The Chateau Theatre opened its doors on October 26, 1927, and closed as a movie house on October 2, 1983. It is last operated by ABC North Central Theatres.
The actual closing date is February 16, 2004. Throughout its history, it was first operated by Carisch Theatres, then Excellence Theatres, and finally Carmike.
The Barclay Square 6 opened in the early-1980s, although I cannot find a lot of info about it, but one of the theater’s first few managers is Bob Toogood, who also is a former direct manager of the nearby Apache Mall Theatre there as well.
I recently looked at the archives of the advantage-preservation website and it appears that the Forest Theatre did not close its doors in the late-1950s and beyond despite the page saying “but later closed” after 1956, although it did close for four days during Christmas Week 1965 due to major interior remodeling which featured larger seats.
The Compston Brothers of Jack and Gary Compston were the Forest Theatre’s long-time managers. Jack Compston operated it from July 1954 until January 1974, when his son Gary took over as the manager of the theater. Prior to his theater business, Jack operated a bowling alley in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. At the time of his theater business, he was a resident of Decorah. During Gary’s early theater days comes the Forest Theatre’s longest running movie, “The Sting”, ran there for three weeks in 1974. Throughout Gary’s theater business, automated projection in 1979 and Dolby Stereo in 1982 were installed in the theater.
This was built on the site of the Shinjuku Toei Kaikan which closed on January 9, 2004. The Shinjuku Wald 9 is operated by the T-Joy chain who operated 19 theaters in Japan including three in Tokyo.
The Forest Theatre first opened as the “New Opera House” in 1914, but changed its name to the Forest Theatre later in World War I. Throughout much of the theater’s earlier history, it was operated by the M.A. Brown family who moved to Riceville in 1923, but it wasn’t until 1947 when Mr. Brown left the theater business and Willson Gaffney, the son-in-law, became the manager of the theater.
Central States Theatres took over the Forest Theatre on July 1, 1938.
After the August 8, 1950 reopening of the theater from the January 10, 1950 fire, Franklin Brown became the manager, who was the son of the former operator Mr. Brown who died in December 1948. This didn’t last long, and in February 1951, it was taken over by Henry C. Nelson who operated it until July 1954 when Jack Compston took over operations of the theater who later installed CinemaScope a month later.
Although the CinemaTreasures page said “it had closed by 1956”, it’s an error, as the Forest Theatre was still running throughout both 1955 and 1956.
The January 10, 1950 fire occurred during a showing of Donald O'Connor in “Yes Sir That’s My Baby” with no extra short subjects, when the fire started in a furniture storage room of the theater which was located at the roof, estimating $125,000 in damage. With the flames being reported at 8:40 PM CST, there were over a hundred people intending the movie and all of them escaped without injury.
Within 30 minutes after the alarm sounded instead, the flames broke through the roof of the theater, and as the flames threatened to spread to the Soda Bar building to the north and the Olson Furniture store and Lynns Department Store to the south, a call for additional units from surrounding departments was sent out to the cities of Lake Mills, Garner, Clear Lake, and Mason City Fire Departments. Forest City used all of their three engines including their 1925 Watrous truck unit were on-scene at first before additional units. For the other departments, units from Lake Mills and Garner arrived first while Clear Lake’s engine were frozen up near Ventura which were forced to turn back and return to the station. The Mason City engine which had been sent to standby in Clear Lake made the run to the scene. By the time the other departments arrive on-scene, the fire raged and went under control. They do have time to remove all the equipment inside the theater including the popcorn machine and other concessions in the lobby. The movie’s title plus the “Two Jackpots” contest advertisement on the marquee was still attached as the flames grew. Shortly after 10:00 PM CST, the rear wall started to collapse, adding a new hazard for units to combat. Before the fire was completely under control, more walls fallen. An hour and 15 minutes later comes the additional units to return. The entire fire department in Forest City remained on-scene until 4:00 AM the next morning, pouring water on the fire. Water was still being played on the burning ruins of the theater as Hansen said that his men at the FCFD used a 1,000ft of 2-½ inch hose, a 900ft of 1-½ inch hose, and a 300ft of 1-inch hose in the fire and more than 100,000 gallons were poured in during the blaze.
The fire apparently had smoldered in the storage area for sometime before being discovered because as soon as the door into the store room was broken in, flames rapidly spread throughout the second floor. Fire officials who had entered the theater were forced by the flames to retreat from the building.
The Forest reopened on August 8, 1950 with “My Friend Irma Goes West” with no extras.
Atko Canton Theatres opened the Colonial Village 1-2-3 on June 14, 1976. A 4th screen was added later during the decade, and a 5th screen was added in the 1980s.
The theater closed on November 6, 2008, and was last operated by Kerasotes.
The United Cinemas Toshimaen opened its doors on July 1, 2004 with 9 screens and a seating capacity of 1,907 seats (now 1,744 seats) running both first-run and foreign features, and has installations of both IMAX and 4DX inside a couple of screens.
On December 1, 1956, two movie theaters opened on the site of the Shinjuku Tokyo Milano Entertainment Center on the same day. The Shinjuku Milano Theatre is located on the first floor of the Shinjuku Tokyo Milano Entertainment Center and the Shibuya Tokyu Bunka Kaikan is located on the basement section of the center.
The Milano opened with Walter Hampden in “The Vagabond King” with a capacity of 1,500 seats, while the Bunka Kaikan’s grand opening attraction was not known at this time with a capacity of 1,000 seats. Both theaters eventually became a twin (doesn’t mean it counts as a early twin, its just that both theaters opened at the same site that same day).
A third screen with 209 seats was added on the fourth floor of the same complex on November 30, 1971 under the name “Meigaza Milano” which was officially renamed “Cinema Milano” in September 1987, and a fourth screen with 224 seats was added on December 11, 1981 under the name “Cinema Tokyo Milano” located on the third floor.
Some notable films the Milano ran throughout the years include “The Ten Commandments”, “The Sting”, and “Jaws”, but it wasn’t until December 4, 1982 when “ET” hit the screens in Tokyo, and it officially became the biggest smash-hit throughout the Milano Theater’s history, running and stunting the movie for a year-and-a-half throughout the rest of 1982, all of 1983, and a good chunk of 1984.
During its final days of operation, Screen 1 has a capacity of 1,064 seats (the largest screen in Tokyo), while Screen 2 has 588 seats, Screen 3 having 209, and Screen 4 having 224.
On May 13, 2014, Tokyu Recreation announced that all directly managed offices in the main building (Shinjuku Milano + Cinema Square Tokyu 1-4, Shinjuku Milano Bowl, FamilyMart Seibu Shinjuku Ekimae store) will close for the final time. The reason for this is because of the decrease in the number of mobilizations due to the rise of cinema complexes and the aging of buildings.
A special celebration was held under the name “With Love From Shinjuku Milano” from December 20, 2014 until closure on December 31, 2014, screening a mixture of both Japanese and American classics including family films and films that previously ran at the theater.
Screens 3 and 4 closed for the final time on December 30, 2014 with the two-part Japanese “Neon Genesis Evangelion” theatrical film of Episodes 25 and 26 at Screen 3, and the 1974 Steve McQueen classic “The Towering Inferno” at Screen 4.
Screens 1 and 2 held on for one more day with the 1960 Steve McQueen classic “The Magnificent Seven” at Screen 1, and the 1982 classic that once topped the history of the Shinjuku Milano Theatre, “E.T.”, at Screen 2. The entire theater closed for the final time on December 31, 2014.
Opened with “The War Wagon”. The Fox closed on September 10, 1987 with “Stakeout”.
Twinned on April 20, 1984, and tripled in August 1993.
Looks like its still open in 1983, but was demolished by 1991.
The Chateau Theatre opened its doors on October 26, 1927, and closed as a movie house on October 2, 1983. It is last operated by ABC North Central Theatres.
Closed on March 8, 2002.
The actual closing date is February 16, 2004. Throughout its history, it was first operated by Carisch Theatres, then Excellence Theatres, and finally Carmike.
The Barclay Square 6 opened in the early-1980s, although I cannot find a lot of info about it, but one of the theater’s first few managers is Bob Toogood, who also is a former direct manager of the nearby Apache Mall Theatre there as well.
Opened on June 14, 1996.
Closed on September 14, 2000. Last operated by Wallace Theatres who operated the Lacy Lakeview 6 Theatres for a short period of time.
Opened on August 8, 1997 by Hollywood Theatres. Wallace Theatres later took over the theater in May 1999.
I recently looked at the archives of the advantage-preservation website and it appears that the Forest Theatre did not close its doors in the late-1950s and beyond despite the page saying “but later closed” after 1956, although it did close for four days during Christmas Week 1965 due to major interior remodeling which featured larger seats.
The Compston Brothers of Jack and Gary Compston were the Forest Theatre’s long-time managers. Jack Compston operated it from July 1954 until January 1974, when his son Gary took over as the manager of the theater. Prior to his theater business, Jack operated a bowling alley in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. At the time of his theater business, he was a resident of Decorah. During Gary’s early theater days comes the Forest Theatre’s longest running movie, “The Sting”, ran there for three weeks in 1974. Throughout Gary’s theater business, automated projection in 1979 and Dolby Stereo in 1982 were installed in the theater.
This was built on the site of the Shinjuku Toei Kaikan which closed on January 9, 2004. The Shinjuku Wald 9 is operated by the T-Joy chain who operated 19 theaters in Japan including three in Tokyo.
Closed on September 2, 1996.
Opened on December 9, 1994, and closed on October 24, 2004.
Reopened on May 31, 2023 under the name “Emagine Batavia”.
Demolished in early-2022.
The Forest Theatre first opened as the “New Opera House” in 1914, but changed its name to the Forest Theatre later in World War I. Throughout much of the theater’s earlier history, it was operated by the M.A. Brown family who moved to Riceville in 1923, but it wasn’t until 1947 when Mr. Brown left the theater business and Willson Gaffney, the son-in-law, became the manager of the theater.
Central States Theatres took over the Forest Theatre on July 1, 1938.
After the August 8, 1950 reopening of the theater from the January 10, 1950 fire, Franklin Brown became the manager, who was the son of the former operator Mr. Brown who died in December 1948. This didn’t last long, and in February 1951, it was taken over by Henry C. Nelson who operated it until July 1954 when Jack Compston took over operations of the theater who later installed CinemaScope a month later.
Although the CinemaTreasures page said “it had closed by 1956”, it’s an error, as the Forest Theatre was still running throughout both 1955 and 1956.
The January 10, 1950 fire occurred during a showing of Donald O'Connor in “Yes Sir That’s My Baby” with no extra short subjects, when the fire started in a furniture storage room of the theater which was located at the roof, estimating $125,000 in damage. With the flames being reported at 8:40 PM CST, there were over a hundred people intending the movie and all of them escaped without injury.
Within 30 minutes after the alarm sounded instead, the flames broke through the roof of the theater, and as the flames threatened to spread to the Soda Bar building to the north and the Olson Furniture store and Lynns Department Store to the south, a call for additional units from surrounding departments was sent out to the cities of Lake Mills, Garner, Clear Lake, and Mason City Fire Departments. Forest City used all of their three engines including their 1925 Watrous truck unit were on-scene at first before additional units. For the other departments, units from Lake Mills and Garner arrived first while Clear Lake’s engine were frozen up near Ventura which were forced to turn back and return to the station. The Mason City engine which had been sent to standby in Clear Lake made the run to the scene. By the time the other departments arrive on-scene, the fire raged and went under control. They do have time to remove all the equipment inside the theater including the popcorn machine and other concessions in the lobby. The movie’s title plus the “Two Jackpots” contest advertisement on the marquee was still attached as the flames grew. Shortly after 10:00 PM CST, the rear wall started to collapse, adding a new hazard for units to combat. Before the fire was completely under control, more walls fallen. An hour and 15 minutes later comes the additional units to return. The entire fire department in Forest City remained on-scene until 4:00 AM the next morning, pouring water on the fire. Water was still being played on the burning ruins of the theater as Hansen said that his men at the FCFD used a 1,000ft of 2-½ inch hose, a 900ft of 1-½ inch hose, and a 300ft of 1-inch hose in the fire and more than 100,000 gallons were poured in during the blaze.
The fire apparently had smoldered in the storage area for sometime before being discovered because as soon as the door into the store room was broken in, flames rapidly spread throughout the second floor. Fire officials who had entered the theater were forced by the flames to retreat from the building.
The Forest reopened on August 8, 1950 with “My Friend Irma Goes West” with no extras.
Atko Canton Theatres opened the Colonial Village 1-2-3 on June 14, 1976. A 4th screen was added later during the decade, and a 5th screen was added in the 1980s.
The theater closed on November 6, 2008, and was last operated by Kerasotes.
Opened on January 23, 1976. It is last operated by Kerasotes Theatres.
Nice!
Closed on January 3, 1984 with “Uncommon Valor” and “Some Kind Of Hero”.
The United Cinemas Toshimaen opened its doors on July 1, 2004 with 9 screens and a seating capacity of 1,907 seats (now 1,744 seats) running both first-run and foreign features, and has installations of both IMAX and 4DX inside a couple of screens.
Opened on December 28, 1925 with “Don Q, Son Of Zorro”, and closed on September 4, 1986 with “My Beautiful Launderette”.
On December 1, 1956, two movie theaters opened on the site of the Shinjuku Tokyo Milano Entertainment Center on the same day. The Shinjuku Milano Theatre is located on the first floor of the Shinjuku Tokyo Milano Entertainment Center and the Shibuya Tokyu Bunka Kaikan is located on the basement section of the center.
The Milano opened with Walter Hampden in “The Vagabond King” with a capacity of 1,500 seats, while the Bunka Kaikan’s grand opening attraction was not known at this time with a capacity of 1,000 seats. Both theaters eventually became a twin (doesn’t mean it counts as a early twin, its just that both theaters opened at the same site that same day).
A third screen with 209 seats was added on the fourth floor of the same complex on November 30, 1971 under the name “Meigaza Milano” which was officially renamed “Cinema Milano” in September 1987, and a fourth screen with 224 seats was added on December 11, 1981 under the name “Cinema Tokyo Milano” located on the third floor.
Some notable films the Milano ran throughout the years include “The Ten Commandments”, “The Sting”, and “Jaws”, but it wasn’t until December 4, 1982 when “ET” hit the screens in Tokyo, and it officially became the biggest smash-hit throughout the Milano Theater’s history, running and stunting the movie for a year-and-a-half throughout the rest of 1982, all of 1983, and a good chunk of 1984.
During its final days of operation, Screen 1 has a capacity of 1,064 seats (the largest screen in Tokyo), while Screen 2 has 588 seats, Screen 3 having 209, and Screen 4 having 224.
On May 13, 2014, Tokyu Recreation announced that all directly managed offices in the main building (Shinjuku Milano + Cinema Square Tokyu 1-4, Shinjuku Milano Bowl, FamilyMart Seibu Shinjuku Ekimae store) will close for the final time. The reason for this is because of the decrease in the number of mobilizations due to the rise of cinema complexes and the aging of buildings.
A special celebration was held under the name “With Love From Shinjuku Milano” from December 20, 2014 until closure on December 31, 2014, screening a mixture of both Japanese and American classics including family films and films that previously ran at the theater.
Screens 3 and 4 closed for the final time on December 30, 2014 with the two-part Japanese “Neon Genesis Evangelion” theatrical film of Episodes 25 and 26 at Screen 3, and the 1974 Steve McQueen classic “The Towering Inferno” at Screen 4.
Screens 1 and 2 held on for one more day with the 1960 Steve McQueen classic “The Magnificent Seven” at Screen 1, and the 1982 classic that once topped the history of the Shinjuku Milano Theatre, “E.T.”, at Screen 2. The entire theater closed for the final time on December 31, 2014.
Closed on November 21, 2007.