I don’t know where the AMPD got that 338 address, but it was wrong. There was no 300 block at all. Numbers went from 200 east of the railroad to 400 west of it. The theater does not appear on the December 1914 Sanborn. There were two theaters one block to the west. One must have been the Empress, since it was nearly at the end. The other, two doors to the east, must have been the Happy Hour. The history needs to be clarified, and the AKA removed. As Gustafson wrote years ago, this theater was built 1920-25.
I guess James and Sisk explains the JS monograms over the side entrances.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Mar 24, 2024 at 10:01 am
Since we know the other early theater was the Majestic, this either has to be the Electric, or the Electric was one door to the south in the Briggs Block, and came and went between maps.
I’m not sure we have the ID right. A 200 seat theater would have fit just about anywhere. There are a lot of buildings missing. The bowling alley looks more like an old dealership or garage, and is really big to only have fit 200 people. 350-375 seems like a different building from a 200 seater. That larger capacity makes a little more sense for the bowling alley. Frustratingly, there do not seem to have been any Sanborns made of Jewell, even though it was close to 1,000 people by 1900.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Mar 20, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Added a map view. By 1913, the space next door (a barber in this view) had become a theater. It’s possible it was the same operation.
Very bare bones listing. Looked quite a bit older, sort of a streamline building. Probably built sometime around 1940. Address was something like 224 E Lee Hwy (US 11). Long abandoned, it was still there in 2015, but was torn down by 2019.
The building has been remuddled a few times, and is missing the cornice. It was gutted by fire October 2021, and the 2022 streetview shows it roofless.
If this really was on Main, then known as Elkhorn, then this has almost certainly been demolished, along with about 90% of downtown. It was likely a conversion of an existing building, as the 1923 map shows a fairly solid strip of 2 and 3 story brick buildings north of what was then Bridge St, and now seems to be CB Moore St. There were also several buildings to the south, the large car dealership is the last of these.
There are 1928 and 1936 maps of Northfork, but the LoC hasn’t scanned theirs. If anyone has a Big 10 login, there are apparently b/w versions online there.
The NRHP listing for downtown calls this the Ames building, which may have been the name of the theater, or the name of the owner in 1992. The older listings are generally pretty vague on details.
This has been demolished. Address is not Welch, but Kimball. Maitland and Superior are to the west before you get to Welch. The site is now a housing complex. The address used is 600 W Main St, although it’s really more the 26600 or 26700 block of Coal Heritage Rd (US 52).
Not sure why the map marker is so far off. The address seems right. It may have been 25, since 23 is now the second floor of the building to the south of where the theater was. The blurry version of the 1946 photo should be deleted.
Street is Main Ave. This has been demolished. Downtown is incredibly unattractive, and I’m having trouble placing this, but it must have been on the north side of the street.
Definitely not open in 1922. There are 1930 and 1948 maps, but neither are available online. If the address is right, this was not on a corner, but in the middle of the block north of the funeral home. This was gone by 1993, since it’s not in the NRHP listing.
Minor correction - According to the NRHP listing for downtown, the replacement is from 1974. Not clear if the earlier building lasted that long.
This is a better website (links direct to this theater): https://www.fridleytheatres.com/movie-theater/cherokee-american3
I don’t know where the AMPD got that 338 address, but it was wrong. There was no 300 block at all. Numbers went from 200 east of the railroad to 400 west of it. The theater does not appear on the December 1914 Sanborn. There were two theaters one block to the west. One must have been the Empress, since it was nearly at the end. The other, two doors to the east, must have been the Happy Hour. The history needs to be clarified, and the AKA removed. As Gustafson wrote years ago, this theater was built 1920-25.
I guess James and Sisk explains the JS monograms over the side entrances.
Since we know the other early theater was the Majestic, this either has to be the Electric, or the Electric was one door to the south in the Briggs Block, and came and went between maps.
The 1916 map gives a capacity of 442. I wonder if the balcony being closed accounts for the difference.
I’m not sure we have the ID right. A 200 seat theater would have fit just about anywhere. There are a lot of buildings missing. The bowling alley looks more like an old dealership or garage, and is really big to only have fit 200 people. 350-375 seems like a different building from a 200 seater. That larger capacity makes a little more sense for the bowling alley. Frustratingly, there do not seem to have been any Sanborns made of Jewell, even though it was close to 1,000 people by 1900.
Added a map view. By 1913, the space next door (a barber in this view) had become a theater. It’s possible it was the same operation.
Not sure why it says that UVA is on the site now. It’s an arcade/mall, as Joe pointed out years ago.
The right reverend treasonous slaver. Named Fort Johnson since sometime in 2023.
Needs status corrected to demolished.
Very bare bones listing. Looked quite a bit older, sort of a streamline building. Probably built sometime around 1940. Address was something like 224 E Lee Hwy (US 11). Long abandoned, it was still there in 2015, but was torn down by 2019.
The building has been remuddled a few times, and is missing the cornice. It was gutted by fire October 2021, and the 2022 streetview shows it roofless.
This theater appears on the 1913 map, but the building is not on the 1908 map. Pastime (not Past Time) should be added to the AKA.
Sorry, not sure why the ‘Ltd.’ was added to G.C. Murphy. It was always G.C. Murphy Co. I’m unaware of any UK operations.
Thanks for naming this one, and providing some background.
If this really was on Main, then known as Elkhorn, then this has almost certainly been demolished, along with about 90% of downtown. It was likely a conversion of an existing building, as the 1923 map shows a fairly solid strip of 2 and 3 story brick buildings north of what was then Bridge St, and now seems to be CB Moore St. There were also several buildings to the south, the large car dealership is the last of these.
There are 1928 and 1936 maps of Northfork, but the LoC hasn’t scanned theirs. If anyone has a Big 10 login, there are apparently b/w versions online there.
Thanks for the ID!
The NRHP listing for downtown calls this the Ames building, which may have been the name of the theater, or the name of the owner in 1992. The older listings are generally pretty vague on details.
The map marker for this one is at least a hundred miles too far east.
This has been demolished. Address is not Welch, but Kimball. Maitland and Superior are to the west before you get to Welch. The site is now a housing complex. The address used is 600 W Main St, although it’s really more the 26600 or 26700 block of Coal Heritage Rd (US 52).
For Norman, the building we thought might be the theater was a Montgomery Ward.
Not sure why the map marker is so far off. The address seems right. It may have been 25, since 23 is now the second floor of the building to the south of where the theater was. The blurry version of the 1946 photo should be deleted.
Street is Main Ave. This has been demolished. Downtown is incredibly unattractive, and I’m having trouble placing this, but it must have been on the north side of the street.
Definitely not open in 1922. There are 1930 and 1948 maps, but neither are available online. If the address is right, this was not on a corner, but in the middle of the block north of the funeral home. This was gone by 1993, since it’s not in the NRHP listing.