Yes – and technically I uploaded this image before the other member on a nearby theatre page because the Grand didn’t exist in the database when I posted it and requested this theatre be added to the database.
A workflow that I’ve adopted is to post the picture for a theater not in the database on a nearby theatre’s page and then move the photo once the theater comes into the database. But sometimes a theater comes in and I don’t see it right away. I would say that well over 8,700 pictures of the 9,100 (+95%) photos I’ve posted reside in the proper theatre page. If that’s not good enough for the user community, so be it.
My thanks to Ken R. and the gang for being so proactive in adding theaters and updating factual content. The site gets better every day thanks to their work!
Architected by the firm of Lawrie and Green – Ritchie Lawrie and M. Edwin Green – opening day for the New Bradford Theatre was December 25, 1935. It included a visit from the reigning Miss America as well as a short she starred in and the film, “$1,000 a Minute.”
The original 237-seat Home Theatre opened at 109 S. Range Street in July of 1922 according to its operators, Price & Dalrymple. Thomas J. Price took on the theatre without Dalyrymple in 1931. In March of 1944, the first Home Theatre was destroyed in a fire. Free films were shown outside near that location while the new Home Theatre was under consideration for a potential rebuild. Despite the War and associated material shortages, the building’s owner, Guy Flick and Price got Governmental approval to rebuild the Home.
The new Home Theatre was constructed at the same location as the original opening in April of 1945 at 109 S. Range. It appears to have fulfilled a 20-year lease before closing. The space was repurposed for other retail interests with the building surviving into the 21st Century.
The 41-year old Fairy Theatre & Airdrome closed on August 26, 1951 after showings of “Rawhide” and “I’d Climb the Highest Mountain.” The next two ads were “Closed for Repairs” and “Building for Sale.” Less than a year later, it became a garage. (The technically correct name is the Fairy Theatre & Airdrome.)
In May of 1921, Herb Engelbrecht built the 325 seat Mars Theatre. Operating three days a week, the Mars appears to have launched in March of 1922. With its Powers 6B projectors, gold fibre screen and Pianola, it is very likely that the Mars became the Snyder Theatre.
The Rialto Theatre opened in 1926 as a completely open air facility with Spanish Atmospheric architecture doing live vaudeville. Four recessed bells carried out the Spanish Cathedral feel. Within two years, the film portion of presentations is what people wanted to see and the Edison became an Airdrome (not a drive-in) with far more architectural style than similar facilities. The Rialto struggled, closing during the Depression.
But John A. Cunningham took on the closed theater re-opening as the Edison Theatre and enclosing half of the auditorium now with 400 open air seats and 500 under a roof (see picture in Photos). With palm trees on each side of the theater, natural air, 100% smoker seating, and view to the sky, the Edison was truly a unique hybrid facility in the U.S. Charles O. Ozburn continued with the Edison to its closure in the 1950s as television and shifting populations took their toll on theaters.
I believe the theatre can be listed as demolished for all intense and purposes.
This theatre was conceptualized in 1917 with plans and construction beginning in 1919 as the Loew’s Indiana Theatre project. Loew would change the name to Loew’s State during construction which finished a year behind schedule. The circuit began a 99-year lease in 1919 finally opening Valentine’s Day, 1921 with a parade as the Loew’s State Theater. B.F. Keith took over the year-old theatre on September 20, 1922 on a sublease from Loew’s and the theater became the Palace Theatre just five days later (grand opening ad in photos).
Keith closed its Palace on July 30, 1927 as Keith moved its combination vaudeville/movies concept to a nearby theater. With the lease back in Loew’s control and 91 years remaining on its lease, it announced In December of 1927 that it would reopen the following March. Le6hich would become the Loew’s Palace on March 3, 1928.
Loew’s dropped “Palace” continuing as Loew’s Theater until urban development occurred all around it in the 1960s. Needing a new parking garage, the Loew’s site was purchased with the theater closing on April 12, 1970 with “What Do You Say to a Naked Lady.” Famed demolitionist Edward J. Zebrowski — the “Big Z” — was brought in to strip the building which he sold in a tag sale and, then, finally at an auction. The theater was torn down weeks later joining the parking garage brigade.
CORRECTION: Address: 99 Main Street. New Salem, PA 15468
Ads in February 1928 list seats and equipment for sale likely spelling the end of the line for the Liberty Theatre which didn’t appear to make the transition to sound.
This was part of the infamous Tony Rand Theatres Circuit launching as Loehmann’s Plaza V in December of 1986 and renamed with the center to the Market Street Cinema. Rand Theatres were accused of not paying proper revenue to all major studios late in 1989 leaving them with the oddest bookings from studios who are largely forgotten today. The Market Street closed in December of that year playing just one film – unable to get product for its other four screens – as the entire 126 screen circuit was shuttered for non-payment of taxes. The theatre had a good run as an art house following a budget theatre run.
Launched with the film, “The Brat” on February 3, 1920. Ad in photos. Architected by Frederick G. Mueller. Bernard Cowham played the $10,000 Bartola Symphonic concert organ along with regular organist Will Lebo.
Opened as the Dickinson Theatre. Glen Klock took over in 1932 changing it to the Klock Theatre. The Klock closed in 1961with seats sold in a classified ad and the theatre repurposed for other retail ventures.
Opened as the Lincoln Theatre in 1914 likely on a 15-year lease by Heny Gauding. He neither renews nor converts the theatre to sound. New operator – likely on a 25-year lease – changes the theatre to an African American sound theatre, the Washington Theatre closing in 1949. The building is repurposed for other retail including a fruit stand by the mid-1950s. Even if it were the Glade briefly, the theatre should be known as the long-running African American house, the Washington Theatre.
The Fair Ground Drive-In Theatre’s grand opening pictures are in photos. Architect was Meyer VeShancey and built by Branna Construction. The $500,000 facility had space for 1,000 cars at opening. The theatre had 70mm capability with Bauer-NTS projectors with Ashcraft Super Cinex lamps with pole-mounted stereo speakers. The tower measured 120' wide by 75' high. “Ask Any Girl” was the first movie for the Gabriel G. Rubin-led Fair Ground D-I.
Built in 1907 and launched June 9, 1907 as the Wizard Theatre with A. Lowther Forrest as architect. The Wizard lasts just two years in this location before moving to its third location. This theater is advertised simply as the 31 West Lexington Theatre briefly in 1910 before becoming the Picture Garden Theater. At just over ten years, the Picture Garden was the longest-running theater operation in the location.
In July of 1938, Max Cohen – former operator of the Leader Theatre – and Buddy Silverberg open the 31 Lexington facility as the Lexway Theatre showing exploitation and independent films. In December of 1941, the Lexway is sold to Sam Soltz for $90,000 where it shows second and third run films. In May of 1942, Sherrill Cohen purchases the Lexway from Soltz and it’s converted to the Newsreel Theatre during the War years. It appears to be the lesser of Baltimore’s two newsreel theaters. After the newsreel interest wains following the war, Newsreel Corp. Circuit changes it briefly to the Vogue Theatre.
An auspicious moment for the Vogue occurs in May of 1946 when manager Helen Ford is up in the projection booth only to fall through the rotting floor and onto the ledge of the balcony. Just inches more and Ford would have fallen on top of patrons seated on the main floor. She quit the theatre. When the Vogue struggles to find an audience, Newsreel Circuit subleases it to the fledgling Laffmovie Circuit of James Mage in 1946 which had just three theaters in New York, Boston, and Baltimore.This was a circuit targeting a children’s audience showing comedies from the 1930s and cartoons continuously as a grindhouse. The lobby had distorting mirrors often found in amusement parks to get interest. It begins in March of 1947. When that fails, it likely reverts to the previous operator which labels it first the World Theatre and then the Fine Arts Theatre, an arthouse that appears to the final curtain.
The theater’s downturn and general business district malaise led the Committee for Downtown and the Greater Baltimore Committee to adopt an urban development plan called the Charles Center. The 50-year old 31 West Lexington property was targeted. The west Lexington street was blocked off to vehicular traffic, and the Wizard Theatre / 31 West Lexington Theatre / Picture Garden Theater / Lexway Theater / Newsreel Theatre / Vogue Theatre / Laffmovie / World Theatre / Fine Arts Theatre was demolished.
Yes – and technically I uploaded this image before the other member on a nearby theatre page because the Grand didn’t exist in the database when I posted it and requested this theatre be added to the database.
A workflow that I’ve adopted is to post the picture for a theater not in the database on a nearby theatre’s page and then move the photo once the theater comes into the database. But sometimes a theater comes in and I don’t see it right away. I would say that well over 8,700 pictures of the 9,100 (+95%) photos I’ve posted reside in the proper theatre page. If that’s not good enough for the user community, so be it.
My thanks to Ken R. and the gang for being so proactive in adding theaters and updating factual content. The site gets better every day thanks to their work!
Architected by the firm of Lawrie and Green – Ritchie Lawrie and M. Edwin Green – opening day for the New Bradford Theatre was December 25, 1935. It included a visit from the reigning Miss America as well as a short she starred in and the film, “$1,000 a Minute.”
The original 237-seat Home Theatre opened at 109 S. Range Street in July of 1922 according to its operators, Price & Dalrymple. Thomas J. Price took on the theatre without Dalyrymple in 1931. In March of 1944, the first Home Theatre was destroyed in a fire. Free films were shown outside near that location while the new Home Theatre was under consideration for a potential rebuild. Despite the War and associated material shortages, the building’s owner, Guy Flick and Price got Governmental approval to rebuild the Home.
The new Home Theatre was constructed at the same location as the original opening in April of 1945 at 109 S. Range. It appears to have fulfilled a 20-year lease before closing. The space was repurposed for other retail interests with the building surviving into the 21st Century.
The 41-year old Fairy Theatre & Airdrome closed on August 26, 1951 after showings of “Rawhide” and “I’d Climb the Highest Mountain.” The next two ads were “Closed for Repairs” and “Building for Sale.” Less than a year later, it became a garage. (The technically correct name is the Fairy Theatre & Airdrome.)
In May of 1921, Herb Engelbrecht built the 325 seat Mars Theatre. Operating three days a week, the Mars appears to have launched in March of 1922. With its Powers 6B projectors, gold fibre screen and Pianola, it is very likely that the Mars became the Snyder Theatre.
The Rialto Theatre opened in 1926 as a completely open air facility with Spanish Atmospheric architecture doing live vaudeville. Four recessed bells carried out the Spanish Cathedral feel. Within two years, the film portion of presentations is what people wanted to see and the Edison became an Airdrome (not a drive-in) with far more architectural style than similar facilities. The Rialto struggled, closing during the Depression.
But John A. Cunningham took on the closed theater re-opening as the Edison Theatre and enclosing half of the auditorium now with 400 open air seats and 500 under a roof (see picture in Photos). With palm trees on each side of the theater, natural air, 100% smoker seating, and view to the sky, the Edison was truly a unique hybrid facility in the U.S. Charles O. Ozburn continued with the Edison to its closure in the 1950s as television and shifting populations took their toll on theaters.
I believe the theatre can be listed as demolished for all intense and purposes.
F. Earl Deloe architectural sketch in photos.
This theatre was conceptualized in 1917 with plans and construction beginning in 1919 as the Loew’s Indiana Theatre project. Loew would change the name to Loew’s State during construction which finished a year behind schedule. The circuit began a 99-year lease in 1919 finally opening Valentine’s Day, 1921 with a parade as the Loew’s State Theater. B.F. Keith took over the year-old theatre on September 20, 1922 on a sublease from Loew’s and the theater became the Palace Theatre just five days later (grand opening ad in photos).
Keith closed its Palace on July 30, 1927 as Keith moved its combination vaudeville/movies concept to a nearby theater. With the lease back in Loew’s control and 91 years remaining on its lease, it announced In December of 1927 that it would reopen the following March. Le6hich would become the Loew’s Palace on March 3, 1928.
Loew’s dropped “Palace” continuing as Loew’s Theater until urban development occurred all around it in the 1960s. Needing a new parking garage, the Loew’s site was purchased with the theater closing on April 12, 1970 with “What Do You Say to a Naked Lady.” Famed demolitionist Edward J. Zebrowski — the “Big Z” — was brought in to strip the building which he sold in a tag sale and, then, finally at an auction. The theater was torn down weeks later joining the parking garage brigade.
Sorry… that’s the old look Strand in 1946.
The theatre launched February 24, 1923 with the film, “Jazzmania.” A $22,000Hope Jones organ was there at the opening.
December 16, 1920
CORRECTION: Address: 99 Main Street. New Salem, PA 15468
Ads in February 1928 list seats and equipment for sale likely spelling the end of the line for the Liberty Theatre which didn’t appear to make the transition to sound.
Correction: Ray A. Grombacher (not Roy)
Correction: that’s Harlan’s Lyric Theatre
This was part of the infamous Tony Rand Theatres Circuit launching as Loehmann’s Plaza V in December of 1986 and renamed with the center to the Market Street Cinema. Rand Theatres were accused of not paying proper revenue to all major studios late in 1989 leaving them with the oddest bookings from studios who are largely forgotten today. The Market Street closed in December of that year playing just one film – unable to get product for its other four screens – as the entire 126 screen circuit was shuttered for non-payment of taxes. The theatre had a good run as an art house following a budget theatre run.
Launched with the film, “The Brat” on February 3, 1920. Ad in photos. Architected by Frederick G. Mueller. Bernard Cowham played the $10,000 Bartola Symphonic concert organ along with regular organist Will Lebo.
Opened as the Dickinson Theatre. Glen Klock took over in 1932 changing it to the Klock Theatre. The Klock closed in 1961with seats sold in a classified ad and the theatre repurposed for other retail ventures.
My error – “Daytime Wives” is the feature
Opened as the Lincoln Theatre in 1914 likely on a 15-year lease by Heny Gauding. He neither renews nor converts the theatre to sound. New operator – likely on a 25-year lease – changes the theatre to an African American sound theatre, the Washington Theatre closing in 1949. The building is repurposed for other retail including a fruit stand by the mid-1950s. Even if it were the Glade briefly, the theatre should be known as the long-running African American house, the Washington Theatre.
The Fair Ground Drive-In Theatre’s grand opening pictures are in photos. Architect was Meyer VeShancey and built by Branna Construction. The $500,000 facility had space for 1,000 cars at opening. The theatre had 70mm capability with Bauer-NTS projectors with Ashcraft Super Cinex lamps with pole-mounted stereo speakers. The tower measured 120' wide by 75' high. “Ask Any Girl” was the first movie for the Gabriel G. Rubin-led Fair Ground D-I.
Architect John J. McNamara handled the 1959 modernization. Some interior shots are in photos from the December 17, 1959 reboot of the Astor.
John and Drew Eberson architectural sketch circa 1955 in photos.
Became the Liberty Theatre at the end of WWI in 1918.
Built in 1907 and launched June 9, 1907 as the Wizard Theatre with A. Lowther Forrest as architect. The Wizard lasts just two years in this location before moving to its third location. This theater is advertised simply as the 31 West Lexington Theatre briefly in 1910 before becoming the Picture Garden Theater. At just over ten years, the Picture Garden was the longest-running theater operation in the location.
In July of 1938, Max Cohen – former operator of the Leader Theatre – and Buddy Silverberg open the 31 Lexington facility as the Lexway Theatre showing exploitation and independent films. In December of 1941, the Lexway is sold to Sam Soltz for $90,000 where it shows second and third run films. In May of 1942, Sherrill Cohen purchases the Lexway from Soltz and it’s converted to the Newsreel Theatre during the War years. It appears to be the lesser of Baltimore’s two newsreel theaters. After the newsreel interest wains following the war, Newsreel Corp. Circuit changes it briefly to the Vogue Theatre.
An auspicious moment for the Vogue occurs in May of 1946 when manager Helen Ford is up in the projection booth only to fall through the rotting floor and onto the ledge of the balcony. Just inches more and Ford would have fallen on top of patrons seated on the main floor. She quit the theatre. When the Vogue struggles to find an audience, Newsreel Circuit subleases it to the fledgling Laffmovie Circuit of James Mage in 1946 which had just three theaters in New York, Boston, and Baltimore.This was a circuit targeting a children’s audience showing comedies from the 1930s and cartoons continuously as a grindhouse. The lobby had distorting mirrors often found in amusement parks to get interest. It begins in March of 1947. When that fails, it likely reverts to the previous operator which labels it first the World Theatre and then the Fine Arts Theatre, an arthouse that appears to the final curtain.
The theater’s downturn and general business district malaise led the Committee for Downtown and the Greater Baltimore Committee to adopt an urban development plan called the Charles Center. The 50-year old 31 West Lexington property was targeted. The west Lexington street was blocked off to vehicular traffic, and the Wizard Theatre / 31 West Lexington Theatre / Picture Garden Theater / Lexway Theater / Newsreel Theatre / Vogue Theatre / Laffmovie / World Theatre / Fine Arts Theatre was demolished.
Closed January 14, 1958 with its final film, “The Tin Star.”