brick building, but it’s clear from the satellite view that the structure is very old. 402 seats seems like a pretty big theater for such a tiny town.
Since three of the corner lots have been demolished for parking, the theater was on the SE corner. You can see the Princess and post office in the background of the main photo.
Shame this building got such an awful, ugly remodel. Given its original appearance, I was surprised to see the August 1914 Sanborn still showing a fairly substantial Presbyterian church on the lot. The theater can’t have been constructed too many years later.
Building appears to be a thrift store.
Pretty shameful waste of the entire west side of the courthouse square. Better suited for sprawl on the highway.
Probably the 100 block of W Washington, and almost certainly demolished. There’s very little left of downtown.
Address is wrong. The theater was at 209 W Prime. Although its neighbors have all been demolished, it is still in use as a lawnmower shop. It must have opened earlier than Chris thought, as it appears on the 1921 Sanborn.
Either the description or the address or both are wrong. The Majestic is shown on the 1921 Sanborn at 108 W Madison. It has long been demolished, judging by the busted pavement in front of the fire station that occupies part of the lot it was on. On the map, the Majestic is listed as having 500 seats. The map does not show the bay windows on the building in the photo, but none of the buildings either on the map or still existing which have two bays are on a corner.