I managed this place while I was in college. We were operating only Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This had to be back in 1963 as we discussed if we should close when President Kennedy was shot. We decided we needed to stay open so parents could have a place to send their kids.
We operated on the cheap and still could not make much money, but I had a great time and learned a lot about the business.
The 4 Star (not Four Star) was originally a second-run house. They played on week after the first run houses downtown. This place played day and date with the Eastown and the Our. I spent virtually every Saturday afternoon and either this bigger Art Deco house or at the Burton. After the war, the difference between second run and sub(sequent)-run pretty much disappeared. B&J also operated another set of theaters that ran as sub-run houses and ran the stuff that was at these theaters one week later. This group included the Royal and the Wealthy and, if I remember correctly, the Family.
When I was a kid, I spent most Saturday afternoons at either the Burton Theater or at the 4 Star. The Burton was operated by the brother of the gentleman who owned and operated the Creston in the north end.
Quite a bargain – two features, a two reeler, six or seven cartoons, a serial, a newsreel all for 9 cents!
I worked at the Cinema for Earl Smith, who leased the old place. He tried to make a living running art films and we did some good business if the fil as a bit racy. Eventually, he started running nudist camp epics and later drifted into hard porn. Earl continued to operate the Cinema into the early 70’s.
The Creston was operated as a sub-run by Harry Himmelstein at least into the late 1960’s and I believe was still running as late as 1975, but I could be wrong as I am old.
I managed this place while I was in college. We were operating only Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This had to be back in 1963 as we discussed if we should close when President Kennedy was shot. We decided we needed to stay open so parents could have a place to send their kids.
We operated on the cheap and still could not make much money, but I had a great time and learned a lot about the business.
The 4 Star (not Four Star) was originally a second-run house. They played on week after the first run houses downtown. This place played day and date with the Eastown and the Our. I spent virtually every Saturday afternoon and either this bigger Art Deco house or at the Burton. After the war, the difference between second run and sub(sequent)-run pretty much disappeared. B&J also operated another set of theaters that ran as sub-run houses and ran the stuff that was at these theaters one week later. This group included the Royal and the Wealthy and, if I remember correctly, the Family.
When I was a kid, I spent most Saturday afternoons at either the Burton Theater or at the 4 Star. The Burton was operated by the brother of the gentleman who owned and operated the Creston in the north end.
Quite a bargain – two features, a two reeler, six or seven cartoons, a serial, a newsreel all for 9 cents!
I worked at the Cinema for Earl Smith, who leased the old place. He tried to make a living running art films and we did some good business if the fil as a bit racy. Eventually, he started running nudist camp epics and later drifted into hard porn. Earl continued to operate the Cinema into the early 70’s.
The Creston was operated as a sub-run by Harry Himmelstein at least into the late 1960’s and I believe was still running as late as 1975, but I could be wrong as I am old.