When it reopened as a twin it was operated by General Cinemas Corporation. From the ad just uploaded by rivest266 it can be located on North Courtenay Parkway.
I found another reference that the Best and Quality were both operating in 1927 but the Quality closed in 1929. Odd that there was nothing on the Quality in the FDY. Ken Roe found references to a 400 seat Strand in the 1926-1929 FDY and that it was closed in 1932. Independence was alive with theaters many of which seem to be once source wonders.
The Cozy and the Joy are news to me. By rights the Bell and Vaudette were operational in 1910, as was the AirDome (on Pennsylvania, which was only open summers until 1928) but weren’t in the Daily Reporter you cite. Ad for the AirDome is next to the Best in the photos section above.
According to a comment by dallasmovies in a comment on the photo of the Best opening ad which appears on the Booth site, when the Best opened there was only a five year lease. It then became the Quality. Ken Roe found no references to the Quality in the Film Daily Yearbook. I found one reference which said it was closed by 1929, but another listed the Best and Quality both operating in 1927.
I’m inclined to go with it being the Best for five years, the Quality for a period and then reverting to Best until it’s demolition unless someone can prove otherwise.
Uploaded a photo of the opening announcement originally posted on the Booth site by dallasmovies.
Found an online copy of “Independence: The Way We Were” published by Ken D. Brown in 1986 which showed the address as 107 North Pennsylvania Avenue.
According to Mr. Brown the Best was actually in a pre-1900 building which had housed The Central Drug Store and an “amusement house theatre” named “Snark” rather than a fresh build in 1916.
The Best was acquired by William Wagner, who owned the other Independence theatres, in 1939. Now here comes a discrepancy. Mr. Brown claims the theatre was demolished in 1940 but it still appears in the 1943 Film Directory Yearbook.
The Minot Memories Blog, the source of the photos referred to by Joe, which I’ve uploaded, also indicates that, for a time the Empire had a series package, 10 tickets for a Saturday performance for $2.00. Each ticket indicated the film being shown. Children could also obtain free admission by collecting the medallions from milk cartons.
The site is now a parking lot for the medical center.
I never actually attended a performance there but, just by chance happened to see the interior. I was eating dinner at a restaurant across from the mall and noted that a movie I wished to see was on the big sign board. When I went over I found out that the movie playing was not the one on the sign. The manager explained to me that this was the last day of operation. They hadn’t even bothered to change the signage. By that time the concession stand had also been disassembled.
Talk about running a place into the ground.
The plans for the new Shoppes at Latham include a new cinema.
They tear down an entire mall and rebuild a new one. What kind of sense is that? Uploaded a photo of the facade from the Roger Katz collection.
Uploaded four pictures of the Marcha. In the 1939 full Main Street shot the vertical of the Marcha is visible in the right background. The 1939 closeup has Safeway on the left and a portion of the Marcha visible. The 1942 shot from a different vantage shows the new Marcha building facade. The final shot it of the Marcha as retail, The Emporium.
When it reopened as a twin it was operated by General Cinemas Corporation. From the ad just uploaded by rivest266 it can be located on North Courtenay Parkway.
I found another reference that the Best and Quality were both operating in 1927 but the Quality closed in 1929. Odd that there was nothing on the Quality in the FDY. Ken Roe found references to a 400 seat Strand in the 1926-1929 FDY and that it was closed in 1932. Independence was alive with theaters many of which seem to be once source wonders.
Well, there are photos relating to the Quality, on the Booth site, supposedly 1922. But the name Quality never appears on Film Daily Yearbook lists.
The Cozy and the Joy are news to me. By rights the Bell and Vaudette were operational in 1910, as was the AirDome (on Pennsylvania, which was only open summers until 1928) but weren’t in the Daily Reporter you cite. Ad for the AirDome is next to the Best in the photos section above.
According to a comment by dallasmovies in a comment on the photo of the Best opening ad which appears on the Booth site, when the Best opened there was only a five year lease. It then became the Quality. Ken Roe found no references to the Quality in the Film Daily Yearbook. I found one reference which said it was closed by 1929, but another listed the Best and Quality both operating in 1927.
I’m inclined to go with it being the Best for five years, the Quality for a period and then reverting to Best until it’s demolition unless someone can prove otherwise.
Cactus reopened in 1995
Uploaded a photo of the opening announcement originally posted on the Booth site by dallasmovies.
Found an online copy of “Independence: The Way We Were” published by Ken D. Brown in 1986 which showed the address as 107 North Pennsylvania Avenue.
According to Mr. Brown the Best was actually in a pre-1900 building which had housed The Central Drug Store and an “amusement house theatre” named “Snark” rather than a fresh build in 1916.
The Best was acquired by William Wagner, who owned the other Independence theatres, in 1939. Now here comes a discrepancy. Mr. Brown claims the theatre was demolished in 1940 but it still appears in the 1943 Film Directory Yearbook.
Demolished in 1965
Uploaded a 1916 photo.
Uploaded a 1916 photo of the Kettler showing The Foolish Virgin.
Uploaded the image of a 1915 postcard of the, then, opera house, with the alternate spelling Bell-dorf.
Acquired by William Wagner in 1956. He had operated the Beldorf since 1935. He then closed the Beldorf.
Uploaded an early photo of the theatre which didn’t carry the Holiday Park designation on the facade. Don’t remember if this was changed later on.
I’ve uploaded another photo of the monstrosity which will replace the Lynbrook. It has all the appeal of an LA Fitness.
divorce = even if one knew the bank I’m sure it has been absorbed by Citi, Chase or whatever.
It wasn’t narrow but it was quite long. I remember standing in the back talking to the manager.
Mike, in my opinion the theater was long, not square.
Uploaded a photo as the Strand from the 1920s from the Minot Memories Blog.
Uploaded a better photo as the Lyceum from the Minot Memories Blog.
The marquee of the Orpheum is barely visible in the right foreground of the photo I’ve uploaded from the Minot Memories Blog.
The Minot Memories Blog, the source of the photos referred to by Joe, which I’ve uploaded, also indicates that, for a time the Empire had a series package, 10 tickets for a Saturday performance for $2.00. Each ticket indicated the film being shown. Children could also obtain free admission by collecting the medallions from milk cartons.
The site is now a parking lot for the medical center.
I never actually attended a performance there but, just by chance happened to see the interior. I was eating dinner at a restaurant across from the mall and noted that a movie I wished to see was on the big sign board. When I went over I found out that the movie playing was not the one on the sign. The manager explained to me that this was the last day of operation. They hadn’t even bothered to change the signage. By that time the concession stand had also been disassembled. Talk about running a place into the ground.
dallasmovietheaters you really seem to have access to so many sites from the comments you post.
Uploaded a photo from the early days. A portion of the original marquee with the “Me” just showing.
The plans for the new Shoppes at Latham include a new cinema. They tear down an entire mall and rebuild a new one. What kind of sense is that? Uploaded a photo of the facade from the Roger Katz collection.
Uploaded four pictures of the Marcha. In the 1939 full Main Street shot the vertical of the Marcha is visible in the right background. The 1939 closeup has Safeway on the left and a portion of the Marcha visible. The 1942 shot from a different vantage shows the new Marcha building facade. The final shot it of the Marcha as retail, The Emporium.