That area was my neighborhood, while I was a film student at UM in the early 80s. We turned in our film to the “Stock Room” in the “Film Shack” on campus, then a person took it over there for us. I never set foot in Riviera Photo myself.
I did go to several films at the theater while in college, but never as a child, when I first lived in Miami from 67 until 73.
I wonder what will happen to the old Publix space, on Riviera Park. I’m guessing condos, etc. I lived in an apartment right on the park. I also worked as a front desk clerk at nearby The University Inn (OWNED by UM at the time). UM had NO idea that the sleazy general manager was allowing porn to be filmed in the Don Shula Suite. There also was a hep C outbreak in the restaurant. I think the building along the canal, now houses business suites.
Yes, East TN was a “testing ground” for Urban Renewal in the 70s, and it really damaged several small towns in the area. Uniqueness was destroyed, buildings (historic) were demolished, etc. In Elizabethton, they built that horrible covered walkway for blocks on either side. There was smart talk to remove it a few years back, but “the public” likes it. For of prime example of a contrast, just cross the near-by state line into North Carolina, and find several towns – dozens – with vibrant downtowns, historically restored. The Tri-Cities of TN (Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City) never recovered from those Urban Renewal fiascos.
I have added a Google StreetView screen grab of the remaining facade, for clarity. The other old photographs do not really have a “clear” shot of the facade.
A Google satellite view shows that the theater would have been in the back of the “Birchfiel” (?) building, under a domed roof. The name “Birchfiel” is at the top of the front facade.
Googling suggests offices and residences in the building today. I wonder what is in the old theater section?
Question…my father (89) grew up in Elizabethton, and remembers a small theater in the 700 block of East Elk, north side, near the monument. (East of the river.) Does anyone know what it was/what building housed it?
At the top, in the center, is the home of the famous Hilton Siamese Twin sisters. It was torn down by 1973. Apartments are at the site now, but the outer wall still stands. To the right of “non-commercial.”
I would say that the actress was Janet Gaynor, who was huge in the late 20s, until she retired in 1939. She was the first winner of the Best Actress Oscar (for three simultaneous films between 27 – 28, awarded in 1929).
I have added a pic taken today, of the theater location, a bus station since the 1980s. My description of the pic is somewhat incorrect. The front entrance to the theater would have been where the “left” driveway enters the bus station parking lot. The theater sat close to the corner of Boone and W. Main.
I have just added a pic from today, Feb 3, 2020. The location is restored, although I am not sure how historically “correct.” It is a “hemp” store now. Various buildings on the street are undergoing “restoration,” although facades are not necessarily original.
OK, I grabbed a shot this afternoon. There is a new facade on the building (2019), although it is made to look vintage. I believe 117 is the rebuilt structure from the 1960s, where the old theater once stood.
I have added a screen grab of the building. Google incorrectly shows 115 Spring Street as 117. It is now a blank, brick facade, and proportionately, not the same size as the theater building. A fire would have likely resulted in a complete demolition, with this 60s (?) rebuild.
Walked by the site last month, and two transients were urinating in the park in full view, at 3 P. Ah, Johnson City, you continue to make REALLY bad decisions about “rejuvenating” downtown. East TN is hopeless, except for Jonesborough.
I guess that I must have seen “Moonraker” there during the summer of 1979, when it was still a single theater. I remember that it still had the curtains opening and closing between previews and feature. A few years later, I would see “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,” the day my grandmother died. I did not realize that it had twinned by that time.
That “Cinderella” in the opening ad was one of a small handful of films distributed by Barry Yellen’s Childhood Productions in 1966, each a hastily dubbed U.S. premiere of a foreign language film. Thus, LOW budget, and quite lame. The Miracle in Coral Gables usually had better matinees, although a few of the lower end products slipped in.
That area was my neighborhood, while I was a film student at UM in the early 80s. We turned in our film to the “Stock Room” in the “Film Shack” on campus, then a person took it over there for us. I never set foot in Riviera Photo myself.
I did go to several films at the theater while in college, but never as a child, when I first lived in Miami from 67 until 73.
I wonder what will happen to the old Publix space, on Riviera Park. I’m guessing condos, etc. I lived in an apartment right on the park. I also worked as a front desk clerk at nearby The University Inn (OWNED by UM at the time). UM had NO idea that the sleazy general manager was allowing porn to be filmed in the Don Shula Suite. There also was a hep C outbreak in the restaurant. I think the building along the canal, now houses business suites.
Yes, East TN was a “testing ground” for Urban Renewal in the 70s, and it really damaged several small towns in the area. Uniqueness was destroyed, buildings (historic) were demolished, etc. In Elizabethton, they built that horrible covered walkway for blocks on either side. There was smart talk to remove it a few years back, but “the public” likes it. For of prime example of a contrast, just cross the near-by state line into North Carolina, and find several towns – dozens – with vibrant downtowns, historically restored. The Tri-Cities of TN (Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City) never recovered from those Urban Renewal fiascos.
I have added a Google StreetView screen grab of the remaining facade, for clarity. The other old photographs do not really have a “clear” shot of the facade.
I uploaded a shot from October 2019.
I just uploaded a pic of the Bonnie Kate from last October.
A Google satellite view shows that the theater would have been in the back of the “Birchfiel” (?) building, under a domed roof. The name “Birchfiel” is at the top of the front facade.
Googling suggests offices and residences in the building today. I wonder what is in the old theater section?
Question…my father (89) grew up in Elizabethton, and remembers a small theater in the 700 block of East Elk, north side, near the monument. (East of the river.) Does anyone know what it was/what building housed it?
The became a low-end theater over twenty-five years ago. I haven’t set foot in it in probably 30 years.
It wasn’t released in the US till 1966.
At the top, in the center, is the home of the famous Hilton Siamese Twin sisters. It was torn down by 1973. Apartments are at the site now, but the outer wall still stands. To the right of “non-commercial.”
I would say that the actress was Janet Gaynor, who was huge in the late 20s, until she retired in 1939. She was the first winner of the Best Actress Oscar (for three simultaneous films between 27 – 28, awarded in 1929).
My final film here, was “Poltergeist III” in 1988. I wonder where the fifth theater was…
The balcony was split into two theaters, like the main auditorium. Awful.
I have added a pic taken today, of the theater location, a bus station since the 1980s. My description of the pic is somewhat incorrect. The front entrance to the theater would have been where the “left” driveway enters the bus station parking lot. The theater sat close to the corner of Boone and W. Main.
I have just added a pic from today, Feb 3, 2020. The location is restored, although I am not sure how historically “correct.” It is a “hemp” store now. Various buildings on the street are undergoing “restoration,” although facades are not necessarily original.
OK, I grabbed a shot this afternoon. There is a new facade on the building (2019), although it is made to look vintage. I believe 117 is the rebuilt structure from the 1960s, where the old theater once stood.
I have added a screen grab of the building. Google incorrectly shows 115 Spring Street as 117. It is now a blank, brick facade, and proportionately, not the same size as the theater building. A fire would have likely resulted in a complete demolition, with this 60s (?) rebuild.
Have posted a photograph of the empty lot as it exists on Feb 2, 2020.
Walked by the site last month, and two transients were urinating in the park in full view, at 3 P. Ah, Johnson City, you continue to make REALLY bad decisions about “rejuvenating” downtown. East TN is hopeless, except for Jonesborough.
Had no idea that this had been a theater. It must have been quite small.
I guess that I must have seen “Moonraker” there during the summer of 1979, when it was still a single theater. I remember that it still had the curtains opening and closing between previews and feature. A few years later, I would see “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,” the day my grandmother died. I did not realize that it had twinned by that time.
I believe that the current building is not the original theater. I’m in JC right now, and will check it out.
Yes, I know.
That “Cinderella” in the opening ad was one of a small handful of films distributed by Barry Yellen’s Childhood Productions in 1966, each a hastily dubbed U.S. premiere of a foreign language film. Thus, LOW budget, and quite lame. The Miracle in Coral Gables usually had better matinees, although a few of the lower end products slipped in.
I saw 1989’s “Batman” there that June. I didn’t realize that it closed so quickly.
The current Scandesign web site clearly shows the old theater as one of its showrooms.