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Demolitions
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August 20, 2004
Norwest Demolition Begins
DETROIT, MI — The demolition of the Norwest Theater begins today.
The demolition will take about 3 weeks, and a fast food restaurant will be in its place. Despite protest from the surrounding neighborhood to save and reopen it, the Norwest will be gone forever.
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July 15, 2004
Norwest Theatre to be Demolished Next Week
DETROIT, MI — The Norwest Theatre will be demolished within the next two weeks to make way for an A & W or Long John Silvers Drive-Thru. (The theater’s owner previously demolished the Mercury theater.
Many have asked the owner if they can get pictures of the theater’s interior before it’s demolished, but he’s refused their requests, saying there is “mold and smoke” in the theater. But I hardly believe that. This is a perfectly viable theater — it closed just four years ago, in 2000.
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July 9, 2004
Mayfair Theater To Be Demolished In August 2004
VENTURA, CA — The S. Charles Lee designed Mayfair Theater will be demolished to make room for a new housing development in August.
The building was gutted by fire three years ago, but the marquee and facade still stand. Some community members have gotten donations to remove the marquee and store it for an as yet unknown project. For more info, contact me by e-mail at .
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June 18, 2004
Lake Air Cinema Demolished
WACO, TEXAS — The glass covered front and the inverted roof of the twin screen Lake Air Cinema that sat behind the Lake Air Mall, became the latest victim of mega-multiplexes.
After a brief asbestos removal, demolition began on June 1, 2004, and wrapped up sometime last week. I am happy to say that all 768 red theater seats, and the 2 projectors were purchased and will be used for another future theatre project in Waco.
Myself, I managed to salvage a trailer from a film which has still yet to be determined, and a fixture from the box office that cashiers use to talk through the window — I don’t know what they are called.
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June 1, 2004
Laurel Theatre Given Temporary “Stay of Execution”
BRIDGETON, NJ — The 1950 Laurel Theatre, located in downtown Bridgeton, was given a nod by the city’s Historic Commission last week as two local non-profit groups were given 30 days to find money or present a VERY compelling argument against demolition.
The theater was built in 1950, having been erected in only 14 months upon the ashes of its magnificent predecessor, the Criterion. There has been a theater or entertainment house on this property for over 150 years.
The city argues that it is an eyesore and a public hazard. The roof has extensive damage and water has been leaking into the building for about two decades. The interior is a mess. Full removal of all interior fixtures, down to the brick walls, is most likely necessary.
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April 23, 2004
Final Moments of the Ambassador Super Cinema
SALFORD, ENGLAND — Andy Dixon has passed along a few more photos from the destruction of the Ambassador Super Cinema. ()
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April 20, 2004
The End of the Ambassador Super Cinema
SALFORD, ENGLAND — As seen in the photos below, yesterday saw the complete demolition of Salford’s Ambassador Super Cinema. After all the efforts of action groups and supporters, the cinema has finally been laid to rest.
Flats will now be built on the site and the new owners will probably never know the heartache that locals felt when the theater was finally pulled down.
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April 6, 2004
Ambassador Super Cinema
SALFORD, UK — It’s official (from the demolition crew anyway): the Ambassador Super Cinema is to be demolished.
The sad end to a wonderful era of cinema on Langworthy Road in Salford. I have pictures of yesterdays work and will be going today to see how they are doing today at lunchtime.
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April 5, 2004
Art Theatre Burns Down
BINGHAMTON, NY — The Art Theatre burned down on February 9, 2004 due to a fire sparked by a faulty 75 watt lightbulb.
The theater went up quickly since its 1924 roof was covered with oil-based paints. The Art’s owner, Richard Krus, who bought the former “adult” theatre in 1987 and turned it into the county’s only venue to see art films, wants to rebuild the theater using the walls that remained.
However, the city has said remains of the structure are unsafe and has ordered it demolished by the end of April. Krus, who lacked insurance on the theater, has become so frustrated with the city’s lack of support that he’s decided to look elsewhere for a location for his theater.
Photos of the fire are available at the City of Binghamton Professional Fire Fighters website.
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March 26, 2004
Opera House Scarborough Demolition Pics
SCARBOROUGH, ENGLAND — A series of photographs depicting the Royal Opera House and its destruction are now online. The photos can be viewed on the Theatres Trust website.