There were two Lyric Theatres.
I added a page for the one at 405 N Front Street, 1912-1920.
By 1920 the Paris Café had replaced the Lyric Theatre at that location.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/62531
The REX Hotel at 545 North Front Street was also the location of two theatres, the Oracle and the (other) Lyric, which operated at the same time. Both theatres were bought out by the REX Amusement company in 1924, who were in turn bought out by Thomas Berta the owner of the Rialto Theatre (located at 310 South Front Street) to stop the competition.
Per the Rock Springs Historical Museum.
I submitted a single page for the other Lyric & Oracle Theatre, and will post the link here when it is approved.
I received this back from the Rock Springs Historical Museum.
The buildings in the photograph are located at 403-405 North Front Street. You can see in the included photograph that the roof lines and decoration are the same. The Elk Saloon and Barber Shop opened in 1908 and the Lyric Theatre was next door by the 1912 photo. By 1920 the Paris Café had replaced the Lyric Theatre at that location. The REX Hotel at 545 North Front Street was also the location of two theatres, the Oracle and the Lyric, which operated at the same time. Both theatres were bought out by the REX Amusement company in 1924, who were in turn bought out by Thomas Berta the owner of the Rialto Theatre (located at 310 South Front Street) to stop the competition. I cant tell if the two Lyric Theatres were owned by the same people, it was a very popular name for Theatres, so it could go either way. Let us know if you have more questions, we would love to help!
I submitted a single page for the other Lyric Theate and Oracle Theatre at 545 N. Front Street.
Address was 310 S. Front Street per the Rock Springs Historical Museum.
It was owned and operated by Thomas Bertha, who later bought out the the Lyric and Oracle Theatres both located at 545 N. Front Street which both operated at the same time.
He bought those two theatres to stop the competition. I will set up a page for those theatres, which later became the Rex Hotel and remains standing. The Lyric and Oracle are not to be confused with the other Lyric Theatre at 405 N. Front Street, which has it’s own page.
June 1, 1984 images adde courtesy of and description credit Stephen Leigh.
“William Shatner and Christopher Lloyd in Leonard Nimoy’s "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” opens at the Palliser Square Cinema and Market Mall Cinema in Calgary, Alberta. In 70 MM Six-Track Dolby Stereo."
Well I went through all 82 pages of the pdf.
Only the Carolina Theatre was mentioned.
There was a street renumbering in 1951, but the Carolina is using the new number.
I’m gonna leave this news piece here, in case anyone want to research further. The jewelry store that shared the Catawba Theatre building at one time, which is mentioned.
I posted the link because it is a news story about the theatre with photos. If it had been an unrelated fire, flood or even the demolition of the theatre, it would be relevant to the theatre’s history just the same.
I suppose I could have just added the photos to the gallery crediting teh source, and linked to the story under each photo.
The above was just easier.
Covid will likely push some theatres to possibly never reopen, those stories would be relevant when they happen.
Someone had been posting about every temporary Covid closing individually, even though such closings would have been a given across the board. And then would have needed another post to say they had reopened.
Do you think I should remove the post?
I usually just leave it to the Admins to decide.
Announcement of the June 13, 1974 twinning and opening of the Towne Cinema Red and Towne Cinema Blue, from the final night May 30, 1974 print ad of the original Towne Cinema on 7th Avenue, from it’s CT page.
From the article posted to the gallery courtesy Stephen Leigh.
May 30, 1974 – Ronny Howard, Richard Dreyfuss and Cindy Williams in George Lucas' “American Graffiti”, in it’s 8th month, is the last feature at the Towne Cinema in Calgary, Alberta before the theatre is demolished. Hector Ross of the Towne Cinema: “Some real bomb, that every big theatre chain turned down”. “I didn’t like it, but I knew it was going to do business”. “Graffiti? Hell no. I didn’t like it. I’m 50! What do I need with that stuff?”
It was twinned June 13, 1974 when it became the Towne Cinema Red and Towne Cinema Blue. Which should be added as previous names.
The twinning grand opening coincided with the closing two weeks earlier of the original Towne Cinema located at 337 7th Avenue S.W., after it’s 8 month run of “American Graffiti”.
That original Towne Cinema was then demolished.
I am adding a page for that original Towne Cinema, which along with this Towne Cinema Red and Town Cinema Blue were owned by Hector Ross.
June 1970 photo added to gallery credit Susan Jackson Wilson.
Rivoli Theatre building on 2nd Street on the far left under the green arrow, behind the Catawba Theatre on Union Square.
Page I added for the Catawba Theatre below as well.
I have removed the photos and comments I posted.
The photos were of the Catawba Theatre in Hickory North Carolina, which I will set up a new page for.
I researched and found proof of the jewelry store next door and the Rivoli Theatre a block behind it.
Sorry for the confusion.
This one in Newton did close in the 1950s as originally stated.
Today its houses The Dapper Daisy Boutique.
1917 photo added courtesy Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.
I believe the Unique Theatre is on the left.
The Jung Store building down the street was located at 726 N. 8th Street, and matches with the buildings in the link.
It is possible the SCHRC got the year wrong, since the Unique is reported as closed prior to that.
Circa 1980 and 1956 photos added courtesy Tom Bollinger.
Showed Adults Only films circa 1980.
Severn Allen was manager in 1956, per his late son Ken Allen:
“He started the Saturday morning kiddie shows in conjunction with the Downtown Merchants Association — essentially low-cost babysitting while the parents shopped. My father was the one who turned Elvis (and Colonel Tom Parker) down. They were working their way to New York where Elvis was scheduled to go on the Ed Sullivan Show. My father had never heard of Elvis, had the theater booked with pictures that week and sent them on their way. When he told the Paramount folks about it on his daily call, they nearly fainted. One of dad’s favorite stories.”
November 1956 photo added courtesy Alvita Wilson, via Pinterest and Traces of Texas FB page. Elvis Presley “Love Me Tender” promotion.
March 23, 1959 photo added, photo credit Theodore Kross. Scan from 35mm Kodachrome slide from collection and courtesy of Dave Murray.
There were two Lyric Theatres. I added a page for the one at 405 N Front Street, 1912-1920. By 1920 the Paris Café had replaced the Lyric Theatre at that location.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/62531
The REX Hotel at 545 North Front Street was also the location of two theatres, the Oracle and the (other) Lyric, which operated at the same time. Both theatres were bought out by the REX Amusement company in 1924, who were in turn bought out by Thomas Berta the owner of the Rialto Theatre (located at 310 South Front Street) to stop the competition. Per the Rock Springs Historical Museum. I submitted a single page for the other Lyric & Oracle Theatre, and will post the link here when it is approved.
June 1966 photo credit PITT Archives.
I received this back from the Rock Springs Historical Museum.
The buildings in the photograph are located at 403-405 North Front Street. You can see in the included photograph that the roof lines and decoration are the same. The Elk Saloon and Barber Shop opened in 1908 and the Lyric Theatre was next door by the 1912 photo. By 1920 the Paris Café had replaced the Lyric Theatre at that location. The REX Hotel at 545 North Front Street was also the location of two theatres, the Oracle and the Lyric, which operated at the same time. Both theatres were bought out by the REX Amusement company in 1924, who were in turn bought out by Thomas Berta the owner of the Rialto Theatre (located at 310 South Front Street) to stop the competition. I cant tell if the two Lyric Theatres were owned by the same people, it was a very popular name for Theatres, so it could go either way. Let us know if you have more questions, we would love to help!
I submitted a single page for the other Lyric Theate and Oracle Theatre at 545 N. Front Street.
Address was 310 S. Front Street per the Rock Springs Historical Museum. It was owned and operated by Thomas Bertha, who later bought out the the Lyric and Oracle Theatres both located at 545 N. Front Street which both operated at the same time. He bought those two theatres to stop the competition. I will set up a page for those theatres, which later became the Rex Hotel and remains standing. The Lyric and Oracle are not to be confused with the other Lyric Theatre at 405 N. Front Street, which has it’s own page.
231 Drive-In ticket images added courtesy Cenzo Mustangs.
June 1, 1984 images adde courtesy of and description credit Stephen Leigh. “William Shatner and Christopher Lloyd in Leonard Nimoy’s "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” opens at the Palliser Square Cinema and Market Mall Cinema in Calgary, Alberta. In 70 MM Six-Track Dolby Stereo."
Well I went through all 82 pages of the pdf. Only the Carolina Theatre was mentioned. There was a street renumbering in 1951, but the Carolina is using the new number. I’m gonna leave this news piece here, in case anyone want to research further. The jewelry store that shared the Catawba Theatre building at one time, which is mentioned.
https://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/hickory-jeweler-decides-to-retire-after-67-years/article_1e742810-47b9-5943-8572-466e2cd25928.html
I posted the link because it is a news story about the theatre with photos. If it had been an unrelated fire, flood or even the demolition of the theatre, it would be relevant to the theatre’s history just the same. I suppose I could have just added the photos to the gallery crediting teh source, and linked to the story under each photo. The above was just easier. Covid will likely push some theatres to possibly never reopen, those stories would be relevant when they happen. Someone had been posting about every temporary Covid closing individually, even though such closings would have been a given across the board. And then would have needed another post to say they had reopened. Do you think I should remove the post? I usually just leave it to the Admins to decide.
Link with spray painted vandalism photos via Twitter.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/quentin-tarantinos-theater-vandalized-los-angeles-businesses-1296598?fbclid=IwAR1_fkuPeAH0Rs7fSSPzwLDyqN-UAru6n5xuLXCvUfyalk0vlBvWRAkRphM
1967 photo added via Harald Morgalla. Everything you see is gone…
You are probably correct. Looks like the time frame Hickory was growing. The first link is an 82 page pdf I’ll have to search through later.
https://www.hickorync.gov/sites/default/files/Government/Boards/Historic%20Preservation%20Commisison/Hickory%20Survey%20Update.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory,_North_Carolina
Announcement of the June 13, 1974 twinning and opening of the Towne Cinema Red and Towne Cinema Blue, from the final night May 30, 1974 print ad of the original Towne Cinema on 7th Avenue, from it’s CT page.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/62557/photos/307061
From the article posted to the gallery courtesy Stephen Leigh.
May 30, 1974 – Ronny Howard, Richard Dreyfuss and Cindy Williams in George Lucas' “American Graffiti”, in it’s 8th month, is the last feature at the Towne Cinema in Calgary, Alberta before the theatre is demolished. Hector Ross of the Towne Cinema: “Some real bomb, that every big theatre chain turned down”. “I didn’t like it, but I knew it was going to do business”. “Graffiti? Hell no. I didn’t like it. I’m 50! What do I need with that stuff?”
Roger Ebert’s 1973 review of “Deep Throat” at the Town Theatre.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/deep-throat-1973
It was twinned June 13, 1974 when it became the Towne Cinema Red and Towne Cinema Blue. Which should be added as previous names. The twinning grand opening coincided with the closing two weeks earlier of the original Towne Cinema located at 337 7th Avenue S.W., after it’s 8 month run of “American Graffiti”. That original Towne Cinema was then demolished. I am adding a page for that original Towne Cinema, which along with this Towne Cinema Red and Town Cinema Blue were owned by Hector Ross.
June 1970 photo added to gallery credit Susan Jackson Wilson. Rivoli Theatre building on 2nd Street on the far left under the green arrow, behind the Catawba Theatre on Union Square. Page I added for the Catawba Theatre below as well.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/62556
I have removed the photos and comments I posted. The photos were of the Catawba Theatre in Hickory North Carolina, which I will set up a new page for. I researched and found proof of the jewelry store next door and the Rivoli Theatre a block behind it. Sorry for the confusion. This one in Newton did close in the 1950s as originally stated. Today its houses The Dapper Daisy Boutique.
1951 photo added courtesy Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.
1917 photo added courtesy Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. I believe the Unique Theatre is on the left. The Jung Store building down the street was located at 726 N. 8th Street, and matches with the buildings in the link. It is possible the SCHRC got the year wrong, since the Unique is reported as closed prior to that.
https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2019/11/07/sheboygan-history-sheboygan-dry-goods-company/4168560002/
August 1945 V-J Day celebration photo in Getty Images link below.
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/service-people-and-londoners-crowd-in-to-piccadilly-circus-news-photo/80748019?irgwc=1&esource=AFF_GI_IR_TinEye_77643&asid=TinEye&cid=GI&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=TinEye&utm_content=77643
Was showing Adults Only X Rated films in 1979.
Circa 1980 and 1956 photos added courtesy Tom Bollinger. Showed Adults Only films circa 1980. Severn Allen was manager in 1956, per his late son Ken Allen: “He started the Saturday morning kiddie shows in conjunction with the Downtown Merchants Association — essentially low-cost babysitting while the parents shopped. My father was the one who turned Elvis (and Colonel Tom Parker) down. They were working their way to New York where Elvis was scheduled to go on the Ed Sullivan Show. My father had never heard of Elvis, had the theater booked with pictures that week and sent them on their way. When he told the Paramount folks about it on his daily call, they nearly fainted. One of dad’s favorite stories.”
2019 construction photo added credit Jeff Weis.