Comments from 67imprice

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67imprice
67imprice commented about Ambassador Theatre on Dec 16, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Ok, everyone for those interested the former McDonald’s later Hillsborough St. Textbooks was originally the Varsity Theater.
I’ll post photo links (of the bookstore anyway) at the Varsity Theater, Raleigh, NC link here on Cinema Treasures.

67imprice
67imprice commented about Ambassador Theatre on Dec 16, 2009 at 4:41 pm

Here is a more current picture of the former movie theatre on Hillsborough St. in Raleigh, across from NCSU campus, that had a McDonald’s restaurant in it back in the 1980’s:

View link

67imprice
67imprice commented about Ambassador Theatre on Dec 16, 2009 at 4:37 pm

Yup, there was a McDonald’s restaurant located in a former movie theater on Hillsborough St. facing North Carolina State University.
As I recall the McDonald’s closed and later became a bookstore providing college student’s supplies called Hillsborough St. Textbooks.
Here is a link to a picture of their marquee:

http://www.indyweek.com/pdf/052709/Textbooks.jpg

Maybe someone can identify the name of the theater originally. I imagine it is already listed on this site!

67imprice
67imprice commented about State Theatre on Dec 16, 2009 at 4:25 pm

I was present when the State Theatre was torn down for the Wake County Jail in the summer of 1987 on Salisbury St. The theatre was in ruins. The building in front of the State Theatre facing Salisbury St. is called the Lawyers Building and it is still there.

The main entrance for the State Theatre was a foyer through the Lawyers Building. Surely someone in Raleigh remembers this and can reminisce on the long foyer you had to pass through to reach the State.

67imprice
67imprice commented about Iwo Jima Theater on Dec 16, 2009 at 4:13 pm

I remember seeing the movie ‘Homebodies’ at the Iwo Jima in the fall of 1974 with my father. We were hoping it was going to be a suspenseful movie, which it was, but was also depressing – was about old people being forced out of their homes for new office buildings and their attempts to fight back. The weather that day outside the Iwo Jima was overcast and gloomy that day too. I was only 12 and that was my only time in that theatre.

67imprice
67imprice commented about Ambassador Theatre on Dec 16, 2009 at 3:51 pm

I was present when the Ambassador on Fayetteville St. was torn down in March of 1989. The city of Raleigh was secretly trying to have it demolished and I called up Channel WPTF Channel 28 (at that time they were the NBC affiliate) so they could alert the local Preservation Historic group in Raleigh. But, too late. I still have a video of myself being interviewed on that fateful day.
The news crew met me out there to film the demolition. Can’t believe it has already been 20 years ago since then!

67imprice
67imprice commented about Capitol Theatre on Dec 16, 2009 at 3:45 pm

I was present when the State Theatre was torn down for the Wake County Jail in the summer of 1987 on Salisbury St. The theatre was in ruins. The building in front of the State Theatre facing Salisbury St. is called the Lawyers Building and it is still there. The main entrance for the State Theatre was a foyer through the Lawyers Building. Surely someone in Raleigh remembers that and can reminisce on that.
(For the previous poster: The Capitol Theatre was on Martin St. not Salisbury St.)
Secondly, I was present when the Ambassador on Fayetteville St. was torn down in March of 1989. The city of Raleigh was secretly trying to have it demolished and I called up Channel WPTF Channel 28 at that time they were a NBC affiliate so they could alert the local Preservation Historic group in Raleigh. But, too late. I still have a video of myself being interviewed on that fateful day.
The news crew met me out there to film the demolition.