The Loew’s Kings was joint 2nd/3rd to open of the five ‘Wonder Theaters’. It opened on the same day (7th September 1929) as the Loew’s Paradise, Bronx, New York.
The opening programme at the Loew’s Kings was the ‘part talkie’ movie “Evangeline” starring Dolores Del Rio and Robert Drew. On stage was a revue “Frills and Fancies”, Wesley Eddy and his Kings of Syncopation and the Chester Hale Girls.
It is the 25th largest movie theater built in the USA.
The advert I have in the S.F. Chronicle 24th Nov 1976 lists the Sutter Street Theatre playing ‘Live Burlesque’ opening daily at 11am with adult films and live shows daily at 12 noon, 2:30, 5:30 9:00.
In a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle I have for Wed, Nov 24th 1976, the Avenue Theatre is listed under the ‘International’ section screening Bela Lugosi “The Midnight Girl” + “The Monster Walks” (1940) for one day only!
By coincidence, I happen to have a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle dated Wed Nov 24, 1976, which according to the introduction to this theatre above, was the opening date of the Alexandria as a triple screen cinema.
Films advertised on this date were;
Screen 1. “Shout at the Devil” + “Hard Times"
Screen 2. "Super Bug, Super Agent” + “Magic Christmas Tree"
Screen 3. "Singing in the Rain” + “The Wizard of Oz”
Evening shows only with the main feature showing twice, commencing at 6:30pm.
This was a second David Cinema, located on W. 54th St which operated until about 1999.
My initial posting was for the original David Cinema, 238 West 55th Street which was operating in the mid 1970’s. I have listing guides from that era which show it at that address.
I have a current guide which states the Gaiety Theatre still operates as New York’s oldest gay burlesque. The status should now read; Open, Function; Live Performance space.
The current W. 46th Street address was originally the side entrance for its carriage patrons.
The main narrow entrance that was used from its ‘legit’ theatre opening on 22nd January 1910 until it closed as the Globe movie theatre in 1957 was 1555 Broadway.
No, No No! The Admiral became the Vine Theatre, which is still operating as a 600 seat theatre.
The Holly was originally the Studio, it could have been renamed the Colony? (I have a listing of a Colony Theatre on Hollywood Blvd in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook with 475 seats, but no address) then it was named the Music Hall, then the Academy and finally the Holly Theatre.
Various Film Daily Yearbooks give a seating capacity of 400 for the El Rancho Theatre.
The El Rancho was built in 1928 to replace a wooden structure that housed a silent movie theatre. It closed in the mid-1950’s and then had various uses from school and community productions, a Spanish theatre, a church a junk shop and re-opened as a live theatre in 1982.
It is now known as Theatre on High St, presenting a mix of plays and movie screenings.
The Loew’s Kings was joint 2nd/3rd to open of the five ‘Wonder Theaters’. It opened on the same day (7th September 1929) as the Loew’s Paradise, Bronx, New York.
The opening programme at the Loew’s Kings was the ‘part talkie’ movie “Evangeline” starring Dolores Del Rio and Robert Drew. On stage was a revue “Frills and Fancies”, Wesley Eddy and his Kings of Syncopation and the Chester Hale Girls.
It is the 25th largest movie theater built in the USA.
The address was Moody Street, Waltham, MA.
The original architectural style of the Academy Picture Palace was Moorish. It was re-modelled by Gaumont into an Art Deco style in the 1930’s.
The Academy was demolished in 1974 and an office block – Academy House – was built on the site.
That looks like a very nice terra cotta facade on the building. I will check it out when I am in San Francisco in February.
The advert I have in the S.F. Chronicle 24th Nov 1976 lists the Sutter Street Theatre playing ‘Live Burlesque’ opening daily at 11am with adult films and live shows daily at 12 noon, 2:30, 5:30 9:00.
I have it still listed as the Bijou, operated by the Mitchell Brothers in the S.F. Chronicle dated 24 Nov 1976
The current Spartacus International Gay Guide 2004/2005 lists the ‘All Male Jewel Theatre’ operating at the former Bijou Theatre.
The current status need to be changed to; Open, Function; Adult Movies
In a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle I have for Wed, Nov 24th 1976, the Avenue Theatre is listed under the ‘International’ section screening Bela Lugosi “The Midnight Girl” + “The Monster Walks” (1940) for one day only!
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 gives a seating capacity of the American Theatre as 1,210.
The Alhambra was operating as a twin screen cinema in November 1976.
By coincidence, I happen to have a copy of the San Francisco Chronicle dated Wed Nov 24, 1976, which according to the introduction to this theatre above, was the opening date of the Alexandria as a triple screen cinema.
Films advertised on this date were;
Screen 1. “Shout at the Devil” + “Hard Times"
Screen 2. "Super Bug, Super Agent” + “Magic Christmas Tree"
Screen 3. "Singing in the Rain” + “The Wizard of Oz”
Evening shows only with the main feature showing twice, commencing at 6:30pm.
br91975;
This was a second David Cinema, located on W. 54th St which operated until about 1999.
My initial posting was for the original David Cinema, 238 West 55th Street which was operating in the mid 1970’s. I have listing guides from that era which show it at that address.
You are correct Robert.
I have a current guide which states the Gaiety Theatre still operates as New York’s oldest gay burlesque. The status should now read; Open, Function; Live Performance space.
Thanks Warren,
I will give the Eros I a new page listing of its own.
I have a listing for an Eros I Cinema operating gay male porn in 1976.
Its street address is 732 8th Avenue, near 46th Street. Could this be one of the Hollywood Twin Cinemas?
The current W. 46th Street address was originally the side entrance for its carriage patrons.
The main narrow entrance that was used from its ‘legit’ theatre opening on 22nd January 1910 until it closed as the Globe movie theatre in 1957 was 1555 Broadway.
No, No No! The Admiral became the Vine Theatre, which is still operating as a 600 seat theatre.
The Holly was originally the Studio, it could have been renamed the Colony? (I have a listing of a Colony Theatre on Hollywood Blvd in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook with 475 seats, but no address) then it was named the Music Hall, then the Academy and finally the Holly Theatre.
The Tivoli Picture Theatre is located in the Mumbles district of Swansea.
It should not be confused with the Tivoli, Carmarthen Road, Swansea. The opening date of this Tivoli is not known, but it had closed by 1938.
The street address is given as 710, E. Broadway, South Boston, MA
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 in South Boston, Massachusetts with a seating capacity of 1,500.
I have a listings magazine dated November 1976 which shows the 55th Street Playhouse still operating as a gay male porno theater.
The Genesee Theatre originally opened on 25th December 1927.
Happy 77th Birthday today!
The architect of the Holland Theatre was a Dutch architect Peter M. Hulsken. It opened on 12th February 1931.
It was built by the Schine Brothers and also housed their regional corporate offices. It was owned and operated by them until 1966.
Various Film Daily Yearbooks give a seating capacity of 400 for the El Rancho Theatre.
The El Rancho was built in 1928 to replace a wooden structure that housed a silent movie theatre. It closed in the mid-1950’s and then had various uses from school and community productions, a Spanish theatre, a church a junk shop and re-opened as a live theatre in 1982.
It is now known as Theatre on High St, presenting a mix of plays and movie screenings.
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1940 gives a seating capacity for the El Presidio Theatre as 828.