KENOSHA, WI —
The Roosevelt Theatre: December 25, 1927 - October 6, 2008.
Its career as a showplace ended in mid-March, 1985.
Demolition began Monday morning. RIP

LARAMIE, WY — The old Fox Theater has deteriorated to the point that city officials have blocked off the sidewalk and parking spaces in front of it and are planning to demolish it.

The theater has a hole in its roof which is in danger of collapsing. The building is also contaminated with asbestos and pigeon droppings creating a health hazard.

Read more…

DOTHAN, AL — The beautiful Martin Theater on Main Street was torn down in late August of 2008 to make way for more downtown parking. How sad.

When I was a child I saw “The Sound of Music” there and also many, many Disney movies.  Wonderful memories! Another cinema treasure lost forever!

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — With not enough support to save and restore it, the Bomes Theatre finally came down this week.

The Bomes Theatre across from City Hall started coming down last week, when part of the structure fell to the street.

Beginning this morning, it will come down in earnest.

A demolition team will begin razing the old movie theater, which was built in the 1930s and had been a city landmark.

Read the full story in the Providence Journal.

NEW YORK, NY — Many cities have adopted Demolition Review amendments to their local zoning codes to prevent destroying historic, but undesignated historic treasures. NYC is way behind the curve on this one. But on June 9, 2008, the 93rd Street Beautification Association submitted a proposed Demolition Review amendment to the NYC Council.

The Demolition Review amendment is currently under consideration by members of the NYC Council. Please help move this amendment into law by showing your support for protecting our city’s historic treasures ! Thanks !!!

It only takes 60 seconds:

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PORTSMOUTH, OH — Following an arson fire in Nov 2007, the nearly 100 year old Columbia Music Hall will be demolished. Despite a valiant effort by the owners, the city powers that be erected obstacles to the effort

As a last resort, the Scott Family offered the remaining structure to an arts organization so that it would be able to qualify for grants.

At last report, the front facade will also be brought down despite the relatively undamaged portions of the lobby and balcony.

When the Columbia Music Hall reopened in 2007 following years of renovations and private investment, the family friendly performance facility had averaged 500-700 people on Friday and Saturday nights. Alcoholic beverages were not sold.

Scott said that something smaller may be built on the site, but until then has stated he will exercise first amendment rights and put a grave marker on the space.

For additional details and pictures, go to the Huntington News.

QUEENS, NY — With the Polk Theater gone, plans for the plot’s future are up in the air.

A vintage movie theater dating back to the Great Depression has been torn down in Jackson Heights and the plans for a new mixed-used building to fill the vacant lot are in limbo.

The Polk Theatre, located at the corner of 93rd Street and 37th Avenue, had become an adult theater before closing in 2006.

The building was demolished sometime in February. Property owner Henry Zheng now hopes to construct a six-story, mixed-use building on the site, but his plans have been challenged by the city.

Read more in the Times-Ledger.

HONOLULU, HI — The historic Varsity Theatre was demolished today, nine months after closing as a movie house. Attempts to preserve the building failed because it apparently was structurally unsound. The Varsity opened in 1939.

I posted a photo of the demolition on my website.

FROM Lowell Angel: Demolition began yesterday of Honolulu’s last operating freestanding movie theatre, the 1939 Varsity, which closed last June after 68 years.

Located a short distance from the University of Hawaii campus, it opened on September 8, 1939 with the film “Stagecoach,” with John Wayne and directed by John Ford. It was a second-run house throughout most of its life but in recent years was the local art house.

Read more…

HOLLYWOOD, FL — AMC Sheridan Plaza Theatres, is no more. It was torn down last month by the mall owner, in order to accomadate a Kohl’s department store. I installed the projection equipment and was the opening Projectionist/ Asst. Mgr. ( Union!) when the place opened in 1985. One of our frequent guests was the man himself, Stan Durwood, owner and founder of the AMC chain. Stan liked to visit us, because it was warmer in Hollywood than it was in his hometown of Kansas City. Even in his 70’s and 80’s, Stan would bring his weight lifting equipment when he came south.

In later years, AMC had added five newer auditoriums to bring the complex up to twelve screens, all with Simplex XL projectors which, went down with the building. I saw it being torn down and saw into “my” former booths and all of the equipment was still inside, including the Christie Platters. Oh well.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — I can’t believe they demolished my neighborhood theater, the Orleans 8. The theater was falling apart anyway. I heard from a reliable source that they’re going to close Franklin Mills Mall and Donald Trump will buy the property and build another casino. That’s my favorite mall. They’re going to build a Target in place of the Orleans 8, with Pepboys, and the other shops on that lot.