Notices of complaint in violation of certain health and building codes were served Tuesday afternoon on the owner and manager of the Star Theatre of Jamestown. The notices were signed by Fire Chief Mel Kachel, City-County Health Officer Dr. Robert Woodward and City Building Inspecter Gerald Hickey.
The notices state that the Star Theatre has conditions that are allegedly dangerous to people and that the theatre violates the state plumbing code, the National Building Code and life-safety codes. The building was also allegedly infested with cockroaches and other vermin.
The notices signed by Kachel and Hickey give the owners and manager 30 days to correct conditions: Health violations are to be corrected in 48 hours.
The Star Theatre is owned by Lake Road Theatre, Inc., Wayzeata, Minn., and is managed by Jack Fossum.
Kachel said the conditions in the theater came to light about a month ago during normal fire inspections. The owners have a certain period of time in which to demand a hearing before the proper authorities.
The Star Theatre announced Wednesday that it would be closed immediately for renovating and updating.
“Jamestown Weekly Alert Thu, Feb 02, 1893 · Page 1
Warde and James Coming.
The new Lloyd’s opera house will be opened, as previously announced in this paper, on Monday evening, February 6th. The opening attraction will be Fredrick Warde and Louis James, supported by a very capable company of some 40 players, in Julius Cæsar.
The engagement is for but one night. Every effort was made by Manager Jas. M. Lloyd to secure a second performance, but as the company are billed to appear in Helena after the date in this city, it could not be arranged. They come here direct from Minneapolis, bringing two carloads of scenery for use in addition to the regular equipment of the stage.
Seats for the performance were auctioned this week. Seats remaining unsold after the auction, will be placed on sale at regular prices—giving everybody a chance to attend. The capacity of the house will probably be fully tested, as many people are expected from surrounding towns. The Northern Pacific will sell excursion tickets from all points in the state for the occasion.
Ormsby McHarg returned to his duties at Bismarck this morning. “I will be back in time to hear ‘Julius Cæsar,’ though,” he said."
“A small fire was set deliberately in the York Theatre yesterday afternoon, a state fire marshal declared last night after making a preliminary investigation. The inquiry was resumed at 9:30 this morning.
Detective Lt. Daniel A. Shimkus of the state fire marshal’s office in Worcester was called to the scene after theatre manager David MacDonald told Fire Chief Mervin Perley he found signs of arson in the theatre at 6:20 last night.
Athol Police first heard noise from a sprinkler alarm in the adjacent York Building at 3:30 p.m. Unaware that the sprinkler also serves the huge theatre in the rear, officials checked the main building only, overlooking the theatre itself which is set apart from the main York Building structure.
The fire department shut off the sprinkler at the main valve after finding no fire in the York Building. Fire officials at first theorized that low pressure touched off the sprinkler alarm without turning on the water.
Later, MacDonald entered the theatre to open the 7 p.m. show, the first show of the day. He noticed that water was on the balcony floor and a door leading to the rear parking lot was partially open.
In a storage room under the projection booth, where sprinklers are located, he found that chair stuffings were piled high. They were wet but still smoldering. Curtains, apparently intended as a fuse, officials said, were found leading outside from the room to chairs in the balcony, about eight feet away. There was some water damage to the storage room and the nearby balcony rug, and the storage room floor was partially burned.
Firefighters of Engine 1 then responded to put out the still-smoldering chair remains.
Chief Perley found two paper matchbooks, along with cigarette butts that he said apparently had been intended as fuses. One of the books had ignited.
MacDonald told officials that he had been in the theatre at 7 a.m., to open a window in the toilet. Investigators still have not determined if the window was the means of entry. There were no footprints in the grass outside of the window, and no dirt on the floor near the window.
Lieutenant Shimkus said pictures and fingerprint checks will most probably be taken today, and neighbors living in view of the back of the theatre will be questioned.
The movie was shown as scheduled last night, and regular showings will continue today, Chief Perley said.“ - Athol Daily news May 27th, 1961
Reopened with 6 screens on June 17th, 2011.
Opened on February 27th, 1981 with two screens with “Seems like old times” and “Stir Crazy”.
Closed January 29th, 1975:
article from the 30th: (Posted in photo section)
Star Theatre Gets Health Notices
Notices of complaint in violation of certain health and building codes were served Tuesday afternoon on the owner and manager of the Star Theatre of Jamestown. The notices were signed by Fire Chief Mel Kachel, City-County Health Officer Dr. Robert Woodward and City Building Inspecter Gerald Hickey.
The notices state that the Star Theatre has conditions that are allegedly dangerous to people and that the theatre violates the state plumbing code, the National Building Code and life-safety codes. The building was also allegedly infested with cockroaches and other vermin.
The notices signed by Kachel and Hickey give the owners and manager 30 days to correct conditions: Health violations are to be corrected in 48 hours.
The Star Theatre is owned by Lake Road Theatre, Inc., Wayzeata, Minn., and is managed by Jack Fossum.
Kachel said the conditions in the theater came to light about a month ago during normal fire inspections. The owners have a certain period of time in which to demand a hearing before the proper authorities.
The Star Theatre announced Wednesday that it would be closed immediately for renovating and updating.
Reopened as the Sunset Theataire on May 11th, 1951 by the same owners as the State and Star theatres. Another ad posted.
Opened October 7th, 1929 and closed in November 1941. It reopened on July 20th, 1946. Grand opening ad posted.
Opened on July 19th, 1949. Grand opening ad posted.
Closed as Opera House on September 27th, 1940. Ad posted.
Opened April 2nd, 1934. Grand opening ad posted.
opened on February 2nd, 1893. Article posted.
“Jamestown Weekly Alert
Thu, Feb 02, 1893 · Page 1
Warde and James Coming.
The new Lloyd’s opera house will be opened, as previously announced in this paper, on Monday evening, February 6th. The opening attraction will be Fredrick Warde and Louis James, supported by a very capable company of some 40 players, in Julius Cæsar.
The engagement is for but one night. Every effort was made by Manager Jas. M. Lloyd to secure a second performance, but as the company are billed to appear in Helena after the date in this city, it could not be arranged. They come here direct from Minneapolis, bringing two carloads of scenery for use in addition to the regular equipment of the stage.
Seats for the performance were auctioned this week. Seats remaining unsold after the auction, will be placed on sale at regular prices—giving everybody a chance to attend. The capacity of the house will probably be fully tested, as many people are expected from surrounding towns. The Northern Pacific will sell excursion tickets from all points in the state for the occasion.
Ormsby McHarg returned to his duties at Bismarck this morning. “I will be back in time to hear ‘Julius Cæsar,’ though,” he said."
Opened June 29th, 2005.
1976 and 1982 grand opening ads posted.
They knew how to uglify theatres back then.
opening article:
“The eighth wonder of the theatre world” opened with screen 8 opening on April 30th, 1976. Another ad posted.
Beautiful November 19th, 1919 grand opening ad posted (AI colorized and original) posted.
Grand opening ad posted.
Opened February 14th, 1921. Ad posted.
The first 7-plex in the world is the Capri in Dallas, Texas, which expanded to 7 screens in January 15th, 1971. Sorry, AMC.
National Amusements closed it on June 25th, 1981, final day of performances.
Believe it or not, France-Film is still in business owning the St. Denis and Cinema Quartier Latin in Montreal
France-Film présente « Maria Chapdelaine » au théâtre Cummings le 11 mai 1936.
Closed after a arson fire on May 26th, 1961
“A small fire was set deliberately in the York Theatre yesterday afternoon, a state fire marshal declared last night after making a preliminary investigation. The inquiry was resumed at 9:30 this morning.
Detective Lt. Daniel A. Shimkus of the state fire marshal’s office in Worcester was called to the scene after theatre manager David MacDonald told Fire Chief Mervin Perley he found signs of arson in the theatre at 6:20 last night.
Athol Police first heard noise from a sprinkler alarm in the adjacent York Building at 3:30 p.m. Unaware that the sprinkler also serves the huge theatre in the rear, officials checked the main building only, overlooking the theatre itself which is set apart from the main York Building structure.
The fire department shut off the sprinkler at the main valve after finding no fire in the York Building. Fire officials at first theorized that low pressure touched off the sprinkler alarm without turning on the water.
Later, MacDonald entered the theatre to open the 7 p.m. show, the first show of the day. He noticed that water was on the balcony floor and a door leading to the rear parking lot was partially open.
In a storage room under the projection booth, where sprinklers are located, he found that chair stuffings were piled high. They were wet but still smoldering. Curtains, apparently intended as a fuse, officials said, were found leading outside from the room to chairs in the balcony, about eight feet away. There was some water damage to the storage room and the nearby balcony rug, and the storage room floor was partially burned.
Firefighters of Engine 1 then responded to put out the still-smoldering chair remains.
Chief Perley found two paper matchbooks, along with cigarette butts that he said apparently had been intended as fuses. One of the books had ignited.
MacDonald told officials that he had been in the theatre at 7 a.m., to open a window in the toilet. Investigators still have not determined if the window was the means of entry. There were no footprints in the grass outside of the window, and no dirt on the floor near the window.
Lieutenant Shimkus said pictures and fingerprint checks will most probably be taken today, and neighbors living in view of the back of the theatre will be questioned.
The movie was shown as scheduled last night, and regular showings will continue today, Chief Perley said.“ - Athol Daily news May 27th, 1961
Announced closed on June 19th, 1962 after 5 years of weekend runs. Article posted.
Theatre may have been opened before, but never bought any ads in the newspaper.
1959 aerial posted.