I drove past the Scottsdale 6 on Saturday, 05-17. There is some heavy construction equipment on the lot. The concession stand/projection booth and all screens have been torn down. It looks like even some of the brick wall surrounding the grounds have been taken down.
It looks like someone purchased the building and reopened it as a restaurant and bar. The website is http://www.capitolrestaurantandbar.com/ There are a few photos!
Below is a photo link. This photo shows the Grand Theater block around 1980. From right to left is Union Furniture, Catholic Guild, Grand Theater, YWCA, Deemers Store and at the extreme left is Skateland. The only building standing today is Skateland which is now the Ferrara Arts Center.
Below is a link showing a photo of the Family theater demolition at Broad and Wyoming streets. The roof and stage house of the Feeley theater can be seen in the background. Too bad the photo doesn’t show the Feeley marquee as well.
Below is a photo link of taken of the 1962 demolition of the Family Theater building. The theater entrance was on the right side of the building (Wyoming Street) at the rear corner. The auditorium was the large center section of the building. The roof and stage house of the Feeley Theater can be seen in the background.
Attached is a photo link for the former Campbell theater. It is the glass covered building on the right. The city of Hazleton recently announced these two buildings were purchased by the city and the Campbell theater building will be torn down for yet another parking lot. View link
There was a fire in the old Refowich building this week contained to one of the apartments now located in what was the auditorium. A news link is pasted below.
I found the original opening date for the American from a news clipping at the Pittston Public Library. It had indicated June 1924, although it had little additional info such as the number of seats. I spoke with some long-time residents of the area, but none were able to confirm that date.
This theater was located in the town of Dupont not Pittston. The building still exists, I’ve passed it many times and it now appears to serve as a bar and pool hall.
For those who may be interested in what is currently located at the Paradise site, google now allows for a street view of certain areas of certain cities. If you go to google.com, click on maps(near top of screen), then enter the address for the Paradise, you get the option for a street view. If you click on it, you can see an interactive photo of the site, the street and what is located across the street. It even enables you to travel up the street to the old Crawford site and Marbro site.
This is a great option for those of us who live a distance from Chicago.
Meh2185, thanks for posting the link above to the moving image collection. The site has a few views of the theater interior that I’ve never seen before!
John:
This theater was run for most of its life by General Cinema. When General Cinema was purchased, it was run by AMC for perhaps 2 years.
Across the street is the Whitehall Mall and the former Plaza Twin. From the history I know, the Plaza was run by Budco then AMC. After AMC’s lease expired, Wolfe leased and operated the Plaza twin for several years.
I believe the Plaza Twin is now a Gold’s Gym, while the Lehigh Valley 8 is now retail.
Jeffreyt: Would love to see any photos you have, perhaps post them at photobucket. I recall driving past the building in the early 1980’s but it was closed at the time, but do remember the words “American Theatre” were painted on the back wall and were clearly seen when crossing either bridge. Currently live just across the river and pass this site every day on the way to work.
Thanks for that link Scott. I have several photos of the first and second Paradise marquee, but that’s the only one I’ve ever seen in color, and actually a few seonds of film! I agree, it’s frustratingly brief, but still incredible.
Also, that site has several other very short films of the Times Square area, including several now demolished theaters along with the old Astor Hotel. Very good link.
Recently found some photos I took of the Victoria in 1985 and I’ve attached them here. The interior was in pretty poor condition at the time, but it was easy to see this was a real palace at one time. KenRoe mentioned the Majestic was next door but it must have been demolished long before I took this photo and a newer JC Penney built in its place. I understand both the Victoria and JC Penney are now gone.
Located this video of the theater. It’s dated 1992 and shows some of the interior and exterior before and during demolition.
https://youtu.be/2Ivh6GU-Yfk
I drove past the Scottsdale 6 on Saturday, 05-17. There is some heavy construction equipment on the lot. The concession stand/projection booth and all screens have been torn down. It looks like even some of the brick wall surrounding the grounds have been taken down.
It looks like someone purchased the building and reopened it as a restaurant and bar. The website is http://www.capitolrestaurantandbar.com/ There are a few photos!
Below is a photo link. This photo shows the Grand Theater block around 1980. From right to left is Union Furniture, Catholic Guild, Grand Theater, YWCA, Deemers Store and at the extreme left is Skateland. The only building standing today is Skateland which is now the Ferrara Arts Center.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a292/zathros/522210_554882754526212_1860411699_n.jpg
Below is a link showing a photo of the Family theater demolition at Broad and Wyoming streets. The roof and stage house of the Feeley theater can be seen in the background. Too bad the photo doesn’t show the Feeley marquee as well.
View link
Below is a photo link of taken of the 1962 demolition of the Family Theater building. The theater entrance was on the right side of the building (Wyoming Street) at the rear corner. The auditorium was the large center section of the building. The roof and stage house of the Feeley Theater can be seen in the background.
View link
Attached is a photo link for the former Campbell theater. It is the glass covered building on the right. The city of Hazleton recently announced these two buildings were purchased by the city and the Campbell theater building will be torn down for yet another parking lot.
View link
There was a fire in the old Refowich building this week contained to one of the apartments now located in what was the auditorium. A news link is pasted below.
View link
This link provides a recent photo of the former Church Hill Cinema.
View link
This theater was demolished in May 1984.
I found the original opening date for the American from a news clipping at the Pittston Public Library. It had indicated June 1924, although it had little additional info such as the number of seats. I spoke with some long-time residents of the area, but none were able to confirm that date.
A few photos of this theater can be seen at this link.
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/26897.html
This theater was located in the town of Dupont not Pittston. The building still exists, I’ve passed it many times and it now appears to serve as a bar and pool hall.
Attached is an older photo of the Pastime Theater. Unsure of the date when it was taken.
View link
For those who may be interested in what is currently located at the Paradise site, google now allows for a street view of certain areas of certain cities. If you go to google.com, click on maps(near top of screen), then enter the address for the Paradise, you get the option for a street view. If you click on it, you can see an interactive photo of the site, the street and what is located across the street. It even enables you to travel up the street to the old Crawford site and Marbro site.
This is a great option for those of us who live a distance from Chicago.
Meh2185, thanks for posting the link above to the moving image collection. The site has a few views of the theater interior that I’ve never seen before!
Here is a 1990 image of the Colonial in Allentown.
View link
Attached is a 1941 image of the Diamond in Hazleton.
View link
Attached is an undated image of the Palace in McAdoo.
View link
Here is another undated image of the Capitol.
View link
Did a google search on the men’s store name, and it seems to be located in the same block as the theater. I believe they may only be using the marquee to advertise their business.
The last time I was in the auditorium was 20 years ago. It was in fair shape at the time, but most of the décor was covered with some type of wall covering. The balcony was a separate theater, but I didn’t have the opportunity to go exploring. Don’t know if there is any type of stage. If I get to Bloomsburg in the near future will attempt to see if there’s any type of stage from the outside
Did a google search on the men’s store name, and it seems to be located in the same block as the theater. I believe they may only be using the marquee to advertise their business.
The last time I was in the auditorium was 20 years ago. It was in fair shape at the time, but most of the décor was covered with some type of wall covering. The balcony was a separate theater, but I didn’t have the opportunity to go exploring. Don’t know if there is any type of stage. If I get to Bloomsburg in the near future will attempt to see if there’s any type of stage from the outside
John:
This theater was run for most of its life by General Cinema. When General Cinema was purchased, it was run by AMC for perhaps 2 years.
Across the street is the Whitehall Mall and the former Plaza Twin. From the history I know, the Plaza was run by Budco then AMC. After AMC’s lease expired, Wolfe leased and operated the Plaza twin for several years.
I believe the Plaza Twin is now a Gold’s Gym, while the Lehigh Valley 8 is now retail.
Jeffreyt: Would love to see any photos you have, perhaps post them at photobucket. I recall driving past the building in the early 1980’s but it was closed at the time, but do remember the words “American Theatre” were painted on the back wall and were clearly seen when crossing either bridge. Currently live just across the river and pass this site every day on the way to work.
Thanks for that link Scott. I have several photos of the first and second Paradise marquee, but that’s the only one I’ve ever seen in color, and actually a few seonds of film! I agree, it’s frustratingly brief, but still incredible.
Also, that site has several other very short films of the Times Square area, including several now demolished theaters along with the old Astor Hotel. Very good link.
Recently found some photos I took of the Victoria in 1985 and I’ve attached them here. The interior was in pretty poor condition at the time, but it was easy to see this was a real palace at one time. KenRoe mentioned the Majestic was next door but it must have been demolished long before I took this photo and a newer JC Penney built in its place. I understand both the Victoria and JC Penney are now gone.
View link
View link