In case the links go dead, I added the photos from the 2010 comments to the gallery, plus one circa December 1989 closing night photo.
The Flickr link photo is 1955 not 1948, based on the “Where There’s a Will” promo above the entrance.
The link for the Wayne Theatre page I added does not work.
It was located at a different address than this theatre.
I have photos of it.
It too burned down after only a few weeks of operation.
The screen was blown down in a windstorm on Tuesday July 20, 1954 forcing it’s closure.
It remained closed until Thursday April 27, 1955, when it reopened with the first aluminum, 7 story CinemaScope screen in that part of the country.
Reopening features were “The Adventures of Hajji Baba” in CinemaScope and color, and “Down Three Dark Streets” in B&W.
Articles added to photo gallery credit Decatur Herald.
Courtesy Decatur Public Library.
“Ad photo for the day the West Side Story was to appear in part on the Ed Sullivan show on September 14, 1958. Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert from the original cast duplicating their world famous photo from the album cover.”
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“According to Edgar Weston, late area historian, the Gem Theater opened in the Yale Theater building. Earl Freiburger purchased and opened the Gem about 1919 and Mr. A.L. Ramsey was the manager. The auditorium was large and roomy, and well seated with comfortable chairs. A Baird projection machine was installed, which was “one of the best in the state.” The Gem was equipped with a gold fiber screen, two big typhoon fans that kept every part of the house cool and the lighting in the theater was splendid. The stage was arranged to accommodate Vaudeville, lectures, athletic and dramatic entertainment too. In 1921, Mr. Ramsey married and moved to Dallas. Misses Lucy Jack and Blanche Cutler operated the Gem Theater and contracted to show Paramount, First National and Goldwyn pictures until W.H. Hale purchased the Gem March 24, 1922.”
Circa 1908 photo & description added credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Oklah Air Dome was built in 1908 by J.L. Overlees, located on the corner of Dewey and Fourth St. It was the place to go on those warm June evenings - until at least until October - to watch a stock company perform a different play each night. It was an open-air theater where you sat under the stars on hard wooden benches and listened to Al Jolson play the piano or William Hart, World Famous Movie star, act out a 3 act play. The theatre remained at 328 Dewey Ave until 1915.”
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Lyric Theater was located on Dewey Ave. next to the City Hall. During the 1930’s it became the Grand Theater.
In 1995 there were efforts by a few citizens of Bartlesville to save the theater from demolition, but as it had been completely reconstructed inside for use as offices and businesses, there were no traces of the theater left - it was torn down in 1996.”
Address was on Johnstone, not Johnson. Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“June 28, 1940 - Osage Theater was at 316 Johnstone, remodeled from the old Odeon March to June 1940. Grand opening and dedicated was June 28, 1940 with a gala affair. Owner was Henry J. Griffing of Griffing Amusement Company. Premiere show was "Irene” starring Anna Neagle. Large opening involved special teas, fashion shows, stunt pilot popular in the 20s and 30s, Art Gobel flew over town, Anna Neagle cut the ribbon, and there was street dances. The Osage closed its doors for the last time April 17, 1974. Robert E. Scott was the manager at that time. May 1981 the building was torn down."
“Dan Higgins, a Decatur police officer, opened a silent movie theatre 110 years ago tonight, on Christmas Eve, in 1913. Located at 1234 East Eldorado Street, Higgins branded it as "The Paris Theater”. Higgins was an efficient traffic cop who directed at the busy corner of East Main and Water Streets. His profession and focus on safety were reflected in his design for the theatre: it was the only one in town where the customers faced the exit. The projection booth was then the usual source of theatre fires. The electrical codes were more rudimentary, and the film projectors ran hot. In case of a fire in the projection booth, the customers would then exit AWAY from the fire.
Higgins was born in Hamilton, Illinois, in 1870. He came to Decatur at age 14 and remained here for the rest of his life. Before his employment as a peace officer, he had worked for the Wabash Railroad as a wheel inspector, where he developed an excellent reputation for his attention to detail.
Higgins sold the theatre in 1920. He died in 1922 at age 51. By 1923 the theatre had closed, and the building was repurposed for commercial use. Today, the site is an empty lot just east of the recently razed union hall building at the corner of Jasper and Eldorado."
Correct address is 234 W. 2nd Street, and was still standing as of the September 2021 street view.
Address confirmed via the below City of Madrid November 2017 request for bids to remove it.
Address was 1113 Boundary Street and has been Demolished.
Below description credit JeAnais Mitchell:
“The Palm Theatre was contracted by Mr. J. Young who used "Lay-Mor concrete blocks, made here in Beaufort.. in this modern little theatre.” It seated about 300. It was managed by Mr. Earl Smith, the brother of Ira Smith.“
JeAnais Mitchell’s website below also has multiple other Beaufort theatres that will need CT pages created for them.
Repeat image from an unknown book added, offers a different timeline on renovations and re-openings.
It claims renovated in 1978, but didn’t reopen until 1983.
Closed again in 1999.
Renovated again to restore it’s art deco look, some of which was lost in the previous renovation.
Opened as Lyric Theatre Thursday Night October 29, 1925. Prior day newspaper image added announcing Gala Opening the following night. Reopened as Crest Theatre with “Lady and the Tramp” and “Almost Angels” per an October 1962 news post, image added.
In case the links go dead, I added the photos from the 2010 comments to the gallery, plus one circa December 1989 closing night photo. The Flickr link photo is 1955 not 1948, based on the “Where There’s a Will” promo above the entrance.
Decatur Public Library link with three November 1945 photos of the Wayne Theatre. Credit & copyright Herald and Review, Decatur, IL.
http://omeka.decaturlibrary.org/items/show/8695#?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&xywh=-134%2C-1780%2C2660%2C5344
The link for the Wayne Theatre page I added does not work. It was located at a different address than this theatre. I have photos of it. It too burned down after only a few weeks of operation.
The screen was blown down in a windstorm on Tuesday July 20, 1954 forcing it’s closure. It remained closed until Thursday April 27, 1955, when it reopened with the first aluminum, 7 story CinemaScope screen in that part of the country. Reopening features were “The Adventures of Hajji Baba” in CinemaScope and color, and “Down Three Dark Streets” in B&W. Articles added to photo gallery credit Decatur Herald. Courtesy Decatur Public Library.
Edited description credit Robert Roberson:
“Ad photo for the day the West Side Story was to appear in part on the Ed Sullivan show on September 14, 1958. Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert from the original cast duplicating their world famous photo from the album cover.”
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“According to Edgar Weston, late area historian, the Gem Theater opened in the Yale Theater building. Earl Freiburger purchased and opened the Gem about 1919 and Mr. A.L. Ramsey was the manager. The auditorium was large and roomy, and well seated with comfortable chairs. A Baird projection machine was installed, which was “one of the best in the state.” The Gem was equipped with a gold fiber screen, two big typhoon fans that kept every part of the house cool and the lighting in the theater was splendid. The stage was arranged to accommodate Vaudeville, lectures, athletic and dramatic entertainment too. In 1921, Mr. Ramsey married and moved to Dallas. Misses Lucy Jack and Blanche Cutler operated the Gem Theater and contracted to show Paramount, First National and Goldwyn pictures until W.H. Hale purchased the Gem March 24, 1922.”
Circa 1908 photo & description added credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Oklah Air Dome was built in 1908 by J.L. Overlees, located on the corner of Dewey and Fourth St. It was the place to go on those warm June evenings - until at least until October - to watch a stock company perform a different play each night. It was an open-air theater where you sat under the stars on hard wooden benches and listened to Al Jolson play the piano or William Hart, World Famous Movie star, act out a 3 act play. The theatre remained at 328 Dewey Ave until 1915.”
July 2024 link with full history and additional photos.
https://sapulpatimes.com/this-week-in-sapulpa-history-yale-theatre/
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“The Lyric Theater was located on Dewey Ave. next to the City Hall. During the 1930’s it became the Grand Theater. In 1995 there were efforts by a few citizens of Bartlesville to save the theater from demolition, but as it had been completely reconstructed inside for use as offices and businesses, there were no traces of the theater left - it was torn down in 1996.”
Address was on Johnstone, not Johnson.
Additional history credit Bartlesville Area History Museum.
“June 28, 1940 - Osage Theater was at 316 Johnstone, remodeled from the old Odeon March to June 1940. Grand opening and dedicated was June 28, 1940 with a gala affair. Owner was Henry J. Griffing of Griffing Amusement Company. Premiere show was "Irene” starring Anna Neagle. Large opening involved special teas, fashion shows, stunt pilot popular in the 20s and 30s, Art Gobel flew over town, Anna Neagle cut the ribbon, and there was street dances. The Osage closed its doors for the last time April 17, 1974. Robert E. Scott was the manager at that time. May 1981 the building was torn down."
Full history credit History of the Heartland:
“Dan Higgins, a Decatur police officer, opened a silent movie theatre 110 years ago tonight, on Christmas Eve, in 1913. Located at 1234 East Eldorado Street, Higgins branded it as "The Paris Theater”. Higgins was an efficient traffic cop who directed at the busy corner of East Main and Water Streets. His profession and focus on safety were reflected in his design for the theatre: it was the only one in town where the customers faced the exit. The projection booth was then the usual source of theatre fires. The electrical codes were more rudimentary, and the film projectors ran hot. In case of a fire in the projection booth, the customers would then exit AWAY from the fire. Higgins was born in Hamilton, Illinois, in 1870. He came to Decatur at age 14 and remained here for the rest of his life. Before his employment as a peace officer, he had worked for the Wabash Railroad as a wheel inspector, where he developed an excellent reputation for his attention to detail. Higgins sold the theatre in 1920. He died in 1922 at age 51. By 1923 the theatre had closed, and the building was repurposed for commercial use. Today, the site is an empty lot just east of the recently razed union hall building at the corner of Jasper and Eldorado."
Correct address is 234 W. 2nd Street, and was still standing as of the September 2021 street view. Address confirmed via the below City of Madrid November 2017 request for bids to remove it.
https://madridiowa.org/bids-for-movie-theater-removal/
Address was 1113 Boundary Street and has been Demolished. Below description credit JeAnais Mitchell: “The Palm Theatre was contracted by Mr. J. Young who used "Lay-Mor concrete blocks, made here in Beaufort.. in this modern little theatre.” It seated about 300. It was managed by Mr. Earl Smith, the brother of Ira Smith.“ JeAnais Mitchell’s website below also has multiple other Beaufort theatres that will need CT pages created for them.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/8b7078a7ef2d4fe99aa5058e095eefc7
Repeat image from an unknown book added, offers a different timeline on renovations and re-openings. It claims renovated in 1978, but didn’t reopen until 1983. Closed again in 1999. Renovated again to restore it’s art deco look, some of which was lost in the previous renovation.
Remodeled and reopened by John Michael King in 1995 as The Old Princess Theatre a live music venue. Print ad and tickets added. Unknown closure date.
Listing courtesy it’s current owners. Copy and paste to open.
https://lacdb.com/listings/6a138dae-446-vallette-st/?fbclid=IwY2xjawO5e8BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFxYlQ0enpMTG41S01sVWZ6c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhzh3DLsKvZtlzvpw1mrPQnVfcnhoWKKH9ASPKnWnsRGXCkz3k9P2sZ8wauY_aem_1TfieICZ7w_KNKvUKhBvZQ
Circa 1958 photo credit Archive Of American Television / EyesOfAGeneration.com
1960 photo credit Ed Roseberry, UVA Alumni Association.
Update: 1960 photo credit Ed Roseberry, UVA Alumni Association.
Update: Photo credit Historic Alexandria Foundation.
Opened as Lyric Theatre Thursday Night October 29, 1925. Prior day newspaper image added announcing Gala Opening the following night. Reopened as Crest Theatre with “Lady and the Tramp” and “Almost Angels” per an October 1962 news post, image added.
Crisper version.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122192712494435279&set=g.1574918839849023
Building to be auctioned off.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/15/cinema-chatham-building-once-one-of-the-south-sides-few-movie-theaters-is-up-for-auction/?utm_content=buffer30f54&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwY2xjawOtiPRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeJdR0urQ8EaMq8csLHCtklcmIZJO3d3N6vMTCvmYnQ0CHlvD5FDrik5K9P04_aem_WtcQeRnRXlyVJB8_XpD4rw
Mercury Studio Collection.
https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll2/id/2/rec/2
Mercury Studio Collection.
https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/p16614coll2/id/1/rec/1