Here are two photos of The Harlem Theater in Dallas during the 30’s. It showed exclusively black films. It was located on Elm street, a black neighborhood and shopping area referred to as Deep Ellum. The location of the theatre is now a parking lot.
The film playing starred Ralph Cooper. He was a popular star of black fillms during the 30’s and 40’s and was often referred to as “The Dark Clark Gable”.
Here is a link to WFAATV in Dallas. It discusses the grand reopening of the theatre on November 17th. There is also a short video of the theatre both outside and inside the auditorium. The inside doesn’t look like much. Just a square box with white walls and a blue ceiling/
Here is a link to the Texas Theatre website. The prospectus for the renovation states: “The theater’s proposed rehabilitation consists of first renovating the theater to a live performance venue and then restoring the theater’s interior and exterior to reflect the 1963 period of significance . The restoration includes an expansion to adjacent property to provide additional bathrooms, dressing rooms, balcony use and access, and classroom and office spaces.”
From the video it appears that the original atmospheric ornamentation is completely gone. If they are indeed restoring it to its 1963 condition I imagine much, if not all, of the interior decoration might have been moved prior to 1963 when many theatres did wholesale interior destruction to accommodate Cinemascope
Here are links to several articles regarding The Bal Theatre
It’s legal troubles over showing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 2001 View link
It’s conversion to showing Indian Bollywood films in 2004 View link
The Bal Theatre is still closed. The poster display window has a Bollywood Film poster still in it. The last I heard the Lobby had been painted garrish colors during the run of “Rocky Horror”
For those of you who might be interested here is the planning commissions meeting on the proposed demoltion of the Palm Theatre. Several people voiced requests to save the theatre, all in vain.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
NOVEMBER 25, 2003
I occasionally went to The Ideal in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was an old off street theatre that had long since past its days of glory. The auditorium was in the center of the block with access through a long covered walkway from the sidewalk. Either side was lined with poster display windows. The lobby was shabby, dirty and virtually empty of any furniture except for an old table at the entrance where an elderly man sat and collected your money as you entered. There was no snack bar. The man behind the table had a few boxes of candy bars for sale if you wanted something to eat. There was a machine that dispensed coke in a cup with some ice. The auditorium was always dark so it was hard to tell what it even looked like. It had a pronounced echo during the film. There was rarely any heat and the place had that musky smell that comes from old age.
There were rarely many people in the theatre. One exception was when it played the then controversial “La Dolce Vita” in 1961. My mother refused to let me go see it so my father, who was pretty cool, drove me downtown and let me go after making me swear not to tell my mother.
I also went to see a film called “Noah’s Ark”. It was advertised as this big budget production. Turned out it was an old silent that had been rereleased with some sound effects and prerecorded music. I think that was the first silent I ever saw. Even though it was old I was still impressed with the flood sequence.
The theatre was demolished sometime back. The last time I was in Corsicana an empty lot sat where the theatre once was.
One of the hopes of the plan is the restoration of the Reseda Theater for use as a nightclub or other business.
The links below contain several pictures of the “distressed” inside of the theatre taken in 2005 can be found at the below link. It looks to be in pretty dismal shape from these photos
As a child I lived in Northridge in the early 1950s and my Saturday ritual was a trip to “The Reseda Theatre” no matter what was playing. I saw my first 3D film, “The House of Wax” at The Reseda. I have fond memories of those Saturdays. It would be great if the theatre could be restored.
The Metro theatre was beautifully restored in the 1980s. It proved financially not viable as a single screen theatre and closed about a year ago. It is now boarded up and faces the same possible demolition that almost all of San Francisco’s movie houses have already been subjected to in the last couple of decades.
San Francisco lost its “The City That Knows How” moniker years ago. It is now “The City That Doesn’t Care”, especially when it comes to theatres.
The film was fully restored by noted film preservationist Richard Harris in 1991 so it is doubtful there is any significant value or history connected with your reel. You may want to contact His DVD web site “The Digital Bits” has periodic articles by Richard Harris about film restoration. He may be able to get you in contact with Richard Harris.
An auto dealer has purchased the Miramar Theatre from the previous owner whose plans to build a 40,000 square foot complex of shops and residences ran into resistance from local residents who wanted the theatre preserved. Auto dealer Marc Spizzirri has indicated he plans to demolish the rear of the theatre which once housed a bowling alley while keeping the remainder of the theatre closer to its old design. A complete article on the purchase can be read in the below article from The Orange County Business Journal dated 10/29/08.
The California Theatre will be showing classic films in December 2007. More info can be found at the Stanford Theatre site – Click on the California Theatre link. The only film listed so far is “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas eve. The link says a full schedule will be posted later.
Can hardly wait to see a movie in this grand old theatre.
A photo of The Rialto Theatre from 1958
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A photo of the Rialto Theatre from 1954
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A theater identified as The Rialto from 1930
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Here are two photos of The Harlem Theater in Dallas during the 30’s. It showed exclusively black films. It was located on Elm street, a black neighborhood and shopping area referred to as Deep Ellum. The location of the theatre is now a parking lot.
View link
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The film playing starred Ralph Cooper. He was a popular star of black fillms during the 30’s and 40’s and was often referred to as “The Dark Clark Gable”.
Photo of The Avalon Theatre
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Photo of The York theatre
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Another early view of The Oriental Theatre
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Early photo of The Oriental Theatre
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Photo of the Ogden Theatre – early 1900s
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Photo of the Fox Theatre when it was still the West’s Theatre
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Exterior of the La Mar Theatre
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Interior and exterior views of Tabor Grand Opera House
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Interior after remodel in 1931
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stereo view of Tabor exterior
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Interior and exterior of Aladdin Theatre
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Interior photo of The Paramount Theatre
Interior views of the Paramount Theatre
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Photos of the “Incredible” Broadway Theatre
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Heartbreaking photos of the demolition of The Broadway Theatre
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A larger image of The Mayan Theatre in 1937
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Here is a link to WFAATV in Dallas. It discusses the grand reopening of the theatre on November 17th. There is also a short video of the theatre both outside and inside the auditorium. The inside doesn’t look like much. Just a square box with white walls and a blue ceiling/
View link
Here is a link to the Texas Theatre website. The prospectus for the renovation states: “The theater’s proposed rehabilitation consists of first renovating the theater to a live performance venue and then restoring the theater’s interior and exterior to reflect the 1963 period of significance . The restoration includes an expansion to adjacent property to provide additional bathrooms, dressing rooms, balcony use and access, and classroom and office spaces.”
http://www.texas-theatre.org/projectOverview.asp
From the video it appears that the original atmospheric ornamentation is completely gone. If they are indeed restoring it to its 1963 condition I imagine much, if not all, of the interior decoration might have been moved prior to 1963 when many theatres did wholesale interior destruction to accommodate Cinemascope
Here are links to several articles regarding The Bal Theatre
It’s legal troubles over showing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 2001
View link
It’s conversion to showing Indian Bollywood films in 2004
View link
The Bal Theatre is still closed. The poster display window has a Bollywood Film poster still in it. The last I heard the Lobby had been painted garrish colors during the run of “Rocky Horror”
For those of you who might be interested here is the planning commissions meeting on the proposed demoltion of the Palm Theatre. Several people voiced requests to save the theatre, all in vain.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
NOVEMBER 25, 2003
View link
I occasionally went to The Ideal in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was an old off street theatre that had long since past its days of glory. The auditorium was in the center of the block with access through a long covered walkway from the sidewalk. Either side was lined with poster display windows. The lobby was shabby, dirty and virtually empty of any furniture except for an old table at the entrance where an elderly man sat and collected your money as you entered. There was no snack bar. The man behind the table had a few boxes of candy bars for sale if you wanted something to eat. There was a machine that dispensed coke in a cup with some ice. The auditorium was always dark so it was hard to tell what it even looked like. It had a pronounced echo during the film. There was rarely any heat and the place had that musky smell that comes from old age.
There were rarely many people in the theatre. One exception was when it played the then controversial “La Dolce Vita” in 1961. My mother refused to let me go see it so my father, who was pretty cool, drove me downtown and let me go after making me swear not to tell my mother.
I also went to see a film called “Noah’s Ark”. It was advertised as this big budget production. Turned out it was an old silent that had been rereleased with some sound effects and prerecorded music. I think that was the first silent I ever saw. Even though it was old I was still impressed with the flood sequence.
The theatre was demolished sometime back. The last time I was in Corsicana an empty lot sat where the theatre once was.
Here is an article about Reseda, Ca and a “high-tech neighborhood improvement project” from the Los Angeles Daily news dated 10/29/08
http://origin.dailynews.com/news/ci_7316692
One of the hopes of the plan is the restoration of the Reseda Theater for use as a nightclub or other business.
The links below contain several pictures of the “distressed” inside of the theatre taken in 2005 can be found at the below link. It looks to be in pretty dismal shape from these photos
View link
View link
View link
As a child I lived in Northridge in the early 1950s and my Saturday ritual was a trip to “The Reseda Theatre” no matter what was playing. I saw my first 3D film, “The House of Wax” at The Reseda. I have fond memories of those Saturdays. It would be great if the theatre could be restored.
The Metro theatre was beautifully restored in the 1980s. It proved financially not viable as a single screen theatre and closed about a year ago. It is now boarded up and faces the same possible demolition that almost all of San Francisco’s movie houses have already been subjected to in the last couple of decades.
San Francisco lost its “The City That Knows How” moniker years ago. It is now “The City That Doesn’t Care”, especially when it comes to theatres.
Sad!
The film was fully restored by noted film preservationist Richard Harris in 1991 so it is doubtful there is any significant value or history connected with your reel. You may want to contact His DVD web site “The Digital Bits” has periodic articles by Richard Harris about film restoration. He may be able to get you in contact with Richard Harris.
Here is the correct url for the latest article on the Miramar from the Orange County Business Journal:
View link
An auto dealer has purchased the Miramar Theatre from the previous owner whose plans to build a 40,000 square foot complex of shops and residences ran into resistance from local residents who wanted the theatre preserved. Auto dealer Marc Spizzirri has indicated he plans to demolish the rear of the theatre which once housed a bowling alley while keeping the remainder of the theatre closer to its old design. A complete article on the purchase can be read in the below article from The Orange County Business Journal dated 10/29/08.
[url=http://www.ocbj.com/industry_article_pay.asp?aID=71045804.6422946.1546727.6474992.9643438.453&aID2=118970]
Let’s hope “closer to its old design” means restoration.
Here is a photo of the outside from approximately 1912
View link
The California Theatre will be showing classic films in December 2007. More info can be found at the Stanford Theatre site – Click on the California Theatre link. The only film listed so far is “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas eve. The link says a full schedule will be posted later.
Can hardly wait to see a movie in this grand old theatre.