The fire was Christmas Eve 1989.
“All Dogs Go To Heaven” which was released November 17, 1989 remained on the marquee for years according to locals.
“Ernest Saves Christmas” 1988 and “Batman” 1989 had also played there previously.
1950 Roy Rogers Weekend photo added courtesy of Mary Ann Slavik Wilder, whose father Frank Slavik operated the Lonet.
Full album of 13 photos with description in Facebook link below.
1940s photo added via Bonnie Blythe.
Portland Theatre marquee on the far right down Preble Street.
Matches the structure in Joe Vogel’s link in the above comment from 2015.
This history courtesy of the Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page.
In correlation with some of the 1910 postcard images in the Photos Section.
BF Keith’s Theatre, postcard mailed 1910; the entrances still exist, but the theatre itself is now the parking lot behind the parking garage at Brown and Cumberland.
20 Preble St., also 477 Congress
Theater Name: B.F. Keith’s Theater
Alternate Theater Name(s): Keith’s Theater, Civic [1938]
Owners: Clifford S. Hamilton, mgr. (Julius Cahn-Gus Hill 1921)
Affliated with:
Maine Amusement Co., E.F. Albee, Pres.
as Civic: Zeitz Bros. Circuit, State Theater Bdg., New Bedford, Ma., pres. Harry Zeitz (1956 Yrbook of Motion Pictures and 1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM)
Date Opened: 1908
Date Closed: 1965
Sources: Annual Register of Maine, 1913, 1927
Building today: demolished 1965; Preble St. lobby extant, mosaic floor can be seen in store.
Photos:
QDB/NHF Coll. 4 cards: ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Me.’; also ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Maine’ interior (1910); also ‘Preble St. Entrance Keith’s New Theatre Portland, Me.’ b&w; also ‘Preble St. Looking towards Monument Sq., Portland, Me.’ shows Portland Theatre too.
NHF postcard, Keith’s Theatre with Gents Smoking Room. (1910)
Franklyn Lenthall and David Bowers both have interior image, ‘Boxes at Keith’s Theatre.’ Another Bowers postcard has exterior and two interior views, including ‘Main Entrance, Preble Street’ and Congress Street Entrance, Subway' which is a long hall with mirrors. Third Bowers card has four interiors including ‘Gents Smoking Room’ ‘Ladies Parlor.’ Copyrighted ‘08.
NHF postcard, Congress St. above Monument Square, Portland.
Bowers, exterior view of brick building with two story facade and hanging Keith’s sign and exterior kiosk with oval Keith’s sign over it. Postcard copyright 1908. Also postcard interior 'Ticket Office Keith’s New Theater.’
One Bowers exterior postcard has facade from across the street, hanging from awning is sign advertising the film ‘Brewsters Millions.’ Another Bowers postcard has Longfellow’s Home with Keith’s Theatre entrance adjacent, postmark 1912.
Northeast Historic Film visit date:
Theater Type: Cinema/Vaudeville
Notes:
Cap. 1,875. H.L. Watkins, booking manager. Belongs to B.F. Keith’s Circuit. Plays vaudeville and pictures. Stage 55 ft. wide, 37 ft. deep, 64 ft. high. Distance of throw 105 ft. size of screen 12 x 14 ft. Simplex Projecting Machine, Lauriet Dufor, operator. Albert E. Hopkins, Orchestra Leader. B.F. Keith’s vaudeville Exchange, NY Reps. per Julius Cahn-Gus Hill Directory 1921. Wids 1923, p. 449, listed in Important First Run Houses.
Pop. 69,272, cap. 1,899, tickets 50 cents and 75 cents, open every day except Sunday, mgr. A.I. Marinton, booker H.L. Watkins, purchasing agent H.L. Watkins, projectionist Harry Boynton, phone Forest 2742, per Motion Picture Trade Directory 1928, 1929.
‘Architect A.E. Westover and his local associates, F.H. and E.F. Fassett, made an auditorium 85 feet deep by 87 feet wide. The orchestra seated 700, the balcony 600, and the gallery 500, affording a capacity of 1,800. Two double boxes and four singles flanked the stage on the orchestra floor. There were eight more at the balcony level. Cherubic statues, illuminated from the rear, topped the boxes. The decor was rococo with a color scheme based on Nile green. Orchestra and balcony seats were upholstered with green leather. There was a large cartouche in the center of the proscenium picturing reclining figures with lyre and tambourine….The marble subway from Congress Street ran some 300 feet long. In later years when the Preble House was demolished and replaced by the Chapman Building, an arcade ran from Congress Street to B.F. Keith’s main lobby and thence out to Preble Street. It was lined with shops and restaurants. The new house played vaudeville, Kinetograph movies and had its own stock company.’ Theatres of Portland, Maine, pp. 13-14, Don King, 1987.
‘Keith’s Theatre closed in 1933…reopened for brief periods after RKO gave it up. It remained dark from mid-April through October first of 1934. It was reopened for the last time by a Boston based company which had been successful with a cut rate revival film policy called 'Proven Pictures.’ But even the combining of stage shows with the oldies and the installation of new soft seats did not attract sufficient patronage. Keith’s closed permanently in 1938 at 30 years of age. In 1939 Portland’s Chamber of Commerce, together with local businessmen, leased Keith’s and renamed it the Civic Theatre. It was completely refurbished. Its stage area was brought up to date. A new marquee was installed at the Congress Street entrance. The grand opening on November 20 featured the San Carlo Opera Company.‘ ibid, p. 25-26.Portland Maine History 1786 to Prese
'By 1941 the Civic’s cultural adventure was abandoned. The house was leased to an out of town motion picture chain. [Zeitz] Movies, vaudeville and stage shows were successful once again.’ ibid p. 27.
‘Harry Zeitz…[owns New Bedford, Mass. theaters] and the Portland (Me.) Civic…Zeitz was in the first world war and son Carl is in France. Son Robert is in school. He is a member of the American Legion, the Zionist Organization of America, Tifireth Israel and Variety Club. He makes it a point to see all his shows. (1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM, with photo)
Civic seats 1500
Via Lou Merchen: Built in 1925, closed in 1991.
Marquee removed after that.
1950 photo added, raising the Winner Drive-In screen.
August 2018 piece on the Dells Theatre 80th anniversary.
https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/celebrating-80-years-dells-theatre-hosts-movie-premier/1392150294?fbclid=IwAR1H7Y0Vy_azqjWF2CuEat5RmOm8zgLqbeC50KpB9efF4HeoCNNYU6lDEHg
1931 & 1988 photos added. Most recently housed Budget Appliance & Furniture/Dollar Store.
Photo credit the South Dakota Historical Society publication “Before and After.”
Another article about the collapse.
https://kaloramahistory.blogspot.com/2014/09/knickbocker-theater-death-trap-of-1922.html?fbclid=IwAR3qTJNFFKa7CgfctUy2q25CyqGLmMi1oESSSfcYvd_SFl1yqPek-5dHepk
April 16, 1916 Houdini appearance ad at B.F. Keith’s added, credit The Evening Star.
Early `40s postcard added.
1952 photo added via Mase Mason.
4 images added.
The fire was Christmas Eve 1989. “All Dogs Go To Heaven” which was released November 17, 1989 remained on the marquee for years according to locals. “Ernest Saves Christmas” 1988 and “Batman” 1989 had also played there previously.
1916 photo as the Orpheum Theatre and 1946 photo as the Nebraska Theatre added.
1947 photo as the State Theatre added.
Photos album credit The Tennessean, courtesy of Nashville Then: Controversy at the Crescent Cinerama in 1966.
https://www.tennessean.com/media/cinematic/gallery/87957330/nashville-then-controversy-at-the-cresent-cinerama-in-1966/
May 12. 1978 photo added with “Malibu Beach” on the marquee, so it must have closed later that year.
Up for sale.
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/10/23/18016156/mitchell-brothers-theatre-strip-club-sale?fbclid=IwAR2QuyO6oZZM_CyODvBu5_BSg8QXlV3oOUZ3fPTMrVzaJxSUzhEpPb3yLVw
1950 Roy Rogers Weekend photo added courtesy of Mary Ann Slavik Wilder, whose father Frank Slavik operated the Lonet. Full album of 13 photos with description in Facebook link below.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Memory-Lane-Wellington-Ohio-271973179356/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10152271103934357
1977 photo credit John Margolies.
2012 LoopNet link with photo.
https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17057701/254-W-Voorhis-Ave-Deland-FL/?fbclid=IwAR3XBLZeoTXLuzqz0Zjy9pyjGZD6O9zvWMISD15-KQHpsGSLyztQI_Dbeqw
Address is 371 State Route 296 Hensonville, NY 12439, present day Town Hall-Town of Windham NY.
The end of Gayety’s last shop.
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/10/23/gayetys-set-to-close/
Opened 1951, 1 screen, 300 car capacity, closed 2001. CinemaTour link with 9 photos below.
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/7059.html
Was still the Colonial Theatre in 1927.
Two images added.
1940s photo added via Bonnie Blythe. Portland Theatre marquee on the far right down Preble Street. Matches the structure in Joe Vogel’s link in the above comment from 2015.
This history courtesy of the Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page. In correlation with some of the 1910 postcard images in the Photos Section.
BF Keith’s Theatre, postcard mailed 1910; the entrances still exist, but the theatre itself is now the parking lot behind the parking garage at Brown and Cumberland.
20 Preble St., also 477 Congress Theater Name: B.F. Keith’s Theater Alternate Theater Name(s): Keith’s Theater, Civic [1938] Owners: Clifford S. Hamilton, mgr. (Julius Cahn-Gus Hill 1921) Affliated with: Maine Amusement Co., E.F. Albee, Pres. as Civic: Zeitz Bros. Circuit, State Theater Bdg., New Bedford, Ma., pres. Harry Zeitz (1956 Yrbook of Motion Pictures and 1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM) Date Opened: 1908 Date Closed: 1965 Sources: Annual Register of Maine, 1913, 1927 Building today: demolished 1965; Preble St. lobby extant, mosaic floor can be seen in store. Photos: QDB/NHF Coll. 4 cards: ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Me.’; also ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Maine’ interior (1910); also ‘Preble St. Entrance Keith’s New Theatre Portland, Me.’ b&w; also ‘Preble St. Looking towards Monument Sq., Portland, Me.’ shows Portland Theatre too. NHF postcard, Keith’s Theatre with Gents Smoking Room. (1910) Franklyn Lenthall and David Bowers both have interior image, ‘Boxes at Keith’s Theatre.’ Another Bowers postcard has exterior and two interior views, including ‘Main Entrance, Preble Street’ and Congress Street Entrance, Subway' which is a long hall with mirrors. Third Bowers card has four interiors including ‘Gents Smoking Room’ ‘Ladies Parlor.’ Copyrighted ‘08. NHF postcard, Congress St. above Monument Square, Portland. Bowers, exterior view of brick building with two story facade and hanging Keith’s sign and exterior kiosk with oval Keith’s sign over it. Postcard copyright 1908. Also postcard interior 'Ticket Office Keith’s New Theater.’ One Bowers exterior postcard has facade from across the street, hanging from awning is sign advertising the film ‘Brewsters Millions.’ Another Bowers postcard has Longfellow’s Home with Keith’s Theatre entrance adjacent, postmark 1912. Northeast Historic Film visit date: Theater Type: Cinema/Vaudeville Notes: Cap. 1,875. H.L. Watkins, booking manager. Belongs to B.F. Keith’s Circuit. Plays vaudeville and pictures. Stage 55 ft. wide, 37 ft. deep, 64 ft. high. Distance of throw 105 ft. size of screen 12 x 14 ft. Simplex Projecting Machine, Lauriet Dufor, operator. Albert E. Hopkins, Orchestra Leader. B.F. Keith’s vaudeville Exchange, NY Reps. per Julius Cahn-Gus Hill Directory 1921. Wids 1923, p. 449, listed in Important First Run Houses. Pop. 69,272, cap. 1,899, tickets 50 cents and 75 cents, open every day except Sunday, mgr. A.I. Marinton, booker H.L. Watkins, purchasing agent H.L. Watkins, projectionist Harry Boynton, phone Forest 2742, per Motion Picture Trade Directory 1928, 1929. ‘Architect A.E. Westover and his local associates, F.H. and E.F. Fassett, made an auditorium 85 feet deep by 87 feet wide. The orchestra seated 700, the balcony 600, and the gallery 500, affording a capacity of 1,800. Two double boxes and four singles flanked the stage on the orchestra floor. There were eight more at the balcony level. Cherubic statues, illuminated from the rear, topped the boxes. The decor was rococo with a color scheme based on Nile green. Orchestra and balcony seats were upholstered with green leather. There was a large cartouche in the center of the proscenium picturing reclining figures with lyre and tambourine….The marble subway from Congress Street ran some 300 feet long. In later years when the Preble House was demolished and replaced by the Chapman Building, an arcade ran from Congress Street to B.F. Keith’s main lobby and thence out to Preble Street. It was lined with shops and restaurants. The new house played vaudeville, Kinetograph movies and had its own stock company.’ Theatres of Portland, Maine, pp. 13-14, Don King, 1987. ‘Keith’s Theatre closed in 1933…reopened for brief periods after RKO gave it up. It remained dark from mid-April through October first of 1934. It was reopened for the last time by a Boston based company which had been successful with a cut rate revival film policy called 'Proven Pictures.’ But even the combining of stage shows with the oldies and the installation of new soft seats did not attract sufficient patronage. Keith’s closed permanently in 1938 at 30 years of age. In 1939 Portland’s Chamber of Commerce, together with local businessmen, leased Keith’s and renamed it the Civic Theatre. It was completely refurbished. Its stage area was brought up to date. A new marquee was installed at the Congress Street entrance. The grand opening on November 20 featured the San Carlo Opera Company.‘ ibid, p. 25-26.Portland Maine History 1786 to Prese 'By 1941 the Civic’s cultural adventure was abandoned. The house was leased to an out of town motion picture chain. [Zeitz] Movies, vaudeville and stage shows were successful once again.’ ibid p. 27. ‘Harry Zeitz…[owns New Bedford, Mass. theaters] and the Portland (Me.) Civic…Zeitz was in the first world war and son Carl is in France. Son Robert is in school. He is a member of the American Legion, the Zionist Organization of America, Tifireth Israel and Variety Club. He makes it a point to see all his shows. (1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM, with photo) Civic seats 1500