My gut tells me the address was 111 West Benton Street, where UMB Bank stands today. I base this on scrolling around the current street view, the smaller building behind where the theatre stood, and the shadows for the side of the street it was on. Plus the age of the other buildings on corners where it could have not been.
Address is 136 N. 2nd Street. Last known tenant was The Homeplace, a home decor store and Sacred Images photography studio. The owners of The Homeplace purchased the building in 2006, and closed February 13, 2020. Sacred Images moved to another location.
Originally opened by Jess LeBrun in 1920, sold 12/19/38 to I.A. Kalver & Roy Kalver, who also owned the Madison and Adams Theatres. Newspaper clipping added.
Adams Theatre was located on Monroe Street, per the Decatur, Indiana – History & Celebrations Facebook page.
Owned by I.A. Kalver in June 1934, per news clipping added.
Photos added too.
I question the Bower Jewelry Store image currently the Overview photo. As it seems unrelated to the Adams Theatre or address.
5 photos added and below description credit Robert James.
“Campus cinemas – located in DeKalb Illinois. The theater was closed due to a portion of the roof collapsing. The owner has had two unsuccessful attempts to re-purpose the movie theater. The second attempt would have had multiple apartments built on top the movie theater. The city declined the proposal however”
Updated history courtesy the Evanston History Center:
“Originally called the Evanston Theater, it opened as a 950-seat vaudeville theater in 1911. Over the years, the theater changed hands, suffered fire damage, and was renamed three times: In 1917, it briefly became the “Evanston Strand Theater,” and then in 1922, it was renamed the “New Evanston Theater.” Finally, in 1932, it became the Valencia Theater, after an extensive remodeling and takeover by the theater chain corporation, Balaban and Katz.”
Facebook post with additional history and 23, photos and newspaper clippings.
The Gerard Theater 1940-1963
West View Historical Society
The Gerard Theater first opened it’s doors on January 19, 1940. Soon after its opening, James H. Nash became the manager/owner, a position he held until his death on May 26, 1963. Previous to owning the Gerard, James was a salesman for United Artists. An innovator, he added a nursery for preschool children and then the “cry room” in 1945. He wanted mothers with young children to be able to attend the movies and not have to worry about a babysitter.
Six months after his death the theater was sold to Robert McConnell and it became a dance hall/roller skating rink for the local teens. This enterprise did not last long as in January, 1965 the building was sold to Flooring Specialists, Inc On September 8, 1960 the West View Borough offices were moved into the building and remained at the location until December 11, 1976. · Updated about 4 years ago
Circa 1915 images added courtesy of Ryerson and Burnham Archive, John Vinci Collection, and Bldg. 51 Archive via Urban Remains Facebook page.
Below description credit Urban Remains.
“the following pieces of ephemera were found by richard nickel while exploring/photographing adler and sullivan’s garrick (schiller) theater a few months before atlas arrived to begin wrecking it – likely in the winter months of 1960. demolition of the theater wrapped up in june of 1961.
the programs mostly date to the early 20th century. the die-cut lithographed cardboard sign dates to the 1890’s, when the building was still known as the schiller.”
1940 photo added credit Russell Lee.
Palace Theatre building as Gresham & Co. Dry-Goods.
Current street view confirms it is the same building.
So it must have opened as the Palace in 1941 at the earliest.
Russell Lee did a lot of Farm Security Administration photos at that time.
Address was 58 W. Church Street. Confirmed Demolished by the Fayette County Historical Society/Abel Colley Tavern & Museum. Shop n' Save is now on the former theatre site.
“Imp” was reportedly the local nickname for the Imperial Theatre.
1918 auditorium photo added credit Fayette County Historical Society/Abel Colley Tavern & Museum.
This is December 1983 not `81.
My gut tells me the address was 111 West Benton Street, where UMB Bank stands today.
I base this on scrolling around the current street view, the smaller building behind where the theatre stood, and the shadows for the side of the street it was on.
Plus the age of the other buildings on corners where it could have not been.
Address was on West Benton Street.
Confirmed Demolished and 1940s image added courtesy Stan Woolery.
Photo courtesy Phyllis McFarland Zwick.
1946 photo courtesy Phyllis McFarland Zwick.
Address is 136 N. 2nd Street. Last known tenant was The Homeplace, a home decor store and Sacred Images photography studio. The owners of The Homeplace purchased the building in 2006, and closed February 13, 2020. Sacred Images moved to another location. Originally opened by Jess LeBrun in 1920, sold 12/19/38 to I.A. Kalver & Roy Kalver, who also owned the Madison and Adams Theatres. Newspaper clipping added.
Adams Theatre was located on Monroe Street, per the Decatur, Indiana – History & Celebrations Facebook page. Owned by I.A. Kalver in June 1934, per news clipping added. Photos added too. I question the Bower Jewelry Store image currently the Overview photo. As it seems unrelated to the Adams Theatre or address.
5 photos added and below description credit Robert James.
“Campus cinemas – located in DeKalb Illinois. The theater was closed due to a portion of the roof collapsing. The owner has had two unsuccessful attempts to re-purpose the movie theater. The second attempt would have had multiple apartments built on top the movie theater. The city declined the proposal however”
Wiltern marquee photo on this Rolling Stone piece.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/music-crisis-concerts-tours-980968/?fbclid=IwAR3m1yOJxZ7ucqnrvs21g2MKKFOA-JdmbJ7eBZL2jxTQt5C-Yshe_V6zLes
Circa 1960 photo added credit Susan Fensten Archives.
Updated history courtesy the Evanston History Center: “Originally called the Evanston Theater, it opened as a 950-seat vaudeville theater in 1911. Over the years, the theater changed hands, suffered fire damage, and was renamed three times: In 1917, it briefly became the “Evanston Strand Theater,” and then in 1922, it was renamed the “New Evanston Theater.” Finally, in 1932, it became the Valencia Theater, after an extensive remodeling and takeover by the theater chain corporation, Balaban and Katz.”
Facebook post with additional history and 23, photos and newspaper clippings.
The Gerard Theater 1940-1963 West View Historical Society The Gerard Theater first opened it’s doors on January 19, 1940. Soon after its opening, James H. Nash became the manager/owner, a position he held until his death on May 26, 1963. Previous to owning the Gerard, James was a salesman for United Artists. An innovator, he added a nursery for preschool children and then the “cry room” in 1945. He wanted mothers with young children to be able to attend the movies and not have to worry about a babysitter.
Six months after his death the theater was sold to Robert McConnell and it became a dance hall/roller skating rink for the local teens. This enterprise did not last long as in January, 1965 the building was sold to Flooring Specialists, Inc On September 8, 1960 the West View Borough offices were moved into the building and remained at the location until December 11, 1976. · Updated about 4 years ago
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.919479684822508&type=3
Circa 1915 images added courtesy of Ryerson and Burnham Archive, John Vinci Collection, and Bldg. 51 Archive via Urban Remains Facebook page. Below description credit Urban Remains. “the following pieces of ephemera were found by richard nickel while exploring/photographing adler and sullivan’s garrick (schiller) theater a few months before atlas arrived to begin wrecking it – likely in the winter months of 1960. demolition of the theater wrapped up in june of 1961. the programs mostly date to the early 20th century. the die-cut lithographed cardboard sign dates to the 1890’s, when the building was still known as the schiller.”
1963 “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” trampoline promotion image added courtesy Dave Rogers.
2015 piece with the history of the Hopkins Theatre with images.
https://theanalogage.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-destruction-of-hopkins-theater.html?fbclid=IwAR24yKnRhshD0_hsbLSy5AHX2Dn6qyUL3zsl3gDorB-mxTvtoe_8extxAXE
1964 seasonal opening, not the grand opening which was 1963.
Images added.
Former drive-in site is all homes now.
CinemaTour link with two photos.
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/22863.html
Photo credit Lee Balterman.
1940 photo added credit Russell Lee. Palace Theatre building as Gresham & Co. Dry-Goods. Current street view confirms it is the same building. So it must have opened as the Palace in 1941 at the earliest. Russell Lee did a lot of Farm Security Administration photos at that time.
Mid `30s postcard added courtesy Alexandra Rankin, via Traces of Texas Facebook page.
April 1941 photo credit Russell Lee, Library of Cogress Collection link. Click on image within link to enlarge for greater detail.
https://www.loc.gov/item/2017788764/
Address was 58 W. Church Street. Confirmed Demolished by the Fayette County Historical Society/Abel Colley Tavern & Museum. Shop n' Save is now on the former theatre site.
So Forest Theatre name should be removed, and Showcase Theatre should replace it as the last name it operated as a theatre as.
“Imp” was reportedly the local nickname for the Imperial Theatre. 1918 auditorium photo added credit Fayette County Historical Society/Abel Colley Tavern & Museum.