One of Lexington’s premiere projectionists is indelibly linked to the Strand Theatre: Bob Erd (1895-1975). A charter member of IATSE local 346, Mr. Erd ran the projection booth at the Strand from the day it opened in 1915, til the day it closed in 1974.
Reel Deal was a man named John Kennedy. I stopped by to see a friend who’d been helping him get up and running. John was relating how hard it was to do certain changes because he had no blueprints to the place. I happened to mention the theatre was designed by Bill Hub in Cincinnati, and by the time I departed that day, he’d located Hub and the firm he worked for… and had a set of prints on their way! Sometimes, the stars align. ;)
I worked at Northpark in ‘78. I wanted to get experience running xenon and platter systems. I’d only ever ran carbon arc equipment until then. Unfortunately, both Northpark and Southpark Cinemas quickly developed poor reputations because of constant breakdowns due to inferior equipment and unskilled operators. Mid States bought the cheapest projection and sound equipment on the market: Ballantyne Pro-35 projectors and Eprad “Simple Platters.” Experienced projectionists will know this is not a stellar combination. They also had home made automations - no two of which were timed the same. 120 volts on the cue detectors, and most speakers wired out of phase. Houses 2 through 5 had their projectors on platforms located in the lobby… open to popcorn oil in the air, which wreaked havoc on the platters. No one could thread in-frame, so frequent use of the nylon-coupled framers caused the Pro-35s to visibly bounce up and down on the screen. It was horrid.
As someone else noted, this theatre was open in the 80s and possibly the start of the 90s. I visited once while it was open. The window above the marquee is the projection booth. The booth was a vintage Brenkert installation, with the slanted pedestals, BX-80 head, RCA 9030 soundheads, Enarc lamps, and a little motor-generator set for carbon arc DC. The operator had a long history there, and he used an old single-block chemical splicer from the silent days! Not a Griswold splicer with two blocks… but a single block-clamp, where you had to hold one end of the film in place by hand until you closed the block down. I wish I’d been able to take some pictures. I’m sure it’s all still up there, though.
The Colonial Winchester closed in 1940, the day before the Town Hall Theatre opened (using the Colonial’s projection equipment, which was moved overnight). Projection equipment was Super Simplex projectors and Western Electric universal base.
Not sure where the 1,276-seat figure came from, but the Kentucky Theatre was an 1,100-seat theatre until it was remodeled in 1992 after the fire — when several rows of seats were removed in the front to make room for a larger stage.
They may be counting the seats in the former State Theatre (fka Downtown Cinema), which is now acting as a second screen to the Kentucky.
Why is there a picture here advertising Lexington Mall Cinemas? It’s a different theatre entirely than the Northpark Cinemas. Northpark opened the same day as the Southpark Cinemas, in 1976.
Lexington Mall Cinemas began life as the Royal Cinemas – King and Queen, in 1975. It’s name was changed to Lexington Mall Cinemas after Mid-States Theatres acquired it from Hallmark in 1976 or ‘77.
I used to unwittingly drive past this theatre on my way to the TX panhandle from Oklahoma City, back when I serviced projection equipment in the early 90s. For the longest time, I thought the old, deteriorating booth and concession building was a chicken coop, until one trip when I realized it was a drive-in!
The rickety building was so small amongst the tall weeds, and there was no screen tower remaining. No ramps or speaker poles were visible, either (judging from the old aerial photo, it looks as though they may have used a central speaker system, since I don’t see any poles).
Also, one thing that kept me from recognizing this as a theatre for so long was the booth portholes were placed the opposite of standard practice –
like this: .° .°
Looking from the outside, there was a low small port, then a large high port to its right… and repeat for the second projector. Which later led me to believe this may have been a 16mm drive-in (with left-hand threading projectors). If 35mm, the projector would have to be on a riser to warrant such low observation portholes. Or, maybe they were just cut wrong from the start?
One day, I stopped to have a look inside. I got about halfway to the building and heard a rattlesnake, so I decided to retreat and come back in the winter. By then, however, the building had been demolished (what timing!) I did get some VHS footage of the building, and if I ever get another player, I’ll search for it and take a screen shot.
One of the many stage shows at the Lyric. A lot of famous acts appeared here.
A one-sheet for a Ken Maynard B-Western can be seen at left.
Bob Dean, Robert Reed, and Gus Gormley were some of the last union projectionists to work here when it was General Cinemas.
One of Lexington’s premiere projectionists is indelibly linked to the Strand Theatre: Bob Erd (1895-1975). A charter member of IATSE local 346, Mr. Erd ran the projection booth at the Strand from the day it opened in 1915, til the day it closed in 1974.
Reel Deal was a man named John Kennedy. I stopped by to see a friend who’d been helping him get up and running. John was relating how hard it was to do certain changes because he had no blueprints to the place. I happened to mention the theatre was designed by Bill Hub in Cincinnati, and by the time I departed that day, he’d located Hub and the firm he worked for… and had a set of prints on their way! Sometimes, the stars align. ;)
I worked at Northpark in ‘78. I wanted to get experience running xenon and platter systems. I’d only ever ran carbon arc equipment until then. Unfortunately, both Northpark and Southpark Cinemas quickly developed poor reputations because of constant breakdowns due to inferior equipment and unskilled operators. Mid States bought the cheapest projection and sound equipment on the market: Ballantyne Pro-35 projectors and Eprad “Simple Platters.” Experienced projectionists will know this is not a stellar combination. They also had home made automations - no two of which were timed the same. 120 volts on the cue detectors, and most speakers wired out of phase. Houses 2 through 5 had their projectors on platforms located in the lobby… open to popcorn oil in the air, which wreaked havoc on the platters. No one could thread in-frame, so frequent use of the nylon-coupled framers caused the Pro-35s to visibly bounce up and down on the screen. It was horrid.
38 PAGES of photos, and not one picture of the projection booth?
Possible location of Palmer DI, Irvine, KY
As someone else noted, this theatre was open in the 80s and possibly the start of the 90s. I visited once while it was open. The window above the marquee is the projection booth. The booth was a vintage Brenkert installation, with the slanted pedestals, BX-80 head, RCA 9030 soundheads, Enarc lamps, and a little motor-generator set for carbon arc DC. The operator had a long history there, and he used an old single-block chemical splicer from the silent days! Not a Griswold splicer with two blocks… but a single block-clamp, where you had to hold one end of the film in place by hand until you closed the block down. I wish I’d been able to take some pictures. I’m sure it’s all still up there, though.
Owners have announced 2021 was their last season, and they have decided they can no longer viably operate the theatre.
This photo is of the South Park Drive-In, not the Preston. It was a sister theatre to the Preston.
The Colonial Winchester closed in 1940, the day before the Town Hall Theatre opened (using the Colonial’s projection equipment, which was moved overnight). Projection equipment was Super Simplex projectors and Western Electric universal base.
Mountain View is closed. Main screen tower demolished in 2017.
Not sure where the 1,276-seat figure came from, but the Kentucky Theatre was an 1,100-seat theatre until it was remodeled in 1992 after the fire — when several rows of seats were removed in the front to make room for a larger stage.
They may be counting the seats in the former State Theatre (fka Downtown Cinema), which is now acting as a second screen to the Kentucky.
Why is there a picture here advertising Lexington Mall Cinemas? It’s a different theatre entirely than the Northpark Cinemas. Northpark opened the same day as the Southpark Cinemas, in 1976.
Lexington Mall Cinemas began life as the Royal Cinemas – King and Queen, in 1975. It’s name was changed to Lexington Mall Cinemas after Mid-States Theatres acquired it from Hallmark in 1976 or ‘77.
Additions on the side for CinemaScope would mean it was built prior to 1953.
“I believe it was S. Charles Lee who said, “the show starts on the sidewalk”
Samuel Rothafel (aka “Roxy”) is credited with that quote. However, there was a book by that title about S. Charles Lee.
I used to unwittingly drive past this theatre on my way to the TX panhandle from Oklahoma City, back when I serviced projection equipment in the early 90s. For the longest time, I thought the old, deteriorating booth and concession building was a chicken coop, until one trip when I realized it was a drive-in!
The rickety building was so small amongst the tall weeds, and there was no screen tower remaining. No ramps or speaker poles were visible, either (judging from the old aerial photo, it looks as though they may have used a central speaker system, since I don’t see any poles).
Also, one thing that kept me from recognizing this as a theatre for so long was the booth portholes were placed the opposite of standard practice – like this: .° .° Looking from the outside, there was a low small port, then a large high port to its right… and repeat for the second projector. Which later led me to believe this may have been a 16mm drive-in (with left-hand threading projectors). If 35mm, the projector would have to be on a riser to warrant such low observation portholes. Or, maybe they were just cut wrong from the start?
One day, I stopped to have a look inside. I got about halfway to the building and heard a rattlesnake, so I decided to retreat and come back in the winter. By then, however, the building had been demolished (what timing!) I did get some VHS footage of the building, and if I ever get another player, I’ll search for it and take a screen shot.
Numerous original light fixtures remained in the ceiling until the very end.
This is a photo of the South Park Drive-In, not the Preston.
Closed circa 1971, after running a weekends-only format for some time.
Note tilework on floor.
Information in the heading is incorrect. The Clark Theatre was on West Broadway, not Main St.