The WRVA Theatre Was Named After The Radio Station Giant Here In Richmond, Via 1140 AM (Now Known As NewsRadio 1140 AM And 96.1 FM, A Class-A News/Talk Station).
The Paramount during its final years were taken over by ABC Mid-South Theatres. The Paramount closed its doors for the final time on September 9, 1970 with “Macho Callahan” as its final film.
The Joy Theatre opened its doors on October 15, 1944 with Red Skelton in “Bathing Beauty” along with a MGM cartoon: Ol' Doc Donkey in “The Tree Surgeon”, and a MGM “News Of The Day” newsreel.
This is one of Monroe’s oldest theaters, as it was first known as the Lyric Theatre, dating back to as early as the 1890s. On December 13, 1909, Mr. Frederick W. Pearce (one of the most notable amusement men in the South at that period) renamed the theater as the Lyceum Theatre.
The Lyceum Theatre changed its name to the Capitol Theatre on February 12, 1929, reopening with the following: Bebe Daniels in “What A Night”, along with Bobby Vernon in “Hot Sparks”, and a deluxe show during the evening of that day.
The Capitol’s name was changed to the TEM in June 1951.
The final feature of the TEM was screened on August 31, 1953 with James Stewart in “Thunder Bay” (a Universal film that was filmed in Louisiana) along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. The following day on September 1, 1953, the TEM Theatre went out of business.
Edward Carter, the guy who fell 50 feet during construction of the Empire Theatre in July 1911, was later arrested and charged by the Baltimore Police Department while recovering from his injuries. He later pleaded guilty to the court that September 15th on an unknown degree of common assault, who sentenced him to 5 months in jail.
The Empire (owned and operated by Mr. George W. Rife including his whole company with his name being the theater name) began construction during the middle of July 1911.
Shortly after the ground broke during the beginning of construction on July 15, 1911, one of the construction workers lost his balance and fell 50 feet from one of the floors to the sidewalk. He was identified as a colored man, 34-year-old Edward Carter of 1819 Druid Hill Avenue in Baltimore. He was rushed to Mercy Hospital in a Western district patrol after receiving a broken jaw, lacerated chin, and a few other internal injuries.
The Empire was originally scheduled to open its doors on November 1, 1911, but was rescheduled and pushed to November 27, 1911, but it didn’t happen. Its opening date was then rescheduled again to its exact grand opening day on Christmas Day 1911 with Barney Gerald’s “Follies Of The Day”.
Information about the Empire goes as follows: The decorations as of 1911 were colored with mint green tint, embellished with gold, and the draperies were deep in a soft rose color and red for carpeting. The main auditorium stretches a wide proscenium arch, and an unobstructed depth of 55ft and has a capacity of 2,000 seats as of 1911 in leather seats, marking it the largest in Baltimore at the WWI era, although it originally supposed to have a capacity of 2,400 a month right after the theater began construction. There were separated areas which included the stage, dressing room, and stairs from the auditorium.
The Empire became the Palace on August 14, 1920 with James E. Cooper’s “Folly Town” as a burlesquer. The theater switched formats from back-and-forth with films and burlesquers.
After closing as a burlesquer in October 1937, the theater sat quiet, even throughout all of WWII. Although according to the Baltimore Sun, there are failed plans to erect the theater.
Exactly a year right after WWII had died in 1946, architects John Zink and Lucius White held its design to the Town and was built. With 450 seats being taken out from the original Empire theatre, the 1,550-capacity Town Theatre would later open its doors to the public on January 22, 1947 with Baltimore’s premiere of the Frank Capra classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” with no extras or short subjects.
Opened With “Melody Ranch” Along With A Bugs Bunny Cartoon In “Elmer’s Pet Rabbit”, A Short Entitled “Going Plares”, And Chapter 1 Of “The Green Archer”.
Ray Peeler’s own airdome was opened by the circuit M.A. Reid, the general manager of Texas and Oklahoma’s own airdome circuit on May 19, 1913, but according to the papers of Bonham’s Daily Favorite, the dome seems to be opened a bit earlier than that.
Managed by R.H. Graham, the March Bros. operated Palace Theatre opened its doors on December 21, 1935 with James Cagney in “The Frisco Kid”. On its opening day, many stuff were handed out for free such as coffee and doughnuts for patrons who attended the opening attraction, even a free radio was also given by particulars.
On May 21, 1944, during the first 30 minutes of its 1 out of a 3-day showing of “Thank You Lucky Stars”, the theater projector was jammed and the theater was destroyed by a fire. The operator, Howard Goettsch, while rewinding a 2000ft reel inside the booth, stops by near the projector to look around and realized that one of the reels had caught itself on fire. The theater was mostly destroyed except the walls and marquee. It was rebuilt beginning on July 20, 1944 and reopened later that year on October 19, 1944. Reopened with Frank Sinatra in “Step Freely” with no extras, the theater was equipped with new sound equipment from RCA and new projection from Simplex.
It was closed in May 1976 after being destroyed by another fire.
The Tulip opened on March 4, 1942 with Walter Pidgeon in “How Green Is My Valley” along with a few unnamed short subjects. It was closed during the first-to-second quarters of 1954, and was razed in July of that year to make way for an office.
The theater did not close in 1975, it was still in operation even before and after incidents. The theater closed at the end of the 1987 season after screening X-Rated films for a truckload of years since April 18, 1969.
Opened on July 3, 1952 with “Bagdad” along with a few unnamed short subjects, and was closed around the same month the Starlite closed its gates in September 1985.
The Beltline and the Starlite were the only drive-ins in Columbia to have a much more appropriate fare on films, which both theaters picked up first-run movies throughout most of its history, but sometimes can pick up a few other mixtures but not very harmful to audiences.
This theater actually first started off as the “Alta Vista Drive-In”, opening its gates in June 1947. The Alta Vista changed its name to the Twilite in 1954, and it became the Starlite in November 1980 until closing around the same month the Beltline closed in September 1985.
The Beltline and the Starlite were the only drive-ins in Columbia to have a much more appropriate fare on films, which both theaters picked up first-run movies throughout most of its history, but sometimes can pick up a few other mixtures but not very harmful to audiences.
The Skyway Drive-In held onto a huge amount of incidents during 1975 where a robbery took place including action with a pistol, and in 1977 and 1978 when the theater took all for suitings and claimants.
After closing for a few years beginning in 1977 due to the ownership and the theater filing a suiting, the theater reopened in 1981 but after just 2 years on running mostly not-so-suitable drive-in fare, it closed again, this time for the final time in 1983.
It also opened with a Tom and Jerry cartoon in “The Two Mousketeers” and a MGM “News Of The Day” newsreel.
The “Sun-Set” name lasted until 1955 when the name was correctly reduced to “Sunset”, although some papers recommend that name as early as August 1954.
The Sunset Drive-In ended its life at the end of the 1987 season, after screening X-rated films for a truckload of years since April 18, 1969.
Before the theater began running its longtime stunt with X-rated films, the last first-run feature the Sunset ran before flipping the table is Sean Connery’s “ThunderBall” which only ran for a week beginning on April 11, 1969.
The theater had a few incidents from here-and-there such as robberies, protesting letters, and even the manager, 26-year-old Michael Vassey, arrested from the Columbia Police Department in March 1975 due to the theater screening X rated films out into the public, and was later charged with violation of the state law later that first week of July of that year.
Spath Was 56 When He Was Assassinated.
The WRVA Theatre Was Named After The Radio Station Giant Here In Richmond, Via 1140 AM (Now Known As NewsRadio 1140 AM And 96.1 FM, A Class-A News/Talk Station).
September 9, 1970.
Closed In July 1985.
The Paramount during its final years were taken over by ABC Mid-South Theatres. The Paramount closed its doors for the final time on September 9, 1970 with “Macho Callahan” as its final film.
The Joy Theatre opened its doors on October 15, 1944 with Red Skelton in “Bathing Beauty” along with a MGM cartoon: Ol' Doc Donkey in “The Tree Surgeon”, and a MGM “News Of The Day” newsreel.
This is one of Monroe’s oldest theaters, as it was first known as the Lyric Theatre, dating back to as early as the 1890s. On December 13, 1909, Mr. Frederick W. Pearce (one of the most notable amusement men in the South at that period) renamed the theater as the Lyceum Theatre.
The Lyceum Theatre changed its name to the Capitol Theatre on February 12, 1929, reopening with the following: Bebe Daniels in “What A Night”, along with Bobby Vernon in “Hot Sparks”, and a deluxe show during the evening of that day.
The Capitol’s name was changed to the TEM in June 1951.
The final feature of the TEM was screened on August 31, 1953 with James Stewart in “Thunder Bay” (a Universal film that was filmed in Louisiana) along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. The following day on September 1, 1953, the TEM Theatre went out of business.
Edward Carter, the guy who fell 50 feet during construction of the Empire Theatre in July 1911, was later arrested and charged by the Baltimore Police Department while recovering from his injuries. He later pleaded guilty to the court that September 15th on an unknown degree of common assault, who sentenced him to 5 months in jail.
Its actual opening date is December 19, 1927 with Mary Pickford in “My Best Girl” along with an Our Gang short and a local community short.
The original name of the drive-in was called the Airport Outdoor Theatre, which opened on June 7, 1947.
Closed In 1946.
The Empire (owned and operated by Mr. George W. Rife including his whole company with his name being the theater name) began construction during the middle of July 1911.
Shortly after the ground broke during the beginning of construction on July 15, 1911, one of the construction workers lost his balance and fell 50 feet from one of the floors to the sidewalk. He was identified as a colored man, 34-year-old Edward Carter of 1819 Druid Hill Avenue in Baltimore. He was rushed to Mercy Hospital in a Western district patrol after receiving a broken jaw, lacerated chin, and a few other internal injuries.
The Empire was originally scheduled to open its doors on November 1, 1911, but was rescheduled and pushed to November 27, 1911, but it didn’t happen. Its opening date was then rescheduled again to its exact grand opening day on Christmas Day 1911 with Barney Gerald’s “Follies Of The Day”.
Information about the Empire goes as follows: The decorations as of 1911 were colored with mint green tint, embellished with gold, and the draperies were deep in a soft rose color and red for carpeting. The main auditorium stretches a wide proscenium arch, and an unobstructed depth of 55ft and has a capacity of 2,000 seats as of 1911 in leather seats, marking it the largest in Baltimore at the WWI era, although it originally supposed to have a capacity of 2,400 a month right after the theater began construction. There were separated areas which included the stage, dressing room, and stairs from the auditorium.
The Empire became the Palace on August 14, 1920 with James E. Cooper’s “Folly Town” as a burlesquer. The theater switched formats from back-and-forth with films and burlesquers.
After closing as a burlesquer in October 1937, the theater sat quiet, even throughout all of WWII. Although according to the Baltimore Sun, there are failed plans to erect the theater.
Exactly a year right after WWII had died in 1946, architects John Zink and Lucius White held its design to the Town and was built. With 450 seats being taken out from the original Empire theatre, the 1,550-capacity Town Theatre would later open its doors to the public on January 22, 1947 with Baltimore’s premiere of the Frank Capra classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” with no extras or short subjects.
Opened With “Albuquerque”.
Opened With “Melody Ranch” Along With A Bugs Bunny Cartoon In “Elmer’s Pet Rabbit”, A Short Entitled “Going Plares”, And Chapter 1 Of “The Green Archer”.
Ray Peeler’s own airdome was opened by the circuit M.A. Reid, the general manager of Texas and Oklahoma’s own airdome circuit on May 19, 1913, but according to the papers of Bonham’s Daily Favorite, the dome seems to be opened a bit earlier than that.
Managed by R.H. Graham, the March Bros. operated Palace Theatre opened its doors on December 21, 1935 with James Cagney in “The Frisco Kid”. On its opening day, many stuff were handed out for free such as coffee and doughnuts for patrons who attended the opening attraction, even a free radio was also given by particulars.
On May 21, 1944, during the first 30 minutes of its 1 out of a 3-day showing of “Thank You Lucky Stars”, the theater projector was jammed and the theater was destroyed by a fire. The operator, Howard Goettsch, while rewinding a 2000ft reel inside the booth, stops by near the projector to look around and realized that one of the reels had caught itself on fire. The theater was mostly destroyed except the walls and marquee. It was rebuilt beginning on July 20, 1944 and reopened later that year on October 19, 1944. Reopened with Frank Sinatra in “Step Freely” with no extras, the theater was equipped with new sound equipment from RCA and new projection from Simplex.
It was closed in May 1976 after being destroyed by another fire.
The Tulip opened on March 4, 1942 with Walter Pidgeon in “How Green Is My Valley” along with a few unnamed short subjects. It was closed during the first-to-second quarters of 1954, and was razed in July of that year to make way for an office.
The theater did not close in 1975, it was still in operation even before and after incidents. The theater closed at the end of the 1987 season after screening X-Rated films for a truckload of years since April 18, 1969.
The Louis Joliet Cinema actually opened during the same year the Louis Joliet Mall opened in 1978 according to some snippets from the Chicago Tribune.
Opened on July 3, 1952 with “Bagdad” along with a few unnamed short subjects, and was closed around the same month the Starlite closed its gates in September 1985.
The Beltline and the Starlite were the only drive-ins in Columbia to have a much more appropriate fare on films, which both theaters picked up first-run movies throughout most of its history, but sometimes can pick up a few other mixtures but not very harmful to audiences.
This theater actually first started off as the “Alta Vista Drive-In”, opening its gates in June 1947. The Alta Vista changed its name to the Twilite in 1954, and it became the Starlite in November 1980 until closing around the same month the Beltline closed in September 1985.
The Beltline and the Starlite were the only drive-ins in Columbia to have a much more appropriate fare on films, which both theaters picked up first-run movies throughout most of its history, but sometimes can pick up a few other mixtures but not very harmful to audiences.
The Skyway Drive-In held onto a huge amount of incidents during 1975 where a robbery took place including action with a pistol, and in 1977 and 1978 when the theater took all for suitings and claimants.
After closing for a few years beginning in 1977 due to the ownership and the theater filing a suiting, the theater reopened in 1981 but after just 2 years on running mostly not-so-suitable drive-in fare, it closed again, this time for the final time in 1983.
It also opened with a Tom and Jerry cartoon in “The Two Mousketeers” and a MGM “News Of The Day” newsreel.
The “Sun-Set” name lasted until 1955 when the name was correctly reduced to “Sunset”, although some papers recommend that name as early as August 1954.
The Sunset Drive-In ended its life at the end of the 1987 season, after screening X-rated films for a truckload of years since April 18, 1969.
Before the theater began running its longtime stunt with X-rated films, the last first-run feature the Sunset ran before flipping the table is Sean Connery’s “ThunderBall” which only ran for a week beginning on April 11, 1969.
The theater had a few incidents from here-and-there such as robberies, protesting letters, and even the manager, 26-year-old Michael Vassey, arrested from the Columbia Police Department in March 1975 due to the theater screening X rated films out into the public, and was later charged with violation of the state law later that first week of July of that year.
Opened On May 17, 1972 With George Segal In “The Hot Rock”.
The Princess Theatre opened on July 15, 1927 with Jackie Coogan in “Johnie, Get Your Haircut” with no extras which was shown for one day.