According to Konrad Schiecke’s recent book ‘Historic Movie Theatres in Illinois 1883-1960’;
The United States Theatre opened in 1906 for the Jones, Linick & Schaefer circuit. In 1933 it was re-named the State-Harrison Theatre and became a burlesque house. In 1956 it was re-named Gayety Theatre and then from 1961 it was screening Adult movies as the Rialto Theatre. The Rialto closed in 1975 and was demolished.
Ken Roe
commented about
Pagodeon
Jan 15, 2007 at 8:01 am
The seating capacity in the original auditorium is 211. As stated in the opening text above, the newer basement screen seats 180.
John;Thanks for your input and the photograph. However, this page is for the original Regal/Odeon which was demolished and the ‘new’ Odeon you pictured was built on the same site.
Film Daily Yearbooks 1941 thru 1950 list two theatres in Darby PA. The Parker Theatre is one, the other is the Darby Theatre, 13th Street & Chester Pike with a seating capacity given as 1,000.
It states above that there were two theatres in Darby, I presume the Wendy Theatre be the same as the Darby Theatre.
A few more details on the Astoria Cinema;
The opening date of the Tooting Electric Pavilion was 9th April 1914 and the original architect was a Mr A.R. Bead.
The architect for the 1937 re-build of the facade was Leslie C. Norton.
Warren; Namibia is a country in southern Africa, located on the Atlantic coast. It shares borders with Angola and Zambia in the North, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south. It was a part of South Africa until 1990 when it gained independence.
The Garden Theatre is listed with 500 seats in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 edition (no mention of a Garden Hills Theatre or a Fine Art Theatre though)
In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. the Garden Hills Theatre is listed with a seating capacity of 500, but no mention of a Garden Theatre or a Fine Arts Theatre.
None of the 3 theatres are named in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.
Listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 250 (closed). In the 1943 F.D.Y. it has re-opened and has a 300 seating capacity. No address is given and it gone from listings by 1950.
Further details that I forgot to mention in my opening text:-
The Ritz Cinema opened on 9th April 1938.
The final programme as a full time Classic Cinema on 8th December 1968 was Terence Morgan in “The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” and Koreya Senda “The H Man”(Bijo to Ekitainingen). Bingo then took over Mondays to Fridays, with films on a weekend.
When it became a Tatler Film Club the first programme was “Sex Serum of Doctor Blake” and Janet Banzet in “Professor Lust”. I have no record of the final depravity or the Bollywood films shown when it became the Paradise Cinema, as they were only advertised locally.
I believe the Castle Theatre opened with a seating capacity of 1,000. Through the 1940’s it is listed as being an 889 seat theatre operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidairy John Balaban. The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists it with a seating capacity of 893.
In the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook this is listed as the 500 seat Capitol Theater. The 1943 edition lists a seating capacity of 370 and in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the Capitol Theater is listed with 400 seats (located at 412 Main Street back then).
Could this have been the previous name for the Fifth Avenue Theatre which was located at 218 Fifth Avenue North? The Fifth Avenue Theatre is already listed on Cinema Treasures.
I have 3 editions of Film DailY Yearbook and in the 1941 & 1943 editions there is no Varsity Theatre listed, but there is a Princess Theatre with 750 seats (Closed in both editions).
In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the Princess has gone from listings, but there is still no Varsity Theatre, however, the Park Theatre is listed at 524 Central Avenue (it is also listed in 1941 & 1943)
The great joy of reading Jim Rankin’s postings on Cinema Treasures was the depth of knowledge he shared with us on the subject of theatres. Most importantly was the accuracy of his remarks, there was never any need to doubt.
A great loss to historic theatre research and to Cinema Treasures.
According to Konrad Schiecke’s recent book ‘Historic Movie Theatres in Illinois 1883-1960’;
The United States Theatre opened in 1906 for the Jones, Linick & Schaefer circuit. In 1933 it was re-named the State-Harrison Theatre and became a burlesque house. In 1956 it was re-named Gayety Theatre and then from 1961 it was screening Adult movies as the Rialto Theatre. The Rialto closed in 1975 and was demolished.
The seating capacity in the original auditorium is 211. As stated in the opening text above, the newer basement screen seats 180.
John;Thanks for your input and the photograph. However, this page is for the original Regal/Odeon which was demolished and the ‘new’ Odeon you pictured was built on the same site.
The ‘new’ Odeon has its own page here:
/theaters/14274/
Hope you can post you photograph on that page! Thanks
The Gay Theatre is listed in editions of Film Daily Yearbook from at least 1941 thru 1950 and beyond.
Film Daily Yearbooks 1941 thru 1950 list two theatres in Darby PA. The Parker Theatre is one, the other is the Darby Theatre, 13th Street & Chester Pike with a seating capacity given as 1,000.
It states above that there were two theatres in Darby, I presume the Wendy Theatre be the same as the Darby Theatre.
A few more details on the Astoria Cinema;
The opening date of the Tooting Electric Pavilion was 9th April 1914 and the original architect was a Mr A.R. Bead.
The architect for the 1937 re-build of the facade was Leslie C. Norton.
Here is a photograph of the Atlantic Cinema as seen in May 2005:
http://www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/image/45156155
Warren; Namibia is a country in southern Africa, located on the Atlantic coast. It shares borders with Angola and Zambia in the North, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south. It was a part of South Africa until 1990 when it gained independence.
A great set of photographs on the interior of the Granada Theatre, Tooting, taken in March 2006:
The great entrance hall side wall and ceiling:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112640686/
The hall of mirrors (balcony waiting area):
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112640973/
Rear of the balcony & ceiling:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112641162/
Auditorium side wall viewed from the balcony:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112641572/
Proscenium and stage:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112641984/
A section of the main coffered ceiling with a Granada chandelier:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112642315/
Edge of front balcony with side wall paintings by Alex Johnson:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112642856/
Side wall paintings and front stalls exit:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112643254/
Front stalls exit details:
http://flickr.com/photos/flameproof/112643671/
An exterior photograph as seen in May 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/58698859@N00/156649560/
Inside the foyer:
http://flickr.com/photos/linerix/262880893/
The Deepam Cinema photographed here in 2004:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/355333294/
Listed in Film Daily Yearbooks from at least 1941 thru 1950 and beyond.
The Garden Theatre is listed with 500 seats in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 edition (no mention of a Garden Hills Theatre or a Fine Art Theatre though)
In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. the Garden Hills Theatre is listed with a seating capacity of 500, but no mention of a Garden Theatre or a Fine Arts Theatre.
None of the 3 theatres are named in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.
Listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 250 (closed). In the 1943 F.D.Y. it has re-opened and has a 300 seating capacity. No address is given and it gone from listings by 1950.
A night view in 2003:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjwillow/283436072/
Further details that I forgot to mention in my opening text:-
The Ritz Cinema opened on 9th April 1938.
The final programme as a full time Classic Cinema on 8th December 1968 was Terence Morgan in “The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” and Koreya Senda “The H Man”(Bijo to Ekitainingen). Bingo then took over Mondays to Fridays, with films on a weekend.
When it became a Tatler Film Club the first programme was “Sex Serum of Doctor Blake” and Janet Banzet in “Professor Lust”. I have no record of the final depravity or the Bollywood films shown when it became the Paradise Cinema, as they were only advertised locally.
The 1941 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook list a 165 seat Lakewood Theatre (no address given).
In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the Lakewood Theatre is listed with 625 seats and is located at 1723 Lakewood Avenue SE, Atlanta GA 30315.
The Rogers Theatre was demolished a few years ago.
I believe the Castle Theatre opened with a seating capacity of 1,000. Through the 1940’s it is listed as being an 889 seat theatre operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidairy John Balaban. The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists it with a seating capacity of 893.
The Odeon Hounslow photographed in August 1949:
View link
A closer view of the entrance as seen in March 1961:
View link
In the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook this is listed as the 500 seat Capitol Theater. The 1943 edition lists a seating capacity of 370 and in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the Capitol Theater is listed with 400 seats (located at 412 Main Street back then).
Listed in the 1941 & 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook as the Sharon Theater, with a seating capacity of 300.
Could this have been the previous name for the Fifth Avenue Theatre which was located at 218 Fifth Avenue North? The Fifth Avenue Theatre is already listed on Cinema Treasures.
I have 3 editions of Film DailY Yearbook and in the 1941 & 1943 editions there is no Varsity Theatre listed, but there is a Princess Theatre with 750 seats (Closed in both editions).
In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the Princess has gone from listings, but there is still no Varsity Theatre, however, the Park Theatre is listed at 524 Central Avenue (it is also listed in 1941 & 1943)
The great joy of reading Jim Rankin’s postings on Cinema Treasures was the depth of knowledge he shared with us on the subject of theatres. Most importantly was the accuracy of his remarks, there was never any need to doubt.
A great loss to historic theatre research and to Cinema Treasures.