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Demolitions
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May 5, 2008
Columbia Music Hall demolition
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.
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March 28, 2008
Polk Theatre razed
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.
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March 26, 2008
Varsity Theater demolished
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.
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March 21, 2008
Sheridan Plaza gone
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.
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February 27, 2008
They demolished the Orleans 8!
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.
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January 30, 2008
Westchase demolition
The Westchase Cimemark in Houston, TX is to be demolished sometime early this year…any help with the date of the implosion would be great.
I’ve googled and searched for most of the evening and no specific date or demolition company has come up in any of the searches.
Thanks!
Contact:
Lesle Travis
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December 24, 2007
Cinderella Twin Drive-In Theatre no more
DENVER, CO — The early reports of the summer 2007 season being the last for the twin screen Cinderella Drive-In (technically Sheridan Colo.) are proving true. This theatre is currently in the early stages of demolition. Apartments are planned for the site. The 88 Drive-In in Commerce City is now the Denver metro area’s last drive in theatre.
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October 11, 2007
Odeon Cinema (Classic/Film Centre), Chandos Place to be torn down
ST. AUSTELL, CORNWALL, ENGLAND — The opening date was Saturday 11th July 1936, the first film shown at the Odeon Cinema was a charity screening of “Jack of All Trades”. As a matter of interest, the last film shown on its closing night Thursday 23rd August 2007, was again a charity screening, of “The Smallest Show on Earth”.
This magnificent building, in my opinion the finest example of it’s type is currently being stripped out in preparation for destruction, which should occur in the next few weeks (Mid Oct 07). A victim of a short sighted council and town centre ‘regeneration’.
Whilst the building would have benefited from refurbishment and investment, the money has gone instead to build a new, no doubt glass and chrome anytown cinema in the town. The “replacement” cinema is not to be completed until 2008/09.
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August 29, 2007
AMC Meyer Park 16 is closed
HOUSTON, TX — Sadly the AMC Meyer Park 16 of has been closed. The building has been gutted & parts distributed to the other theatres in the chain. The building still stands so hopefully one day someone will make something of it. It was one of the original megaplexes in the Houston market; but with the recent decline in the surrounding neighborhoods AMC decided not to renew its lease on the 20 year old building.
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August 1, 2007
Lakehurst comes down
WAUKEGAN, IL — As reported earlier in the year, the Lakehurst Cinema, former largest multiplex in the country is currently being demolished.
Like a prisoner on Death Row with connections to the governor’s mansion, Lakehurst Cinema survived quite a few threats to its existence over the last decade.
But the Grim Reaper, in the form of demolition equipment, finally arrived this week.
The 12-screen multiplex, once touted as the largest of its kind in North America, started coming down in chunks Wednesday, and crews worked through a broken water main to continue taking down the structure Thursday.
You can read the full story at Suburban Chicago News.