The Sun Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Cowper, Murphy & Appleford. It was built for and operated by the Yeomans family who operated several Melbourne suburban cinemas, including the Westgarth Theatre in the district of Northcote.
It is accredited with being the first stadium design cinema in Australia with a parabolic floor (that is a floor which slopes down towards the screen, then reverses the slope upwards at the screen end).
In 1963 it was taken over by Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures and dropped normal release films in favour of Greek language films. It closed in 1977 and lay empty and boarded up for 18 years during which time the ceiling collapsed and most of the Art Deco decoration was destroyed.
In 1965 Michael Smith was looking for a building in which to base his company which manufactures cinema screens and curtains. Instead of turning it into a factory he brought in volunteers from the Sun Film Society who helped clean the place up and installed second-hand seats and in 1996 they began to screen classic and cult movies.
After a huge AU$1.5Million investment it was converted into a 4-screen cinema which opened on 23rd May 2003. Much of the decorative plasterwork has been re-created on the side walls, but the ceiling has still not been replaced.
The screens are named after former theatres in the area, the Grand, the Barkly, the Trocadero and the Lyric and have seating for 200, 170, 95 and 40.
Originally this was to be known as the Delphine Cinema, it was built and operated as an independent cinema by John Thomas Halliman and remained an independent throughout its life. It opened as the Splendid Super Cinema with Marion Davies in “Not So Dumb”.
Although designed by Major W.J. King, the Italianate/Swiss Atmospheric interior was designed by artist F.L. Philie. He created a scene that depicted Chalets, villas, mansions and a castle which were set among trees and flowering shrubs. Winding lanes climbed through wooded slopesto distant mountains. The blue of the sky met and extended across the ceiling in which was set a large central lights fitting which could be set to reproduce the changes of colour from sunrise to sunset.
Unfortunately, the Splendid Cinema became a victim of falling audiences due to the impact of television and rowdy youths in the audience and it closed with the film “My Man Godfrey” starring David Niven. Proposals to use the building as a Roman Catholic church or a rag store both fell through and it was demolished in the summer of 1958.
Flats named Crystal View Court were built on the site, together with a petrol station.
The building was still closed up and unused when I visited Amsterdam in September 2005. It was demolished in January/February 2006 and when seen on a recent November 2006 visit to the city a new constructuion was being built.
The Fox Theatre possibly opened in around 1949/1950. It is listed in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook without a seating capacity being given (usually an indication of a newly built theatre which hasn’t had details submitted to the editors)
The Malco Theatre is listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 500. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. is has a seating capacity given as 756 and is operated by Paramount Pictures Inc through their subsidiary M.A. Lightman.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook has the Malco Theatre, 418 Frederica Street with a seating capacity of 720. Also listed in this edition of F.D.Y. is a New Malco Theatre, 118 W. 3rd Street that has a seating capacity of 552.
The Dreamland Theater is listed as an African-American vaudeville theatre, owned and managed in 1921 by Mrs. Lola T. Williams (an African American). It probably had a limited life screening movies.
Warren; The Steinway Theatre is not listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915. There is however a Casino Garden Theatre listed at 321 Steinway Avenue, Astoria.
The Ritz Theatre is listed in the 1940 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook, but with no seating capacity given. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity is given as 400.
The Castle Cinema was the first purpose built cinema to open in Swansea. It opened on 14th December 1913 and was designed by the architectural firm of Thomas, Meager & Jones of London. The exterior facade scupture was carried out by George Houton of Worcester.
In 1967 it was modernised internally when the auditorium was draped in curtain material and the seating capacity was reduced to 800. It closed in 1983, but quickly re-opened later that year having been re-named the Film Centre. It finally closed as a cinema on 31st October 1991 and was converted into use as a Lazer Zone – War Game Centre.
The Albert Hall opened on 19th May 1864 and was built as a concert hall and reading rooms. In 1914 it was screening C.W. Poole’s great ‘Myriorama’ show. The frontage was re-furbished in 1920 and in 1922 it underwent an internal rebuilding to the design of architect Charles Tamlin Ruthin. From August 1922 it had re-opened as a full time cinema and was operated by South Wales Cinemas Ltd.
It was leased to Union Cinema from March 1937 and fully taken over by them in October 1937 (managed by Associated British Cinemas-ABC). From 1st October 1939 it was taken back by South Wales Cinemas Ltd. The Cardiff based firm of Jackson Withers took control from 1955 and they operated it until 1st November 1976 when they were taken over by the Rank Organisation.
The Albert Hall was closed on 3rd December 1977 and converted into a Top Rank Bingo Club which remains open today as a Mecca Bingo Club.
The Crest Theatre opened on 7th August 1941 with Abbott & Costello in “Buck Privates”. It closed on 4th May 1957 and is now in use as offices for the Cerro Gordo Building and Loan.
The Eighty-One Theatre first opened as a vaudeville theatre in around 1908. It was re-modelled in 1928 and was listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s from at least 1930 until at least 1955.
Three photographs:-
As the Regal Cinema in October 1949 playing the Odeon circuit release. View link
Still known as the Regal Cinema in this April 1956 view, playing the Odeon circuit release. View link
As the Odeon in December 1970 playing the Rank circuit release. View link
The Pex Theatre is listed in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 850.
The Sun Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Cowper, Murphy & Appleford. It was built for and operated by the Yeomans family who operated several Melbourne suburban cinemas, including the Westgarth Theatre in the district of Northcote.
It is accredited with being the first stadium design cinema in Australia with a parabolic floor (that is a floor which slopes down towards the screen, then reverses the slope upwards at the screen end).
In 1963 it was taken over by Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures and dropped normal release films in favour of Greek language films. It closed in 1977 and lay empty and boarded up for 18 years during which time the ceiling collapsed and most of the Art Deco decoration was destroyed.
In 1965 Michael Smith was looking for a building in which to base his company which manufactures cinema screens and curtains. Instead of turning it into a factory he brought in volunteers from the Sun Film Society who helped clean the place up and installed second-hand seats and in 1996 they began to screen classic and cult movies.
After a huge AU$1.5Million investment it was converted into a 4-screen cinema which opened on 23rd May 2003. Much of the decorative plasterwork has been re-created on the side walls, but the ceiling has still not been replaced.
The screens are named after former theatres in the area, the Grand, the Barkly, the Trocadero and the Lyric and have seating for 200, 170, 95 and 40.
The Andria Theatre has been operating since at least 1941 as it is listed with 750 seats in Film Daily Yearbook of that year.
Opened by the legendary music hall star Harry Lauder, the first flim to be screened was Ruby Keeler & Al Jolson in “Casino de Paris”.
After demolition in May 1965, the site was redeveloped as a Shoprite supermarket.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook has a Center Theatre listed at 910 Canal Street with 600 seats…..same theatre?
Originally this was to be known as the Delphine Cinema, it was built and operated as an independent cinema by John Thomas Halliman and remained an independent throughout its life. It opened as the Splendid Super Cinema with Marion Davies in “Not So Dumb”.
Although designed by Major W.J. King, the Italianate/Swiss Atmospheric interior was designed by artist F.L. Philie. He created a scene that depicted Chalets, villas, mansions and a castle which were set among trees and flowering shrubs. Winding lanes climbed through wooded slopesto distant mountains. The blue of the sky met and extended across the ceiling in which was set a large central lights fitting which could be set to reproduce the changes of colour from sunrise to sunset.
Unfortunately, the Splendid Cinema became a victim of falling audiences due to the impact of television and rowdy youths in the audience and it closed with the film “My Man Godfrey” starring David Niven. Proposals to use the building as a Roman Catholic church or a rag store both fell through and it was demolished in the summer of 1958.
Flats named Crystal View Court were built on the site, together with a petrol station.
The building was still closed up and unused when I visited Amsterdam in September 2005. It was demolished in January/February 2006 and when seen on a recent November 2006 visit to the city a new constructuion was being built.
The Fox Theatre possibly opened in around 1949/1950. It is listed in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook without a seating capacity being given (usually an indication of a newly built theatre which hasn’t had details submitted to the editors)
Opened in 1926, it is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook (1941 edition) with a seating capacity of 587.
The Malco Theatre is listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 500. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. is has a seating capacity given as 756 and is operated by Paramount Pictures Inc through their subsidiary M.A. Lightman.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook has the Malco Theatre, 418 Frederica Street with a seating capacity of 720. Also listed in this edition of F.D.Y. is a New Malco Theatre, 118 W. 3rd Street that has a seating capacity of 552.
The Dreamland Theater is listed as an African-American vaudeville theatre, owned and managed in 1921 by Mrs. Lola T. Williams (an African American). It probably had a limited life screening movies.
Opened as the Allenby Theatre and is listed under that name in the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 770/
Warren; The Steinway Theatre is not listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915. There is however a Casino Garden Theatre listed at 321 Steinway Avenue, Astoria.
The Orient Theatre is listed in editions of Film Daily Yearbook’s from at least 1926 through to 1950, maybe a few more years beyond?.
The seating capacity is given as 600 in the early years.
The Arcade Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914- 1915 at 347 Steinway Avenue, Astoria, NY.
The 1930 edition of Film Daily Yearbook has it listed as (Closed).
The Ritz Theatre is listed in the 1940 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook, but with no seating capacity given. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity is given as 400.
The Castle Cinema was the first purpose built cinema to open in Swansea. It opened on 14th December 1913 and was designed by the architectural firm of Thomas, Meager & Jones of London. The exterior facade scupture was carried out by George Houton of Worcester.
In 1967 it was modernised internally when the auditorium was draped in curtain material and the seating capacity was reduced to 800. It closed in 1983, but quickly re-opened later that year having been re-named the Film Centre. It finally closed as a cinema on 31st October 1991 and was converted into use as a Lazer Zone – War Game Centre.
The Albert Hall opened on 19th May 1864 and was built as a concert hall and reading rooms. In 1914 it was screening C.W. Poole’s great ‘Myriorama’ show. The frontage was re-furbished in 1920 and in 1922 it underwent an internal rebuilding to the design of architect Charles Tamlin Ruthin. From August 1922 it had re-opened as a full time cinema and was operated by South Wales Cinemas Ltd.
It was leased to Union Cinema from March 1937 and fully taken over by them in October 1937 (managed by Associated British Cinemas-ABC). From 1st October 1939 it was taken back by South Wales Cinemas Ltd. The Cardiff based firm of Jackson Withers took control from 1955 and they operated it until 1st November 1976 when they were taken over by the Rank Organisation.
The Albert Hall was closed on 3rd December 1977 and converted into a Top Rank Bingo Club which remains open today as a Mecca Bingo Club.
The Crest Theatre opened on 7th August 1941 with Abbott & Costello in “Buck Privates”. It closed on 4th May 1957 and is now in use as offices for the Cerro Gordo Building and Loan.
The Eighty-One Theatre first opened as a vaudeville theatre in around 1908. It was re-modelled in 1928 and was listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s from at least 1930 until at least 1955.
Currently known as ASK Pizza Restaurant (using the former foyer space).
A photograph of the Capitol Cinema (as seen in the 1950s?):
View link
Three photographs:-
As the Regal Cinema in October 1949 playing the Odeon circuit release.
View link
Still known as the Regal Cinema in this April 1956 view, playing the Odeon circuit release.
View link
As the Odeon in December 1970 playing the Rank circuit release.
View link
The R Theatre opened on 11th October 1947 with Betty Hutton in “Cross My Heart. It closed in 1977.
Listed as the Mid-State Theatre in editions of Film Daily Yearbook from at least 1941 through to 1950.