Opening features on May 11, 1950 were Roy Rogers who appeared in person with “Bells of Coronado” supported by a newsreel, a Tom & Jerry cartoon in “Love That Pup,” the Tex Avery MGM cartoon classic, “Little Rural Riding Hood,” another Tom & Jerry, “The Lonesome Mouse,” the comedy short, “Grips, Grunts and Groans,” a travelogue, “From Liverpool to Stratford,” and the short, “This is America: State Trooper.”
Whittier Amusements launched the McNees Theatre (no apostrophe in McNees, btw) on July 31, 1929 with Monte Williams and the entire cast of “From Headquarters” in attendance for gala opening. Sound came from an RCA Photophone system. During construction it was apparent that Warner Bros. Circuit would be taking over the venue. That transfer took place just four months later on November 26, 1929 when the theatre was renamed the Warner Bros. Whittier Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Footlights and Fools.”
In September of 1936, Hugh W. Bruen acquired the Whittier, Wardman and Scenic theaters of Whittier and this venue was renamed the Whittier Theatre on October 7, 1936 and often Bruen’s Whittier Theatre.
The theatre was saved a reprieve from the wrecking ball at the 11th hour in January of 1987. However, an earthquake ended the hopes of saving the city’s last atmospheric theatre.
Technically, the theatre opened as the New Bellflower Theatre replacing the silent Bellflower Theatre less than a block away. The New Bellflower opened with Western Electric talkies and was designed by architect David S. Bushnell. Frank E. Woodruff of the local bank opened the venue on March 29, 1930 with L. E. Funk of the original Bellflower taking on the manager’s role. The Wheatland Construction Company built the venue.
The “New” was later dropped and Funk’s son, Jack, would run the Bellflower. As the close of a 20-year leasing agreement approached, the theatre would be redesigned as the Nubel Theatre getting a balcony with expanded seating at its relaunch in 1949.
The Bellflower Theatre bloomed on March 20, 1923 with Thomas Meighan in “Back Home or and Broke” supported by the Harold Lloyd short, “Look Out Below.” The theatre featured 50 loges and a quiet room where babies could be taken without missing the film. The well-placed and new Baldauf’s Sweet Shop was an original neighbor and was the de facto concession stand serving snacks and soft drinks. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Yarborough opened the venue though selling out to L.E. Funk in 1925.
The Bellflower, which remained silent, closed in March of 1930 when the New Bellflower Theatre opened on March 29. The original theatre was converted for other retail purposes. Funk would be the first manager of the New Bellflower turned Bellflower turned NuBel then, finally, the Holiday Theatre which has its own CinemaTreasures page.
James Edwards Theatres announced this project in January of 1940 in the trade press. It was a $100,000 project with plans from architect S. Charles Lee. The grand opening for the El Soreno Theatre took place on November 20, 1940 with Fred MacMurray of “Rangers of Fortune” supported by Rosiland Russell in “Hired Wife.” The theatre struggled closing as the El Sorerno on March 19, 1950 with “When Baby Smiles” and “Blood and Sand.” Became a short-lived place of worship in 1951 and a long running American Legion Hall.
In 1975, it was listed as Salon Mazatlan which is likely when the marquee got its name. It has since been used as a banquet and event hall more recently under names including the Eava and the Mazatlan. It was once auctioned off in a 1984 public sale and was an Indiegogo fundraising concept that does not appear to have reached its goal. This entry should definitely be the El Soreno Theatre.
The New Elysian Theatre launched on February 19, 1937 with “Come and Get It” and “Wanted: Jane Turner” with the Warner Bros. cartoon, “The CooCoo Nut Grove.”
The San Carlos became the New Lincoln Theatre on December 21, 1939 with “Fighting Gringo” supported by “Mickey, the Kid” and a “March of Time” newsreel and a Keeno jackpot of $70. The New Lincoln moniker failed and returned to the San Carlos nameplate on February 5, 1942. The theatre was closed in 1951 on November 15, 1951 for having unsafe projection equipment, improper fire doors and improper ventilation.
Pacific Coast Theatres Circuit opened the Arroyo Theatre on December 28, 1928 with Lon Chaney in “While the City Sleeps.” The venue featured a Robert Morton pipe organ with Walter Freed as its organist.
United theatre Circuit launched both the United Theatre in Pasadena and in Eagle Rock in October of 1922. The theatre closed during the warm summer months. It was taken on by the Eagle Rock Theatre Company retaining its United name. It closed for the season as the United Theatre one last time on June 18, 1926 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Gold Rush.
Operator John Sugar of the York Theatre installed a new pipe organ and Typhoon fan for year-round operation. It relaunched as Sugar’s Eagle Rock Theatre on October 14, 1926 with Douglas McLean in “Hold That Lion” supported by Ben Turpin in “When a Man is a Prince,” a newsreel and another short subject. Under new operators, the Sugar name was dropped with the theatre becoming the Eagle Rock Theatre.
Under yet new operators, the venue became the Sierra Theatre on November 6, 1936 with the films, “Texas Rangers” and “A Son Comes Home.” The Sierra closed after a double feature of “Tarzan and the Last Safari” and “Saucerman” on September 22, 1957.
The Boyd Theatre was originally known as the Moon Theatre. A live stage play opened the Moon on October 7, 1920. The venue added sound kin 1929 to remain viable. W.H. Bradstreet and R.P. Jones took on the venue on September 22, 1934 renaming it as the Boyd Theatre with Janet Gaynor in “Change of Heart.” In 1955, the theatre was equipped with widescreen projection to project CinemaScope films. The Boyd theatre was still in operation in the 1970s.
Lynch residents first had motion pictures in 1908. By 1910, the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Hall which housed the IOOF Opera House - also called the Lynch Opera House - began showing movies twice a week. In 1915, Anton Wasatako subleased the IOOF Hall equipping it with a permanent projection system when he operated the hall as a movie theater three nights a week.
Bert Redmond of the Velda Thatre in Fairfax, South Dakota, took on the operation changing the Opera House/Hall’s name to the Velda Theatre on July 10, 1920 with Constance Talmadge in “Two Weeks” (though with Sam Alberts running the venue). The theatre was equipped for sound to stay viable and still was used by the IOOF as the Velda operated just four days a week.
John Blair took on the operation on April 11, 1936 renaming the venue as the Lynch Theatre with the film, “China Seas.” The Lynch Theatre continued through shows of June 26, 1954 closing with “The Charge at Feather River.” The theater was essentially replaced by the new-build Lynn Theatre which had launched in June of 1954.
This theatre was announced in 1930 by former Ideal Theatre owner George Luce who announced that he would convert the existing skating rink in downtown Morrill’s Stearns Building to a movie house. A naming contest was held and Delmar was selected as its name in time for the opening on April 19, 1930. The town’s only other movie theater, the aforementioned Ideal, had closed in March of 1930 and was converted to a grocery store. The Delmar experience improved when the venue was equipped with a new projection system in 1939.
Galen Smith closed the Delmar in 1942 for a major streamlined refresh bringing about a “bullet shaped auditorium” bathed in turquoise, brown and gold with a sunburst ceiling design. Neon signage lit the new-look Delmar which relaunched July 18, 1942 with the Gene Autry film,“Heart of the Rio Grande.” Ed Arnold of Los Angeles performed the mural work as he had at venues including Scottsbluff’s Egyptian Theatre and Carig, Colorado’s West Theatre.
The Delmar struggled in the late 1960s and closed in December of 1968. It briefly opened showing only Spanish language films and closed again briefly. It re-emerged a month after its 40th anniversary at a relaunch with English language films on Friday and Spanish language films on Saturday and Sunday. Its reopening film on May 22, 1970 was “The Big Gun Down.” The theatre appears to have closed on June 28, 1970.
Burtz & Koyen launched the Lyric Theatre in the Pacific Building on September 25, 1907 as the first dedicated movie theater in Norfolk playing 200 feet of film. The theatre converted to sound to stay viable.
Commonwealth Theatres took on the venue in 1933 giving it a major transformation and improved sound system and renaming it the Rialto at a grand reopening on June 7, 1933 with Laurel & Hardy in “The Devil’s Brother” supported by a Hearst newsreel. When the Rialto closed, it appears that the nameplate was transferred to the Grand Theatre.
Howard Schinn launched the Crystal Theater on January 20, 1909 in an existing building adjoining the Queen Hotel. The 350-seat theater was the second movie theater in downtown Norfolk following the Lyric. Due to lack of electricity, the Crystal operated its theater including the projectors with gas at opening. Five operators later, the Crystal closed on July 30, 1914. In 1915, it was retrofitted for a cafe.
The Grand Theatre was built in 1920 launching for Dan Craven on January 13, 1921. A Robert Morgan pipe organ was installed four months later. The Grand installed sound to stay viable. The New Grand Theatre relaunched March 24, 1935 with Will Rogers in “Life Begins at 40.” Paramount Publix held the lease of the theater briefly before selling it. When the Rialto closed, its name was apparently then moved to the Grand.
The Spanish architecture of the Granada Theatre is why its name was selected over 127 others submitted by Norfolkans. Elbert B. Watson was the architect of the project. The Granada launched April 16, 1927 for the Hostettler Amusement Circuit with a big, six unit show. It began with Virginia Witkowsky at the Kilgen Wonder Organ. The big finale was the night’s feature with Laura LaPlante in “The Love Thrill” supported by a newsreel, Bobby Vernon in the Christie comedy short, “Jailbirders,” and live music and vaudeville.
The theatre converted to sound in the Fall of 1928 to remain viable. Paramount Publix operated the theatre in the 1930s. After several operators, the Granada closed at the end of its lease in 1977.
The cornerstone of the Temple Theatre was laid on November 7, 1908. That ceremony included a parade and attendance by “thousands” according to local reportage. The Temple Theatre then opened with a stage presentation of “A Girl at the Helm” on October 19, 1909. In 1927, the theatre received a major makeover and a grand relaunch positioned as a dedicated movie theater.
Fox West Coast purchased the Temple and World in 1929 and changed the Temple to the Fox Temple on January 1930. A lawsuit and some form of transfer of ownership took place but the theatre effectively remained in the Fox family. In May of 1948, the theatre was downgraded to twice a week operation on Saturday and Sunday only. On December 5, 1948, a fire damaged the building leading to a complete remodeling job.
The theatre was repaired and relaunched for Fox Intermountain as the Bison Theatre on July 26, 1950 with “Wagonmaster.” The remodel was designed by architect Charles D. Strong. Fox dropped the theater on December 22, 1954. Cinema Amusement Company of Glen Rock led by Carlin Smith took on the venue in January of 1955.
H.E. Brookings took on the World War I era Liberty Theatre and gave it a streamline makeover and new name relaunching May 28, 1937 as the Chief Theatre
Opening features on May 11, 1950 were Roy Rogers who appeared in person with “Bells of Coronado” supported by a newsreel, a Tom & Jerry cartoon in “Love That Pup,” the Tex Avery MGM cartoon classic, “Little Rural Riding Hood,” another Tom & Jerry, “The Lonesome Mouse,” the comedy short, “Grips, Grunts and Groans,” a travelogue, “From Liverpool to Stratford,” and the short, “This is America: State Trooper.”
Whittier Amusements launched the McNees Theatre (no apostrophe in McNees, btw) on July 31, 1929 with Monte Williams and the entire cast of “From Headquarters” in attendance for gala opening. Sound came from an RCA Photophone system. During construction it was apparent that Warner Bros. Circuit would be taking over the venue. That transfer took place just four months later on November 26, 1929 when the theatre was renamed the Warner Bros. Whittier Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Footlights and Fools.”
In September of 1936, Hugh W. Bruen acquired the Whittier, Wardman and Scenic theaters of Whittier and this venue was renamed the Whittier Theatre on October 7, 1936 and often Bruen’s Whittier Theatre.
The theatre was saved a reprieve from the wrecking ball at the 11th hour in January of 1987. However, an earthquake ended the hopes of saving the city’s last atmospheric theatre.
Technically, the theatre opened as the New Bellflower Theatre replacing the silent Bellflower Theatre less than a block away. The New Bellflower opened with Western Electric talkies and was designed by architect David S. Bushnell. Frank E. Woodruff of the local bank opened the venue on March 29, 1930 with L. E. Funk of the original Bellflower taking on the manager’s role. The Wheatland Construction Company built the venue.
The “New” was later dropped and Funk’s son, Jack, would run the Bellflower. As the close of a 20-year leasing agreement approached, the theatre would be redesigned as the Nubel Theatre getting a balcony with expanded seating at its relaunch in 1949.
The Bellflower Theatre bloomed on March 20, 1923 with Thomas Meighan in “Back Home or and Broke” supported by the Harold Lloyd short, “Look Out Below.” The theatre featured 50 loges and a quiet room where babies could be taken without missing the film. The well-placed and new Baldauf’s Sweet Shop was an original neighbor and was the de facto concession stand serving snacks and soft drinks. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Yarborough opened the venue though selling out to L.E. Funk in 1925.
The Bellflower, which remained silent, closed in March of 1930 when the New Bellflower Theatre opened on March 29. The original theatre was converted for other retail purposes. Funk would be the first manager of the New Bellflower turned Bellflower turned NuBel then, finally, the Holiday Theatre which has its own CinemaTreasures page.
Architect: M. Eugene Darfee of Anaheim
James Edwards Theatres announced this project in January of 1940 in the trade press. It was a $100,000 project with plans from architect S. Charles Lee. The grand opening for the El Soreno Theatre took place on November 20, 1940 with Fred MacMurray of “Rangers of Fortune” supported by Rosiland Russell in “Hired Wife.” The theatre struggled closing as the El Sorerno on March 19, 1950 with “When Baby Smiles” and “Blood and Sand.” Became a short-lived place of worship in 1951 and a long running American Legion Hall.
In 1975, it was listed as Salon Mazatlan which is likely when the marquee got its name. It has since been used as a banquet and event hall more recently under names including the Eava and the Mazatlan. It was once auctioned off in a 1984 public sale and was an Indiegogo fundraising concept that does not appear to have reached its goal. This entry should definitely be the El Soreno Theatre.
The New Elysian Theatre launched on February 19, 1937 with “Come and Get It” and “Wanted: Jane Turner” with the Warner Bros. cartoon, “The CooCoo Nut Grove.”
The San Carlos became the New Lincoln Theatre on December 21, 1939 with “Fighting Gringo” supported by “Mickey, the Kid” and a “March of Time” newsreel and a Keeno jackpot of $70. The New Lincoln moniker failed and returned to the San Carlos nameplate on February 5, 1942. The theatre was closed in 1951 on November 15, 1951 for having unsafe projection equipment, improper fire doors and improper ventilation.
Closed as a movie theatre on May 19, 1957 with a great double-feature of “Zombies of Mora Tau” and “The Man Who Turned to Stone.”
Pacific Coast Theatres Circuit opened the Arroyo Theatre on December 28, 1928 with Lon Chaney in “While the City Sleeps.” The venue featured a Robert Morton pipe organ with Walter Freed as its organist.
United theatre Circuit launched both the United Theatre in Pasadena and in Eagle Rock in October of 1922. The theatre closed during the warm summer months. It was taken on by the Eagle Rock Theatre Company retaining its United name. It closed for the season as the United Theatre one last time on June 18, 1926 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Gold Rush.
Operator John Sugar of the York Theatre installed a new pipe organ and Typhoon fan for year-round operation. It relaunched as Sugar’s Eagle Rock Theatre on October 14, 1926 with Douglas McLean in “Hold That Lion” supported by Ben Turpin in “When a Man is a Prince,” a newsreel and another short subject. Under new operators, the Sugar name was dropped with the theatre becoming the Eagle Rock Theatre.
Under yet new operators, the venue became the Sierra Theatre on November 6, 1936 with the films, “Texas Rangers” and “A Son Comes Home.” The Sierra closed after a double feature of “Tarzan and the Last Safari” and “Saucerman” on September 22, 1957.
Awesome!
The Edina Cinema closed for the COVID-19 pandemic n March 16, 2020. Landmark Theatres announced in May of 2021 that the closure would be permanent.
The Boyd Theatre was originally known as the Moon Theatre. A live stage play opened the Moon on October 7, 1920. The venue added sound kin 1929 to remain viable. W.H. Bradstreet and R.P. Jones took on the venue on September 22, 1934 renaming it as the Boyd Theatre with Janet Gaynor in “Change of Heart.” In 1955, the theatre was equipped with widescreen projection to project CinemaScope films. The Boyd theatre was still in operation in the 1970s.
Lynch residents first had motion pictures in 1908. By 1910, the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Hall which housed the IOOF Opera House - also called the Lynch Opera House - began showing movies twice a week. In 1915, Anton Wasatako subleased the IOOF Hall equipping it with a permanent projection system when he operated the hall as a movie theater three nights a week.
Bert Redmond of the Velda Thatre in Fairfax, South Dakota, took on the operation changing the Opera House/Hall’s name to the Velda Theatre on July 10, 1920 with Constance Talmadge in “Two Weeks” (though with Sam Alberts running the venue). The theatre was equipped for sound to stay viable and still was used by the IOOF as the Velda operated just four days a week.
John Blair took on the operation on April 11, 1936 renaming the venue as the Lynch Theatre with the film, “China Seas.” The Lynch Theatre continued through shows of June 26, 1954 closing with “The Charge at Feather River.” The theater was essentially replaced by the new-build Lynn Theatre which had launched in June of 1954.
Closed permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic
This theatre was announced in 1930 by former Ideal Theatre owner George Luce who announced that he would convert the existing skating rink in downtown Morrill’s Stearns Building to a movie house. A naming contest was held and Delmar was selected as its name in time for the opening on April 19, 1930. The town’s only other movie theater, the aforementioned Ideal, had closed in March of 1930 and was converted to a grocery store. The Delmar experience improved when the venue was equipped with a new projection system in 1939.
Galen Smith closed the Delmar in 1942 for a major streamlined refresh bringing about a “bullet shaped auditorium” bathed in turquoise, brown and gold with a sunburst ceiling design. Neon signage lit the new-look Delmar which relaunched July 18, 1942 with the Gene Autry film,“Heart of the Rio Grande.” Ed Arnold of Los Angeles performed the mural work as he had at venues including Scottsbluff’s Egyptian Theatre and Carig, Colorado’s West Theatre.
The Delmar struggled in the late 1960s and closed in December of 1968. It briefly opened showing only Spanish language films and closed again briefly. It re-emerged a month after its 40th anniversary at a relaunch with English language films on Friday and Spanish language films on Saturday and Sunday. Its reopening film on May 22, 1970 was “The Big Gun Down.” The theatre appears to have closed on June 28, 1970.
four walls
Burtz & Koyen launched the Lyric Theatre in the Pacific Building on September 25, 1907 as the first dedicated movie theater in Norfolk playing 200 feet of film. The theatre converted to sound to stay viable.
Commonwealth Theatres took on the venue in 1933 giving it a major transformation and improved sound system and renaming it the Rialto at a grand reopening on June 7, 1933 with Laurel & Hardy in “The Devil’s Brother” supported by a Hearst newsreel. When the Rialto closed, it appears that the nameplate was transferred to the Grand Theatre.
Howard Schinn launched the Crystal Theater on January 20, 1909 in an existing building adjoining the Queen Hotel. The 350-seat theater was the second movie theater in downtown Norfolk following the Lyric. Due to lack of electricity, the Crystal operated its theater including the projectors with gas at opening. Five operators later, the Crystal closed on July 30, 1914. In 1915, it was retrofitted for a cafe.
The Grand Theatre was built in 1920 launching for Dan Craven on January 13, 1921. A Robert Morgan pipe organ was installed four months later. The Grand installed sound to stay viable. The New Grand Theatre relaunched March 24, 1935 with Will Rogers in “Life Begins at 40.” Paramount Publix held the lease of the theater briefly before selling it. When the Rialto closed, its name was apparently then moved to the Grand.
The Spanish architecture of the Granada Theatre is why its name was selected over 127 others submitted by Norfolkans. Elbert B. Watson was the architect of the project. The Granada launched April 16, 1927 for the Hostettler Amusement Circuit with a big, six unit show. It began with Virginia Witkowsky at the Kilgen Wonder Organ. The big finale was the night’s feature with Laura LaPlante in “The Love Thrill” supported by a newsreel, Bobby Vernon in the Christie comedy short, “Jailbirders,” and live music and vaudeville.
The theatre converted to sound in the Fall of 1928 to remain viable. Paramount Publix operated the theatre in the 1930s. After several operators, the Granada closed at the end of its lease in 1977.
The cornerstone of the Temple Theatre was laid on November 7, 1908. That ceremony included a parade and attendance by “thousands” according to local reportage. The Temple Theatre then opened with a stage presentation of “A Girl at the Helm” on October 19, 1909. In 1927, the theatre received a major makeover and a grand relaunch positioned as a dedicated movie theater.
Fox West Coast purchased the Temple and World in 1929 and changed the Temple to the Fox Temple on January 1930. A lawsuit and some form of transfer of ownership took place but the theatre effectively remained in the Fox family. In May of 1948, the theatre was downgraded to twice a week operation on Saturday and Sunday only. On December 5, 1948, a fire damaged the building leading to a complete remodeling job.
The theatre was repaired and relaunched for Fox Intermountain as the Bison Theatre on July 26, 1950 with “Wagonmaster.” The remodel was designed by architect Charles D. Strong. Fox dropped the theater on December 22, 1954. Cinema Amusement Company of Glen Rock led by Carlin Smith took on the venue in January of 1955.
H.E. Brookings took on the World War I era Liberty Theatre and gave it a streamline makeover and new name relaunching May 28, 1937 as the Chief Theatre
Architect was Vernon E. Cheney with the theatre launching on November 21, 1939 with Gloria Jean in “The Under-Pup.”