The Llano and the Liberty Theatre are actually two different movie theaters in Plains. The Liberty, which opened as the Green Room Theatre, continued to operate for a little longer right after the Llano Theatre’s opening in early-1951. The Liberty will have its own CT page soon.
Unfortunately a fire destroyed the Llano in 1954 and was rebuilt that same year, housing 250 seats in a 24x57ft auditorium, Vocalite screen, chartreuse monks cloth walls, and a mixture of deep forest green and bright yellow melba plush backgrounds. The number of seats has been downgraded to 130.
The Palace Theatre opened its doors on June 2, 1917. Some original features as of 1917 include ivory and old rose color scheme, old rose draperies, 8ft marble wainscoting tile for the lobby, and a 11x14ft screen. The Palace closed on June 20, 1955 with Dick Powell in “Susan Slept Here” (unknown if extras added) when the Villa Theatre opened ten days later.
This opened as early as 1934. There is also another theater in Ekalaka called the Playhouse Theatre but I cannot confirm if that is the same theater or not.
Actual closing date is October 31, 1917 with the final chapter of “The Voice Of The Wire” and three episodes of “The Mystery Solved”. The closure of the Colonial also left Oshkosh without a vaudeville house.
This opened as the Eureka Theater on May 18, 1919 with “The Better Ole” (unknown if extras added). It was renamed the Rex Theatre in 1924 and was destroyed by a fire on April 11, 1928. Incendiary started the blaze with the screen and stage area having the most damage. The fire also destroyed its curtains. The fire happened after managers G.R. Cummins and L.E. Boucher left the theater for the night, everything off but the front doors were mistakenly left open. After returning the next morning, they smelled smoke. Boucher made its way through a back door but found it unfastened with a steel pry against the door from the outside making it difficult to open.
The Rex reopened the following year in 1929 and was renamed the Uptown Theatre on August 31, 1930.
Opened on September 17, 1933 with Phil Harris in “Melody Cruise” along with an unnamed Silly Symphony, unnamed comedy, and Paramount News. There is also an earlier Rose Theatre at a different location.
The Orpheum Theatre was renamed the State Theatre in Early 1931, and was renamed the Park Theatre on September 10, 1937 shortly after the newer State Theatre opened nearby.
Dallas, I have a question. Do you know any movie theaters that actually did suffer more than two fires on the same day? Because I thought a theater suffering two fires within hours apart is actually very rare for a movie theater’s tragic part of history.
Correction: This first softly opened on January 18, 1974 with “American Graffiti”, with the official grand opening happening on January 25, 1974 with “The Way We Were”.
The Llano and the Liberty Theatre are actually two different movie theaters in Plains. The Liberty, which opened as the Green Room Theatre, continued to operate for a little longer right after the Llano Theatre’s opening in early-1951. The Liberty will have its own CT page soon.
Unfortunately a fire destroyed the Llano in 1954 and was rebuilt that same year, housing 250 seats in a 24x57ft auditorium, Vocalite screen, chartreuse monks cloth walls, and a mixture of deep forest green and bright yellow melba plush backgrounds. The number of seats has been downgraded to 130.
The Palace Theatre opened its doors on June 2, 1917. Some original features as of 1917 include ivory and old rose color scheme, old rose draperies, 8ft marble wainscoting tile for the lobby, and a 11x14ft screen. The Palace closed on June 20, 1955 with Dick Powell in “Susan Slept Here” (unknown if extras added) when the Villa Theatre opened ten days later.
Opened with Ma and Pa Kettle in “Ricochet Romance” along with a few unnamed cartoons and comedies.
Opened with Jane Powell in “Seven Brides For Seven Brothers” (unknown if extras added).
Opened as early as 1923.
This opened as early as 1934. There is also another theater in Ekalaka called the Playhouse Theatre but I cannot confirm if that is the same theater or not.
Closed on August 1, 1947.
Yeah. I forgot about that.
It never closed by December 1958. The theater continued operating for another two decades.
Actual closing date is October 31, 1917 with the final chapter of “The Voice Of The Wire” and three episodes of “The Mystery Solved”. The closure of the Colonial also left Oshkosh without a vaudeville house.
Edited from my October 8, 2022 (1:11 PM) comment:
Actual closing date is November 25, 1979 with “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t”, “North Dallas Forty”, and “Heaven Can Wait”.
Closed as a movie theater on October 27, 1991 with Disney’s “Fantasia” in Screen 1 and “Regarding Henry” in Screen 2.
This opened as the Eureka Theater on May 18, 1919 with “The Better Ole” (unknown if extras added). It was renamed the Rex Theatre in 1924 and was destroyed by a fire on April 11, 1928. Incendiary started the blaze with the screen and stage area having the most damage. The fire also destroyed its curtains. The fire happened after managers G.R. Cummins and L.E. Boucher left the theater for the night, everything off but the front doors were mistakenly left open. After returning the next morning, they smelled smoke. Boucher made its way through a back door but found it unfastened with a steel pry against the door from the outside making it difficult to open.
The Rex reopened the following year in 1929 and was renamed the Uptown Theatre on August 31, 1930.
Opened on September 17, 1933 with Phil Harris in “Melody Cruise” along with an unnamed Silly Symphony, unnamed comedy, and Paramount News. There is also an earlier Rose Theatre at a different location.
Opened on July 20, 1950 with Robert Preston in “Sundowners” (unknown if extras added).
This opened in 1937 as a relocation from the earlier State Theatre that later became the Park Theatre. I cannot find its exact opening date.
The Orpheum Theatre was renamed the State Theatre in Early 1931, and was renamed the Park Theatre on September 10, 1937 shortly after the newer State Theatre opened nearby.
Looks like the marquee was still under construction that night.
Opened with Wheeler & Wooley in “Cracked Nuts” along with the Bosko Looney Tunes cartoon “Yodeling Yokels” and the Bobby Jones comedy “The Putter”.
That’s the most weirdest drive-in screen I’ve ever seen…
Dallas, I have a question. Do you know any movie theaters that actually did suffer more than two fires on the same day? Because I thought a theater suffering two fires within hours apart is actually very rare for a movie theater’s tragic part of history.
Correction: This first softly opened on January 18, 1974 with “American Graffiti”, with the official grand opening happening on January 25, 1974 with “The Way We Were”.
Current function is first-run.
Current function is first-run.
Current function is first-run.