Back in the 1990’s when I would miss a new release that I had wanted to see on the big screen at the Bakery Centre or the Riviera in the South Miami area, I could drive out to the Super Saver Cinema and catch a second run a week or two later.
I remember ticket prices may have been as low as 50 cents when I first visited in ‘91 or ‘92, then were raised to $1, then $1.50, then $2 by the time I was last there in the late 90’s.
I walked by for the first time in years on 2/20/2019. The part of the shopping center where the cinema had been looks different enough that I’m not sure the building still exists, or if it was replaced by a new one where the CVS and Publix supermarket or the Leon Medical Center (which looks to me like new construction but is what comes up at the cinema’s former address on online maps) are now.
Still I continue to have warm feelings when I’m reminded of my trips out there to see movies.
In my head I can still hear the automated voice of the Moviefone movie times phone service in the handset of my then landline saying something like “Super Saver Cinema! Located in the Westbird Shopping Plaza!….”, before informing me if the film I’d been waiting for had arrived. : )
The State is in the documentary film “Saving Brinton”, about a local citizen, Michael Zahs, and his collection of films and items from the 1890’s to 1910’s created by filmmaker-exhibitor/showman/inventor and Washington resident W. Frank Brinton, who began showing films at the State in 1897 and then toured, introducing film to other parts of the mid-west.
In the documentary some of the rare films, from classic filmmaker Melies and others, are restored and screened for the first time in over 100 years at venues starting with the State.
During that event a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records presents a certificate to the State naming it the “oldest continuously operating cinema theatre in the world”, as per davidcoppock’s comment above. (If it really was closed due to a fire in 2010 as mentioned in the description on this page, does that mean it wasn’t continuously operating?)
Also the marquee is shown being put in place in time for that evening. (I don’t know if it’s new at that point or was just spruced up.)
Click here for an interesting article about all of this and its historical context on Smithonsian.com
I walked by a couple days ago and noticed the classic box office on the sidewalk seems to be a tourist information kiosk during the day, then reverts to being the Playhouse box office when there is a show, so perhaps “Information Kiosk” could be added to the functions list.
Willburg145, to add a clickable URL in your comments, put brackets [ ] around the words you want to become a hyperlink, then immediately following that on the same line without leaving a space put parenthesis () around the URL you want the words to link to.
When you post the comment the brackets, parenthesis and website address will not physically appear and the words that were in the brackets will be highlighted in blue and clicking on them will open the web address you had put in parenthesis.
Miami Herald op-ed on December 7, 2018 by Kareem Tabsch, Co-director of O Cinema, about the fate of this location, changes to the Wynwood neighborhood, the relationship of the arts to quality of life, and the importance of property ownership to the continuation of arts organizations:
He says the Knight Foundation has pledged to “help O Cinema create South Florida’s first independent film center by supporting the cinema’s purchase and renovation of a permanent home…”
I enjoyed hearing that other people also feel that “Wynwood is over” with the coming departure of O Cinema, like I alluded to in my previous comment. :)
There are more exterior/interior images of the cinema for this address on Google Street View.
This may have been the first time I have visited a storefront cinema. Older Street View images show it had been a Kodak camera supply store perhaps for a long time since it had an old style sign, and for a short time was I Am An Artist where you create your own art.
Apparently it’s now called Four Brothers Drive-in.
Website is playeatdrink.com
Here’s a video from October 22nd, 2018 including an interview with the owners, the experience of visiting their drive-in, and thoughts about people desiring an old-fashioned communal feeling:
On October 18th, 2018 I attended the Lighting Ceremony for the Seminole’s new marquee, (it had never had a marquee before), followed by a free screening of “Singin' in the Rain”, which to me nicely felt a bit like going to the movies in a small town years ago.
remkoolhaas, are the remnants you are referring to that of the Biscayne Park Theater in North Miami? Click here for the CT page I created for it. Where can I see your photos?
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, a combination art gallery, performance space, educational center, gift shop and tourist information kiosk that is currently housed in the former Lake Theatre is visited starting at 11:50 in this Lake Worth episode of the PBS tv program “On the Town in the Palm Beaches” on Youtube:
Nice contemporary exterior shots at 12:30 and 13:00, but also a historic depiction back at 2:41 and 4:03 even though that part of the program is discussing the Lake Worth Playhouse.
The Lake Worth Playhouse is discussed and visited starting at 2:19 in this Lake Worth episode of the PBS tv program “On the Town in the Palm Beaches” on Youtube, (although the exterior shots at 2:41 and 4:03 are actually of the Lake Theatre):
When I’ve been to Lake Worth for the Street Painting Festival I’ve enjoyed what to me is the mellow vibe of the local Guatemalan-Mayan immigrants I’ve sat amongst while eating at the little Panda Garden Chinese restaurant they seem to enjoy frequenting in the shopping center where the Towne apparently had been, but I can’t tell exactly where the cinema was located.
Perhaps it was where the El Bodegon Hispanic-themed supermarket is now?
Sporridge, in response to your question from June 25th, 2011 regarding newspaper references to the Capri, I found this Palm Beach Post article from May 7th, 2014 saying the Lake Worth Playhouse had been the Capri Art Theatre, then in 1968 became the Playtoy!:
(When I was a kid I remember some regular movie theaters having an “X” on their marquees, but this is the first I’ve heard of one changing its name to make its adult nature more obvious.)
The article, that begins with an exterior photo and ends with a list of some titles that screened there, says the Playtoy became embroiled in an anti-indecency court case over the film “Deep Throat” that closed the cinema in the early 1970‘s, before it was purchased by the Lake Worth Playhouse nonprofit group that converted it into a venue for live theater.
A visitor to the area today would perceive no indication of the Playhouse’s former less respectable identity.
By the way, a good reason to visit Lake Worth is the Street Painting Festival that takes place annually in late February on Lake Worth’s downtown streets including in front of the Playhouse.
This theater is no longer an O Cinema location but is still the Miami Theater Center, focusing on theatrical performances for children and their families, and sometimes screening programs of family orientated films, meaning it is still technically an open movie theater.
I asked an employee at the original O Cinema in Wynwood who confirmed this, saying the change occurred about a year ago.
The Wynwood branch of O Cinema has closed.
On Sunday March 3rd, its final day, I made my last visit seeing “CatVideoFest 2019”, and to mentally say “goodbye”.
Back in the 1990’s when I would miss a new release that I had wanted to see on the big screen at the Bakery Centre or the Riviera in the South Miami area, I could drive out to the Super Saver Cinema and catch a second run a week or two later.
I remember ticket prices may have been as low as 50 cents when I first visited in ‘91 or ‘92, then were raised to $1, then $1.50, then $2 by the time I was last there in the late 90’s.
I walked by for the first time in years on 2/20/2019. The part of the shopping center where the cinema had been looks different enough that I’m not sure the building still exists, or if it was replaced by a new one where the CVS and Publix supermarket or the Leon Medical Center (which looks to me like new construction but is what comes up at the cinema’s former address on online maps) are now.
Still I continue to have warm feelings when I’m reminded of my trips out there to see movies.
In my head I can still hear the automated voice of the Moviefone movie times phone service in the handset of my then landline saying something like “Super Saver Cinema! Located in the Westbird Shopping Plaza!….”, before informing me if the film I’d been waiting for had arrived. : )
Atlas Obscura page describing Northeast Historic Film including interesting interior photos:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/northeast-historic-film
The State is in the documentary film “Saving Brinton”, about a local citizen, Michael Zahs, and his collection of films and items from the 1890’s to 1910’s created by filmmaker-exhibitor/showman/inventor and Washington resident W. Frank Brinton, who began showing films at the State in 1897 and then toured, introducing film to other parts of the mid-west.
In the documentary some of the rare films, from classic filmmaker Melies and others, are restored and screened for the first time in over 100 years at venues starting with the State.
During that event a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records presents a certificate to the State naming it the “oldest continuously operating cinema theatre in the world”, as per davidcoppock’s comment above. (If it really was closed due to a fire in 2010 as mentioned in the description on this page, does that mean it wasn’t continuously operating?)
Also the marquee is shown being put in place in time for that evening. (I don’t know if it’s new at that point or was just spruced up.)
Click here for an interesting article about all of this and its historical context on Smithonsian.com
Bakersfield newspaper article that supplements DavidZornig’s comment above:
https://www.bakersfield.com/news/fox-theater-asks-for-community-s-help-in-fixing-clock/article_1ee8ee4e-24e3-11e9-874f-b7d6b718f208.html
This article says the Riverfront Twin will become DNA’s Comedy Lab comedy club and community space later this year:
https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2019/01/24/movie-theater-transformed-into-comedy-venue/
I walked by a couple days ago and noticed the classic box office on the sidewalk seems to be a tourist information kiosk during the day, then reverts to being the Playhouse box office when there is a show, so perhaps “Information Kiosk” could be added to the functions list.
I like the photo in the photos section, though for some reason it no longer appears above on this overview page.
Willburg145, to add a clickable URL in your comments, put brackets [ ] around the words you want to become a hyperlink, then immediately following that on the same line without leaving a space put parenthesis () around the URL you want the words to link to.
When you post the comment the brackets, parenthesis and website address will not physically appear and the words that were in the brackets will be highlighted in blue and clicking on them will open the web address you had put in parenthesis.
Miami Herald op-ed on December 7, 2018 by Kareem Tabsch, Co-director of O Cinema, about the fate of this location, changes to the Wynwood neighborhood, the relationship of the arts to quality of life, and the importance of property ownership to the continuation of arts organizations:
“O Cinema Latest to Exit Wynwood, Prove Miami Must Prioritize Space for the Arts”
He says the Knight Foundation has pledged to “help O Cinema create South Florida’s first independent film center by supporting the cinema’s purchase and renovation of a permanent home…”
I enjoyed hearing that other people also feel that “Wynwood is over” with the coming departure of O Cinema, like I alluded to in my previous comment. :)
There are more exterior/interior images of the cinema for this address on Google Street View.
This may have been the first time I have visited a storefront cinema. Older Street View images show it had been a Kodak camera supply store perhaps for a long time since it had an old style sign, and for a short time was I Am An Artist where you create your own art.
I finally got to visit on November 9th, 2018 for the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival film “A Polar Year” set in Greenland.
Four poster box style video screens in the front windows display images of posters of current and coming attractions like a slide show.
I appreciated the way the seats are tiered such that you can completely see over the head of the person sitting in front of you.
Click here for the theater’s Yelp page for more description and exterior/interior photos.
I caught a glimpse of the Mars on October 28th, 2018 while riding past aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad’s Summerville Steam Special excursion train.
Apparently it’s now called Four Brothers Drive-in.
Website is playeatdrink.com
Here’s a video from October 22nd, 2018 including an interview with the owners, the experience of visiting their drive-in, and thoughts about people desiring an old-fashioned communal feeling:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/drive-in-theaters-are-making-a-comeback/vp-BBOJ7xW
I have uploaded photos of the Seminole Theater/Landmark Hotel building (which seems to be for sale), as well as one of its historical marker.
On October 18th, 2018 I attended the Lighting Ceremony for the Seminole’s new marquee, (it had never had a marquee before), followed by a free screening of “Singin' in the Rain”, which to me nicely felt a bit like going to the movies in a small town years ago.
I’ve uploaded a photo of the marquee on the night of its debut.
remkoolhaas, are the remnants you are referring to that of the Biscayne Park Theater in North Miami? Click here for the CT page I created for it. Where can I see your photos?
Article in the Palm Beach Florida Weekly about the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County moving in to the former Lake Theatre in January of 2012:
https://palmbeach.floridaweekly.com/articles/cultural-council-opening-in-robert-m-montgomery-jr-building/
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, a combination art gallery, performance space, educational center, gift shop and tourist information kiosk that is currently housed in the former Lake Theatre is visited starting at 11:50 in this Lake Worth episode of the PBS tv program “On the Town in the Palm Beaches” on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/-61xIcKfLV0?t=710
Nice contemporary exterior shots at 12:30 and 13:00, but also a historic depiction back at 2:41 and 4:03 even though that part of the program is discussing the Lake Worth Playhouse.
The Lake Worth Playhouse is discussed and visited starting at 2:19 in this Lake Worth episode of the PBS tv program “On the Town in the Palm Beaches” on Youtube, (although the exterior shots at 2:41 and 4:03 are actually of the Lake Theatre):
https://youtu.be/-61xIcKfLV0?t=138
The Street Painting Festival is shown at 10:47 followed by the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County housed in the former Lake Theatre.
History of the Lake Worth Playhouse page on the Playhouse’s website:
http://www.lakeworthplayhouse.org/playhouse_history.html
I enjoy knowing there’s a nearby municipality named after the legendary lost city of Atlantis.
How skeptical might some people be when the mayor of Atlantis, Florida introduces themselves as “the mayor of Atlantis”? : )
When I’ve been to Lake Worth for the Street Painting Festival I’ve enjoyed what to me is the mellow vibe of the local Guatemalan-Mayan immigrants I’ve sat amongst while eating at the little Panda Garden Chinese restaurant they seem to enjoy frequenting in the shopping center where the Towne apparently had been, but I can’t tell exactly where the cinema was located.
Perhaps it was where the El Bodegon Hispanic-themed supermarket is now?
Sporridge, in response to your question from June 25th, 2011 regarding newspaper references to the Capri, I found this Palm Beach Post article from May 7th, 2014 saying the Lake Worth Playhouse had been the Capri Art Theatre, then in 1968 became the Playtoy!:
“When Lake Worth Was the ‘Skin Flick Capital of the Country‘”
(When I was a kid I remember some regular movie theaters having an “X” on their marquees, but this is the first I’ve heard of one changing its name to make its adult nature more obvious.)
The article, that begins with an exterior photo and ends with a list of some titles that screened there, says the Playtoy became embroiled in an anti-indecency court case over the film “Deep Throat” that closed the cinema in the early 1970‘s, before it was purchased by the Lake Worth Playhouse nonprofit group that converted it into a venue for live theater.
A visitor to the area today would perceive no indication of the Playhouse’s former less respectable identity.
By the way, a good reason to visit Lake Worth is the Street Painting Festival that takes place annually in late February on Lake Worth’s downtown streets including in front of the Playhouse.
This theater is no longer an O Cinema location but is still the Miami Theater Center, focusing on theatrical performances for children and their families, and sometimes screening programs of family orientated films, meaning it is still technically an open movie theater.
I asked an employee at the original O Cinema in Wynwood who confirmed this, saying the change occurred about a year ago.