Comments from BDirisio

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BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Star Theatre on May 28, 2017 at 11:52 am

Operating as early as November 1907 at 271 W. Federal. Shank & Klopots owned and managed. In 1911 Harry Robins and Daniel Robins owned it.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Orpheum Theatre on May 28, 2017 at 11:48 am

Operating as early as 1911 at 213 W. Federal sat 299. Pierre B. Atselas was manager and he and F. Wilson were proprietors at the time. Max Schagrin was associated by 1923.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Dome Theatre on May 28, 2017 at 11:43 am

Deibell named his first theater, a nickelodeon, a small place seating either 95 or 186 people (depending on source), the Dome. It was known to be operating as early as May 1907. Deibell was said to have approached Jack Warner as a young boy and asked him to do the song slides in between shows which he did for a few months. Jack also sang at the Grand Opera House on Sunday nights during this time when the Dome was closed. Deibel had four succesive theaters each named Dome. In 1926 the “Dome” was owned by David M. Robins. It was one of the first three movie houses in the country to be wired for sound in 1928.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Roma Theater on May 28, 2017 at 11:13 am

There was a Roma Theater at 278 E. Federal in 1911 seating 275. In 1921 it was being managed by Benjamin Warner.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Rex Theatre on May 28, 2017 at 11:09 am

In December 1911 Harry Warner and David Robins (Dan’s brother) built the Rex Theatre at 135 W. Federal Youngstown and used films left over from the Warner’s failed distribution business.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Bijou Theatre on May 28, 2017 at 11:00 am

The Bijou at 4 W. Federal that opened in 1908 was built by George Ulnhausen and sold to Harry Robins and Dan Robins (brothers to Ann Warner’s husband Dave) in 1911. The Robins owned it until at least 1921.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Regent Theatre on May 28, 2017 at 10:12 am

The theater was built as the Park in 1913, sold in 1916 and renamed the Regent. It was located at 21-23 E. Washington Street. It operated through 1955. It was not destroyed by fire and the structure is still standing.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Moravia Theatre on May 28, 2017 at 9:49 am

Located at 1304 Moravia Street, it was operated by J. Crestafano in 1914. While I couldn’t find an opening date, the above date of 1903 and closing of 1906 appears must be in error. The very first nickelodeon in the entire country didn’t open until 1905. New Castle’s first dedicated nickelodeon opened on Washington Street in December 1905.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Acme Theater on May 28, 2017 at 9:30 am

The Acme at 13 S. Mill Street opened in November 1907 and closed in 1913. It operated originally as a penny arcade located between the Warner Bros. first two theaters, the Cascade and the Bijou.

BDirisio
BDirisio commented about Cascade Picture Palace on May 25, 2017 at 9:38 am

After having spent a number of years researching this topic, I thought I would share some information I have learned. Youngstown had 20 moving picture theaters in 1907, so the Warners decided to open their’s in New Castle where there was little to no competition. Their first theatre, the Cascade Theatre, was located at 15 S. Mill in a store front that was once part of the Knox Inn. It opened February 2, 1907. A second theatre opened by the Warner Bros., the Bijou, was located two doors away at 11 S. Mill and opened within 30 days later. It was short lived and was closed by the end of August 1907. A third theatre, the Cascade Vaudeville, was opened by the Warners above the Cascade at 15-17 S. Mill on November 19, 1907. The Warners sold their interests in both theaters in New Castle to Dan Robin’s upon the opening of the vaudeville theater. They left the area in November 1907 to run their distribution business in Pittsburgh and Norfolk. When they were forced out of business by the Edison Trust, they sold it and returned to Youngstown. It was then that they took over the Old Grand in the summer of 1910 for vaudeville and photoplays. Using money from the sale of their distribution business Harry bought his parents a large grocery store at 323 E. Federal. In December 1911 Harry Warner and David Robins (Dan’s brother) built the Rex Theatre at 135 W. Federal Youngstown and used films left over from the distribution business. The Bijou, 4 W. Federal, in Youngstown was originally owned and built by George Olnhausen in 1907. In 1911 the Robins Brothers purchased it from the then owners Paul Fitch and Walter Hanitch. Harry and Dan Robins owned the Lyric for a few years at 277 W. Fed. from at least 1909-1911.The Dome was built by Christopher W. Deibel (as well as four successive theaters also named the Dome). The last one he built was in 1912. (He also owned the Liberty.) David M. Robins had taken over the Dome by 1926 and it was one of three of the first theaters in the US wired for sound in 1928. In 1921 Ben Warner (the boy’s father) was operating the Roma Theatre in Youngstown. Then of course the Warner Theatre opened in Youngstown in 1931.