It was open from 1935-1964 per below history.
Purple Robin Reserve gift store is the current tenant.
2019/1970 photo & description added credit Lititz Historical Foundation
Lititz: Then & Now—Not even a terrible fire in 1995 could stop the mighty Hotel Sturgis from being a downtown icon that thankfully remains today. Originally built in 1867, aside from a hotel, the building has served many purposes, including the Lititz Theatre from 1935-1964. In the early 1970s, the upper levels were converted to apartments. Left: 2019; right 1970.
Do a Google street view, and you will see the drive-in is now a Chili’s restaurant with a Barnes & Noble across the street.
Scroll around from there, and you can see what other businesses are near where it was.
There is a Stricklands II Frozen Custard at 3985 Medina Road nearby, but that chain was started in 1936 in Akron.
If you do a search of The Freez/Akron Ohio, only the below 2009 articles mentions it as having been sold by Ratener in the `70s.
It also says the drive-in marquee was 66 feet tall, and that he opened the property to flea markets as well which proved to be successful.
The second has additional history and photos of Lou Ratener and his wife Yerma at the box office which I uploaded to the gallery.
1970s photo added courtesy Kentucky Coal Town Facebook page. Weddington marquee down the street. Current street view and above comment confirm it was demolished.
1926 photo added courtesy Grace Scimone Southland.
Photo taken by her great-grandmother Jessie Barker, who owned the Northport Theatre at that time.
She later managed the Smithtown Theatre.
That vertical “park” sign in the center had an elaborate, timed Rube Goldberg style neon design, that worked it’s way down to the entrance.
It had a big write up in the Sun-Times at the time.
But it was so avant-garde that few drivers could understand it and it was eventually turned off and later removed.
The lot could have been where the strip mall is across the street, or maybe the nearby park. It doesn’t look very overdeveloped around there.
The Facebook page indicates “new larger comfy seats”. So maybe they reduced the number when they installed those.
Linda Theatre history newspaper clipping added courtesy Vince Nicklin.
Designed and construction supervised by 21 year old Lino Alessio.
Named after his 2 ½ year old sister Linda.
Manager was his 19 year old brother Reno.
800 seats (not sure why it says 400 at top)
Parking for 1000 cars.
Three vintage images and three demolition images added via Casey Piper and Neal Brennan.
Also via Neal Brennan:
Originally the Wilson Hotel and theater, built in the late 1800s, Then the Cecil Theater and the Eadmar Hotel (named after the owners daughters Edith and Margaret Rule).
It was open from 1935-1964 per below history. Purple Robin Reserve gift store is the current tenant.
2019/1970 photo & description added credit Lititz Historical Foundation
Lititz: Then & Now—Not even a terrible fire in 1995 could stop the mighty Hotel Sturgis from being a downtown icon that thankfully remains today. Originally built in 1867, aside from a hotel, the building has served many purposes, including the Lititz Theatre from 1935-1964. In the early 1970s, the upper levels were converted to apartments. Left: 2019; right 1970.
Do a Google street view, and you will see the drive-in is now a Chili’s restaurant with a Barnes & Noble across the street. Scroll around from there, and you can see what other businesses are near where it was. There is a Stricklands II Frozen Custard at 3985 Medina Road nearby, but that chain was started in 1936 in Akron.
If you do a search of The Freez/Akron Ohio, only the below 2009 articles mentions it as having been sold by Ratener in the `70s. It also says the drive-in marquee was 66 feet tall, and that he opened the property to flea markets as well which proved to be successful. The second has additional history and photos of Lou Ratener and his wife Yerma at the box office which I uploaded to the gallery.
http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-community-news.asp?aid=6072
http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-community-news.asp?aID=6017
Two 1980s photos added courtesy Kentucky Coal Town Facebook page.
1970s photo added courtesy Kentucky Coal Town Facebook page. Weddington marquee down the street. Current street view and above comment confirm it was demolished.
2018 link with a miniature diorama including the Warners.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hollywood-miniature-model?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=atlas-page&fbclid=IwAR3xubY7buIcYI6WhoinPKgH4y2wC1w4z-qRHx7EIhqWa1lh0BM_WYeoVj8
1968 photo added courtesy Suzanne Lowy Ceriello.
1968 photo added courtesy Suzanne Lowy Ceriello.
1926 photo added courtesy Grace Scimone Southland. Photo taken by her great-grandmother Jessie Barker, who owned the Northport Theatre at that time. She later managed the Smithtown Theatre.
That vertical “park” sign in the center had an elaborate, timed Rube Goldberg style neon design, that worked it’s way down to the entrance. It had a big write up in the Sun-Times at the time. But it was so avant-garde that few drivers could understand it and it was eventually turned off and later removed.
Why not post the original size photo? This enlargement is impossible to see and does not do it justice.
Thomas Lamb photo.
The lot could have been where the strip mall is across the street, or maybe the nearby park. It doesn’t look very overdeveloped around there. The Facebook page indicates “new larger comfy seats”. So maybe they reduced the number when they installed those.
Per Akron History:
Sat on 44 acres. Closed September 1986.
Linda Theatre history newspaper clipping added courtesy Vince Nicklin. Designed and construction supervised by 21 year old Lino Alessio. Named after his 2 ½ year old sister Linda. Manager was his 19 year old brother Reno. 800 seats (not sure why it says 400 at top) Parking for 1000 cars.
Free show at Linda Theatre for Goodyear strikers' children, Akron, 1954
Per the Akron Beacon Journal: The theater opened in October 1965 and closed in July 1989, due to competition from new multi-screen movie complexes.
1918 photo added credit National Archives via George Lane, courtesy Old Time D.C. Facebook page.
1981 photo added credit Mike Arian. Via Bill Geerhart courtesy Old Time D.C. Facebook page.
October 2015 article about the Ingersoll with timeline & photos.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/development/2015/10/12/ingerolls-theatre-des-moines-most-endangered-buildings/73729362/?fbclid=IwAR2fsN13CmrWcBF8J9Y5Ds0Ht-5YvtloLPy6lU9P4CUEWZ6y35GN9G1XtjE
Three vintage images and three demolition images added via Casey Piper and Neal Brennan. Also via Neal Brennan:
Originally the Wilson Hotel and theater, built in the late 1800s, Then the Cecil Theater and the Eadmar Hotel (named after the owners daughters Edith and Margaret Rule).
August 16, 2013 article about the reopening.
https://globegazette.com/news/local/renovated-garner-movie-theater-gets-rave-reviews/article_83952424-06d1-11e3-b42d-001a4bcf887a.html
Ten 2017 photos added credit Dave Parker.
Facebook page for the Malek Theater.
https://www.facebook.com/MalekTheater/?hc_location=ufi
July 1959 photo added courtesy Andrew E. Stoner.
Bill Gabel photo.