Checked the google street view on 4-21-2016. This couldn’t possibly have 1,450 seats, looks more like 400. From the street view it still looks just like the photo in the gallery; still closed, same sign on front.
It looks like the auditorium has been demolished. The building with street frontage showing above is still there in Google Street Views, but that building definitely isn’t big enough to house the auditorium – From the back it looks like it connected with something that is now demolished. There’s a parking lot there now.
Sounds like two theatres are being discussed here – the one that was destroyed by fire in 1931 and another being used as a CBS Studio in the 1950s.
From the various pictures it looks like the shell of the building survived and a new auditorium build behind the middle section which served as the studio.
This was definitely demolished altogether by the mid 1960s when the Lincoln Center building housing Alice Tully Hall and the Julliard School was built.
This theatre has been a jewelry store since at least the late 1970’s – they’re maintaining the interior architecture beautifully – the auditorium is very ornate – white with lots of gold leaf. Design is similar to the State theatres in New York and St. Louis.
Currently, this theater is one of the four theatres owned by the Broadway Theatre Group, which was founded in 2007 to manage, restore, and preserve the historic theatres of Broadway. As of early 2016, they manage the Tower, Los Angeles, Palace and State Theatres, and have done significant restoration as well as infrastructure upgrades to all four theaters. The Tower, Palace and Los Angeles Theaters are rented out for events, performances and film shoots, while the State Theatre is leased to the Cathedral of Faith church.
The building for original Cinemas 4-5 was a completely separate building just north of the original two buildings. They’re only separated by about 50 feet. The original two buildings (original cinemas 1-3) were connected by a glass-enclosed walkway. I just posted a photo with a map of the buildings (also showing the Palace and Riverdale drive-ins across the street) showing how they all relate to each other. I’ve also just submitted a new description for this theatre on 1/18/2016 (should be up in a couple days,) which incorporates the very helpful corrections posted above, and some info from the Box Office article, and recommended that the people providing the additional information above be credited as co-contributers to the description.
The Riverdale Drive-in closed in the late 1970’s, and by the 1990’s, the space had been redeveloped with various small office and retail buildings. It was located immediately behind the Sack Palace 1-2 and across the street from Showcase Cinemas.
From the google street view, the auditorium does not look long and thin it actually looks reasonably wide (It looks like a single level of seating), but the stage is definitely shallow.
When one enters they go through a vey long lobby before turning right into the auditorium. The auditorium actually faces against the next street over hence the long lobby.
Can’t find any recent news reports about the renovation but from the pictures at their official website it looks like they’ve done a great job restoring the lobby areas – they look quite beautiful.
It also looks like they have a reasonably active schedule of shows and events, live performances, concerts and occasional movies.
No views of the auditoria – from the seating map on their website it looks like they still haven’t yet removed the partitions and are still working out of one half of the orchestra section. But what renovations they’ve done look great and they have a reasonably active schedule, which are the most important things at this point. The article linked from above indicates they’re looking at approx. 17 million for the renovation, which is not high at all compared to other renovations I’ve seen attempted so I think it’s quite doable – I expect progress will continue to happen.
The Seminole had its grand re-opening on October 28, 2015 after an extensive renovation!
They have a facebook page up which, for now, is serving as their official webpage. Photos there – the interior is brand new and quite modern – they did a great job!
Their website is gone – looks like they may have closed. The link at teecee’s 2005 post above has changed – the photos are now at: http://www.builtstlouis.net/opos/americantheater.html
There is a facebook page for the Roxie Theatre – run by someone advocating for the theatre’s restoration. Includes some nice current interior photos. A little dilapidated but definitely restorable. The page is at:
The theatre is owned by the Broadway Theatre Group which also owns the Los Angeles, Tower and Palace Theatres.
The webpage is: http://www.statetheatre.la/
The theatre is still rented by the Cathedral of Faith and is not currently available for other bookings or film shoots. But the webpage has a couple nice interior photos and it looks like it has recently been repainted in a nice, more colorful color scheme.
The Million Dollar Theatre is again available for rental, for events, private functions and film shoots. It is also showing classic movies recently on a more or less monthly basis. Website is http://www.milliondollar.la/. It is run as part of the “Grand Central Square Project” which includes the apartments above the theatre, the adjacent Grand Central Market, and Grand Central Square and adjacent parking garage. Good to see it is still in use!
Any update on the Paramount? I haven’t been able to find an official page. What is the URL for the facebook page?
Checked the google street view on 4-21-2016. This couldn’t possibly have 1,450 seats, looks more like 400. From the street view it still looks just like the photo in the gallery; still closed, same sign on front.
As of early 2016, the building is still there intact.
It looks like the auditorium has been demolished. The building with street frontage showing above is still there in Google Street Views, but that building definitely isn’t big enough to house the auditorium – From the back it looks like it connected with something that is now demolished. There’s a parking lot there now.
The New Grenada is in Pittsburgh, PA it’s entry in Cinema Treasures is: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/16495
Sounds like two theatres are being discussed here – the one that was destroyed by fire in 1931 and another being used as a CBS Studio in the 1950s.
From the various pictures it looks like the shell of the building survived and a new auditorium build behind the middle section which served as the studio.
This was definitely demolished altogether by the mid 1960s when the Lincoln Center building housing Alice Tully Hall and the Julliard School was built.
This theatre has been a jewelry store since at least the late 1970’s – they’re maintaining the interior architecture beautifully – the auditorium is very ornate – white with lots of gold leaf. Design is similar to the State theatres in New York and St. Louis.
The facebook page I mentioned above is gone, but the Broadway Theatre Group has an official age for the theatre at www.towertheatrela.org
Currently, this theater is one of the four theatres owned by the Broadway Theatre Group, which was founded in 2007 to manage, restore, and preserve the historic theatres of Broadway. As of early 2016, they manage the Tower, Los Angeles, Palace and State Theatres, and have done significant restoration as well as infrastructure upgrades to all four theaters. The Tower, Palace and Los Angeles Theaters are rented out for events, performances and film shoots, while the State Theatre is leased to the Cathedral of Faith church.
The building for original Cinemas 4-5 was a completely separate building just north of the original two buildings. They’re only separated by about 50 feet. The original two buildings (original cinemas 1-3) were connected by a glass-enclosed walkway. I just posted a photo with a map of the buildings (also showing the Palace and Riverdale drive-ins across the street) showing how they all relate to each other. I’ve also just submitted a new description for this theatre on 1/18/2016 (should be up in a couple days,) which incorporates the very helpful corrections posted above, and some info from the Box Office article, and recommended that the people providing the additional information above be credited as co-contributers to the description.
The main entry lobby extends to the right of this plan and was quite long, probably over 100 feet.
The Riverdale Drive-in closed in the late 1970’s, and by the 1990’s, the space had been redeveloped with various small office and retail buildings. It was located immediately behind the Sack Palace 1-2 and across the street from Showcase Cinemas.
Junction Skate webpage is gone. From Google view, it looks like it now houses a used appliance store.
The space is now (2015) a tavern, McLadden’s Irish Publick House.
From the google street view, the auditorium does not look long and thin it actually looks reasonably wide (It looks like a single level of seating), but the stage is definitely shallow.
When one enters they go through a vey long lobby before turning right into the auditorium. The auditorium actually faces against the next street over hence the long lobby.
Can’t find any recent news reports about the renovation but from the pictures at their official website it looks like they’ve done a great job restoring the lobby areas – they look quite beautiful.
It also looks like they have a reasonably active schedule of shows and events, live performances, concerts and occasional movies.
No views of the auditoria – from the seating map on their website it looks like they still haven’t yet removed the partitions and are still working out of one half of the orchestra section. But what renovations they’ve done look great and they have a reasonably active schedule, which are the most important things at this point. The article linked from above indicates they’re looking at approx. 17 million for the renovation, which is not high at all compared to other renovations I’ve seen attempted so I think it’s quite doable – I expect progress will continue to happen.
Here’s a direct link to the article at afterthefinalcurtain.net (referenced two comments above):
http://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2015/10/01/studebaker-theatre/
From that article it looks like in fact both theatres have been restored and reopened (What are now called the Studebaker and the Playhouse)
The Seminole had its grand re-opening on October 28, 2015 after an extensive renovation!
They have a facebook page up which, for now, is serving as their official webpage. Photos there – the interior is brand new and quite modern – they did a great job!
https://www.facebook.com/The-Seminole-Cultural-Arts-Theatre-Inc-328415040595048/
Their website is gone – looks like they may have closed. The link at teecee’s 2005 post above has changed – the photos are now at: http://www.builtstlouis.net/opos/americantheater.html
Looks like they'[re still on for a 2015 opening!
They have a website up: http://globetheatre-la.com/main/
For now just has a promo video and contact info.
Their facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/globetheatre.la) still indicates opening 2015 and has good photos and links.
There is a facebook page for the Roxie Theatre – run by someone advocating for the theatre’s restoration. Includes some nice current interior photos. A little dilapidated but definitely restorable. The page is at:
www.facebook.com/roxietheatre
The theatre is owned by the Broadway Theatre Group which also owns the Los Angeles, Tower and Palace Theatres.
The webpage is: http://www.statetheatre.la/
The theatre is still rented by the Cathedral of Faith and is not currently available for other bookings or film shoots. But the webpage has a couple nice interior photos and it looks like it has recently been repainted in a nice, more colorful color scheme.
They have a facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tower-Theatre/
No word on renovations but they are having occasional concerts and the Tower is again available for rental and film shoots.
The Million Dollar Theatre is again available for rental, for events, private functions and film shoots. It is also showing classic movies recently on a more or less monthly basis. Website is http://www.milliondollar.la/. It is run as part of the “Grand Central Square Project” which includes the apartments above the theatre, the adjacent Grand Central Market, and Grand Central Square and adjacent parking garage. Good to see it is still in use!
Latest on their website: Opening planned for Fall 2015.