The front of the building has been totally re-modeled, but looking around the rear, the original brickwork of the auditorium block still survives. Nothing remains to be seen inside and any features have either been removed or covered with a drop ceilings and panels.
Quote from the new book ‘Historic Theatres in Illinois 1883-1960’ by Konrad Schiecke:
Okaw Theater, East South 2nd Street, Findlay, IL
Opened in the 1920’s, closed 1958. Seats 300
The theatre re-opened in the 1970’s as a live country & western theatre. It was torn down in the 1980’s when the roof collapsed.
Listed in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity given as 400. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. is is listed as (Closed). However, it is open again in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. with a seating capacity given as 300.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s; 1941 and 1943 editions as the Huntington Station Theatre, Huntington Station, NY with a seating capacity of 640. The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. has the same details (with the full address) and a seating capacity of 677.
The Regent Theater first opened in 1916 as a 500 seat theatre catering for Negro audiences. The architectural firm was Sparklin & Childs (William O. Sparklin & George S. Childs).
In 1920 the same architects were commisioned to enlarge the theatre, retaining the original entrance facade and it re-opened in January 1921 with an increased seating capacity of 2,250, that included 400 seats in a newly constructed balcony. In 1922 a 2 Manual Robert Morton pipe organ was installed. Remaining a Negro theatre, the stage was well used in the variety shows which accompanied the movies, with artists such as Cab Calloway, Sissle & Blake, Lena Horne & Ethel Waters appearing here.
It closed in December 1974 (with the seating capacity greatly reduced down to 1,474) and was demolished in 1980.
Opened in 1910 as the Little Palace Theatre. It was re-named the Grand Theatre in 1932 and became the Warner Theatre in 1941. Closed in 1957, it had a seating capacity of 436.
An internet search gives a Mid City Truck & Auto Repair business at this address. Could the theatre building still be standing? We a local theatre expert to go along and take a look.
In 1921 the Empress Theatre is listed as being in use as a 600 seat capacity Vaudeville and picture house for Negro audiences. The manager was an African-American;R. Chase.
In the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook it is listed with a seating capacity of 600 and was under the control of Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity had been reduced to 534.
Warren; Many thanks for posting that great vintage photograph on July 22 2005. It was not until I saw it that I now realise the current furniture store is in the former stage house and was not the main entrance to the theatre.
The furniture store operates out of the former stage house, so obviously there is no decorative detail inside that part of the building, although rather unusually for a theatre stage house, there is some nice decorative brickwork on this section of the building). The block to the left could be the remains of the auditorium or a replacement building, it is difficult to say. I would think it strange to demolish a theatre auditorium and leave the stage house standing? But then strange things do happen!
Warren, Bway, Greenpoint & metz…. This Eagle theatre page is a duplicate of the Midway Theatre and is about to get removed. I have already posted relevent information from here to the Midway Theatre page and it will eventually be updated.
Vincent…Sorry, I don’t have any photographs of the Astoria in the 1960’s ‘Roadshow’ era. I did go and see several 70mm presentations there: “West Side Story”, “Fall of the Roman Empire”, Paint Your Wagon".
The exterior has not altered over the years, apart from in the days of 70mm presentations there was a large billboard which covered most of the exterior of the building. Inside, the Italian Renaissance style decoration was retained in the foyer areas (helping set an atmosphere when Fall of the Roman Empire had its World Premier at the Astoria, for which it had a redecoration), but in the auditorium, most of the decoration was covered in drapes (typical of what they did to theatres in the 1960’s). It was always a prestigious first run cinema during this period, but when the 70mm product dried up, it became an also run cinema in the West End, even playing dubbed foreign movies, sub-standard horror movies and even the occasional soft core sex film. The owners (The Rank Organisation) wanted rid of the place and booked in this type of product so that it would be yet another closure.
Don’t talk to me about the Thatcher revolution, that woman? practically destroyed the UK (in more ways than one), together with successive governments! I agree with you totally, but I still live here in the city(almost 40 years now)!
The current auditorium (as seen in the photo’s by Woody which I posted on March 26 2006) was originally the former balcony of the Empire (The orchestra stalls area was converted into a damce hall in 1962).
Regarding the size of the 70mm screen, I am not sure on actual size, but the cinema has just been re-furbished (June 2006) and a new larger screen has been installed. This extends 1 metre wider on each side, to what the previous screen was. It is THX certified, as is the sound system.
Unfortunately the new wider screen has mean’t the removal of some of the sets of drapes(screen curtains). The Empire used to have a house curtain and a screen curtain (both travellers), and main curtain which rose in sections.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition as the Hippodrome Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,000. By the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it was known as the Marlow Theater with a seating capacity given as 1,400. Same in 1950, althoough the address given in F.D.Y. is 14th Street.
In the new (2006) book by Konrad Scheicke ‘Historic Movie Theatres in Illinois-1883-1960 it states:
Hippodrome Theatre opened on 1st January 1919 and closed in 1967. Seating capacity was 1,200. It was re-named Marlow Theater in 1941 after the then owner James Marlow. It carried the name 'Hippodrome’ on the marquee until it was demolished in 1967. The address in this new book is given as above at 14 S. 13th Street.
Four photographs I took in June 2006 of the RKO Dyker Theater:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/211033531/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/211034337/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/211034756/
http;//www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/211035349/
Two photographs of the Alpine Cinema I took in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210959751/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210960082/
Listed in the 1926 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 1,234.
Here is a photograph of the Coliseum Theatre I took in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210937346/
The front of the building has been totally re-modeled, but looking around the rear, the original brickwork of the auditorium block still survives. Nothing remains to be seen inside and any features have either been removed or covered with a drop ceilings and panels.
Here is a photograph I took in June 2006 of the Sunset Theatre frontage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210921306/
Three photographs I took of the Park Theatre in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210885986/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210886336/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210889194/
Three photographs I took of the Alben Theatre in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210862676/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210863556/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210863801/
Two photographs I took of the Globe Theatre in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210853103/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210853352/
A photograph of the United Artist’s Court Street Stadium 12 which I took in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/210188898/
Two vintage views of the Odeon, West Harlepool:
Photographed in September 1949:
View link
A photograph from the 1950’s:
View link
Quote from the new book ‘Historic Theatres in Illinois 1883-1960’ by Konrad Schiecke:
Okaw Theater, East South 2nd Street, Findlay, IL
Opened in the 1920’s, closed 1958. Seats 300
The theatre re-opened in the 1970’s as a live country & western theatre. It was torn down in the 1980’s when the roof collapsed.
Listed in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity given as 400. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. is is listed as (Closed). However, it is open again in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. with a seating capacity given as 300.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s; 1941 and 1943 editions as the Huntington Station Theatre, Huntington Station, NY with a seating capacity of 640. The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. has the same details (with the full address) and a seating capacity of 677.
The Regent Theater first opened in 1916 as a 500 seat theatre catering for Negro audiences. The architectural firm was Sparklin & Childs (William O. Sparklin & George S. Childs).
In 1920 the same architects were commisioned to enlarge the theatre, retaining the original entrance facade and it re-opened in January 1921 with an increased seating capacity of 2,250, that included 400 seats in a newly constructed balcony. In 1922 a 2 Manual Robert Morton pipe organ was installed. Remaining a Negro theatre, the stage was well used in the variety shows which accompanied the movies, with artists such as Cab Calloway, Sissle & Blake, Lena Horne & Ethel Waters appearing here.
It closed in December 1974 (with the seating capacity greatly reduced down to 1,474) and was demolished in 1980.
Opened in 1910 as the Little Palace Theatre. It was re-named the Grand Theatre in 1932 and became the Warner Theatre in 1941. Closed in 1957, it had a seating capacity of 436.
An internet search gives a Mid City Truck & Auto Repair business at this address. Could the theatre building still be standing? We a local theatre expert to go along and take a look.
The 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists the Capitol Theatre as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.
In 1921 the Empress Theatre is listed as being in use as a 600 seat capacity Vaudeville and picture house for Negro audiences. The manager was an African-American;R. Chase.
In the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook it is listed with a seating capacity of 600 and was under the control of Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity had been reduced to 534.
Two recent photographs of the College Theatre I took in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205177951/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205178457/
A recent photograph I took of the Glenwood Theater in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205098329/
A vintage 1920’s postcard view of the Farragut Theatre:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205007492/
Four current photographs I took in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205007977/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205008528/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205020212/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/205020739/
Here is a vintage postcard view from the early 1930’s:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/204748759/
Warren; Many thanks for posting that great vintage photograph on July 22 2005. It was not until I saw it that I now realise the current furniture store is in the former stage house and was not the main entrance to the theatre.
The furniture store operates out of the former stage house, so obviously there is no decorative detail inside that part of the building, although rather unusually for a theatre stage house, there is some nice decorative brickwork on this section of the building). The block to the left could be the remains of the auditorium or a replacement building, it is difficult to say. I would think it strange to demolish a theatre auditorium and leave the stage house standing? But then strange things do happen!
Here is a photograph I took of the Flatbush Theatre in June 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/204345017/
Warren, Bway, Greenpoint & metz…. This Eagle theatre page is a duplicate of the Midway Theatre and is about to get removed. I have already posted relevent information from here to the Midway Theatre page and it will eventually be updated.
Vincent…Sorry, I don’t have any photographs of the Astoria in the 1960’s ‘Roadshow’ era. I did go and see several 70mm presentations there: “West Side Story”, “Fall of the Roman Empire”, Paint Your Wagon".
The exterior has not altered over the years, apart from in the days of 70mm presentations there was a large billboard which covered most of the exterior of the building. Inside, the Italian Renaissance style decoration was retained in the foyer areas (helping set an atmosphere when Fall of the Roman Empire had its World Premier at the Astoria, for which it had a redecoration), but in the auditorium, most of the decoration was covered in drapes (typical of what they did to theatres in the 1960’s). It was always a prestigious first run cinema during this period, but when the 70mm product dried up, it became an also run cinema in the West End, even playing dubbed foreign movies, sub-standard horror movies and even the occasional soft core sex film. The owners (The Rank Organisation) wanted rid of the place and booked in this type of product so that it would be yet another closure.
Don’t talk to me about the Thatcher revolution, that woman? practically destroyed the UK (in more ways than one), together with successive governments! I agree with you totally, but I still live here in the city(almost 40 years now)!
The current auditorium (as seen in the photo’s by Woody which I posted on March 26 2006) was originally the former balcony of the Empire (The orchestra stalls area was converted into a damce hall in 1962).
Regarding the size of the 70mm screen, I am not sure on actual size, but the cinema has just been re-furbished (June 2006) and a new larger screen has been installed. This extends 1 metre wider on each side, to what the previous screen was. It is THX certified, as is the sound system.
Unfortunately the new wider screen has mean’t the removal of some of the sets of drapes(screen curtains). The Empire used to have a house curtain and a screen curtain (both travellers), and main curtain which rose in sections.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition as the Hippodrome Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,000. By the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it was known as the Marlow Theater with a seating capacity given as 1,400. Same in 1950, althoough the address given in F.D.Y. is 14th Street.
In the new (2006) book by Konrad Scheicke ‘Historic Movie Theatres in Illinois-1883-1960 it states:
Hippodrome Theatre opened on 1st January 1919 and closed in 1967. Seating capacity was 1,200. It was re-named Marlow Theater in 1941 after the then owner James Marlow. It carried the name 'Hippodrome’ on the marquee until it was demolished in 1967. The address in this new book is given as above at 14 S. 13th Street.