Here’s a follow-up story from November 3; at the end of the article the writer indicates that the developer is trying to work with a new company called Paragon Entertainment on an effort relaunch the theater project: View link
Regarding “Mr. Sardonicus” – yes, the patrons were given a card which had glow-in-the-dark thumbprints which they could supposedly use to “vote” on what would happen to the villain. Castle would then appear, announce that the votes had been “counted” and then the ending would roll. There was however only one ending shown, and I am sure you know which one it was.
There was though an interesting cinema attraction at both the Montreal Expo ‘67 and San Antonio Hemisfair '68 presented by Czechoslovakia called the KinoAutomat. Each audience member could vote using two buttons built into the seat arms at several points in the film as to what a character should do next with votes tallied on a panel on one side of the screen. These votes did count and as a result the film could appear to be different if seen more than once. I saw it three or four times and the outcomes were never the same.
This page from a book on Indianapolis history, mentions that outdoor venues for vaudeville called airdomes in Indianapolis were also known as hippodromes and that at one time there were more than twenty in the city: View link
Is there certainty that it ever was used for showing motion pictures? Given the dates cited above. perhaps it was strictly a variety or vaudeville house.
I doubt that – at least for awhile. The developer attached to the retail portion of the project is being foreclosed upon and construction is essentially suspended. It is going to take some time, especially in these rough financial times to get activity going again, and I cannot see AMC, Regal, Kerasotes, or Cinemark
having interest right now.
The Spartan Twin (later Spartan 3) in Lansing, Michigan opened as a NGC theater during this period; it is now demolished, after having been operated by Mann and finally UA.
shoeshoe14 – We probably both saw this news item at about the same time; I posted it as a news item and I see you posted it as a comment on the theater’s entry page. The posting procedures are different. If you also posted it as a news item, I have to assume that the moderators decided which poster got the credit. I have posted a number of items that were credited to others, but it does not bother me when this happens as I am sure that many of us regular CT users peruse the same sources. I am just happy that information gets circulated.
The theater’s entry here on CT indicates that the theater closed as a triplex rather than a twin, so perhaps the article got that detail wrong. One of the comments there also mentions that the theater was run by a company called Crown in the early 90s which is when the triplexing may well have taken place.
Old seats from this theater are for sale; information here:
View link
Here’s a follow-up story from November 3; at the end of the article the writer indicates that the developer is trying to work with a new company called Paragon Entertainment on an effort relaunch the theater project: View link
A history of the Coliseum with pictures both of the theater and its architect can be found here:
View link
A recent article about the Lyric:
View link
Regarding “Mr. Sardonicus” – yes, the patrons were given a card which had glow-in-the-dark thumbprints which they could supposedly use to “vote” on what would happen to the villain. Castle would then appear, announce that the votes had been “counted” and then the ending would roll. There was however only one ending shown, and I am sure you know which one it was.
There was though an interesting cinema attraction at both the Montreal Expo ‘67 and San Antonio Hemisfair '68 presented by Czechoslovakia called the KinoAutomat. Each audience member could vote using two buttons built into the seat arms at several points in the film as to what a character should do next with votes tallied on a panel on one side of the screen. These votes did count and as a result the film could appear to be different if seen more than once. I saw it three or four times and the outcomes were never the same.
A related article:
View link
This page from a book on Indianapolis history, mentions that outdoor venues for vaudeville called airdomes in Indianapolis were also known as hippodromes and that at one time there were more than twenty in the city: View link
Is there certainty that it ever was used for showing motion pictures? Given the dates cited above. perhaps it was strictly a variety or vaudeville house.
1985 picture of the Studebaker auditorium:
View link
It should not be surprising; as noted by Chris Utley above, both Regal and L.A. Live complex are owned by the same person.
Here’s a page about the Reproduco organ:
View link
Apparently it was especially marketed to undertakers.
1979 picture of the Crescent:
View link
October 29 article about the Paradise:
View link
I doubt that – at least for awhile. The developer attached to the retail portion of the project is being foreclosed upon and construction is essentially suspended. It is going to take some time, especially in these rough financial times to get activity going again, and I cannot see AMC, Regal, Kerasotes, or Cinemark
having interest right now.
Here’s a link to a New York Times article written by someone who has experienced the system:
View link
October 29th article from Boston.com:
View link
Some of those photos posted above are rather neat, but those light fixtures look like they were picked up at a close-out sale at IKEA.
An article about Cinemark’s XD screens (Cinemark owns Century) here: View link
This architect’s site has three interior pictures that show that care has been taken to preserve many elements of the original design: http://www.acentech.com/studio_a/paramount.html#
Also, Fox Eastern, later NGC, opened the single screen Fox Village (later just the Village) in Ann Arbor, MI. in 1967.
The Spartan Twin (later Spartan 3) in Lansing, Michigan opened as a NGC theater during this period; it is now demolished, after having been operated by Mann and finally UA.
Good; I just wanted you to know that my posting was not any slight to you. Thanks.
shoeshoe14 – We probably both saw this news item at about the same time; I posted it as a news item and I see you posted it as a comment on the theater’s entry page. The posting procedures are different. If you also posted it as a news item, I have to assume that the moderators decided which poster got the credit. I have posted a number of items that were credited to others, but it does not bother me when this happens as I am sure that many of us regular CT users peruse the same sources. I am just happy that information gets circulated.
Here’s a follow-up article:
View link
The theater’s entry here on CT indicates that the theater closed as a triplex rather than a twin, so perhaps the article got that detail wrong. One of the comments there also mentions that the theater was run by a company called Crown in the early 90s which is when the triplexing may well have taken place.