Below is from a Walks through History Downtown Bentonville PDF that was not shareable as a link. It was authored on October 11, 2014 By: Rachel Silva
The Station Café—
Housed a millinery, dry goods and clothing store, and a grocery in the early years.
By the 1950s, this was the Cozy Theater, which boasted an unusual neon sign
featuring a box of strawberries at the top that appeared to fall over and spill
strawberries down the side. Altered with stucco and second floor window
openings closed
This Forgotten Chicago link has a piece on the buildings adjacent to the Carmen Theatre building. It appears the Carmen Theatre was still standing to the right of the building mentioned in the 1927 photo.
The roof line and white brick match up.
From the below Edgewater Historical Society link:
(Unfortunately no photo as suggested)
In the last issue we asked What were the previous uses of the building on the Piser property at 5206 N. Broadway before it was a funeral home? What other buildings were on the site? What businesses were there before?
Answer: Surprisingly, the building was originally built as a movie theatre, first named The Foster, then renamed The Broadway sometime between January and March, 1914. See the photo below. The permit was issued November 1909; the owner was H. Cohlgraff, and the architect was Perkins & Hamilton (a partnership of Dwight Perkins and John L. Hamilton. Perkins was at the time Chief Architect for the Chicago Board of Education. He designed both the Hayt and Trumbull school buildings.)
As early as April, 1921, the building began its new life as an auto showroom. It had a succession of different dealerships: an April 26, 1921, Chicago Tribune ad showed it as the home of the North Side Oldsmobile Co. It later became the home of the Kailer-Youngquist dealership. Sometime in February, 1929, Kailer-Youngquist moved to 5031 Broadway and the building became the home of a Cadillac dealership, until the company moved across the street to a new building at the northeast corner of Foster and Broadway. Finally, in 1932, the building was re-purposed again as a funeral home for the Piser organization. The funeral home closed in 2005 or 2006, and it remained vacant until May, 2014, when demolition began.
I added the two history pages and the current street view image to the Photos section.
But as expected the two pages are tough to read, unless you download and enlarge them.
So the above Facebook link is still better.
Below is a link to the The South Charleston Museum Foundation’s Facebook page, with a history of the town’s theatres including the Victory and Gem.
There are 3 images to scroll through.
The photo I already posted, and two pages of copy with the histories.
(I don’t think the latter will enlarge enough to be posted here, but I saved them.)
The way it reads however is that the “Mound/Martin Theatre” were one in the same.
So possibly a previous name for the Martin and not a separate theatre as we had thought.
Additionally the foundation mistakenly thinks the Martin Theatre building was torn down, but it was not.
And it is indeed the same building as Asian Market as I stated above.
Older photo as Public Theatre added via Gary Henson.
Second floor windows were bricked over at the time.
Marks Billiards was upstairs per Joshua Dube.
Current street view shows windows reinstalled and canvas awnings have replaced the marquee box.
Ken Roe, did I originally have this posted to the wrong theatre? Thanks for correcting it.
Image added.
Removal of the RKO Keith’s Theater sign in 1965.
Below is from a Walks through History
Downtown Bentonville PDF that was not shareable as a link.
It was authored on October 11, 2014
By: Rachel Silva
The Station Café— Housed a millinery, dry goods and clothing store, and a grocery in the early years. By the 1950s, this was the Cozy Theater, which boasted an unusual neon sign featuring a box of strawberries at the top that appeared to fall over and spill strawberries down the side. Altered with stucco and second floor window openings closed
Apparently haunted by Bob of Bob’s Shoe Store, the tenant after Cozy Theatre.
http://www.mystery411.com/Landing_thestationcafebentonville.html
December 1966 print ad.
1927 photo from above link added to Photos.
This Forgotten Chicago link has a piece on the buildings adjacent to the Carmen Theatre building. It appears the Carmen Theatre was still standing to the right of the building mentioned in the 1927 photo. The roof line and white brick match up.
http://forgottenchicago.com/features/uncovering-fc/
From the below Edgewater Historical Society link: (Unfortunately no photo as suggested)
In the last issue we asked What were the previous uses of the building on the Piser property at 5206 N. Broadway before it was a funeral home? What other buildings were on the site? What businesses were there before?
Answer: Surprisingly, the building was originally built as a movie theatre, first named The Foster, then renamed The Broadway sometime between January and March, 1914. See the photo below. The permit was issued November 1909; the owner was H. Cohlgraff, and the architect was Perkins & Hamilton (a partnership of Dwight Perkins and John L. Hamilton. Perkins was at the time Chief Architect for the Chicago Board of Education. He designed both the Hayt and Trumbull school buildings.)
As early as April, 1921, the building began its new life as an auto showroom. It had a succession of different dealerships: an April 26, 1921, Chicago Tribune ad showed it as the home of the North Side Oldsmobile Co. It later became the home of the Kailer-Youngquist dealership. Sometime in February, 1929, Kailer-Youngquist moved to 5031 Broadway and the building became the home of a Cadillac dealership, until the company moved across the street to a new building at the northeast corner of Foster and Broadway. Finally, in 1932, the building was re-purposed again as a funeral home for the Piser organization. The funeral home closed in 2005 or 2006, and it remained vacant until May, 2014, when demolition began.
http://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/content/v25-3-edgewater-teaser-24
In the
60's the property was Yarnall-Todd Chevrolet, then Arnie Yusim Chevrolet70s-`80s, and finally Sun Chevrolet until 1992.Undated photo of a building promoting Castle Square and other theatres added via Jai Sotomayor.
1983 photo added credit & courtesy of Derek Stone.
1956 premiere of “The Ten Commandments at the Criterion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t63r9iPx8d4
The Chief sign lives on.
https://idahostatejournal.com/news/local/relight-the-night-has-big-plans-for-neon-signs-in/article_e1f03b65-d962-5878-b37e-164fca790d13.html
Late `50s photo added via Ken Fisher. Pier Theatre sign in the center.
1954 photo added courtesy of Mark MacDougal. Blue Gayety blade sign down A Street on the left.
I added the two history pages and the current street view image to the Photos section. But as expected the two pages are tough to read, unless you download and enlarge them. So the above Facebook link is still better.
Below is a link to the The South Charleston Museum Foundation’s Facebook page, with a history of the town’s theatres including the Victory and Gem. There are 3 images to scroll through. The photo I already posted, and two pages of copy with the histories. (I don’t think the latter will enlarge enough to be posted here, but I saved them.) The way it reads however is that the “Mound/Martin Theatre” were one in the same. So possibly a previous name for the Martin and not a separate theatre as we had thought. Additionally the foundation mistakenly thinks the Martin Theatre building was torn down, but it was not. And it is indeed the same building as Asian Market as I stated above.
https://www.facebook.com/343777785586/photos/a.10158697746555587.1073741849.343777785586/10158697758745587/?type=3&theater
I switched out the 1953 photo with one courtesy of the The South Charleston Museum Foundation. It is clearer and wider.
Current article about sign replacement with multiple photos.
http://www.alabamanewscenter.com/2017/12/28/119293/
1943 image added via Joe Agnew.
“Hitler’s Children” showing at the Ritz.
As of 2016 plans were for a restoration.
http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/news/dsdc-announces-plan-to-restore-historic-theater/article_6425cbfa-8042-11e6-8f52-af1722048f81.html
Mid `60’s photo added via Theo Tersteeg.
Undated photo as the Ritz added credit Gary Henson.
Older photo as Public Theatre added via Gary Henson. Second floor windows were bricked over at the time. Marks Billiards was upstairs per Joshua Dube. Current street view shows windows reinstalled and canvas awnings have replaced the marquee box.
Building still standing and houses Asian Market today. Link below with current photos.
https://www.maangchi.com/shopping/asian-market-in-south-charleston-west-virginia