The original concept of the developers was to lease the building to Paramount-Publix circuit and it was to open as the Venetian Theatre. However Paramount had over-expanded their construction programme and had second thoughts about moving into neighborhoods. Loew’s Inc. didn’t have an outlet in the Fordham area and picked up the option. Ground was broken for construction to begin in April 1928 and the name ‘Venetian’ was retained during construction. It was in the summer of 1929 that Loew’s announced the name change to ‘Paradise’.
Loew’s Paradise Theatre opened on 7th September 1929 with the MGM movie “Mysterious Fu Manchu” starring Warner Oland. The famous British organist Harold Ramsay opened the Robert Morton ‘Wonder’ organ.
1926 F.D.Y.: Willoughby Theatre, 260-262 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn 600 seats. In that same edition of F.D.Y. also listed there is a Park Palace Theatre, 71 Park Avenue, Brooklyn 430 seats.
Both the State(Fair) Theatre and the Paramount Theatre in Amarillo are listed as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Hoblitzelle & O'Donnell in the 1940’s (perhaps even earlier). The same operators also ran the Rialto and Capitol Theatre’s in Amarillo.
This is the entry for the Lincoln Theatre in the book ‘Historic Movie Theatre in Illinois, 1883-1960 by Konrad Schiecke….
‘The Gem Theatre was opened in 1910 and was demolished by a fire in 1929. At the time it was one of the largest theatres in southern Illinois Little Egypt area. In 1934 another fire gutted the building, but it re-opened reconstructed in 1936 in a new blue & white Art deco style, which included a marquee and vertical sign, which was attached to the top of the building.
In the late 1940’s it was re-named Lincoln Theatre. It closed in 1978. In 1995 the city purchased the theatre after years of neglect, and it is in the process of restoring it to re-open as a venue for live stage performances'
Here is a link to some wonderful photographs of the RKO Keith’s Theatre – courtesy of Phillip A. Edwards (click on photos to enlarge): http://www.jrjunction.com/keiths.htm
I can’t find any reference to Charlie Chaplin ever having a financial involvement in the Majestic Theatre. Of course he was involved in the United Artist’s Company (film-makers-distributors and exhibitors) together with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks etc.
However, here is what I found out about an incident at the Majestic Theatre, Clapham……The manager of the Majestic Theatre in the 1920’s was a gentleman named Castleton Knight. He arranged a stunt to create publicity for the cinema in either 1921 or 1922. The plan was to kidnap Charlie Chaplin whilst he was on a visit to the U.K. He dressed as a chauffeur and drove to Croydon Airport (London’s main airport in those days) pretending to be Chaplin’s driver. He picked up Charlie and drove him to the Majestic Theatre where, obviously Chaplin fell in with the spirit of the stunt, as he gave the only speech he made to a cinema audience in the U.K.
Listed in the 1941 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 750. The seating capacity is given 793 in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.
The original concept of the developers was to lease the building to Paramount-Publix circuit and it was to open as the Venetian Theatre. However Paramount had over-expanded their construction programme and had second thoughts about moving into neighborhoods. Loew’s Inc. didn’t have an outlet in the Fordham area and picked up the option. Ground was broken for construction to begin in April 1928 and the name ‘Venetian’ was retained during construction. It was in the summer of 1929 that Loew’s announced the name change to ‘Paradise’.
Loew’s Paradise Theatre opened on 7th September 1929 with the MGM movie “Mysterious Fu Manchu” starring Warner Oland. The famous British organist Harold Ramsay opened the Robert Morton ‘Wonder’ organ.
In the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook the Overland Theatre is listed with a seating capacity of 600.
The Rickey Theater barely lasted for five years as it closed in 1952.
1926 F.D.Y.: Willoughby Theatre, 260-262 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn 600 seats. In that same edition of F.D.Y. also listed there is a Park Palace Theatre, 71 Park Avenue, Brooklyn 430 seats.
The Throop Theatre is listed in the 1914-1915 edition of American Motion Picture directory as being located at 963 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn.
The Park Palace Theatre is listed in that same edition of A.M.P.D. as being located at 268 Knickerbocker Avenue
A photograph of the renovated foyer of Cinema 1:
View link
A photograph of the renovated auditorium of Cinema 1:
View link
Both the State(Fair) Theatre and the Paramount Theatre in Amarillo are listed as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Hoblitzelle & O'Donnell in the 1940’s (perhaps even earlier). The same operators also ran the Rialto and Capitol Theatre’s in Amarillo.
The Liberty Theatre is still listed as operating in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook.
This is the entry for the Lincoln Theatre in the book ‘Historic Movie Theatre in Illinois, 1883-1960 by Konrad Schiecke….
‘The Gem Theatre was opened in 1910 and was demolished by a fire in 1929. At the time it was one of the largest theatres in southern Illinois Little Egypt area. In 1934 another fire gutted the building, but it re-opened reconstructed in 1936 in a new blue & white Art deco style, which included a marquee and vertical sign, which was attached to the top of the building.
In the late 1940’s it was re-named Lincoln Theatre. It closed in 1978. In 1995 the city purchased the theatre after years of neglect, and it is in the process of restoring it to re-open as a venue for live stage performances'
This opened as the Variety Theatre in 1907. It was re-named Verdi Theatre in 1913. It closed in 1951.
That’s the address of the offices of the ICA just around the corner from the cinema entrance.
A photograph of the ICA Cinema I took in October 2004:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/510654710/
A photograph of the main auditorium and details of the cinema here:
http://www.ica.org.uk/?lid=12263
The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists the Cinderella Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,000.
Four views of the National Film Theatre that I took in August 2002:
Exteriors
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/509724780/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/509724084/
Foyer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/509725528/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/509726430/
A photograph of the B.F.I. IMAX Cinema that I took in August 2002:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/509751593/
Here is a link to some wonderful photographs of the RKO Keith’s Theatre – courtesy of Phillip A. Edwards (click on photos to enlarge):
http://www.jrjunction.com/keiths.htm
I can’t find any reference to Charlie Chaplin ever having a financial involvement in the Majestic Theatre. Of course he was involved in the United Artist’s Company (film-makers-distributors and exhibitors) together with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks etc.
However, here is what I found out about an incident at the Majestic Theatre, Clapham……The manager of the Majestic Theatre in the 1920’s was a gentleman named Castleton Knight. He arranged a stunt to create publicity for the cinema in either 1921 or 1922. The plan was to kidnap Charlie Chaplin whilst he was on a visit to the U.K. He dressed as a chauffeur and drove to Croydon Airport (London’s main airport in those days) pretending to be Chaplin’s driver. He picked up Charlie and drove him to the Majestic Theatre where, obviously Chaplin fell in with the spirit of the stunt, as he gave the only speech he made to a cinema audience in the U.K.
Most of the auditorium had been demolished when I took these photographs in September 2004:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/506412659/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/506384272/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/506414683/
A photograph I took of the former Gaumont Streatham in September 2004:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/506207703/
A photograph of the Apollo 6 Cinemas taken in April 2005 whilst awating demolition:
http://flickr.com/photos/4737carlin/161299451/
Photographed as the Apollo 6 Cinemas during its last years of operation:
http://flickr.com/photos/12494104@N00/334018030/
The opening film at the Ken Theater was “This Time For Keeps” starring Esther Williams and Jimmy Durante.
After closing it was converted into the Rose Bowl Restaurant. The building was later demolished and a convenience store was built on the site.
Listed in the 1941 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 750. The seating capacity is given 793 in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.
Listed in the 1941, 1943 and 1950 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 800.
The front entrance of the Odeon as photographed in December 1970:
View link