Comments from 50sSNIPES

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50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Saenger Theatre on Aug 14, 2022 at 1:22 pm

The Saenger was destroyed by one of the most deadliest tornadoes in Mississippi, which is Vicksburg’s violent F5 tornado on December 6, 1953. The tornado killed 38 people and injuring 270 others.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Westdale Cinemas on Aug 11, 2022 at 5:05 pm

General Cinema operated the Westdale from its start on April 4, 1980 until being taken over by Excellence Theatres in 1989. The Westdale was one of the last three General Cinemas operating in Iowa.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about West-Vue Drive-In on Aug 11, 2022 at 4:46 pm

Opened on June 1, 1951 with Gene Kelly in “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” and the Bowery Boys in “Lucky Losers” along with an unnamed cartoon.

The West-Vue’s last day of operation was September 20, 1977 with “Nasty Habits” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” along with two cartoons.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about AMC Classic Westdale 12 on Aug 11, 2022 at 2:03 pm

Taken over by AMC after Carmike’s intention deal in December 2016, although the building’s Wynnsong signs and leftovers continued to last until 2018. And as of August 2022, it was still closed (“until further notice”).

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Westdale Cinemas on Aug 11, 2022 at 2:09 am

Closed on August 18, 2000.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Stage 4 Theatres on Aug 11, 2022 at 2:02 am

The Dubinsky Brothers opened the Stage 4 Theatres on May 28, 1971 with the following in screen order: “A New Leaf” (1), “Red Sky At Morning” (2), and “The Andromeda Strain” (3 & 4). The Stage 4 Theatres had a grand total of 1,080 seats throughout its history.

Carmike took over the Stage 4 Theatres in November 1990, and operated the theater until closure on September 8, 2000, due to the ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the growth of multiplex theaters in the United States, as well as the popularity of the Wynnsong 12 being located a mile away from the Stage 4. The maintenance man, Jerry Morris, really wants to continue on running the theater but left with tears in his eyes on the causes of the closure.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Cedar Rapids Twin Drive-In on Aug 11, 2022 at 1:46 am

It was actually named Cedar Rapids Twin Drive-In. The theater itself listed their screens as West and East. The West screen opened on June 11, 1969 with Richard Widmark in “Death Of A Gunfighter” and Elvis in “Speedway”, but however, its East screen was originally scheduled to open two days later on June 13, 1969 but delayed due to severe weather.

The East screen opened one week after its delaying announcement. A short time after the East screen opened, the theater witnessed its first vehicle accident.

The Cedar Rapids Twin Drive-In closed at the end of the 1987 season.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about East Gate 1 & 2 Theatres on Aug 11, 2022 at 1:24 am

Both Eastgate I & II and Eastgate III were separated theaters.

General Cinema opened the Eastgate Cinemas I & II on October 27, 1966 with Don O'Kelly in “The Hostage” (with short subjects added) shown in both screens.

On November 26, 1969, Eastgate III opened its gates as an adult theater, with it being located separately away from the I & II.

During the afternoon hours on May 5, 1982, a male teenager entered the Eastgate III, approached to one of the theater’s employees and pointed a gun in front of his face. He then stole $200 out of the cashier and ran. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Thomas C. Bell of Des Moines.

The Eastgate I & II closed for the final time in late 1989, leaving the Eastgate III running, and yes, still as an adult theater. This lasted for a decade-and-a-half, but there were incidents in its last couple years of operation. Developers sued the owners of the Eastgate III in November 2001 over its activities stymie efforts to lure big stores at the site. Its terms and leases have been filed at previous days beforehand in Polk County court.

In October 2003, an overman blamed owners of the Eastgate III, saying that he wants to shut the theater down. But exactly a year and a month later, the theater finally had its chance to close for the final time in late November 2004.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Plaza Theater on Aug 11, 2022 at 12:38 am

The 730-capacity Plaza Theater opened its doors on June 30, 1967 with John Wayne in “The War Wheel”, and closed on December 3, 1987 with “Teen Wolf Too” as its last film.

The Plaza throughout its history was first operated by Tri-States Theatres, followed by ABC Midwest Theatres, JSB Midwest Theaters, and lastly the Dubinsky Brothers.

In early October 1975, one of the glass plate window-doors was destroyed by an unknown person using a slingshot, breaking the door and a lead-sinker.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Pioneer Drive-In on Aug 10, 2022 at 11:39 pm

After closing in 1987, A bit of the traces became an AutoRama RV Center, but otherwise the entire theater was still attached until the parking traces were converted into a parking lot for RVs in the latter half of the 1990s. As of 2022, the screen was still there, mainly covered by trees.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Ritz Theatre on Aug 10, 2022 at 10:52 pm

Opened with Arthur Lake in “16 Fathoms Deep” with no extra short subjects, with a capacity of 700 seats including a balcony for colored patrons.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Snak-Vu Drive-In on Aug 9, 2022 at 10:21 pm

The Snak-Vu opened on October 30, 1964 with Harry VonZell in “Micro-Spook” along with the 1949 Fox And Crow Color Rhapsody “Grape Nutty” and a sports-reel “Russlin' Rampage”.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Jet Drive-In on Aug 9, 2022 at 10:10 pm

This negro drive-in was located a mile away from the Columbus Drive-In. The Jet Drive-In first opened as the Jive Drive-In on June 6, 1952, with an original capacity of 375 cars with films screened in both 16mm and 35mm film. The Jive name didn’t last long at all, and was renamed the Jet Drive-In in late September 1952.

After a five-year run, the Jet closed for the final time in 1957.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Keystone Cinemas on Aug 6, 2022 at 7:46 pm

It opened on December 16, 2011, not June 1, 2011. Construction started on June 1, 2011 at the former grassy site.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Keystone Cinemas on Aug 4, 2022 at 7:06 pm

Construction began on June 1, 2011, and opened on December 16, 2011.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Bentley Theatre on Aug 4, 2022 at 6:48 pm

On February 29, 1944, both the Bentley Theatre and the hotel next to it were destroyed by a fire, and the fire also killed a man as well. Coroner Archie Craft later identified the only death as 24-year-old Wardell Robbins of Neon.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Skyway Drive-In on Aug 3, 2022 at 10:17 pm

Opened on May 28, 1949, closed on September 13, 1985, demolished on May 18, 1990.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Ritz Place on Aug 2, 2022 at 10:58 pm

First opened as the Universal Theatre on January 14, 1920 with William Stowell in “The Heart of Humanity”, along with 6 acts of vaudeville. The Universal Theatre and Mr. Randolph’s grocery store was completely burned and destroyed by a fire on February 4, 1924 (with the Universal possibly during its run of “The Girl With 1000 Visions” but it was unknown yet).

The building was then rebuilt, restored, and reopened as the Ritz on September 2, 1927 with Louise Brooks in “Rolling Stockings”, along with an overture by the city’s orchestra, a two-reel comedy reel, vaudeville performances by Sevier and West, and addresses by M.F. Hyde, A.J. Simmons, and the then-mayor of Marshfield James Thompson.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about New Drive-In on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:18 am

The New Drive-In closed in the mid-to-late 1970s. It was demolished to make way for the Kmart which operated from August 2, 1979 until December 2016. A Rural King now sits in the former Kmart and the former theater’s site.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Lonesome Pine Drive-In on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:11 am

On December 26, 1958, 62-year-old Charlie Palmer, one of the first employees of the Lonesome Pine Drive-In since its opening in 1949, was struck and killed in a hit-and-run by 28-year-old Rufus V. McCoy of Nora. Charlie received a fractured skull and hip before being announced dead before arriving in Norton Hospital.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Neon Theater on Aug 2, 2022 at 2:25 am

The fire occurred on February 29, 1944, which not just destroyed two buildings but it also killed a man.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Neon Theater on Aug 2, 2022 at 12:02 am

I just saw this not too long ago that the Neon Theatre was flooded, and was damaged by the historic Eastern Kentucky flooding that occurred a few days ago.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Kimball Theatre on Aug 1, 2022 at 7:28 pm

Once damaged by a fire on August 13, 1946.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Columbia Theatre on Aug 1, 2022 at 6:10 pm

Whitley County’s dominant first-run theater started life when F.F. Morsches, A.E. Hancock, and James D. Adams formed their own theater company and opened the Columbia Theatre on September 15, 1920 with Lewis Stone in “The River’s End” (unknown if subjects were added), over the corner of Van Buren and Main with an estimate costing $100,000 in building. Columbia City had a couple of nickelodeons around the time. One of the custodians of the Columbia Theatre is Frank M. Hartman (May 26, 1878-February 4, 1964) of 113 West North Street of Columbia City who is also a former Baltimore & Ohio railroad employee. The Columbia Theatre was notable for Gail E. Lancaster, who was an organist at the Columbia and would later became a local theater chain owner in Huntington, Indiana. The original organ was given from the Grace Lutheran Church nearby. The first sound system the theater was given was Western Electric.

Shortly before the rise of the CinemaScope boom, the Columbia Theatre’s original 17x9w-14x6h screen was replaced by an Astrolite 32x6w-15x3h screen (with 123ft in size from the projection booth to the stage) shortly two days before the screening of Ava Gardner’s “Mogambo” and a Disney cartoon “Football Now and Then” on December 23, 1953. This didn’t last long. Approximately more than 9 months later, CinemaScope arrived at the Columbia, replacing the short-lived Astrolite screen.

After running a one-day showing of Jules Munshin’s “Monte Carlo Baby” with no extras, the first CinemaScope titles were released beginning with Robert Cummings' “Lucky Me” on October 5, 1954 (also with no subjects, and originally scheduled for October 3 but was shifted later for unknown reasons).

On November 1, 1957, the Columbia Theatre closed its doors for four months by owners Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hancock and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hancock. He said that the rise of television in Whitney County and the surrounding Fort Wayne area, especially Fort Wayne’s WKJG, WANE, and the “then-new” WPTA, may’ve caused the closure according to the owner. However speaking of Hancock, after a four month hiatus without even a single theater in Columbia City, the Columbia Theatre reopened by new owners John Hancock and Robert Walker on March 2, 1958 with John Hoyt’s “God Is My Partner” along with a short “Hero On Horseback” and an unnamed Mighty Mouse cartoon.

On September 16, 1963, after running the “exploitation-type” film “Beach Party”, the Columbia Theatre closed for two months and a week for unknown reasons, leaving the West 30 Drive-In which opened its gates two months prior being the only theater during the two month hiatus. The Columbia Theatre reopened its doors on November 23, 1963 with “The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze” as a Thanksgiving matinee.

Its final closing date hasn’t been found yet.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES commented about Miller Theatre on Aug 1, 2022 at 5:10 pm

Opened On November 18, 1936, The Name Miller Was Selected By 11-Year-Old Jackson Peabody Who Won In The Theater Name Contest. The Miller Theatre Closed In The Mid-1950s Although I Cannot Enough Information About The Closure.

The Former Miller Theatre Was Left Abandoned Until March 1957 When NIPSCO, The Northern Indiana Public Safety Company, Takes The Half Piece Of The Theater, While The Other Half Surrounds The Larwell Location.