The archival photo called “Looking North on Federal Highway, Dania, Florida” on the back cover of the book “Broward County” by Seth H. Bramson seems to match the Google Street View image looking north from the intersection of Dania Beach Blvd and US-1 (Federal Hwy). In the far corner of the archival photo down the street is the vertical “State” sign for the State Theater, which seems to match the building with the green awning and painted over vertical sign in Google Street View at 25 North Federal Highway.
Setting the address for the State’s Cinema Treasures page to 25 North Federal Highway should give us a view of the State.
The Cinema Treasures page for the University Theater in the University District says it was originally the location of the New Home Theatre during the time when this place was the Home Theatre. Perhaps the two were related?
There is a Cinema Treasures page for the Home Theatre which existed in the Central District neighborhood before and during the time this location was the New Home Theatre. Perhaps the two were related?
I appreciate that at least a few people have remembered the University Theater, because I grew up in and loved the movie business. My father ran a successful a twin art theater near the University of CA, Berkeley in the 1950’s and 60’s.He sold and we moved to Seattle in 1968 and I was a teenager in the family that started the University Theater, so let me add a bit of history for the theater buffs that still remember those good old days. The University Theater opened in April of 1971, which was the time of a very bad recession in Seattle. Who remembers the billboard; “Will the last one out of Seattle please turn out the lights?” During the renovation of the building, it was discovered that there was a sloped concrete floor under the flat floor, so we knew it was originally built as a theater. A bit of research revealed that it was originally built in 1914 and operated until 1924 as the New Home Theatre which showed silent movies. I was told that the New Home Theater was the first theater built north of the ship canal.
The University Theater always struggled financially and so the themes were shifted from art films to Hollywood heyday movies to sub-run of recent releases or cult films and off beat movies. The University Theater was finally closed in 1986 because there was simply an insufficient audience to keep the doors open. The issue of a diminishing audience started and became increasingly apparent as movies became available on VHS tapes in the 2nd half of the 1970’s, which mostly limited customers to those without children. Parents were more likely to rent the VHS video and watch it at home to save the cost of hiring a babysitter.
I have many fond memories of walking from Roosevelt High school to the University Theater to prep things for the evening, then run the projectors while trying to keep old beat up celluloid movies running without interruption. I have even better memories of an enthusiastic movie audience that shared a wonderful collective experience. For the younger readers of this article, you need to understand that movies and theaters were more unique and personal back in the old days, not like the more sterile boxy impersonal experiences offered today.
When I could get a break from a job that required two working shifts a day, seven days a week, I was thrilled to use my courtesy pass to see movies at the many of the other great old theaters mentioned in this article, most of which do not exist today. A lot has changed from those good old days, but I am proud to say that I was part of the grand days of Cinema Paradiso.
Yes, a number or years after opening University Theater, a not so tiny 2nd theater was constructed behind the projection booth upstairs. Ironically it was not so tiny as it had nearly 100 seats, so it was about the same size as the Grand Illusion / Movie house, but it had a much higher ceiling, so the screen was not so easily blocked by late arrivals finding their seats. As the projectionist, my life became more challenging because I now had to run the projectors for two theaters. To make this possible, a platter system was added to the projection booth for the main theater and the old carbon arc lamps were changed to xenon lamps. That old building had beautiful barn truss solid wood beams, so the 2nd theater had high ceilings with pretty wood beams , which created a very nice space. Also, you might be interested to hear that the seats for the main theater were salvaged in 1970 from a failed theater in White Rock, BC. I was only 15 when that removal work was done, but I remember the hard work to remove and haul them to Seattle. There are a lot of good stories from those old days, so long ago.
During our discussion mentioned in my previous comment the owner of Cinema Books and I wondered to each other, “Does working in a cinema feel like getting to be somewhat of a showman most days, or is it just making sure the equipment is working, picking up spilled popcorn, and cleaning the restrooms?”
In a storefront that is part of the same building but around the corner at 4753 Roosevelt Way NE, Cinema Books existed for decades.
I bought some books and magazines regarding movie theaters when I visited in 2012, and had an intelligent discussion with the lady who owned the store about what it might be like to run a cinema, being that we were feet from the Seven Gables.
She said there used to be more bookstores like hers around the country that specialized exclusively in movie related materials, but the only ones left she knew of might be in Los Angeles.
Wow, nice article from the front page of the November 26th, 2017 Seattle Times about several of Seattle’s historic movie houses starting with the Grand Illusion, including why we go to the movies!:
The Brahman looked to be open when I visited Okeechobee this past weekend. Films listed on the roadside marquee were in current release. The cinema has a page listing current show times on the Movie Clock site. And a man who told me he has lived in Okeechobee for thirty years said it is open.
Click here for a video segment from local NBC “6 in the Mix” show about what the Nite Owl is like, Nayib Estefan and his mission to keep 35mm alive, and their Halloween programming.
The Main Library in downtown Miami has a videocassette (VHS) copy of a collection of short documentary films made locally in the mid-1980’s called “A Few Things I Know About Miami”.
The first, about 6 minutes long, is called “On Flagler Street” featuring a man named Jimmy Barnett, a former manager of the Olympia across the street from the Miami, describing the heyday of the movie going experience along Flagler Street which he feels lasted from the 1930’s to about 1955. Behind him you can almost make out the then drab grey façade of the Miami Theatre in its yet-to-be restored state.
The film includes archival Movietone newsreel footage of the grand opening of the Miami Theatre (with the film “Carnival in Costa Rica” and mentioning that the manager was Sonny Shepard), the premier at the Miami of “Slattery’s Hurricane” which was partially filmed in the area, and actor Jimmy Stewart arriving at the premier of “The Glenn Miller Story” at what might be the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables (it simultaneously premiered at the Miami and the Carib). There are also historic still photo shots of various theaters in downtown Miami when they were open.
A b&w image of the Miami Theatre marquee is on the cover of the box that the videocassette comes in.
The Main Library in downtown Miami has a videocassette (VHS) copy of a collection of short documentary films made locally in the mid-1980’s called “A Few Things I Know About Miami” (which I just noticed was first mentioned here by Al Alvarez in his comment dated May 24, 2005).
The first, about 6 minutes long, is called “On Flagler Street” featuring a former manager of the Olympia named Jimmy Barnett describing the heyday of the movie going experience along Flagler street which he feels lasted from the 1930’s to about 1955.
The film includes archival Movietone newsreel footage of the grand opening of the Miami Theater across the street and actor Jimmy Stewart arriving at the premier of “The Glenn Miller Story” at what might be the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables (it simultaneously premiered at the Miami and Carib), as well as historic still photo shots of various theaters in downtown Miami when they were open.
The film ends with Mr. Barnett inviting you to follow him on to the stage of the Olympia where he explains he had worked for 18 years, at one point as “captain of the balcony”, and becoming manager in December of 1950, while we see shots of the auditorium. He says the Olympia also hosted many shows and famous people during his tenure.
Wow, did you work for WTVJ and/or the Capitol? How do you know so much about this theater?
Your description for photo #11 including that the floor for Studio A was built above what had been the floor containing orchestra seating explains why in the video I mention in my previous comment the studio floor is only one step above what had been the balcony. (They go to what had been the balcony, but not “up” to get there.)
What was under the floor that supported Studio A in the space between that floor and what had been the theater‘s floor?
I never got to see the outside of the Capitol/WTVJ cause I never had a “reason” to walk down that street before it was demolished. Also from the Metromover on my way to Bayside and such the glimpse I could get of the block didn’t look like much to me at the time in the 90‘s, then it was gone.
Yeah I forgot to mention that Andrew was in 1992 since here in Miami anyone concerned “already knows” that, while Cinema Treasures is worldwide.
Btw, the Wolfson Archives website has some of their collection of Miami produced programming online, and sometimes local events to attend. I believe the Archives has a lot of WTVJ’s broadcasts in their vaults.
In the 25th anniversary version I saw last week of the tv special “Hurricane Andrew As It Happened” Tony Segreto says the place where he, Bryan Norcross, and Kelly Craig famously took shelter to continue broadcasting and advising the public during the storm as WTVJ remained on the air was the balcony of the former theater.
Click here for a Youtube video from the Wolfson Archives showing them relocating from the broadcast desk to what I guess is the balcony stairs. Towards the end Tony has the camera pan around to show some equipment and their surroundings.
Fremont Street is now a pedestrian only/closed to vehicles entertainment district called the Fremont Street Experience covered by the “Viva Vision” canopy video screen, three stages with live bands, some street performers, and a zip line called “Slotzilla” you can ride on between the street and the screen.
When I was there on August 19th and 20th of 2017 during my first trip to Vegas, I enjoyed the Linkin Park and Tiesto performances on the screen, the different live local bands, the people watching, and the neon lights on the remaining casinos with the feeling that there is still some history left. I liked it a lot more than The Strip.
I’ve since watched Youtube videos of what Vegas used to look like that left me feeling like I missed something that is now gone. I also would have liked to have seen Fremont Street when the cinemas were still operating.
The vertical El Portal sign might be the one now in the “Neon Boneyard” at the Neon Museum. (See my August 29th, 2017 comment in the comments section.)
The vertical El Portal sign might be the one now in the “Neon Boneyard” at the Neon Museum. (See my August 29th, 2017 comment in the comments section.)
On August 20th during what I called my “Vegas Strip Side Trip 2017” I took the “Neon Boneyard” Tour at the interesting Neon Museum a few blocks from Fremont Street.
The Boneyard is an outdoor lot of historic neon signs from defunct Vegas casinos and businesses. A few are lit up at night. One laying on its side unlit formed the words “El Portal”. I asked the tour guide who told me it is most likely from the theater.
There are some photos of the sign in the Boneyard if you do a Google images search using the terms “Neon Boneyard El Portal”.
To me it looks like it could be the sign in the photos section in these older photos: one, two.
That could mean the similar looking sign on what is now an Indian/Native gift shop is a reproduction or a separate remainder still intact from its days as a theater?
Ripshin, whatever familiarity I have with the Gables begins in the early 90’s and I’m not a restaurant person, so I’m not sure. In recent years the only reason I go to the Gables anymore is to visit the places I mention in my previous comment.
The Gable Plaza I think you’re talking I only remember as a parking garage before, if we’re thinking of the same place.
Caffe Abbracci is in a building that has been a restaurant back before the early 90’s and is next to a parking lot. The Globe (which may have had a blue light at one time by a wooden door and I think has had jazz and Cuban performances) on Alhambra is another that goes back years. There’s also some old buildings with a parking lot next to them (behind the bank where the Dream Theatre had been) on Giralda between Salzedo and Ponce. Look all these up using Google Street View. Also in Street View if you click on the orange dots on the Abbracci and Globe locations you get a photo of the inside.
This Moab Times article about one man’s recollections of this cinema says this theater was originally the Ides and was renamed Hollywood in the 1960’s by new owners after it was sold by the Clark family:
Page 79 of the book “Moab and Grand County (Images of America)” by Travis Schenck and Museum of Moab shows a photo of the Ides with some text about its history, saying “The Ides Theater on Main Street brought cinema to Moab” when it opened in the mid-30’s, was named after the Ides of March as it opened on a windy rainy day, used phonograph recordings of actors’ voices during the talkie era, and that the Clark family that originally owned it sold it during the uranium boom.
I discovered the book in August of 2017 during my “Moab – Red Rocks Trip” and just viewed the page using the Look Inside function on the book’s Amazon listing and typing in the search term “Ides”.
I asked the woman at the front desk of the Museum of Moab who described the theater’s former location as being the parking lot shown in the Street View image above, which is next to a Wells Fargo as mentioned in the article of the man‘s recollections.
The building next to the Ides in the photo looks like it may have been an ice cream parlor and the building next to today’s parking lot which is now a t-shirt shop still had a defunct lunch counter inside when I was there.
An archive of articles spanning decades of the Ides Theatre’s life in this and its previous location at Woodmen Hall:
I visited Sedona in the Summer of 2008. Mentioning the amount of movies that had been filmed in the area reminds me of my encounter with the “Sedona Movie Museum”. I stopped in hoping to learn something but the young guy that approached me as a staff member quickly turned out to be an aggressive time share salesman. He wouldn’t let me steer the “conversation” back to filmmaking history so I walked out in mid sales pitch, with the photocopy of the list of the films made in the area that he first handed me. I would have liked to have spent some time with the photos and items in the museum but I dared not return. Comments on the museum’s Trip Advisor page say it was still like this as of 2015.
That Flicker Shack looks cool btw. :) Wish it was still there when I was.
In Google Street View the Olde Sedona Bar & Grill has a sign that to me resembles the marquee in the Boxoffice article but I otherwise can’t tell if it’s the same building.
The archival photo called “Looking North on Federal Highway, Dania, Florida” on the back cover of the book “Broward County” by Seth H. Bramson seems to match the Google Street View image looking north from the intersection of Dania Beach Blvd and US-1 (Federal Hwy). In the far corner of the archival photo down the street is the vertical “State” sign for the State Theater, which seems to match the building with the green awning and painted over vertical sign in Google Street View at 25 North Federal Highway.
Setting the address for the State’s Cinema Treasures page to 25 North Federal Highway should give us a view of the State.
The Cinema Treasures page for the University Theater in the University District says it was originally the location of the New Home Theatre during the time when this place was the Home Theatre. Perhaps the two were related?
There is a Cinema Treasures page for the Home Theatre which existed in the Central District neighborhood before and during the time this location was the New Home Theatre. Perhaps the two were related?
“Good_Citizen” posted the following in the comments section of the Seattle Times article “Explore Seattle’s Romantic – and Vanishing – Historic Moviehouses”:
I appreciate that at least a few people have remembered the University Theater, because I grew up in and loved the movie business. My father ran a successful a twin art theater near the University of CA, Berkeley in the 1950’s and 60’s.He sold and we moved to Seattle in 1968 and I was a teenager in the family that started the University Theater, so let me add a bit of history for the theater buffs that still remember those good old days. The University Theater opened in April of 1971, which was the time of a very bad recession in Seattle. Who remembers the billboard; “Will the last one out of Seattle please turn out the lights?” During the renovation of the building, it was discovered that there was a sloped concrete floor under the flat floor, so we knew it was originally built as a theater. A bit of research revealed that it was originally built in 1914 and operated until 1924 as the New Home Theatre which showed silent movies. I was told that the New Home Theater was the first theater built north of the ship canal.
The University Theater always struggled financially and so the themes were shifted from art films to Hollywood heyday movies to sub-run of recent releases or cult films and off beat movies. The University Theater was finally closed in 1986 because there was simply an insufficient audience to keep the doors open. The issue of a diminishing audience started and became increasingly apparent as movies became available on VHS tapes in the 2nd half of the 1970’s, which mostly limited customers to those without children. Parents were more likely to rent the VHS video and watch it at home to save the cost of hiring a babysitter.
I have many fond memories of walking from Roosevelt High school to the University Theater to prep things for the evening, then run the projectors while trying to keep old beat up celluloid movies running without interruption. I have even better memories of an enthusiastic movie audience that shared a wonderful collective experience. For the younger readers of this article, you need to understand that movies and theaters were more unique and personal back in the old days, not like the more sterile boxy impersonal experiences offered today.
When I could get a break from a job that required two working shifts a day, seven days a week, I was thrilled to use my courtesy pass to see movies at the many of the other great old theaters mentioned in this article, most of which do not exist today. A lot has changed from those good old days, but I am proud to say that I was part of the grand days of Cinema Paradiso.
Yes, a number or years after opening University Theater, a not so tiny 2nd theater was constructed behind the projection booth upstairs. Ironically it was not so tiny as it had nearly 100 seats, so it was about the same size as the Grand Illusion / Movie house, but it had a much higher ceiling, so the screen was not so easily blocked by late arrivals finding their seats. As the projectionist, my life became more challenging because I now had to run the projectors for two theaters. To make this possible, a platter system was added to the projection booth for the main theater and the old carbon arc lamps were changed to xenon lamps. That old building had beautiful barn truss solid wood beams, so the 2nd theater had high ceilings with pretty wood beams , which created a very nice space. Also, you might be interested to hear that the seats for the main theater were salvaged in 1970 from a failed theater in White Rock, BC. I was only 15 when that removal work was done, but I remember the hard work to remove and haul them to Seattle. There are a lot of good stories from those old days, so long ago.
Just north up the street at 5030 Roosevelt Way NE, Scarecrow Video and its huge selection is definitely worth checking out. They also show films in their screening room.
During our discussion mentioned in my previous comment the owner of Cinema Books and I wondered to each other, “Does working in a cinema feel like getting to be somewhat of a showman most days, or is it just making sure the equipment is working, picking up spilled popcorn, and cleaning the restrooms?”
In a storefront that is part of the same building but around the corner at 4753 Roosevelt Way NE, Cinema Books existed for decades.
I bought some books and magazines regarding movie theaters when I visited in 2012, and had an intelligent discussion with the lady who owned the store about what it might be like to run a cinema, being that we were feet from the Seven Gables.
She said there used to be more bookstores like hers around the country that specialized exclusively in movie related materials, but the only ones left she knew of might be in Los Angeles.
I was looking forward to visiting again but Cinema Books closed in 2015 due to nearby construction.
Google “Cinema Bookstore Seattle” for links to articles and photos.
Wow, nice article from the front page of the November 26th, 2017 Seattle Times, “Explore Seattle’s Romantic – and Vanishing – Historic Moviehouses”, including a description and detailed slideshow of the Admiral, and why we go to the movies!
Wow, nice article from the front page of the November 26th, 2017 Seattle Times about several of Seattle’s historic movie houses starting with the Grand Illusion, including why we go to the movies!:
https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/seattles-historic-moviehouses/
The Brahman looked to be open when I visited Okeechobee this past weekend. Films listed on the roadside marquee were in current release. The cinema has a page listing current show times on the Movie Clock site. And a man who told me he has lived in Okeechobee for thirty years said it is open.
The Drexel and the effort to keep it alive starts at 17:14 in this Youtube video of the Bexley episode of WOSU’s series on Columbus neighborhoods.
Click here for a video segment from local NBC “6 in the Mix” show about what the Nite Owl is like, Nayib Estefan and his mission to keep 35mm alive, and their Halloween programming.
The Main Library in downtown Miami has a videocassette (VHS) copy of a collection of short documentary films made locally in the mid-1980’s called “A Few Things I Know About Miami”.
The first, about 6 minutes long, is called “On Flagler Street” featuring a man named Jimmy Barnett, a former manager of the Olympia across the street from the Miami, describing the heyday of the movie going experience along Flagler Street which he feels lasted from the 1930’s to about 1955. Behind him you can almost make out the then drab grey façade of the Miami Theatre in its yet-to-be restored state.
The film includes archival Movietone newsreel footage of the grand opening of the Miami Theatre (with the film “Carnival in Costa Rica” and mentioning that the manager was Sonny Shepard), the premier at the Miami of “Slattery’s Hurricane” which was partially filmed in the area, and actor Jimmy Stewart arriving at the premier of “The Glenn Miller Story” at what might be the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables (it simultaneously premiered at the Miami and the Carib). There are also historic still photo shots of various theaters in downtown Miami when they were open.
A b&w image of the Miami Theatre marquee is on the cover of the box that the videocassette comes in.
The Main Library in downtown Miami has a videocassette (VHS) copy of a collection of short documentary films made locally in the mid-1980’s called “A Few Things I Know About Miami” (which I just noticed was first mentioned here by Al Alvarez in his comment dated May 24, 2005).
The first, about 6 minutes long, is called “On Flagler Street” featuring a former manager of the Olympia named Jimmy Barnett describing the heyday of the movie going experience along Flagler street which he feels lasted from the 1930’s to about 1955.
The film includes archival Movietone newsreel footage of the grand opening of the Miami Theater across the street and actor Jimmy Stewart arriving at the premier of “The Glenn Miller Story” at what might be the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables (it simultaneously premiered at the Miami and Carib), as well as historic still photo shots of various theaters in downtown Miami when they were open.
The film ends with Mr. Barnett inviting you to follow him on to the stage of the Olympia where he explains he had worked for 18 years, at one point as “captain of the balcony”, and becoming manager in December of 1950, while we see shots of the auditorium. He says the Olympia also hosted many shows and famous people during his tenure.
September 30, 2017 article in the Kitsap Sun newspaper:
“At 75, Admiral Poised for Another Big Opening”
Includes many photos from different decades in the Admiral’s life.
Thank you, Cmanni.
Wow, did you work for WTVJ and/or the Capitol? How do you know so much about this theater?
Your description for photo #11 including that the floor for Studio A was built above what had been the floor containing orchestra seating explains why in the video I mention in my previous comment the studio floor is only one step above what had been the balcony. (They go to what had been the balcony, but not “up” to get there.)
What was under the floor that supported Studio A in the space between that floor and what had been the theater‘s floor?
I never got to see the outside of the Capitol/WTVJ cause I never had a “reason” to walk down that street before it was demolished. Also from the Metromover on my way to Bayside and such the glimpse I could get of the block didn’t look like much to me at the time in the 90‘s, then it was gone.
Yeah I forgot to mention that Andrew was in 1992 since here in Miami anyone concerned “already knows” that, while Cinema Treasures is worldwide.
In the 25th anniversary version of “Hurricane Andrew As It Happened” Tony says the Capitol was the first movie theater in Miami, but the book “Historical Sketches And Sidelights Of Miami, Florida” printed in 1925 says the first was Kelly’s Theater in 1906, later named The Arcade, for which I established a page on Cinema Treasures.
Btw, the Wolfson Archives website has some of their collection of Miami produced programming online, and sometimes local events to attend. I believe the Archives has a lot of WTVJ’s broadcasts in their vaults.
In the 25th anniversary version I saw last week of the tv special “Hurricane Andrew As It Happened” Tony Segreto says the place where he, Bryan Norcross, and Kelly Craig famously took shelter to continue broadcasting and advising the public during the storm as WTVJ remained on the air was the balcony of the former theater.
Click here for a Youtube video from the Wolfson Archives showing them relocating from the broadcast desk to what I guess is the balcony stairs. Towards the end Tony has the camera pan around to show some equipment and their surroundings.
I enjoyed sitting at the lobby bar and watching people come to the movies, which you can do whether or not you buy a movie ticket.
Fremont Street is now a pedestrian only/closed to vehicles entertainment district called the Fremont Street Experience covered by the “Viva Vision” canopy video screen, three stages with live bands, some street performers, and a zip line called “Slotzilla” you can ride on between the street and the screen.
When I was there on August 19th and 20th of 2017 during my first trip to Vegas, I enjoyed the Linkin Park and Tiesto performances on the screen, the different live local bands, the people watching, and the neon lights on the remaining casinos with the feeling that there is still some history left. I liked it a lot more than The Strip.
I’ve since watched Youtube videos of what Vegas used to look like that left me feeling like I missed something that is now gone. I also would have liked to have seen Fremont Street when the cinemas were still operating.
The vertical El Portal sign might be the one now in the “Neon Boneyard” at the Neon Museum. (See my August 29th, 2017 comment in the comments section.)
The vertical El Portal sign might be the one now in the “Neon Boneyard” at the Neon Museum. (See my August 29th, 2017 comment in the comments section.)
On August 20th during what I called my “Vegas Strip Side Trip 2017” I took the “Neon Boneyard” Tour at the interesting Neon Museum a few blocks from Fremont Street.
The Boneyard is an outdoor lot of historic neon signs from defunct Vegas casinos and businesses. A few are lit up at night. One laying on its side unlit formed the words “El Portal”. I asked the tour guide who told me it is most likely from the theater.
There are some photos of the sign in the Boneyard if you do a Google images search using the terms “Neon Boneyard El Portal”.
To me it looks like it could be the sign in the photos section in these older photos: one, two.
That could mean the similar looking sign on what is now an Indian/Native gift shop is a reproduction or a separate remainder still intact from its days as a theater?
Ripshin, whatever familiarity I have with the Gables begins in the early 90’s and I’m not a restaurant person, so I’m not sure. In recent years the only reason I go to the Gables anymore is to visit the places I mention in my previous comment.
The Gable Plaza I think you’re talking I only remember as a parking garage before, if we’re thinking of the same place.
Caffe Abbracci is in a building that has been a restaurant back before the early 90’s and is next to a parking lot. The Globe (which may have had a blue light at one time by a wooden door and I think has had jazz and Cuban performances) on Alhambra is another that goes back years. There’s also some old buildings with a parking lot next to them (behind the bank where the Dream Theatre had been) on Giralda between Salzedo and Ponce. Look all these up using Google Street View. Also in Street View if you click on the orange dots on the Abbracci and Globe locations you get a photo of the inside.
This Moab Times article about one man’s recollections of this cinema says this theater was originally the Ides and was renamed Hollywood in the 1960’s by new owners after it was sold by the Clark family:
http://moabtimes.com/bookmark/68257-The-Way-Sam-Remembers-It
Page 79 of the book “Moab and Grand County (Images of America)” by Travis Schenck and Museum of Moab shows a photo of the Ides with some text about its history, saying “The Ides Theater on Main Street brought cinema to Moab” when it opened in the mid-30’s, was named after the Ides of March as it opened on a windy rainy day, used phonograph recordings of actors’ voices during the talkie era, and that the Clark family that originally owned it sold it during the uranium boom.
I discovered the book in August of 2017 during my “Moab – Red Rocks Trip” and just viewed the page using the Look Inside function on the book’s Amazon listing and typing in the search term “Ides”.
I asked the woman at the front desk of the Museum of Moab who described the theater’s former location as being the parking lot shown in the Street View image above, which is next to a Wells Fargo as mentioned in the article of the man‘s recollections.
The building next to the Ides in the photo looks like it may have been an ice cream parlor and the building next to today’s parking lot which is now a t-shirt shop still had a defunct lunch counter inside when I was there.
An archive of articles spanning decades of the Ides Theatre’s life in this and its previous location at Woodmen Hall:
http://utahtheaters.info/Theater/News/319/Ides-Theatre
I visited Sedona in the Summer of 2008. Mentioning the amount of movies that had been filmed in the area reminds me of my encounter with the “Sedona Movie Museum”. I stopped in hoping to learn something but the young guy that approached me as a staff member quickly turned out to be an aggressive time share salesman. He wouldn’t let me steer the “conversation” back to filmmaking history so I walked out in mid sales pitch, with the photocopy of the list of the films made in the area that he first handed me. I would have liked to have spent some time with the photos and items in the museum but I dared not return. Comments on the museum’s Trip Advisor page say it was still like this as of 2015.
That Flicker Shack looks cool btw. :) Wish it was still there when I was.
In Google Street View the Olde Sedona Bar & Grill has a sign that to me resembles the marquee in the Boxoffice article but I otherwise can’t tell if it’s the same building.