Further research into present day’s directories show the Translux Palace open in the 1991-1992 directory. In the 1992-1993 directory, it is apparent that Crown bought them out as they did with the Cine on Eagle Road and Cinema Twin at the North Street Shopping Center. The Palace was changed to the Palace Triplex.
The Fine Arts is still listed in the 1990 City of Danbury Directory with an address and phone number as well as in the 1991-1992, 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 Directory.
Some new information on what this theater used to be called. As i’ve posted many times, i was doing research on my book today and found the information in the microfilms of the city directory. The 1907 Directory lists the theatre first named “Wonderland Theatre”, and the above information i listed has it change names to “Lyceum”. The Wonderland’s address was 177 Main Street.
The Opera House was first listed in the 1895 City of Danbury Directory as i found today while looking at the microfilm. It wasn’t listed in the 1900 Directory.
I forgot to add there’s a new occupant in the former Empress offices besides the usual offices (temp agency). It’s the one-year-old Brazilian Cultural Center. Members of the organization have just started an amazing arts and cultural publication called “Think About It…” and one of the pictures includes the inside blueprints of what their new space will look like when remodeled as well as the outside on the current Palace Walk, relandscaped a few years ago with cobblestone patterns and lampposts. Anyway, the inside blueprints show the arch of the ceiling currently but you can tell the lines of sight are from the theater. Their space is the second from the front of the street and it clearly looks like their space is the back of the auditorium with the balcony.
From the 1981 Danbury City Directory, The Palace is listed at 173 Main Street but that doesn’t seem right as that’s further down the block, unless the numbers were changed or storefronts were overhauled. In the 1982 Directory, The Palace is still listed at 173 Main Street but it’s name was changed to Trans-Lux Palace Theater. More updates later this week.
To confirm some information, according to the 1950 City of Danbury Directory, the Danbury Drive-In was first listed at Federal Road 5 and in 1957 at Federal Road 6. I’m guessing these were lot numbers? and if so, they probably expanded?
i only saw it in the 1908 directory and no other directories before or after. i guess it could have been live theatre, it didn’t designate. some of the directories would designate which types of events and then some years it would say nothing.
i went back today and noticed on top of the 2nd floor (1st floor of apartments,) there is a white sculpture, looking like a white police badge that’s 6-sided, almost like a royal crest and it says in white block letters: BEAND 1888. also, i went behind that building and it’s clearly a movie theater with the height in the back towering over me but when you see it in the front it’s quite low, so it was probably the lobby area. it’s the same height in the back as the nearby Empress and Palace.
exactly. i went to the site and typed in the address, figuring i would see something on that page that said it was in an old theater or some homage. but nothing.
I’m sorry, i made a mistake, it was changed to the Crown Palace Triplex.
The 1992-1993 Directory shows the new ownership and it’s renamed to Crown Cinema Twin.
From the 1992-1993 City of Danbury Directory, it’s listed as the Crown Cine, obviously being bought by the Crown chain.
Further research into present day’s directories show the Translux Palace open in the 1991-1992 directory. In the 1992-1993 directory, it is apparent that Crown bought them out as they did with the Cine on Eagle Road and Cinema Twin at the North Street Shopping Center. The Palace was changed to the Palace Triplex.
The Fine Arts is still listed in the 1990 City of Danbury Directory with an address and phone number as well as in the 1991-1992, 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 Directory.
Some new information on what this theater used to be called. As i’ve posted many times, i was doing research on my book today and found the information in the microfilms of the city directory. The 1907 Directory lists the theatre first named “Wonderland Theatre”, and the above information i listed has it change names to “Lyceum”. The Wonderland’s address was 177 Main Street.
Yes, i heard that too, but it was a few years ago.
The Opera House was first listed in the 1895 City of Danbury Directory as i found today while looking at the microfilm. It wasn’t listed in the 1900 Directory.
i checked and they are not listed. go ahead and list them folks! everyone will be sure to chime in sooner or later.
the continental airlines arena was formerly called and shall always be referred to this former jerseyite as brendan byrne arena.
I forgot to add there’s a new occupant in the former Empress offices besides the usual offices (temp agency). It’s the one-year-old Brazilian Cultural Center. Members of the organization have just started an amazing arts and cultural publication called “Think About It…” and one of the pictures includes the inside blueprints of what their new space will look like when remodeled as well as the outside on the current Palace Walk, relandscaped a few years ago with cobblestone patterns and lampposts. Anyway, the inside blueprints show the arch of the ceiling currently but you can tell the lines of sight are from the theater. Their space is the second from the front of the street and it clearly looks like their space is the back of the auditorium with the balcony.
From the 1981 Danbury City Directory, The Palace is listed at 173 Main Street but that doesn’t seem right as that’s further down the block, unless the numbers were changed or storefronts were overhauled. In the 1982 Directory, The Palace is still listed at 173 Main Street but it’s name was changed to Trans-Lux Palace Theater. More updates later this week.
In the 1980 Directory, it’s listed as Trans-Lux Cinema at 1 and 2 Eagle Road.
To confirm some information, according to the 1950 City of Danbury Directory, the Danbury Drive-In was first listed at Federal Road 5 and in 1957 at Federal Road 6. I’m guessing these were lot numbers? and if so, they probably expanded?
I forgot to add it was not listed in the 1975 Directory. In the 1980 Directory, it’s first listed as Bethel Cinema.
Correction to the Jerry Lewis incarnation. It was listed in the 1973 City of Danbury Directory as the Jerry Lewis Cinema on Greenwood Avenue.
First listed in the 1970 Danbury City Directory as Brandt Cinema, Eagle Road.
The 1967 City Directory doesn’t list the Empress.
The above website is wrong. The 1965 Danbury City Directory lists the theater as The Cinema Theatre on Padanaram Road, but the 1966 doesn’t list it.
According to the 1959 Danbury City Directory and confirming the above information, it was demolished in 1958 and wasn’t listed in the 1959 directory.
roger, email me and we’ll see if we can open the fine arts in brookfield for you. as long as you give us assistance credits for your photos! :) ()
i only saw it in the 1908 directory and no other directories before or after. i guess it could have been live theatre, it didn’t designate. some of the directories would designate which types of events and then some years it would say nothing.
i went back today and noticed on top of the 2nd floor (1st floor of apartments,) there is a white sculpture, looking like a white police badge that’s 6-sided, almost like a royal crest and it says in white block letters: BEAND 1888. also, i went behind that building and it’s clearly a movie theater with the height in the back towering over me but when you see it in the front it’s quite low, so it was probably the lobby area. it’s the same height in the back as the nearby Empress and Palace.
here’s the pic at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=21829
can someone tell me what style this is? i now work in an office building in danbury with that as the facade.
exactly. i went to the site and typed in the address, figuring i would see something on that page that said it was in an old theater or some homage. but nothing.