The Hanford Opera House launched April 24, 1893. In 1915, a large, $8,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ provided live music accompaniment as the Opera House moved to feature film presentations. In March of 1917, Turner and Dahnken / T & D took on the location. with an automated entry system. On December 19. 1925, T & D took on the Pastime Theatre and created the New T & D Theatre there.
The opera house got another chance when Golden State Theatres took on the former opera house in 1926 under the Golden State Theatre launching November 20, 1926 with “The Marriage Clause.” But a June 18, 1928 fire badly damaged the facility’s facade with equipment removed in August of that year. Rebuilt, the opera house became a mixed-use property in 1932. A major renovation in the 1980s turned it into a hotel opening in 1986.
The Signature Stadium 10 Theatre launched on November 5, 1998. In 2004, Regal took over the Signature Circuit and the theatre was renamed as the Regal Cinemas Visalia Stadium 10.
The 1913 downtown building once housed an auto repair shop and was re-imagined as a theatre in 1983 by Group 4 Architecture in San Francisco. Culver Cinprise of San Francisco opened the four-flex on December 16, 1983 with “Scarface,” “The Keep,” “The Rescuers” and “Cncommon Valor.”
George F. Ashby launched the 752-seat Ashby Theatre in a retail building shared with a cigar store / pool hall. The Ashby launched February 19, 1912 with live vaudeville and films and a speech by Mayor B.L. Barney. In 1919, the location became a short-lived boxing venue. But new operators Miller & McKee renamed it the Pastime Theatre relaunching October 18, 1919 with the feature, “Gates of Brass.”
The T & D Circuit took on the location closing for a major refresh in December of 1925. The remodeling expanded the size of the theatre. It relaunched as the T&D Theatre on February 24, 1926 with live vaudeville and the Constance Talmadge film, “Her Sister From Paris.” In 1929. the theatre was taken over by the William Fox Circuit / West Coast Fox Circuit becoming the Fox T & D Theatre. Fox closed the operation on December 17, 1929 as it opened the new Fox Theatre on December 15, 1929.
In 1941, it became home to the local newspaper. The building was demolished for a new bank in March of 1974.
The New Ritz Theatre on Irwin Street replaced its predecessor on Seventh with a grand opening on January 2, 1938 with “Talk of the Devil.” KMJ radio did a live remote with “The Pumpkin Center Barn Dance Gang” and 21 radio stars appearing live. The facility once housed the Old Bank Building. The old Ritz on Seventh Street simply replaced a single letter operating for a short time as the Rita Theatre.
Fox West Coast Theatre Circuit sold the after ten years. Golden State Theatre’s operated the theatre equipping it with air conditioning in 1949 but TV decimated business and the Ritz was sold in 1951. It relaunched under one final operator relaunching July 29, 1953. The theatre closed abruptly on October 31, 1953.
A classified ad in May of 1955 offered all interior and exterior items from the theatre in a wrecking / salvage sale except for the 600 seats that were donated to a local church. In 1956, the Ritz was demolished in favor of a parking lot.
The Rialto launched December 11, 1917. In 1945, under A. Blanco, the Rialto converted to Spanish language film. A projection booth fire during shows on September 4, 1950 may have been the final night of operation. The theater was offered for sale including 410 seats and the concession stand in 1951.
Dallas-based Cinemark USA opened the Cinemark Plano Movies 10 discount theater May 13, 1994 in the Westpark Village Shopping Center. The 10-screen theater closed for a major refresh and policy change after its 25th anniversary in 2019. It re-emerged as the full-priced and renamed Cinemark Central Plano 10 re-launching on November 14, 2019.
The revamped theatre had the circuit’s branded Luxury Loungers and expanded concessions including pizza, beer, wine and frozen cocktails.
The theatre launched November 11, 1948 with the film, “Northwest Stapmede.” It became a twin cinema on December 2, 1982. It closed 51 years later in December of 1999.
The Barton Theatre appears to have gone out of business after a double feature of “Cariboo Trail” and “Highway 301” on June 28, 1951 at end of lease. It was then used as a home for Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1955. In 1975, it became the Mermaid Adult Theatre showing X-rated theatre. It then became home to the Showcase Theatre Group with live plays in 1977. In 1981, it became home to the Star Theatre which brought motion pictures into the mix with Christian films screened. In 1983, it became home to the Calvary Chapel followed in 1985 by the Full Gospel Faith Mission. However, its listing should retain the name, Barton Theatre used most of its cinematic life and referred to it upon its razing in 1988.
The Globe Theatre launched on January 22, 1913. Silent films were discontinued on March 15, 1930 with “The Last Performance” and sound equipment was installed. The final showings for the Globe were with burlesque and art films. It closed October 28, 1962 with the film, “Forbidden Paradise.” Days later, it appeared in a forced auction including all interior items and exterior signage.
Harthorn and Walker launched the California with Bebe Daniels in “ Ducks and Drakes” on April 30, 1921. On October 1, 1924, it became the Mark Strand Theatre relaunching with the film, “Daughters of Pleasure.” Its name was shortened not long after to the Strand Theatre. Movies showed until August 20, 1978 with the final double feature of “Brothers and Sisters” and “Celebrating at Big Sur.” Live music was tried in 1979 before wrestling completed the theater’s lifecycle in 1980 through May of 1981.
It was run by Pacific Theatres at the end and operated as a single screen in its final days.
Though the Fox lease on the Cabrillio expired in 1961, the circuit closed the theatre on August 13, 1957 with “Gun Glory” and “Man on Fire.” The city acquired the property and demolished it in 1962 for a parking lot project.
Pierson and Adler launched the Victoria Theatre on May 28, 1918 on a ten year lease. The opening program was Wm. S. Hart in “Wolves of the Rail,” Fatty Arbuckle in “The Bell Boy,” and the Christie Comedy, “Somebody’s Baby.” The theater didn’t convert to sound and was downgraded to showing exploitation films and live vaudeville in its final six months of operation. It closed on May 30, 1927. It was retrofitted becoming home to the San Pedro Athletic Club with the stage used for wrestling and boxing matches in 1930 and was home to retail stores.
The Barton launched August 1, 1924 with Strongheart in “Love Master.” It closed and was torn down in November of 1988 due to not being earthquake safe.
E. B. Bugher launched the Wonderland Theatre in downtown Sallisaw in 1911. It burned down in 1912. The same operator rebuilt a new Wonderland launching in January of 1916. On January 29, 1931, the theatre added sound with the film, “Moby Dick” becoming the New Wonderland Theatre. The New Wonderland ceased operations after showing Tex Ritter in “The Pioneers” on August 30, 1941 at end of lease.
On September 8, 1941, the “old” Wonderland re-emerged as the State Theatre with Abbott and Costello’s “Buck Privates.”
The Ritz Theatre opened with 300 seats on June 2, 1937 by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Smith with Gene Autry in “Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm.” Regular screenings ended at the end of a 20-year lease on April 22, 1957 with “Giant” and permanently closed after a special holiday screening on December 4, 1957. The Ritz was retrofitted for a retail store, a third location for Kimberlee’s Dollar Saver in March of 1958.
This listing is in error as it was not the home of the 1939-era Plaza Theatre. That was located in the Community Building. This venue is open as the Greenfield Opera House and opened as the Opera House. Dedicated on August 8, 1888. Regular programming was discontinued in 1917 though sporadic events took place soon thereafter.
The old opera house was purchased in 1987 by a group trying to rekindle its past.In August of 1988, the theatre re-launched with a live play. It also served as a home for country music until 2010. That building was brought back to usage in 2018 with live music and local events.
This venue is open as the Greenfield Opera House and opened as the Opera House.
The Bijou Theatre launched in 1911 in downtown Greenfield likely on a ten-year lease. The venue became the Strand Theatre under new ownership on October 8, 1921 when C.B. “Curley” Hudson bough the Bijou from Smith and Howard. The theatre converted to disc-based sound in 1929. An improved sound system and interior renovation in 1931 led to the venue being marketed as the “New” Strand Theatre from 1931 to 1934 before reverting to the Strand Theatre.
Hudson sold the theatre to Crump Taylor on June 1, 1938 ending the Strand’s run. Taylor also bought the Wilson Theatre. The Strand and Wilson were merged into a single location in the Community Building with the operation called the Plaza Theatre which operated until fire destroyed the building in 1978.
The Orient Theatre in Dunmore launched by Comerford Theatres and Joseph Golo on November 18, 1933 with “The Bowery.” The theatre was closed April 24, 1969 with “The Subject Was Roses.” It was offered for sale thereafter selling for $50,000 by the Golo family.
This theatre launched as the Coaldale Theatre in the silent era. John McTague and his wife took over the location and called it the McTague Theatre. Mr. McTague installed sound in 1929 but was injured decorating the theatre and passed away. Under new operator Peter A. Magazzu, the theatre relaunched as the Ritz Theater in 1933. He refurbished the location with new seats and a grand relaunch on September 24, 1934.
On December 26, 1948, the Ritz Theatre burned down and Magazzu built the new Angela Theatre on October 11, 1949 and, among many other theaters, he operator the local drive-in until his death in 1965.
The Hanford Opera House launched April 24, 1893. In 1915, a large, $8,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ provided live music accompaniment as the Opera House moved to feature film presentations. In March of 1917, Turner and Dahnken / T & D took on the location. with an automated entry system. On December 19. 1925, T & D took on the Pastime Theatre and created the New T & D Theatre there.
The opera house got another chance when Golden State Theatres took on the former opera house in 1926 under the Golden State Theatre launching November 20, 1926 with “The Marriage Clause.” But a June 18, 1928 fire badly damaged the facility’s facade with equipment removed in August of that year. Rebuilt, the opera house became a mixed-use property in 1932. A major renovation in the 1980s turned it into a hotel opening in 1986.
The Signature Stadium 10 Theatre launched on November 5, 1998. In 2004, Regal took over the Signature Circuit and the theatre was renamed as the Regal Cinemas Visalia Stadium 10.
The Sequoia Mall Cinema by Mann launched November 8, 1996.
The 1913 downtown building once housed an auto repair shop and was re-imagined as a theatre in 1983 by Group 4 Architecture in San Francisco. Culver Cinprise of San Francisco opened the four-flex on December 16, 1983 with “Scarface,” “The Keep,” “The Rescuers” and “Cncommon Valor.”
George F. Ashby launched the 752-seat Ashby Theatre in a retail building shared with a cigar store / pool hall. The Ashby launched February 19, 1912 with live vaudeville and films and a speech by Mayor B.L. Barney. In 1919, the location became a short-lived boxing venue. But new operators Miller & McKee renamed it the Pastime Theatre relaunching October 18, 1919 with the feature, “Gates of Brass.”
The T & D Circuit took on the location closing for a major refresh in December of 1925. The remodeling expanded the size of the theatre. It relaunched as the T&D Theatre on February 24, 1926 with live vaudeville and the Constance Talmadge film, “Her Sister From Paris.” In 1929. the theatre was taken over by the William Fox Circuit / West Coast Fox Circuit becoming the Fox T & D Theatre. Fox closed the operation on December 17, 1929 as it opened the new Fox Theatre on December 15, 1929.
In 1941, it became home to the local newspaper. The building was demolished for a new bank in March of 1974.
The New Ritz Theatre on Irwin Street replaced its predecessor on Seventh with a grand opening on January 2, 1938 with “Talk of the Devil.” KMJ radio did a live remote with “The Pumpkin Center Barn Dance Gang” and 21 radio stars appearing live. The facility once housed the Old Bank Building. The old Ritz on Seventh Street simply replaced a single letter operating for a short time as the Rita Theatre.
Fox West Coast Theatre Circuit sold the after ten years. Golden State Theatre’s operated the theatre equipping it with air conditioning in 1949 but TV decimated business and the Ritz was sold in 1951. It relaunched under one final operator relaunching July 29, 1953. The theatre closed abruptly on October 31, 1953.
A classified ad in May of 1955 offered all interior and exterior items from the theatre in a wrecking / salvage sale except for the 600 seats that were donated to a local church. In 1956, the Ritz was demolished in favor of a parking lot.
The Rialto launched December 11, 1917. In 1945, under A. Blanco, the Rialto converted to Spanish language film. A projection booth fire during shows on September 4, 1950 may have been the final night of operation. The theater was offered for sale including 410 seats and the concession stand in 1951.
The 540-seat new-build Gardella Theatre launched December 29, 1910 (ad in photos). It was architected by Albert A. Plagge.
Dallas-based Cinemark USA opened the Cinemark Plano Movies 10 discount theater May 13, 1994 in the Westpark Village Shopping Center. The 10-screen theater closed for a major refresh and policy change after its 25th anniversary in 2019. It re-emerged as the full-priced and renamed Cinemark Central Plano 10 re-launching on November 14, 2019.
The revamped theatre had the circuit’s branded Luxury Loungers and expanded concessions including pizza, beer, wine and frozen cocktails.
The theatre launched November 11, 1948 with the film, “Northwest Stapmede.” It became a twin cinema on December 2, 1982. It closed 51 years later in December of 1999.
Launched with “The Family Upstairs” on December 26, 1926. Harry Lawrie of Omaha was the architect.
June 30, 1950 ad for the Columbus Drive-In Theatre grand opening with “Two Guys from Texas” In photos.
The Barton Theatre appears to have gone out of business after a double feature of “Cariboo Trail” and “Highway 301” on June 28, 1951 at end of lease. It was then used as a home for Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1955. In 1975, it became the Mermaid Adult Theatre showing X-rated theatre. It then became home to the Showcase Theatre Group with live plays in 1977. In 1981, it became home to the Star Theatre which brought motion pictures into the mix with Christian films screened. In 1983, it became home to the Calvary Chapel followed in 1985 by the Full Gospel Faith Mission. However, its listing should retain the name, Barton Theatre used most of its cinematic life and referred to it upon its razing in 1988.
The Globe Theatre launched on January 22, 1913. Silent films were discontinued on March 15, 1930 with “The Last Performance” and sound equipment was installed. The final showings for the Globe were with burlesque and art films. It closed October 28, 1962 with the film, “Forbidden Paradise.” Days later, it appeared in a forced auction including all interior items and exterior signage.
Harthorn and Walker launched the California with Bebe Daniels in “ Ducks and Drakes” on April 30, 1921. On October 1, 1924, it became the Mark Strand Theatre relaunching with the film, “Daughters of Pleasure.” Its name was shortened not long after to the Strand Theatre. Movies showed until August 20, 1978 with the final double feature of “Brothers and Sisters” and “Celebrating at Big Sur.” Live music was tried in 1979 before wrestling completed the theater’s lifecycle in 1980 through May of 1981.
It was run by Pacific Theatres at the end and operated as a single screen in its final days.
Though the Fox lease on the Cabrillio expired in 1961, the circuit closed the theatre on August 13, 1957 with “Gun Glory” and “Man on Fire.” The city acquired the property and demolished it in 1962 for a parking lot project.
Pierson and Adler launched the Victoria Theatre on May 28, 1918 on a ten year lease. The opening program was Wm. S. Hart in “Wolves of the Rail,” Fatty Arbuckle in “The Bell Boy,” and the Christie Comedy, “Somebody’s Baby.” The theater didn’t convert to sound and was downgraded to showing exploitation films and live vaudeville in its final six months of operation. It closed on May 30, 1927. It was retrofitted becoming home to the San Pedro Athletic Club with the stage used for wrestling and boxing matches in 1930 and was home to retail stores.
The Barton launched August 1, 1924 with Strongheart in “Love Master.” It closed and was torn down in November of 1988 due to not being earthquake safe.
Closed
E. B. Bugher launched the Wonderland Theatre in downtown Sallisaw in 1911. It burned down in 1912. The same operator rebuilt a new Wonderland launching in January of 1916. On January 29, 1931, the theatre added sound with the film, “Moby Dick” becoming the New Wonderland Theatre. The New Wonderland ceased operations after showing Tex Ritter in “The Pioneers” on August 30, 1941 at end of lease.
On September 8, 1941, the “old” Wonderland re-emerged as the State Theatre with Abbott and Costello’s “Buck Privates.”
The Ritz Theatre opened with 300 seats on June 2, 1937 by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Smith with Gene Autry in “Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm.” Regular screenings ended at the end of a 20-year lease on April 22, 1957 with “Giant” and permanently closed after a special holiday screening on December 4, 1957. The Ritz was retrofitted for a retail store, a third location for Kimberlee’s Dollar Saver in March of 1958.
This listing is in error as it was not the home of the 1939-era Plaza Theatre. That was located in the Community Building. This venue is open as the Greenfield Opera House and opened as the Opera House. Dedicated on August 8, 1888. Regular programming was discontinued in 1917 though sporadic events took place soon thereafter.
The old opera house was purchased in 1987 by a group trying to rekindle its past.In August of 1988, the theatre re-launched with a live play. It also served as a home for country music until 2010. That building was brought back to usage in 2018 with live music and local events.
This venue is open as the Greenfield Opera House and opened as the Opera House.
The Bijou Theatre launched in 1911 in downtown Greenfield likely on a ten-year lease. The venue became the Strand Theatre under new ownership on October 8, 1921 when C.B. “Curley” Hudson bough the Bijou from Smith and Howard. The theatre converted to disc-based sound in 1929. An improved sound system and interior renovation in 1931 led to the venue being marketed as the “New” Strand Theatre from 1931 to 1934 before reverting to the Strand Theatre.
Hudson sold the theatre to Crump Taylor on June 1, 1938 ending the Strand’s run. Taylor also bought the Wilson Theatre. The Strand and Wilson were merged into a single location in the Community Building with the operation called the Plaza Theatre which operated until fire destroyed the building in 1978.
The Orient Theatre in Dunmore launched by Comerford Theatres and Joseph Golo on November 18, 1933 with “The Bowery.” The theatre was closed April 24, 1969 with “The Subject Was Roses.” It was offered for sale thereafter selling for $50,000 by the Golo family.
This theatre launched as the Coaldale Theatre in the silent era. John McTague and his wife took over the location and called it the McTague Theatre. Mr. McTague installed sound in 1929 but was injured decorating the theatre and passed away. Under new operator Peter A. Magazzu, the theatre relaunched as the Ritz Theater in 1933. He refurbished the location with new seats and a grand relaunch on September 24, 1934.
On December 26, 1948, the Ritz Theatre burned down and Magazzu built the new Angela Theatre on October 11, 1949 and, among many other theaters, he operator the local drive-in until his death in 1965.