The Soper Theatre opened in 1949, and during its days as a single-screener, it originally housed 963 seats as of that year. Smiths Falls also had an earlier theater called the Capitol Theatre, which will have its own CT page soon.
Once operated by Interstate Theatres Inc. & Texas Consolidated Theaters Inc., who also operated the Arcadia, Gem, Rio, and Texas Theatres in Temple as well.
During the midnight hours of December 7, 1987, a 32-year-old Los Angeles man named Freddie Johns was in the middle of watching “Nuts” inside Screen 5 when a man was unexpected shot in the back by a lone gunman. The suspect escaped Screen 5 and went to Screen 3, where “The Running Man” was showing.
With the exception of the suspect, everybody at the UA Marina, including the remaining auditoriums that were screening “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” and “Fatal Attraction”, were forced to evacuate while the movies were still running. Johns was taken to UCLA Medical Center in good condition and was released.
On the evening of March 5, 1951, the State Theatre’s marquee crashed down to the sidewalk when the chains holding the outer end were loose, damaging the front of the theater. Luckily enough, nobody was caught in the fall, but there were reports that five young children were playing with the chains under it just before the crash. However, there was a narrow escape when a 4-year-old girl sustained slight bruises on her arm where the marquee fell. The large neon sign above it was also both damaged and broken.
I cannot confirm if this was separate, but this was most likely later known as the Main Theatre. However, there was a marquee incident that happened outside the theater.
Shortly before 6:45 PM on September 25, 1951, manager Leo Cane and his helper Beck Thompson decided that the neon sign spelling out “Main” needed to be both fixed and adjusted. With this in mind, the two climbed on top of the marquee and began the adjustments. Leo was sitting on top of the highest part of the sign and Bec was below steadying the sign when the cables ripped out, and marquee fell and crashed down to the ground. Luckily enough, both Leo and Beck were not seriously injured, but both had minor injuries. Beck had to have five stitches taken in a cut under his chin, and Leo had a deep gash in his hand. The marquee incident caused the show to postpone, with the damage costing $500 total.
One of the Carolina Theatre’s original managers is Emory Johnson, who at the age of 30, became a murderer after gunning down a 44-year-old textile worker named William Taft Hughes during a telephone argument on May 15, 1954, as confirmed by Gastonia police chief at the time G.F. Peninger.
Three days before JFK’s assassination on November 19, 1963, the original box office of the Grove Theater was severely damaged by a Chevrolet Bel-Air after the driver attempted to escape a runaway Meadow Gold Milk truck. Both the truck and the car suffered minor damages.
The driver of the milk truck confirmed that he did check the safety breaks after parking in front of Beck Apartments but left the motor running for a reason. For some weird reason, the brakes were released and the truck backed across Main Street, striking the Bel-Air, causing the Bel-Air to jump the curb and strike the tile front of the theater.
Shortly after its closure, the Queens Chapel’s original Century Model CC projectors, RCA sound, and RCA speakers were placed on auction on January 6, 1984.
Once operated by Affiliated Theatres.
The Soper Theatre opened in 1949, and during its days as a single-screener, it originally housed 963 seats as of that year. Smiths Falls also had an earlier theater called the Capitol Theatre, which will have its own CT page soon.
Once operated by Fox Wisconsin Circuit.
Once operated by Fox Wisconsin Circuit.
Once operated by Fox Wisconsin Circuit.
Once operated by Interstate Theatres Inc. & Texas Consolidated Theaters Inc., who also operated the Arcadia, Gem, Rio, and Texas Theatres in Temple as well.
Once operated by Fox Wisconsin Circuit.
Once operated by Fox Wisconsin Circuit.
Once operated by Fox Wisconsin Circuit.
Once operated by Fox Wisconsin Circuit.
Once operated by Premiere Theatres Canada, who operated the LaSalle during the early-1950s.
During the late-1940s, it was operated by Florida State Theatres.
During the late-1940s, it was operated by Florida State Theatres.
During the 1940s, it was operated by Florida State Theatres.
Once operated by Florida State Theatres.
Once operated by Community Theatres Inc. (Milwaukee).
Once operated by Paramount Pictures Inc.
Once operated by Paramount Pictures Inc.
During the midnight hours of December 7, 1987, a 32-year-old Los Angeles man named Freddie Johns was in the middle of watching “Nuts” inside Screen 5 when a man was unexpected shot in the back by a lone gunman. The suspect escaped Screen 5 and went to Screen 3, where “The Running Man” was showing.
With the exception of the suspect, everybody at the UA Marina, including the remaining auditoriums that were screening “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” and “Fatal Attraction”, were forced to evacuate while the movies were still running. Johns was taken to UCLA Medical Center in good condition and was released.
This was taken four days before grand opening, on August 12, 1961.
On the evening of March 5, 1951, the State Theatre’s marquee crashed down to the sidewalk when the chains holding the outer end were loose, damaging the front of the theater. Luckily enough, nobody was caught in the fall, but there were reports that five young children were playing with the chains under it just before the crash. However, there was a narrow escape when a 4-year-old girl sustained slight bruises on her arm where the marquee fell. The large neon sign above it was also both damaged and broken.
I cannot confirm if this was separate, but this was most likely later known as the Main Theatre. However, there was a marquee incident that happened outside the theater.
Shortly before 6:45 PM on September 25, 1951, manager Leo Cane and his helper Beck Thompson decided that the neon sign spelling out “Main” needed to be both fixed and adjusted. With this in mind, the two climbed on top of the marquee and began the adjustments. Leo was sitting on top of the highest part of the sign and Bec was below steadying the sign when the cables ripped out, and marquee fell and crashed down to the ground. Luckily enough, both Leo and Beck were not seriously injured, but both had minor injuries. Beck had to have five stitches taken in a cut under his chin, and Leo had a deep gash in his hand. The marquee incident caused the show to postpone, with the damage costing $500 total.
One of the Carolina Theatre’s original managers is Emory Johnson, who at the age of 30, became a murderer after gunning down a 44-year-old textile worker named William Taft Hughes during a telephone argument on May 15, 1954, as confirmed by Gastonia police chief at the time G.F. Peninger.
Three days before JFK’s assassination on November 19, 1963, the original box office of the Grove Theater was severely damaged by a Chevrolet Bel-Air after the driver attempted to escape a runaway Meadow Gold Milk truck. Both the truck and the car suffered minor damages.
The driver of the milk truck confirmed that he did check the safety breaks after parking in front of Beck Apartments but left the motor running for a reason. For some weird reason, the brakes were released and the truck backed across Main Street, striking the Bel-Air, causing the Bel-Air to jump the curb and strike the tile front of the theater.
Shortly after its closure, the Queens Chapel’s original Century Model CC projectors, RCA sound, and RCA speakers were placed on auction on January 6, 1984.