What is the 36 Broadway/Devon trolley car doing at 119th Street on the South Side? Just taking its regular route that began at 119th & Morgan and ran about 25 miles, mostly on State Street and Broadway until it ended at Devon. This through-routing appears to have lasted from 1937 to 1955, when buses replaced streetcars on the State Street segment. So if you didn’t like the attraction at the Normal, you could go see what was playing at the Granada…
Here is an issue of the Reading Eagle with a story on the demise of the theater on Page 1 and some of its history on Page 3. The fire that put the theater out of business came on May 19, 1978; the November 20 fire mentioned in the description just caused a little more damage to the ruins.
As for James Maurer, per the story he was operating the theater as a burlesque house in 1964, when he and two strippers were arrested in a raid. Sometime between 1974 and 1976 he bought the theater building; he is reported to have leased it to a Trenton, New Jersey company in September 1976, leading to the return of burlesque at the Park. However, Maurer must have still been involved in the operation of the theater as he was arrested in another raid in January 1977. On May 3, 1978, the city declared the theater and the adjoining Daniel Boone Hotel unfit for human habitation. Maurer appealed the ruling and both businesses stayed open, but the fire rendered the appeal moot.
The other picture in the photo section shows the flip side, which reads “GOOD FOR ONE ADMISSION.” So it’s a token—maybe a freebie, maybe something you had to drop into a turnstile for entrance.
An entrepreneur wants to open a “tattoo and gallery” business in the theater building; looks like it would be in what was once the entrance area. Philly.com story here.
I’ll take a guess at what might have been playing: Loretta Young in “The Accused” with Robert Cummings, and “The Countess of Monte Cristo” (Sonja Heine’s last feature).
Vineland Development Corporation is now operating the theater, basically renting it to promoters for shows. This philly.com story is about downtown Vineland in general, but has a few paragraphs about the Landis.
Film Society of Philadelphia buys the theater with $8 million in funding from a foundation. The venue will continue to be available for live shows; it will reopen March 18 with The Last Jimmy, a hip-hop musical. Philly.com story here.
The Met was damaged by two serious fires in the post-WWII years. On February 5, 1948, flames caused $165,000 in damage to the balconies. This was followed by a four-alarm fire on April 11, 1950, that rose from the base of the stage to the roof and caused an estimated $200,000 in damages. (From Billboard, April 22, 1950, p.25.)
Link to the demolition story. Link to a second-day reaction story.
What is the 36 Broadway/Devon trolley car doing at 119th Street on the South Side? Just taking its regular route that began at 119th & Morgan and ran about 25 miles, mostly on State Street and Broadway until it ended at Devon. This through-routing appears to have lasted from 1937 to 1955, when buses replaced streetcars on the State Street segment. So if you didn’t like the attraction at the Normal, you could go see what was playing at the Granada…
The tattoo shop is a non-starter, at least for now.
Ballroom dance studio and banquet hall planned for the Alvin; renovations scheduled to begin by month’s end. DNAInfo story here.
Irene: Here is the page that explains how to make links on Cinema Treasures.
Studio Movie Grill opens today.
Here is a reminiscence from a member of the family that owned the theater in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Here is an issue of the Reading Eagle with a story on the demise of the theater on Page 1 and some of its history on Page 3. The fire that put the theater out of business came on May 19, 1978; the November 20 fire mentioned in the description just caused a little more damage to the ruins.
As for James Maurer, per the story he was operating the theater as a burlesque house in 1964, when he and two strippers were arrested in a raid. Sometime between 1974 and 1976 he bought the theater building; he is reported to have leased it to a Trenton, New Jersey company in September 1976, leading to the return of burlesque at the Park. However, Maurer must have still been involved in the operation of the theater as he was arrested in another raid in January 1977. On May 3, 1978, the city declared the theater and the adjoining Daniel Boone Hotel unfit for human habitation. Maurer appealed the ruling and both businesses stayed open, but the fire rendered the appeal moot.
The other picture in the photo section shows the flip side, which reads “GOOD FOR ONE ADMISSION.” So it’s a token—maybe a freebie, maybe something you had to drop into a turnstile for entrance.
Another step toward the demolition.
Blog post with an ad from the day after the opening and a circa 2011 picture here.
An entrepreneur wants to open a “tattoo and gallery” business in the theater building; looks like it would be in what was once the entrance area. Philly.com story here.
What Philly’s getting in place of the Boyd: a 27-story apartment tower. Inga Saffron of the Inquirer has absolutely nothing good to say about it.
I’ll take a guess at what might have been playing: Loretta Young in “The Accused” with Robert Cummings, and “The Countess of Monte Cristo” (Sonja Heine’s last feature).
Vineland Development Corporation is now operating the theater, basically renting it to promoters for shows. This philly.com story is about downtown Vineland in general, but has a few paragraphs about the Landis.
Alderman has OKd a plan to convert the theater into a storage facility and turn its parking lot into a park. DNAInfo story here.
Named by Landmarks Illinois to their 2015 Most Endangered Historic Places list.
Here is a photo of the theater as the Towne, after closing.
Link to the Tribune’s story on the Follies fire.
On November 14, 1974, the Follies was one of four Chicago adult theaters targeted by a bomber or bombers.
Followup story with more programming plans and an interior picture here.
Film Society of Philadelphia buys the theater with $8 million in funding from a foundation. The venue will continue to be available for live shows; it will reopen March 18 with The Last Jimmy, a hip-hop musical. Philly.com story here.
Up next: some exterior work and a campaign to get a liquor license. Philly.com story here.
The Met was damaged by two serious fires in the post-WWII years. On February 5, 1948, flames caused $165,000 in damage to the balconies. This was followed by a four-alarm fire on April 11, 1950, that rose from the base of the stage to the roof and caused an estimated $200,000 in damages. (From Billboard, April 22, 1950, p.25.)
Under contract for a sale to Eddie Carranza, per DNAInfo.
The St. James is the red brick building right next to the Mayfair. Perhaps it never got its own postcard.