The New Town Theatre was opened by Marchesi Bros. after as a streamline moderne moviehouse on March 25, 1937 at 212 Washington Street. The previous Prophet Theatre closed after the Jan. 1, 1937 showtimes. Vitrolite glass front with black and ivory captured the era and new seats reduced count to 350. It was housed in the venerable Odd Fellows Lodge building. Ivan Whitver was in charge. This was formerly Shloe’s Hall showing silent movies, the Dreamland Hall / Dreamland Hall Theatre also with movies in the silent era, and Sinnissippi Hall (live events).
The other former venue in town was the Prophet Theatre at 351 Washington which as the sound era name for Prophet’s Auditorium Theater which opened in the 1920s. Joseph J. Dauntler refreshed the venue reopening as the Prophet Theatre on July 8, 1930 with disc-based sound. In 1933, Western Electric sound replaced the previous system. The Marchesis modernization was said to be a new construction in some reports - likely just in planning - but definitely opening in the existing Odd Fellows Building in all other reports at 212 Wash.
The Town reached its 30th Anniversary with its new look under Mrs. Vesta Visitow’s watch. But a year later, it had a rough night when the venue was gutted by fire on January 6, 1968. The final film to play was Cornell Wilde on January 5th with “Beach Red.” The scheduled film the night of the fire was destroyed prior to showtimes: “A Rough Night in Jericho.” The building was razed about a month later.
The Bijou Theatre opened with refined vaudeville on November 26, 1906. The venue struggled to open -its third lessee opened on that night after the first two operators couldn’t hit an opener. the Bijou went out of business on January, 18, 1912.
Hanlon Brothers opened the Superba February 6, 1905 with live stage fare. Nichols and Angel repositioned it as the New Electric Superba Theatre with movies on January 9, 1908 on a 10-year leasing agreement. Nichols sold it to Tomas Watson in 1918. Watson’s Superba closed on June 26, 1928 with “Jaws of Steel” at the end of its 10-year leasing agreement. It closed as a silent moviehouse. It was torn down for an S.S. Kresge’s five and dime variety store.
The Alhambra Theatre’s Aug. 10, 1914 grand opening ad and the August 4, 1915 changeover to Strand under new operators are both in photos. The venue converted to sound to remain commercially viable.
The Strand was “temporarily” closed after the February 28, 1939 showing of Richard Arlen in “Silent Barriers” with all seats a dime. The closure proved permanent. The theatre was gutted for a renovation becoming a retail store, Robinson’s Women’s Wear, on November 13, 1939.
The Patio Theater opened on March 6, 1930 “Sunny Side Up.” The theatre lastest to the end of its second 20-year leasing period closing permanently on January 1, 1970 with “Don’t Drink the Water” and “A Bullet for the General.” The building was sold the next day to the local Farm Bureau.
The Warren Theatre by Marchesi Bros. Circuit opens here on September 28, 1938 with “Carefree” replacing the long-running Auditorium Theatre. The Marchesis closed the venue following the November 4, 1957 showing of “Shootout at the O.K. Corral.” The operators cited financial difficulty as it needed an additional 500 tickets sold per month to break even - challenging in a town of just under 1,500 residents.
The local merchants were ready to reopen the venue with Herman Krippendorf in charge. But on March 3, 1958 the building was gutted by fire ending the comeback hopes. The building was repaired and became a retail location of Royal Blue chain in 1959.
Charles F. Bender & Foster created the Orpheum Theatre in the Bartlett Building on September 19, 1910. Vaudeville opened the venue with a short subject film. The venue closed early in 1918.
The Princess Theatre took over the spot of the Orpheum Theatre beginning on February 22, 1912 with Gussie Hunt as “Jealous Julia” and Pauline Bush in “Society and Chaps.” The Orpheum live events were placed in the former Grand Opera House.
The Princess closed at the end of a 10-year leasing agreement getting a refresh in the Summer of 1922. It relaunched with a grand reopening on September 2, 1922. In September of 1924 the venue was gutted in a renovation to retail.
The Parks Theatre launched in 1920. Under new operators it became the Stockton Theatre in 1926. The theatre struggled in the transition to sound going dark in 1930, reopening and going dark in 1931, and the same in 1932. It hit its stride staying open from 1933 to the television age. The venue closed permanently at the of is lease on April 30, 1955. Owner Orville Bastian leased the venue to E & W Clothing converting the space to retail.
R.S. Hopper formerly of the Bijou launched the Lyric Theatre here on October 10, 1908 with a seating capacity of 300 (likely chairs) with films including, “The Devil."On February 15, 1916, two Chicago operators changed it to the Star Theatre. They appear to have skipped town after October 19. 1918 showtimes. I’d keep this one as the Lyric Theatre aka Star.
The Majestic opened as a nickelodeon in July of 1907 in the existing McNamara Building. The Majestic was discontinued at the end of its 15-year leasing agreement on April 13, 1922 by Orpheum Circuit which opened the Lindo Theatre the next day to replace the Majetsic. The McNamara Building was sold in 1924 and the new owners converted it in November of 1924 for other purposes.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, El Paso and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, Lubbock and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, Lubbock and El
Paso for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Closed with “The Longest Yard” on November 10, 1974. The Michigan Mall opened officially in 1975 with the theater empty until its demolition beginning in July of 1984 along with the neighboring Jury Rowe Building and also the nearby Gilbert Hotel, the Williams House, the Tidy Car Building, the Montgomery Building, the Bellman & Waiters Club, the Commercial Building and the former Bijou Theatre. It was urban renewal time in Cereal City.
Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta, whose fused names became the fledgling circuit of Meralta Theaters in the silent era, opened the Culver City location of the Meralta with Pearl Merrill living above the theater. That is until Merrill lost everything when it burned on August 9, 1943.
Laura Peralta Brackett had the venue rebuilt, again with an apartment for Merrill who lived there until her passing in 1961. Here, in 1971, is a shot of Laura Peralta Brackett who is said to be living in that same apartment.
Reportedly the ninth venue for female operators Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta whose fused names became the fledgling circuit of Meralta Theaters in the silent era. This venue opened in 1925 for the former vaudevillians known as Ella Fant and Miss Kito. Merrill became a member of the Motion Picture Theater Owners Of America and the first female to be in any executive role in the body when she become a regional vice-president within that body in 1926.
Merrill lived in the Culver City Meralta Theatre losing everything when it burned on August 9, 1943. The Downey location lasted 53 years with its last advertised film was “No Longer Alone” on October 5, 1978. The Meralta was demolished two months later in December of 1978.
They appear to have fulfilled a 20-year leasing contract closing on September 14, 1989 with “The Abyss” and “Uncle Buck.” (From December 4, 1987 to September 13, 1989, it used “Stonewood Cinema 1 & 2” as an alternate name likely to differentiate it from another Showcase-named venue. But retaining Showcase is proper here, especially since in a legal notice in 1988 lists the location as the Showcase Cinema in a transfer of four locations from Jannopoulos Theatres run by James and Mary Lou Jannopoulos to Edwards Cinemas Corp. Circuit.)
The New Town Theatre was opened by Marchesi Bros. after as a streamline moderne moviehouse on March 25, 1937 at 212 Washington Street. The previous Prophet Theatre closed after the Jan. 1, 1937 showtimes. Vitrolite glass front with black and ivory captured the era and new seats reduced count to 350. It was housed in the venerable Odd Fellows Lodge building. Ivan Whitver was in charge. This was formerly Shloe’s Hall showing silent movies, the Dreamland Hall / Dreamland Hall Theatre also with movies in the silent era, and Sinnissippi Hall (live events).
The other former venue in town was the Prophet Theatre at 351 Washington which as the sound era name for Prophet’s Auditorium Theater which opened in the 1920s. Joseph J. Dauntler refreshed the venue reopening as the Prophet Theatre on July 8, 1930 with disc-based sound. In 1933, Western Electric sound replaced the previous system. The Marchesis modernization was said to be a new construction in some reports - likely just in planning - but definitely opening in the existing Odd Fellows Building in all other reports at 212 Wash.
The Town reached its 30th Anniversary with its new look under Mrs. Vesta Visitow’s watch. But a year later, it had a rough night when the venue was gutted by fire on January 6, 1968. The final film to play was Cornell Wilde on January 5th with “Beach Red.” The scheduled film the night of the fire was destroyed prior to showtimes: “A Rough Night in Jericho.” The building was razed about a month later.
The Bijou Theatre opened with refined vaudeville on November 26, 1906. The venue struggled to open -its third lessee opened on that night after the first two operators couldn’t hit an opener. the Bijou went out of business on January, 18, 1912.
Hanlon Brothers opened the Superba February 6, 1905 with live stage fare. Nichols and Angel repositioned it as the New Electric Superba Theatre with movies on January 9, 1908 on a 10-year leasing agreement. Nichols sold it to Tomas Watson in 1918. Watson’s Superba closed on June 26, 1928 with “Jaws of Steel” at the end of its 10-year leasing agreement. It closed as a silent moviehouse. It was torn down for an S.S. Kresge’s five and dime variety store.
The Alhambra Theatre’s Aug. 10, 1914 grand opening ad and the August 4, 1915 changeover to Strand under new operators are both in photos. The venue converted to sound to remain commercially viable.
The Strand was “temporarily” closed after the February 28, 1939 showing of Richard Arlen in “Silent Barriers” with all seats a dime. The closure proved permanent. The theatre was gutted for a renovation becoming a retail store, Robinson’s Women’s Wear, on November 13, 1939.
Operated by Plitt Theatres from May 31, 1974 forward
The Patio Theater opened on March 6, 1930 “Sunny Side Up.” The theatre lastest to the end of its second 20-year leasing period closing permanently on January 1, 1970 with “Don’t Drink the Water” and “A Bullet for the General.” The building was sold the next day to the local Farm Bureau.
The Warren Theatre by Marchesi Bros. Circuit opens here on September 28, 1938 with “Carefree” replacing the long-running Auditorium Theatre. The Marchesis closed the venue following the November 4, 1957 showing of “Shootout at the O.K. Corral.” The operators cited financial difficulty as it needed an additional 500 tickets sold per month to break even - challenging in a town of just under 1,500 residents.
The local merchants were ready to reopen the venue with Herman Krippendorf in charge. But on March 3, 1958 the building was gutted by fire ending the comeback hopes. The building was repaired and became a retail location of Royal Blue chain in 1959.
Charles F. Bender & Foster created the Orpheum Theatre in the Bartlett Building on September 19, 1910. Vaudeville opened the venue with a short subject film. The venue closed early in 1918.
The Princess Theatre took over the spot of the Orpheum Theatre beginning on February 22, 1912 with Gussie Hunt as “Jealous Julia” and Pauline Bush in “Society and Chaps.” The Orpheum live events were placed in the former Grand Opera House.
The Princess closed at the end of a 10-year leasing agreement getting a refresh in the Summer of 1922. It relaunched with a grand reopening on September 2, 1922. In September of 1924 the venue was gutted in a renovation to retail.
Closed for renovations Feb. 7, 2026 to reopen in 2027
The Parks Theatre launched in 1920. Under new operators it became the Stockton Theatre in 1926. The theatre struggled in the transition to sound going dark in 1930, reopening and going dark in 1931, and the same in 1932. It hit its stride staying open from 1933 to the television age. The venue closed permanently at the of is lease on April 30, 1955. Owner Orville Bastian leased the venue to E & W Clothing converting the space to retail.
May 1, 1905 opening ad in photos. Its two year lease was terminated in May of 1907 and the space converted to a grocery store.
R.S. Hopper formerly of the Bijou launched the Lyric Theatre here on October 10, 1908 with a seating capacity of 300 (likely chairs) with films including, “The Devil."On February 15, 1916, two Chicago operators changed it to the Star Theatre. They appear to have skipped town after October 19. 1918 showtimes. I’d keep this one as the Lyric Theatre aka Star.
The Majestic opened as a nickelodeon in July of 1907 in the existing McNamara Building. The Majestic was discontinued at the end of its 15-year leasing agreement on April 13, 1922 by Orpheum Circuit which opened the Lindo Theatre the next day to replace the Majetsic. The McNamara Building was sold in 1924 and the new owners converted it in November of 1924 for other purposes.
Indeed - it’s located under Romantix
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, El Paso and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, Lubbock and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, Lubbock and El Paso for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, Lubbbock and Houston for non-Alamo rebrandsFebruary 7, 2026.
Closed with “The Longest Yard” on November 10, 1974. The Michigan Mall opened officially in 1975 with the theater empty until its demolition beginning in July of 1984 along with the neighboring Jury Rowe Building and also the nearby Gilbert Hotel, the Williams House, the Tidy Car Building, the Montgomery Building, the Bellman & Waiters Club, the Commercial Building and the former Bijou Theatre. It was urban renewal time in Cereal City.
Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta, whose fused names became the fledgling circuit of Meralta Theaters in the silent era, opened the Culver City location of the Meralta with Pearl Merrill living above the theater. That is until Merrill lost everything when it burned on August 9, 1943.
Laura Peralta Brackett had the venue rebuilt, again with an apartment for Merrill who lived there until her passing in 1961. Here, in 1971, is a shot of Laura Peralta Brackett who is said to be living in that same apartment.
Reportedly the ninth venue for female operators Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta whose fused names became the fledgling circuit of Meralta Theaters in the silent era. This venue opened in 1925 for the former vaudevillians known as Ella Fant and Miss Kito. Merrill became a member of the Motion Picture Theater Owners Of America and the first female to be in any executive role in the body when she become a regional vice-president within that body in 1926.
Merrill lived in the Culver City Meralta Theatre losing everything when it burned on August 9, 1943. The Downey location lasted 53 years with its last advertised film was “No Longer Alone” on October 5, 1978. The Meralta was demolished two months later in December of 1978.
They appear to have fulfilled a 20-year leasing contract closing on September 14, 1989 with “The Abyss” and “Uncle Buck.” (From December 4, 1987 to September 13, 1989, it used “Stonewood Cinema 1 & 2” as an alternate name likely to differentiate it from another Showcase-named venue. But retaining Showcase is proper here, especially since in a legal notice in 1988 lists the location as the Showcase Cinema in a transfer of four locations from Jannopoulos Theatres run by James and Mary Lou Jannopoulos to Edwards Cinemas Corp. Circuit.)
Architect - David Rockwell
AMC closed here following its showtimes of February 1, 2026.