Also the Wurlitzer E Pipe Organ destined for Hasting’s City Auditorium ended up at the Madison Square Theatre (turned Byrd Theatre in the sound era) in Chicago.
March 25, 1927 launch day for the Rivoli with Shirley Mason in “Sweet Rosie O'Grady and a Bobby Vernon comedy short, “Don’t Fire” supported by vaudville acts. The 1,500 seat theatre was said to be at capacity.
March 25, 1927 launch ad for the Rivoli with Shirley Mason in “Sweet Rosie O'Grady and a Bobby Vernon comedy short, "Don’t Fire” supported by vaudville acts. The 1,500 seat theatre was said to be at capacity.
Working backwards, Abbott & Costello and the Andrew Sisters launched the new State Theatre on January 1, 1942 an update to the Cornhusker Theatre building. The Cornhusker ran likely on a 10-year lease from January 21, 1931 to 1941 as Hastings' “Intimate Talkie Theatre” operating along with the Rivoli. Prior to that it appears to have been run as the Empress Theatre which opened in May of 1915 likely on a 15-year lease. It had converted to sound late in 1928 and shut down in 1930 likely moving the Vitaphone equipment elsewhere and closing with the silent exploitation film, “The Pace That Kills” on February 19, 1930.
The original Strand Theatre burned down in March of 1927. Run by W.L. Douglas, he replaced the theatre opening in July of 1927 as the Douglas Theatre. In 1928, Douglas sold the venue and it had six different operators into 1936 when the name was changed to the Strand Theatre with the theatre getting a deco makeover. The Strand was still operating in 1963.
On January 1, 1942, the Guy Henderson Building was purchased Ritz operator J.A. Guest who created the Tower Theatre. That became the Moore Theatre. Finally, the Moore Theatre was refrubished in 1961 under a new operator. The new Rodeo Theatre with 532 seats opened August 4, 1961 with Stereo Vision with “September Storm” supported by the Stereo Vision cartoon, “Space Attack.”
Oddly enough, the theatre was reportedly having financial difficulties in late February likely reaching the end of a 20-year leasing agreement and, then within a week of that report, burned down on February 26, 1962 ending the Guy Henderson Building and the Rodeo Theatre.
The Playhouse Theatre was located in the Odd Fellows Building as a silent movie house. On May 30, 1930, the theatre installed RCA Photophone to present talkies staring with the film, “Through Different Eyes.” But it then went into sporadic use in 1931 and 1932 with local businesses arranging special and/or free screenings. The theatre closed in 1932 but was reopened in May of 1933 as the Lusk Theatre. On July 13, 1933, it continued operation as the Home Theatre.
Feinstein and Edmondson took on the theatre in 1934 holding a contest to rename the venue. Youth Clarence Schnurr selected Summit and won $5 for the name of Summitt Theatre which started under that moniker on August 17, 1934. Schnurr chose it due to the city of Harrison’s designation as having the highest elevation of any Nebraska city and “you can use it in advertising the theatre,” Schnurr surmised.
The theatre closed on May 19, 1947 for a major refresh. It relaunched as the “new” Summit Theatre June 12, 1947 in the same location with sloping floor. It appears to have ceased operations on December 28, 1959 with “The Young Philadelphian.”
This venue opened as the Wray Theatre. It was taken on not long thereafter by Blanche M. Tyo who changed the name of the venue and the hotel to the Tyo Theatre and the Tyo Hotel. The theatre converted to Western Electric sound in 1929 to remain viable. Tyo sold the theatre to Myrtle Blanchard and a person with the last name of Tomlinson in August of 1932. The pair changed the name to the Blanchard Theatre.
Blanchard then sold the theatre to James K. Powell effective June 29, 1933 when Powell showed “Melody Cruise.” One month later, Powell changed the theatre back to the Wray Theatre. If the newspaper is correct, the hotel was also renamed as the Wray Hotel under new operators in 1934. The final advertisements appear for the Wray Theatre in 1950 which coincides with the end of a 30- year leasing period. It appears that both the hotel and the theatre were demolished in 1959. And if they weren’t, my apologies to the Tyo family.
Opened on September 22, 1920, the $100,000 theatre launched with “The River’s End” supported by music by the Morrison Orchestra of Denver. M.L. Klinck also provided a coronet solo. Technically, on opening night it was known as the Klinck Theatre. However, Mr. and Mrs. Elgin C. Klinck announced that from that day forward it would be known as the Eldon Theatre in memory of their late son, Eldon. They vowed to keep the name of the Eldon as long as they owned the venue in memory of their late son, Eldon. (The Eldon is pictured at its launch in photos.)
On December 4, 1924, the theatre got new operators and was renamed the Grant Theatre. It converted to sound to stay relevant. In December of 1962, the State Fire Marshall prohibited smoking at the theatre effective on January 5, 1963. But as you can see above, the theatre was heavily damaged by fire on December 26, 1962. The final screening was a special Christmas show on December 21, 1962. A fund was taken up to repair the theatre but another fire in 1965 ended hopes of restoring the venue.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hackett launched the first Hickory Theatre on April 26, 1946 with “Son of Lassie.” The 180-seat theatre was named after the Hermtiage’s county of Hickory. The Hickory was destroyed on November 8, 1949 when a fire destroyed virtually the entire West Side of the Hermitage square. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Troxel rebuilt the venue from the ground up, re-launching April 28, 1950 with Red Skelton in “Neptune’s Daughter.” The theatre closed on September 1, 1959 with “Born Reckless.”
The Hickory was used for free kids and farm implement related screenings until 1961. On August 19, 1961, the venue reopened as a country music venue with The Ozark Mountain Boys headlining. That operation ceased on October 21, 1961. The building was converted in February of 1963 becoming the Payne Recreation Hall.
This building was home to the second location of the Empress Theatre which opened November 7, 1919 with Ruth Roland in “The Tiger’s Trail.” The Empress fulfilled a ten-year leasing period and went dark when operator Sam Fringer decided to let the lease lapse and move to the new Masonic Temple Building. The Empress Theatre closed on June 15, 1929 with “The Air Circus” with the equipment moving to the new Temple. The Temple Theatre opened along with the well-placed Temple Soda Shoppe next door on July 1, 1929. The theatre was hurt by a ban placed on Sunday movies by the town in 1929 which was partially released to allow Sunday matinees in 1930.
But Griffith Amusements decided to purchase the venue in October of 1937 and equip it with sound. It became the Greer Theatre named after the county and opening November 11, 1937 with Joan Blondell in “Stand-In.” The Greer went independent and closed in the 1950s due to the impact of television. However, Video Independent Theatres Circuit equipped the Greer with widescreen and a Grand Re-Opening on September 25, 1955 with “Naked Spur” and “Ride Vaquero.” But patronage even with widescreen and Technicolor was poor and the theatre closed January 20, 1957 as it approached its 20-year lease expiration.
The Temple Theatre was launched July 1, 1929 by Sam Fringer. Fringer had discontinued operation of the Empress Theatre on June 15, 1929 moving the equipment to the Temple. The theatre opened along with the well-placed Temple Soda Shoppe next door.
This theatre opened as a 70mm suburban theatre designed to present roadshow pictures - which it did with “Oliver.” It was opened by the Broumas Theatre Circuit which retained it until its bankruptcy in 1967. But the Westwood may be best known for the place where “Slap Shot” opened in 1977. Many of the films best hockey scenes were shot in Johnstown. Some fifty years after its launch, the Westwood Plaza Theatre was still going under the Fleegle Cinemas banner.
Opened December 20, 1963 with “Fun in Acapulco” staring Elvis Presley, this was another of the fledgling Broumas Theatre Circuit’s suburban strip shopping center new build locations. Unfortunately questionable business practices led to a 1967 Broumas exit from the industry in bankruptcy.
This was a typical Broumas Theatre which specialized in 700-800 suburban shopping center single-screen theatres with 70mm projection and stereo sound. It launched in the decade-old Boardman Plaza Shopping Center and stayed as a Broumas Circuit location until the chain went bankrupt in 1967.
Also the Wurlitzer E Pipe Organ destined for Hasting’s City Auditorium ended up at the Madison Square Theatre (turned Byrd Theatre in the sound era) in Chicago.
March 25, 1927 launch day for the Rivoli with Shirley Mason in “Sweet Rosie O'Grady and a Bobby Vernon comedy short, “Don’t Fire” supported by vaudville acts. The 1,500 seat theatre was said to be at capacity.
The Plaza Theatre now has its own CinemaTreasures page.
Sorry - shot from 1908.
March 25, 1927 launch ad for the Rivoli with Shirley Mason in “Sweet Rosie O'Grady and a Bobby Vernon comedy short, "Don’t Fire” supported by vaudville acts. The 1,500 seat theatre was said to be at capacity.
Working backwards, Abbott & Costello and the Andrew Sisters launched the new State Theatre on January 1, 1942 an update to the Cornhusker Theatre building. The Cornhusker ran likely on a 10-year lease from January 21, 1931 to 1941 as Hastings' “Intimate Talkie Theatre” operating along with the Rivoli. Prior to that it appears to have been run as the Empress Theatre which opened in May of 1915 likely on a 15-year lease. It had converted to sound late in 1928 and shut down in 1930 likely moving the Vitaphone equipment elsewhere and closing with the silent exploitation film, “The Pace That Kills” on February 19, 1930.
Abbott & Costello and the Andrew Sisters launch the new State Theatre on January 1, 1942 an update to the Cornhusker Theatre building
The original Strand Theatre burned down in March of 1927. Run by W.L. Douglas, he replaced the theatre opening in July of 1927 as the Douglas Theatre. In 1928, Douglas sold the venue and it had six different operators into 1936 when the name was changed to the Strand Theatre with the theatre getting a deco makeover. The Strand was still operating in 1963.
Opened as the Movieland Drive-in in September of 1948
On January 1, 1942, the Guy Henderson Building was purchased Ritz operator J.A. Guest who created the Tower Theatre. That became the Moore Theatre. Finally, the Moore Theatre was refrubished in 1961 under a new operator. The new Rodeo Theatre with 532 seats opened August 4, 1961 with Stereo Vision with “September Storm” supported by the Stereo Vision cartoon, “Space Attack.”
Oddly enough, the theatre was reportedly having financial difficulties in late February likely reaching the end of a 20-year leasing agreement and, then within a week of that report, burned down on February 26, 1962 ending the Guy Henderson Building and the Rodeo Theatre.
Ad as the Velma-Alma Drive-In Theatre
The Playhouse Theatre was located in the Odd Fellows Building as a silent movie house. On May 30, 1930, the theatre installed RCA Photophone to present talkies staring with the film, “Through Different Eyes.” But it then went into sporadic use in 1931 and 1932 with local businesses arranging special and/or free screenings. The theatre closed in 1932 but was reopened in May of 1933 as the Lusk Theatre. On July 13, 1933, it continued operation as the Home Theatre.
Feinstein and Edmondson took on the theatre in 1934 holding a contest to rename the venue. Youth Clarence Schnurr selected Summit and won $5 for the name of Summitt Theatre which started under that moniker on August 17, 1934. Schnurr chose it due to the city of Harrison’s designation as having the highest elevation of any Nebraska city and “you can use it in advertising the theatre,” Schnurr surmised.
The theatre closed on May 19, 1947 for a major refresh. It relaunched as the “new” Summit Theatre June 12, 1947 in the same location with sloping floor. It appears to have ceased operations on December 28, 1959 with “The Young Philadelphian.”
The Wyoming Theatre launched June 13, 1919 by Maurice Wolf in the Odd Fellows Building on June 13, 1919.
This venue opened as the Wray Theatre. It was taken on not long thereafter by Blanche M. Tyo who changed the name of the venue and the hotel to the Tyo Theatre and the Tyo Hotel. The theatre converted to Western Electric sound in 1929 to remain viable. Tyo sold the theatre to Myrtle Blanchard and a person with the last name of Tomlinson in August of 1932. The pair changed the name to the Blanchard Theatre.
Blanchard then sold the theatre to James K. Powell effective June 29, 1933 when Powell showed “Melody Cruise.” One month later, Powell changed the theatre back to the Wray Theatre. If the newspaper is correct, the hotel was also renamed as the Wray Hotel under new operators in 1934. The final advertisements appear for the Wray Theatre in 1950 which coincides with the end of a 30- year leasing period. It appears that both the hotel and the theatre were demolished in 1959. And if they weren’t, my apologies to the Tyo family.
Opening film January 13, 1936, was Warner Baxter in “King of Burlesque” supported by the Disney Silly Symphony cartoon, “The Cookie Carnival.”
The Ritz Theatre was launched on July 20, 1929 by C.W. Guthrie..
Opened on September 22, 1920, the $100,000 theatre launched with “The River’s End” supported by music by the Morrison Orchestra of Denver. M.L. Klinck also provided a coronet solo. Technically, on opening night it was known as the Klinck Theatre. However, Mr. and Mrs. Elgin C. Klinck announced that from that day forward it would be known as the Eldon Theatre in memory of their late son, Eldon. They vowed to keep the name of the Eldon as long as they owned the venue in memory of their late son, Eldon. (The Eldon is pictured at its launch in photos.)
On December 4, 1924, the theatre got new operators and was renamed the Grant Theatre. It converted to sound to stay relevant. In December of 1962, the State Fire Marshall prohibited smoking at the theatre effective on January 5, 1963. But as you can see above, the theatre was heavily damaged by fire on December 26, 1962. The final screening was a special Christmas show on December 21, 1962. A fund was taken up to repair the theatre but another fire in 1965 ended hopes of restoring the venue.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hackett launched the first Hickory Theatre on April 26, 1946 with “Son of Lassie.” The 180-seat theatre was named after the Hermtiage’s county of Hickory. The Hickory was destroyed on November 8, 1949 when a fire destroyed virtually the entire West Side of the Hermitage square. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Troxel rebuilt the venue from the ground up, re-launching April 28, 1950 with Red Skelton in “Neptune’s Daughter.” The theatre closed on September 1, 1959 with “Born Reckless.”
The Hickory was used for free kids and farm implement related screenings until 1961. On August 19, 1961, the venue reopened as a country music venue with The Ozark Mountain Boys headlining. That operation ceased on October 21, 1961. The building was converted in February of 1963 becoming the Payne Recreation Hall.
This building was home to the second location of the Empress Theatre which opened November 7, 1919 with Ruth Roland in “The Tiger’s Trail.” The Empress fulfilled a ten-year leasing period and went dark when operator Sam Fringer decided to let the lease lapse and move to the new Masonic Temple Building. The Empress Theatre closed on June 15, 1929 with “The Air Circus” with the equipment moving to the new Temple. The Temple Theatre opened along with the well-placed Temple Soda Shoppe next door on July 1, 1929. The theatre was hurt by a ban placed on Sunday movies by the town in 1929 which was partially released to allow Sunday matinees in 1930.
But Griffith Amusements decided to purchase the venue in October of 1937 and equip it with sound. It became the Greer Theatre named after the county and opening November 11, 1937 with Joan Blondell in “Stand-In.” The Greer went independent and closed in the 1950s due to the impact of television. However, Video Independent Theatres Circuit equipped the Greer with widescreen and a Grand Re-Opening on September 25, 1955 with “Naked Spur” and “Ride Vaquero.” But patronage even with widescreen and Technicolor was poor and the theatre closed January 20, 1957 as it approached its 20-year lease expiration.
The Temple Theatre was launched July 1, 1929 by Sam Fringer. Fringer had discontinued operation of the Empress Theatre on June 15, 1929 moving the equipment to the Temple. The theatre opened along with the well-placed Temple Soda Shoppe next door.
Opened by Broumas Theatre Circuit which held on to the theatre until its bankruptcy in 1967
In the 1960s was part of the Broumas Theatre Circuit until its demise in 1967.
This theatre opened as a 70mm suburban theatre designed to present roadshow pictures - which it did with “Oliver.” It was opened by the Broumas Theatre Circuit which retained it until its bankruptcy in 1967. But the Westwood may be best known for the place where “Slap Shot” opened in 1977. Many of the films best hockey scenes were shot in Johnstown. Some fifty years after its launch, the Westwood Plaza Theatre was still going under the Fleegle Cinemas banner.
Opened December 20, 1963 with “Fun in Acapulco” staring Elvis Presley, this was another of the fledgling Broumas Theatre Circuit’s suburban strip shopping center new build locations. Unfortunately questionable business practices led to a 1967 Broumas exit from the industry in bankruptcy.
This was a typical Broumas Theatre which specialized in 700-800 suburban shopping center single-screen theatres with 70mm projection and stereo sound. It launched in the decade-old Boardman Plaza Shopping Center and stayed as a Broumas Circuit location until the chain went bankrupt in 1967.