Greentree 4 Theatre

Here is a February 14, 2008 article about the Greentree 4/Psycho Mania: Theater of Terror.

Based on the "Psychomania" website, it seems that the haunted theater has been a seasonal event. Is the theater really being renovated?

Yes CWalczak , Psychomania is a seasonal event. I am one of the owners of the business. Our original plans for the building included renovating the lobby to an extent and using the far left hand theater as a live performance venue. Sadly those plans have had to change. The building itself requires more capitol than we can afford to make that possible. The roof alone sets at $60,000 in repairs. If in deed we do well with our endeavors in the haunt industry we hope to do at least basic repairs to the building. The good thing is there are no structural problems with the building. But like the say "when it rains it pours" well that is exactly what is does inside of our building. For now we cope, and sometimes it is very depressing but we keep going. We do love the building and i think it is happy to have us as residents.(even if we are not what some people would like to see in it) thanks. oh and by the way are you local or did you just find us on the web?

I am a frequent contributor to CT living in Saint Louis, MO I had posted the news item regarding the closing of the Greentree 10. Good luck on that venture!

by the way i did find out the architect is Drew Ebson, and i do have the original copies of the blue prints. I am not sure if i can get them into picture form since they are so large.

thank you CWalczak

Did you mean Drew EBERSON? The archive of his and his father's work (which is part of the Wolfsonian Collection at Florida International University) shows that Drew Eberson designed a theater for Clarksville, IN in 1968. Does the Greentree 4 date back that far? It seems that Cinemark started operating it in the late 80s.

Yes, the building was built in 1968, for the Trans-Lux company. It was a large single screen with the traditional Blue and Gold color scheme. The original ceilings are nearly 40 ft high. It was obviously at the end of the single screen era. It was divided into 2 side by side theaters in the 70s and then split again in the 80s which is how it is now. The company that owns it will only invest what they can make back in 6 months. So it is pretty slim chance that it will ever be restored but it would be awesome. It is sad but even after being closed since 2003 people have not even noticed . Everyday there are still people coming up and asking when the shows start. All of the seats and fixtures have been removed, but there are some leftovers still around. like the blue and gold taffeta sound fold and some leftover paint. The original ceiling tiles are still painted gold. (that is the ones that haven't fallen) the architectural info is box c-35, box 0-15 and is Trans-Lux project#1991. Also Trans-Lux Theaters Pylon sign Drew Eberson

The one thing that i am having a hard time finding are older pictures of the theater. By the way i am going to tear up the nasty purple and black cinemark carpet. Who knows what we will find? I do know that there is a chipped marble floor in the front entrance way, I am excited to see if there is a logo in the center. i will keep everyone posted i and i will try to get some pics up.

I have a question for all you folks, do you know if Trans-Lux did cinerama projections? The reason I ask is, the was my projector bases are lined with what would have originally been the screen has always boggled me. they are set at outward angles away from each other. as if they we to hit the corners of the building. Likewise the if you go to the far end of the building you would see where the original screen was and the area is curved. I have also noticed this in the blueprints of the building. Even the leading wall of the original projection area is curved. Could my 4 have at one time been a Cinerama theater or were the other types of multiple projections? I really am new to all of the history, but am very interested.

Sorry my fingers are drunk, please look past the type-os in the last post.

Yes, Trans-Lux did operate some Cinerama houses, but this was never one of them. This theater is too close to Louisville for Cinerama to have been exhibited there; Cinerama markets were well-defined and care was taken to never over-saturate a geographical area. In fact, according to this well-researched list of Cinerama theaters, the only Indiana city that had Cinerama showings was Indianapolis: http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctcineramatheatres.htm

Eberson did build one purpose-built Cinerama house for Trans-Lux in Harrisburg. PA; the chain also took over the Martin Cinerama theaters in St. Louis and New Orleans.

I think its quite likely though that what was when this theater may have looked very much like other Eberson single-screen theater designs of the latter 1960s. Many of these had large, gently curved screens and many had 70mm equipment.

When the original theater was twinned, it apparently was called the Trans-Lux Blue and Gold. I have a hunch that when this twinning occurred, the original single auditorium was split in half, the original screen removed, and the projectors re-positioned to hit the new screens.

I would say that you are right about the screen and the projectors being changed. and yes the theater was split directly down the middle. and then after they decided to make it a four-plex they took part of that wall out of the front of the building built two to replace it and made a central hallway to get to the back two theaters. they built a second projection room to use for the back two theaters.