The original theatre was located in the general vicinity of where Target is now (11160 Viers Mill Rd). This Bernheimer theatre opened in 1962 as a single screen venue, designed by Edmund Dreyfuss, with a seating capacity of 590. Two additional screens were added on or around 1973 bringing the total seating capacity to 1,513. The theatre was demolished in 1986 and a new P & G seven screen cinema, designed by the Collins & Kronstadt-Leahy, and Hogan architectural group opened just south of the original theatre at 2300 Shorefield Road. The theatre was expanded to eleven screens in 1990.
The Sterling Park Cinema’s address is 421 South Sterling Blvd, Sterling, VA 20164. The architectural firm which designed it was Walton and Associates. Here are January 2009 photos of what remains of the cinema: 1, 2, 3
I was on 23rd street today and noticed that the 1101 address is a single door on what appears to be a relatively new (e.g. built in the past ten years) high rise residential complex. The West End apparently is no more.
It seemed rather small for a venue with a seating capacity of 556. Was the floor leveled during its transition from a cinema into an information centre? The area where the stage apparently was looked rather small as well. No one working at the centre had any idea that the building was once a theatre.
The following is from the curator at the East Point Historical Society, East Point Ga. Clearing up the confusion. Below statements can be clarified by visiting the EPHS and viewing the records and other documents.
The Fairfax was the First, The Russell and the East Point opened around the same time in 1940. There were 3 Theaters and the theater that Jack refers to was at first, the Russell. The East Point actually occupied all 3 theater buildings at one time or the other.
The East Point Theater was built in 1940 at Spring Ave. and North Church St. (Now the top of the Norman Berry Overpass)
by developer Julian Furstenberg. The Theater was leased to Mion and Murray. It had 800 seats and a fully equipped stage suitable for any type of production.
The Russell was built on Jefferson Ave. by J.A. Ragsdale (one time mayor). It had 650 seats. The contractor was J.R. Griffin.
The Russell was leased to the East Point Amusement Company which also owned the Fairfax in East Point, The Fulton Theater in Hapeville, The Park Theater in College Park and the Hangar Theater on Virginia Ave.
The East Point Theater was destroyed by fire in late November of 1958. (by the way, the full page ad for the opening touted the East Point Theater as being FIRE PROOF, Kinda East Point’s Titanic.)
The East Point Temporarily moved operations to the Fairfax which had closed earlier that year. Operation’s were set up in the fairfax within a few days and operations continued in that building while the old Russell which had also been closed was being prepared. The Russell was ready in enough time for a Christmas Day opening.
To answer Ken Rowe’s question about Street renumbering. Yes, renumbered from a 3 digit to a 4 digit system in 1961.
To confirm (without addresses),
The Fairfax was located On Main St. between Thompson and Dorsey Ave.
The East Point was located at North Church St.
The Russell was located on Jefferson Ave. Across from Russell High School.
The Fairfax and Russell closed in the same year, The East Point burned, then moved for a short time into the old Fairfax and then moved into the old Russell.
Items of interest I have found. 1940 suburban reporter Newspaper, the East Point Theater full page ad to herald the opening shows the Church St. address. It also shows the same exact style of marquee sign on the Church St. building that was on the Russell when they eventually moved into it. The Russell marquee is shown in the same year and is of a different design. In the same photo we have that is also posted here of the Russell theater with the East Point sign, it was in fact, the Russell first. The only change to the Russell and later East Point building was the Marquee.
All of this information is available for viewing (and being compiled and placed in one binder because of this string of discussion) at the East Point Historical Society at 1685 Norman Berry Drive in East Point, Ga. our web address for hours if anyone should want to drop by and view the information is www.EastPointHS.org
We have a a full run from 1932 to 1972 of the Suburban Reporter Newspaper (Hard Copy and Microfilm) with all of the playbills for each week published.
One more note of interest, The Fairfax was the only theater in the city of East Point that allowed African Americans. No lobby entrance was allowed, they could buy their ticket at the window but could only access the balcony via an external staircase on the side of the building. The “Colored section” as it was referred to had it’s own manager who was also African American.
There were two Lakewood Theatres: the original with a seating capacity of around 165 was located at 1725 Lakewood Ave SE and was in operation between 1940 and 1950. The last Lakewood Theatre was located at 2027 Stewart Ave SW, had a seating capacity close to 800 and was in operation between 1969 and 1985. Both have been demolished.
Here are 2008 photos of what remains of the Jumpers Cinema: 1, 2, 3
The theate has reopened as the Emma Kelly Performing Arts Centre.
Here is an archive photo of the Russell Theatre and here is an archive photo of the East Point Theatre.
Here is an archive photo of the Fairfax Theatre.
Here are 2009 photos of the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre: 1, 2, 3
Here are 2009 photos of the Regal Countryside Cinema: 1, 2
The original theatre was located in the general vicinity of where Target is now (11160 Viers Mill Rd). This Bernheimer theatre opened in 1962 as a single screen venue, designed by Edmund Dreyfuss, with a seating capacity of 590. Two additional screens were added on or around 1973 bringing the total seating capacity to 1,513. The theatre was demolished in 1986 and a new P & G seven screen cinema, designed by the Collins & Kronstadt-Leahy, and Hogan architectural group opened just south of the original theatre at 2300 Shorefield Road. The theatre was expanded to eleven screens in 1990.
The Montgomery Cinema and Drafthouse closed after only being in operation less than a year.
Here are 2009 and archive photos of the former Newton Theatre: 1, 2, 3
Here are 2008 photos of the Kimball Theatre: 1, 2, 3, 4
Here are 2008 photos of what remains of the Tivoli: 1, 2, 3
The Sterling Park Cinema’s address is 421 South Sterling Blvd, Sterling, VA 20164. The architectural firm which designed it was Walton and Associates. Here are January 2009 photos of what remains of the cinema: 1, 2, 3
Here are 2008 photos of what remains of the former City Cinemas: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Is this it?
Here is both an archive and 2008 photos of the former Home Theatre: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Here and here are night photos from August 2008 of the Regal Riviera.
I was on 23rd street today and noticed that the 1101 address is a single door on what appears to be a relatively new (e.g. built in the past ten years) high rise residential complex. The West End apparently is no more.
Here is a 2008 photo of the former Janus Theatre.
Here is a 2008 photo of the former Jenifer.
Here is a 2008 photo of the P & G Cinemas.
It seemed rather small for a venue with a seating capacity of 556. Was the floor leveled during its transition from a cinema into an information centre? The area where the stage apparently was looked rather small as well. No one working at the centre had any idea that the building was once a theatre.
Here are 2008 photos of the former Embassy Theatre: 1, 2,
3, 4
The following is from the curator at the East Point Historical Society, East Point Ga. Clearing up the confusion. Below statements can be clarified by visiting the EPHS and viewing the records and other documents.
The Fairfax was the First, The Russell and the East Point opened around the same time in 1940. There were 3 Theaters and the theater that Jack refers to was at first, the Russell. The East Point actually occupied all 3 theater buildings at one time or the other.
The East Point Theater was built in 1940 at Spring Ave. and North Church St. (Now the top of the Norman Berry Overpass)
by developer Julian Furstenberg. The Theater was leased to Mion and Murray. It had 800 seats and a fully equipped stage suitable for any type of production.
The Russell was built on Jefferson Ave. by J.A. Ragsdale (one time mayor). It had 650 seats. The contractor was J.R. Griffin.
The Russell was leased to the East Point Amusement Company which also owned the Fairfax in East Point, The Fulton Theater in Hapeville, The Park Theater in College Park and the Hangar Theater on Virginia Ave.
The East Point Theater was destroyed by fire in late November of 1958. (by the way, the full page ad for the opening touted the East Point Theater as being FIRE PROOF, Kinda East Point’s Titanic.)
The East Point Temporarily moved operations to the Fairfax which had closed earlier that year. Operation’s were set up in the fairfax within a few days and operations continued in that building while the old Russell which had also been closed was being prepared. The Russell was ready in enough time for a Christmas Day opening.
To answer Ken Rowe’s question about Street renumbering. Yes, renumbered from a 3 digit to a 4 digit system in 1961.
To confirm (without addresses),
The Fairfax was located On Main St. between Thompson and Dorsey Ave.
The East Point was located at North Church St.
The Russell was located on Jefferson Ave. Across from Russell High School.
The Fairfax and Russell closed in the same year, The East Point burned, then moved for a short time into the old Fairfax and then moved into the old Russell.
Items of interest I have found. 1940 suburban reporter Newspaper, the East Point Theater full page ad to herald the opening shows the Church St. address. It also shows the same exact style of marquee sign on the Church St. building that was on the Russell when they eventually moved into it. The Russell marquee is shown in the same year and is of a different design. In the same photo we have that is also posted here of the Russell theater with the East Point sign, it was in fact, the Russell first. The only change to the Russell and later East Point building was the Marquee.
All of this information is available for viewing (and being compiled and placed in one binder because of this string of discussion) at the East Point Historical Society at 1685 Norman Berry Drive in East Point, Ga. our web address for hours if anyone should want to drop by and view the information is www.EastPointHS.org
We have a a full run from 1932 to 1972 of the Suburban Reporter Newspaper (Hard Copy and Microfilm) with all of the playbills for each week published.
One more note of interest, The Fairfax was the only theater in the city of East Point that allowed African Americans. No lobby entrance was allowed, they could buy their ticket at the window but could only access the balcony via an external staircase on the side of the building. The “Colored section” as it was referred to had it’s own manager who was also African American.
There were two Lakewood Theatres: the original with a seating capacity of around 165 was located at 1725 Lakewood Ave SE and was in operation between 1940 and 1950. The last Lakewood Theatre was located at 2027 Stewart Ave SW, had a seating capacity close to 800 and was in operation between 1969 and 1985. Both have been demolished.
The Hanger Theatre’s address was 1001 Virginia Ave, Hapeville, GA 30354.