Crisper version photos added credit Mahood Collection, Eastern Regional Coal Archives courtesy Mercer County Historical Society.
Identifies the Architect as Alex B. Mahood Sr., operator Don Keesling and Manager Clifton Hill.
(Also an Outdoor Drive-In theatre located at Greentree Crossroads in Bluefield that I will add a page for.)
Additional history credit Route 66 Mother Road Postcards and more Facebook page.
(Newspaper clipping added to the gallery says 2800 East Kearney)
“The Holiday Drive-In Theater was located next to Lurvey’s at 2829 East Kearney Street and opened on August 13, 1970 with a showing of “Paint Your Wagon,” starring Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood. The Holiday covered 35 acres, originally included spaces for 503 vehicles and had the largest screen in the area. It closed in 1981. Christopher Maples revived the Holiday in June 1994 but it closed again after the 1996 season. The site is still vacant but the sign remains, nearly hidden among the trees at the entrance.”
The below 8/01/22 news report footage begins with the former Neon Theatre at :05 in the video.
Based on a more accurate street view search, the address is 911 Highway 317, currently home to Busy B’s Country Gift Shop, which previously was next door at 909 Highway 317, now home to Ingnite Church pictured in the video.
Though Busy B’s still uses the 909 address next door.
Facebook post with a collage of 1959 theatre print ads, amongst which are the Dreamland and one called West Ashville Auto Theatre, which does not yet have a CT page.
Additional history credit Ames History Museum.
(New Ames Theatre should be added as previous names)
The American Theatre opened in Campustown on December 29, 1919. Earlier that year, the City Council passed an ordinance that only permitted theaters downtown. University officials thought a movie theater near campus would distract students from their academic work. The ordinance was soon repealed and A.L. Champlin constructed the theater. It was the third one for Ames and the first built solely to show movies. Soon after its construction, Joe Gerbrach, who owned the two theaters downtown, acquired it and renamed it Ames Theater. The name was changed to New Ames Theater in 1928 after a remodeling project. The theater closed in 1996.
Additional article about the same conversion, with 12 photos.
https://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/2022/08/26/frontier-drive-in-center-colorado-san-luis-valley-attractions-movies/?utm_content=fb-canoncitydailyrecord&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2myeHNevsOJ83_PYK3620C7t5udb7xYidUDsaQWa9gxMR3wWqNiD_bf7U
1969 photo credit Special Collections Department, Pullen Library, Georgia State University.
Disney link with photo.
https://d23.com/a-to-z/main-street-cinema/
Circa 1915 photo added credit Marin History Museum. Also additional confirmation of history in link below:
https://www.mvhistory.org/vignette-142-throckmorton/?fbclid=IwAR2Y0-Mt0Wfw1wocZHbFKZa1jUmQeDi9MSuU-KQ9tVWhAv49jrsbeMZEZlo
Circa 1950 photo added credit George Wheeler, courtesy Marin History Museum. Nice detail of the facade.
This one was a lot clearer when enlarged previously. Oh well…
Was still open in 1985, marquee photo added credit Marin History Museum.
Original photo credit Igor Stchogoleff.
Original photo credit Igor Stchogoleff.
Crisper version photos added credit Mahood Collection, Eastern Regional Coal Archives courtesy Mercer County Historical Society. Identifies the Architect as Alex B. Mahood Sr., operator Don Keesling and Manager Clifton Hill. (Also an Outdoor Drive-In theatre located at Greentree Crossroads in Bluefield that I will add a page for.)
1947 photo added courtesy Jack Scott, Louis Eads & Bill Whittaker, via Mercer County Historical Society.
It closed in 1983. Currently under Restoration and the new name will be Princeton Renaissance Theater. Official website and Facebook page below.
https://prtheater.org/
https://www.facebook.com/princetonrenaissancetheater
Update: 1959 credit Mercer County Historical Society.
Circa 1953.
Photo taken 5/28/71-6/22/71.
Reel Chicago article with photos of upcoming filming preparation of “Chicago Fire” at the Pickwick.
https://reelchicago.com/article/chicago-fire-prepping-to-film-at-the-historic-pickwick-theatre-in-park-ridge/?fbclid=IwAR2TlmST_qUCmoXsuIGubdEeYzotU16l—DZTL9-UO-UzIibRzl3ntItcY
I forgot to mention I added a 2022 photo of what remains of the sign.
Additional history credit Route 66 Mother Road Postcards and more Facebook page. (Newspaper clipping added to the gallery says 2800 East Kearney)
“The Holiday Drive-In Theater was located next to Lurvey’s at 2829 East Kearney Street and opened on August 13, 1970 with a showing of “Paint Your Wagon,” starring Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood. The Holiday covered 35 acres, originally included spaces for 503 vehicles and had the largest screen in the area. It closed in 1981. Christopher Maples revived the Holiday in June 1994 but it closed again after the 1996 season. The site is still vacant but the sign remains, nearly hidden among the trees at the entrance.”
Facebook post with 1979 Siskel & Ebert “Sneak Previews” coverage of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Biograph.
https://www.facebook.com/windycityballyhoo/videos/1212496862873057/
The below 8/01/22 news report footage begins with the former Neon Theatre at :05 in the video. Based on a more accurate street view search, the address is 911 Highway 317, currently home to Busy B’s Country Gift Shop, which previously was next door at 909 Highway 317, now home to Ingnite Church pictured in the video. Though Busy B’s still uses the 909 address next door.
https://www.courier-journal.com/videos/news/local/2022/08/01/neon-church-cleans-up-after-historic-eastern-kentucky-flooding/10205575002/
Facebook post with a collage of 1959 theatre print ads, amongst which are the Dreamland and one called West Ashville Auto Theatre, which does not yet have a CT page.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10220584038927231&set=g.50614403543
1959 photos of Boston theatres in below link. Scroll down to October 19, 2013.
http://gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com/2013_10_01_archive.html
Additional history credit Ames History Museum. (New Ames Theatre should be added as previous names)
The American Theatre opened in Campustown on December 29, 1919. Earlier that year, the City Council passed an ordinance that only permitted theaters downtown. University officials thought a movie theater near campus would distract students from their academic work. The ordinance was soon repealed and A.L. Champlin constructed the theater. It was the third one for Ames and the first built solely to show movies. Soon after its construction, Joe Gerbrach, who owned the two theaters downtown, acquired it and renamed it Ames Theater. The name was changed to New Ames Theater in 1928 after a remodeling project. The theater closed in 1996.
Photo credit Chicago History Museum.