The new St. Joseph’s Hall opened October 15, 1907 replacing the 19th Century Hall operated by St. Joseph’s Church. On July 12, 1912, the Hall relaunched after a refurbishing including regular motion picture screenings.Known primarily as the St. Joseph’s Theatre, the theatre converted to sound but appears to have exited the movie business in 1931. It appears to have been run mostly by women of the Church.
The theater returned to its original name as St. Joseph’s Hall continuing with live events and dances until February 16, 1963 when two teenage arsonists decided to burn down the facility ending its 55-year run. The building’s remains were razed in August of 1963.
The new-build Big Horn Theatre appears to have opened on December 1, 1917. It was equipped for sound and changed names to the Greybull Theatre almost 50 years later.
The Greybull appears to have closed December 26, 1971 with its final screening as “The Tale of the Dean’s Wife” staring Luanne Roberts. The Chamber of Commerce had some form of operating agreement where local plays could be staged and, in off periods, motion pictures were played. Bill Shumway’s booking of X-rated films met with the Chamber’s displeasure and they closed the movie house despite the fact that it was financially self-sustaining.
The Rialto closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020. Rent negotiations floundered during the pandemic and the closure was announced as permanent at the end of September 2020.
The town’s second Jefferson Theatre opened by C.L. Hackworth on June 26, 1916 with Louise Lovely in “The Gilded Spider.” Opening day patrons were impressed with the pipe organ and orchestra along with the gold fibre screen. As theatres equipped for sound, the Jefferson was left behind. The Jefferson went out of business showing silent exploitation films in January of 1930.
The operators of the Lyric, Lyric Amusement Circuit, took on the location wiring it for sound and relaunching there as the Roxy Theatre on February 12, 1931 with “The Cohens and Kellys in Africa.” The Roxy failed about a year later closing on May 7, 1932 with Jack Holt in “Behind the Mask.” Becker’s Store leveled the floor opening there September 26, 1932.
The Princess Theatre was Huntsville’s leading African American theater. It was operated by the Heffleman family and was the successor to the silent era Picto Theatre on Jefferson Street. C.L. Heffleman died in 1952 but son, Jack, ran the operation. On June 5, 1954, the theatre installed widescreen projection to show CinemaScope films. Appears to have ended operations August 30, 1963.
The location was home to a vaudeville theatre in 1905 named the Strand whose film roots dates back to becoming a full time nickelodeon in 1907. It became the New Strand Theatre in the 1930s after a refresh. By decade’s end it became the New Rex Theatre – the city’s second Rex.The Rex closed in 1959 with “Gone with the Wind.” But following a 30-year lease as a beautician school, the Rex returned with movies in 1989. For its last 11 years it was home to live events.
But the theatre closed in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020, the operators made the closure permanent stating, “Due to the ongoing hardship and uncertain future caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rex Theater will be closing our doors after over a decade of live music and events.”
ShowRoom Cinemas closed The ShowRoom Cinema in Bradley Beach and its triplex in Asbury Park on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020, ShowRoom made both closures permanent. They became two of many theatres closed permanently by their operators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ShowRoom Cinemas closed The ShowRoom Cinema 3 in Asbury Park and its Bradley Beach locations on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020, ShowRoom made both closures permanent. They became two of many theatres closed permanently by their operators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Excello theatre was owned by the late State Senator Joseph Mogler who owned three silent movie houses in St. Louis. He owned the Excello that opened in 1911, the Bremen, and – of course – the Mogler Theatre in which he was assassinated in 1929. The Bremen and Mogler have their own CinemaTreasure pages. All three Mogler theatres went dark after his assassination at the Mogler Theatre on December 2, 1929. But on a new lease, it relaunched in 1931 when the Mogler estate sold the theater to the Kaimann Brothers Circuit.
The Kaimanns wired the theater for sound and resume temporarily using the existing Excello Theatre moniker on August 25, 1931. They then renamed it the ? Theatre that November with a renaming contest. It was renamed from the mysterious ? Theatre to the Salisbury Theatre in February of 1932. The Salisbury name stuck for almost the next 25 years.,The Salisbury exited with December 30, 1956 showings of Ray Danton in “Outside the Law” and Tom Tully in “Behind The High Wall.” The next ad for the venue was in the “real estate for sale” listings which was purchased by a northside church group which renamed it the Northside Church in 1957.
The Lincoln Theatre was an African American theater located in the Arcade Building. listed as for sale in 1936. The venue found a new operator who renamed it the Roosevelt Theatre in a July of 1937 relaunch. That proved to be short-lived.
The Lyric Theatre at 301-303 Collinsville Avenue was opened by Harry G. Redmon who opened several East St. Louis movie houses. So popular was the Lyric Theatre that Redmon opened the much larger Majestic Theatre in 1915. Redmon took the film bookings and also his Lyric Orchestra led by John Livaudais. Joe Erber took on the Lyric. He was a veteran talent booker and showman Joe Erber whose career lasted decades. He then moved the Lyric to the Majestic Theatre building.
Erber hired as one of the Lyric’s managers one Laurence Richardson Jossenberger – aka Larry Richardson. Richardson would go from theatre manager in East St. Louis to Hollywood performer. He would appear in more than 50 Century Comedy shorts as Larry Rich. He appears to have failed at getting a starring role and would go on to the vaudeville circuit with his wife, a former Mack Sennett performer. Erber sold the theatre to Arco Amusement which converted the Lyric Theatre to Vitaphone sound in 1928.
But the conversion may have been too much as the theatre closed in February 1929 when creditors forced the closure of both the Lyric and the Avenue. The Lyric was purchased at the asset disposition of the Arco Amusement Company. It was reopened soon thereafter in 1929 as the New Orpheum Theatre which has another ten years of operation in which Erber was associated. It closed and has since been demolished.
Opening films w ere “Money from Home” and “10 Wanted Men” on March 16, 1956. Closed at the end of a 25-year lease with “Octagon,” “Street Fighters” and “Butch and Sundance.” The architects were Gerhardt Kramer and Joe G.Harms. Screen size was 70’ by 102’.
The Orson Welles Cinema concept began April 8, 1969 with We “The Immortal Story” and Luis Bunuel’s “Simon of the Desert.” The three-screen operation closed during May 25, 1986 showings of “Always,” Dreamchild,“ and "Water” as a fire broke out. After repairs for a 1986 fire, the Welles remained closed by CATE Enterprises Circuit due to insurance negotiations. The space was converted for other retail purposes.
CATE Enterprises Circuit announced this as an 8-screen complex in the summer of 1983. When it launched finally on September 19, 1986 for CATE, it was then ten screens with 2,960 seats (4-350, 4-300 and 2-180 seat audis).
Hoyts' Circuit took on the location in 1993 likely taking on a 15-year leasing agreement. It closed the theatre following Labor Day showings on September 3, 2001. In December of 2002, Holiday Cinemas took on the venue likely to finish out the leasing contract. Holiday closed the 10-plex on October 30, 2008 (though some unplayed, errant listings are published thereafter).
The GCC Meriden Mall Cinema I & II November 18, 1970 grand opening featured “Lovers and Other Strangers” and “WUSA.“ General Cinema vacated at the midpoint of a 20-year lease on November 17, 1980 as the Meriden Mall had devolved to greyfield status losing the vast majority of its retailers.
In March of 1981, the Meridien Mall moniker changed to the Meriden Hub under new operators. The venue had one more chance as it reopened in the Fall of 1981 as the Hub Cinema I & II before closing in December of 1982. It does not appear to have reopened. The entire vacant Hub was mercifully demolished in 2007.
o December 1921 fires in Connecticut theatres led officials to close Wallingford’s church turned theatre which suffered one of the State’s two fires. The officials also closed the George H. Wilkinson-headed Wallingford Opera House Which served as its other movie venue. Closed due to lack of fire escapes in the multi-leveled seating auditorium that was on the third and fourth floor of the structure, Wilkinson had this facility drawn up in 1922. The Wilkinson Theatre opened in 1923 and was transitioned to sound by decade’s end. Wilkinson died in 1939 leaving his son in charge which he did for nearly 30 more years.
Wallingford’s own Morton Downey appeared live on the Wilkinson stage as part of the “Camel Hour” in the 1940s. During the war, Wilkinson acquired the Strand Theatre temporarily renaming it the Victory. Wilkinson operated both theaters until closing the Strand/Victory in 1954. In 1955, Wilkinson transformed his remaining theater to widescreen for the purpose of displaying CinemaScope films.
The Wilkinson Theater was closed in May of 1967 after just over 45 years of operation as he retired selling the theater to the Dime Bank. The bank tore down the theater to expand its downtown operation.
The theatre opened as Ricci’s Theatre (aka Ricci Theatre) on Christmas Day, December 25, 1913 by Joseph M. Ricci. On August 15, 1915 and following a refresh it became a movie house called the Life Theatre. For the next 15 years, the Life Theatre played mostly silent films.
Ricci sold the venue but he and his son, A. Leo Ricci’s, reacquired the venue wiring it for sound and renaming it the Ricci Capitol Theatre on November 11, 1930. The outdoor sign read, Joseph M. Ricci’s Capitol Theatre. Leo Ricci arranged a ten year sub-lease with Connecticut Amusement to run it as an art house beginning April 1, 1964 as the Capitol Theatre.
The business trailed off at the start of the 1970s. So in January of 1971 to the end of sublease on March 30, 1974, the Capitol successfully showed X-rated fare during the height of the porno chic era. Films were advertised often with code names such as “Throat” instead of “Deep Throat” to offset community backlash. Leo Ricci returned to the Capitol on April 1, 1974 running it to closure as a sub-run family-oriented discount movie house. The theater closed and later was razed.
The new St. Joseph’s Hall opened October 15, 1907 replacing the 19th Century Hall operated by St. Joseph’s Church. On July 12, 1912, the Hall relaunched after a refurbishing including regular motion picture screenings.Known primarily as the St. Joseph’s Theatre, the theatre converted to sound but appears to have exited the movie business in 1931. It appears to have been run mostly by women of the Church.
The theater returned to its original name as St. Joseph’s Hall continuing with live events and dances until February 16, 1963 when two teenage arsonists decided to burn down the facility ending its 55-year run. The building’s remains were razed in August of 1963.
The new-build Big Horn Theatre appears to have opened on December 1, 1917. It was equipped for sound and changed names to the Greybull Theatre almost 50 years later.
The Greybull appears to have closed December 26, 1971 with its final screening as “The Tale of the Dean’s Wife” staring Luanne Roberts. The Chamber of Commerce had some form of operating agreement where local plays could be staged and, in off periods, motion pictures were played. Bill Shumway’s booking of X-rated films met with the Chamber’s displeasure and they closed the movie house despite the fact that it was financially self-sustaining.
The Rialto closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020. Rent negotiations floundered during the pandemic and the closure was announced as permanent at the end of September 2020.
The town’s second Jefferson Theatre opened by C.L. Hackworth on June 26, 1916 with Louise Lovely in “The Gilded Spider.” Opening day patrons were impressed with the pipe organ and orchestra along with the gold fibre screen. As theatres equipped for sound, the Jefferson was left behind. The Jefferson went out of business showing silent exploitation films in January of 1930.
The operators of the Lyric, Lyric Amusement Circuit, took on the location wiring it for sound and relaunching there as the Roxy Theatre on February 12, 1931 with “The Cohens and Kellys in Africa.” The Roxy failed about a year later closing on May 7, 1932 with Jack Holt in “Behind the Mask.” Becker’s Store leveled the floor opening there September 26, 1932.
The Princess Theatre was Huntsville’s leading African American theater. It was operated by the Heffleman family and was the successor to the silent era Picto Theatre on Jefferson Street. C.L. Heffleman died in 1952 but son, Jack, ran the operation. On June 5, 1954, the theatre installed widescreen projection to show CinemaScope films. Appears to have ended operations August 30, 1963.
Demolished September of 2020 with “Cinema” signage from its “General Cinema” roots still on the backside of the building at its razing
Final showings for the AMC Classic Hornbeck Twin: September 29, 2020 with repertory showings of “Back to the Future” and “The Goonies”
The location was home to a vaudeville theatre in 1905 named the Strand whose film roots dates back to becoming a full time nickelodeon in 1907. It became the New Strand Theatre in the 1930s after a refresh. By decade’s end it became the New Rex Theatre – the city’s second Rex.The Rex closed in 1959 with “Gone with the Wind.” But following a 30-year lease as a beautician school, the Rex returned with movies in 1989. For its last 11 years it was home to live events.
But the theatre closed in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020, the operators made the closure permanent stating, “Due to the ongoing hardship and uncertain future caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rex Theater will be closing our doors after over a decade of live music and events.”
ShowRoom Cinemas closed The ShowRoom Cinema in Bradley Beach and its triplex in Asbury Park on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020, ShowRoom made both closures permanent. They became two of many theatres closed permanently by their operators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ShowRoom Cinemas closed The ShowRoom Cinema 3 in Asbury Park and its Bradley Beach locations on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020, ShowRoom made both closures permanent. They became two of many theatres closed permanently by their operators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The theater building was a converted factory.
The Excello theatre was owned by the late State Senator Joseph Mogler who owned three silent movie houses in St. Louis. He owned the Excello that opened in 1911, the Bremen, and – of course – the Mogler Theatre in which he was assassinated in 1929. The Bremen and Mogler have their own CinemaTreasure pages. All three Mogler theatres went dark after his assassination at the Mogler Theatre on December 2, 1929. But on a new lease, it relaunched in 1931 when the Mogler estate sold the theater to the Kaimann Brothers Circuit.
The Kaimanns wired the theater for sound and resume temporarily using the existing Excello Theatre moniker on August 25, 1931. They then renamed it the ? Theatre that November with a renaming contest. It was renamed from the mysterious ? Theatre to the Salisbury Theatre in February of 1932. The Salisbury name stuck for almost the next 25 years.,The Salisbury exited with December 30, 1956 showings of Ray Danton in “Outside the Law” and Tom Tully in “Behind The High Wall.” The next ad for the venue was in the “real estate for sale” listings which was purchased by a northside church group which renamed it the Northside Church in 1957.
The Lincoln Theatre was an African American theater located in the Arcade Building. listed as for sale in 1936. The venue found a new operator who renamed it the Roosevelt Theatre in a July of 1937 relaunch. That proved to be short-lived.
Owner Grover C. Thompson was having labor difficulties and an explosion rocked the Idlewood on February 2, 1928. It’s unclear if the theater reopened.
The Lyric Theatre at 301-303 Collinsville Avenue was opened by Harry G. Redmon who opened several East St. Louis movie houses. So popular was the Lyric Theatre that Redmon opened the much larger Majestic Theatre in 1915. Redmon took the film bookings and also his Lyric Orchestra led by John Livaudais. Joe Erber took on the Lyric. He was a veteran talent booker and showman Joe Erber whose career lasted decades. He then moved the Lyric to the Majestic Theatre building.
Erber hired as one of the Lyric’s managers one Laurence Richardson Jossenberger – aka Larry Richardson. Richardson would go from theatre manager in East St. Louis to Hollywood performer. He would appear in more than 50 Century Comedy shorts as Larry Rich. He appears to have failed at getting a starring role and would go on to the vaudeville circuit with his wife, a former Mack Sennett performer. Erber sold the theatre to Arco Amusement which converted the Lyric Theatre to Vitaphone sound in 1928.
But the conversion may have been too much as the theatre closed in February 1929 when creditors forced the closure of both the Lyric and the Avenue. The Lyric was purchased at the asset disposition of the Arco Amusement Company. It was reopened soon thereafter in 1929 as the New Orpheum Theatre which has another ten years of operation in which Erber was associated. It closed and has since been demolished.
Opening films w ere “Money from Home” and “10 Wanted Men” on March 16, 1956. Closed at the end of a 25-year lease with “Octagon,” “Street Fighters” and “Butch and Sundance.” The architects were Gerhardt Kramer and Joe G.Harms. Screen size was 70’ by 102’.
Once operated by CATE Enterprises Circuit. Final shows on September 9, 1990 were “The Freshman,” “Men at Work,” “Flatliners” and “My Blue Heaven.”
At one time operated by CATE Enterprises Circuit.
At one time operated by CATE Enterprises Circuit.
The Orson Welles Cinema concept began April 8, 1969 with We “The Immortal Story” and Luis Bunuel’s “Simon of the Desert.” The three-screen operation closed during May 25, 1986 showings of “Always,” Dreamchild,“ and "Water” as a fire broke out. After repairs for a 1986 fire, the Welles remained closed by CATE Enterprises Circuit due to insurance negotiations. The space was converted for other retail purposes.
CATE Enterprises Circuit announced this as an 8-screen complex in the summer of 1983. When it launched finally on September 19, 1986 for CATE, it was then ten screens with 2,960 seats (4-350, 4-300 and 2-180 seat audis).
Hoyts' Circuit took on the location in 1993 likely taking on a 15-year leasing agreement. It closed the theatre following Labor Day showings on September 3, 2001. In December of 2002, Holiday Cinemas took on the venue likely to finish out the leasing contract. Holiday closed the 10-plex on October 30, 2008 (though some unplayed, errant listings are published thereafter).
The GCC Meriden Mall Cinema I & II November 18, 1970 grand opening featured “Lovers and Other Strangers” and “WUSA.“ General Cinema vacated at the midpoint of a 20-year lease on November 17, 1980 as the Meriden Mall had devolved to greyfield status losing the vast majority of its retailers.
In March of 1981, the Meridien Mall moniker changed to the Meriden Hub under new operators. The venue had one more chance as it reopened in the Fall of 1981 as the Hub Cinema I & II before closing in December of 1982. It does not appear to have reopened. The entire vacant Hub was mercifully demolished in 2007.
The GCC Meriden Mall Cinema I & II November 18, 1970 grand opening ad with “Lovers and Other Strangers” and “Wusa”
o December 1921 fires in Connecticut theatres led officials to close Wallingford’s church turned theatre which suffered one of the State’s two fires. The officials also closed the George H. Wilkinson-headed Wallingford Opera House Which served as its other movie venue. Closed due to lack of fire escapes in the multi-leveled seating auditorium that was on the third and fourth floor of the structure, Wilkinson had this facility drawn up in 1922. The Wilkinson Theatre opened in 1923 and was transitioned to sound by decade’s end. Wilkinson died in 1939 leaving his son in charge which he did for nearly 30 more years.
Wallingford’s own Morton Downey appeared live on the Wilkinson stage as part of the “Camel Hour” in the 1940s. During the war, Wilkinson acquired the Strand Theatre temporarily renaming it the Victory. Wilkinson operated both theaters until closing the Strand/Victory in 1954. In 1955, Wilkinson transformed his remaining theater to widescreen for the purpose of displaying CinemaScope films.
The Wilkinson Theater was closed in May of 1967 after just over 45 years of operation as he retired selling the theater to the Dime Bank. The bank tore down the theater to expand its downtown operation.
The theatre opened as Ricci’s Theatre (aka Ricci Theatre) on Christmas Day, December 25, 1913 by Joseph M. Ricci. On August 15, 1915 and following a refresh it became a movie house called the Life Theatre. For the next 15 years, the Life Theatre played mostly silent films.
Ricci sold the venue but he and his son, A. Leo Ricci’s, reacquired the venue wiring it for sound and renaming it the Ricci Capitol Theatre on November 11, 1930. The outdoor sign read, Joseph M. Ricci’s Capitol Theatre. Leo Ricci arranged a ten year sub-lease with Connecticut Amusement to run it as an art house beginning April 1, 1964 as the Capitol Theatre.
The business trailed off at the start of the 1970s. So in January of 1971 to the end of sublease on March 30, 1974, the Capitol successfully showed X-rated fare during the height of the porno chic era. Films were advertised often with code names such as “Throat” instead of “Deep Throat” to offset community backlash. Leo Ricci returned to the Capitol on April 1, 1974 running it to closure as a sub-run family-oriented discount movie house. The theater closed and later was razed.