W.W. Smith launched the Delmar Garden on July 24, 1911 which had an indoor and an outdoor theater. Opening day featured Schepp’s Famous Performing Ponies, Dogs and Monkeys along with motion pictures. The theatre appears to close during the summer of 1913.
The 300-seat Happy Hour Theatre opened with motion pictures on April 11, 1912 by the aforementioned Robert Franklin Barrett with the films, “The Fugitive,” “A Life for Sale” and “Symphony in Black.” The Unhappy Hour occurred on October 15, 1916 when the theatre closed with a triple feature of Lon Chaney in “The Desert Bat,” the Alva Brothers' “Mexican Insurrection” and Elsie Alberts in “Pie.”
The Ritz Theatre launched with a preview show on February 9, 1927 with Monte Blue in “Other Women’s Husbands” supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The actual Grand Opening was on February 13, 1927 with “Mile a Minute Morgan” starring Matty Mattison supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The Ritz was renamed as the Royal Theater on August 21, 1927 with the exploitation films, “Tell Me Why” and “The Naked Truth.” The Royal was a quick casualty not converting to sound.
The Park-In Theater launched August 31, 1947 in the brand new Plaza Shopping Center on Gladstone. It’s opening film was “The Yearling.” The neighborhood theater was next to Park-In Furniture as meterless parking by the door was aggressively marketed as a chief advantage by the shopping center. But almost immediately, people were confusing the Park-In bookings with the popular Drive- In Theater’s elsewhere in town. Nearly one year later, the theater was rebranded as the Tower Theatre on August 22, 1948 and would celebrate its first anniversary under that name eight days later. The theatre closed at the end of its second 25-year lease in 1997.
The Electric Theatre launched October 8, 1916 with Theda Bara in “Her Double Life.” Ten years later, the Electric Theatre received a major refresh including a mighty $25,000 Wurlitzer Orchestral Organ. Sydney B. Dawson was the organist at the opening. On February 9, 1930, the Electric became the Publix Electric Theatre when the circuit took on the location.
On September 24, 1930, the theatre became the Paramount Theatre with a dedication show screening of “The Santa Fe Trail” starring Richard Arlen. In 1933, Fox purchased the Paramount when Paramount Publix went into bankruptcy reorganization. It reverted reverted to the Electric Theatre with a November 30, 1933 showing of “Man’s Town.” The Electric became the Fox Theatre with a major streamlined moderne facelift and a World Premiere showing of “Killer McCoy” on December 4, 1947. Just five days later, the Fox was gutted by fire leaving its front and four walls intact.
The Fox moved its screenings to the inactive Jefferson Theatre while recreating the Fox. the Fox reopened on June 23, 1949 having a 35 year run. The architects for the new look Fox were Kent Cole and Sam Bihr, Jr. The Fox Theatre closed on December 2, 1984 with Clint Eastwood in “Tightrope.”
Fox took over the Jefferson Theatre renaming it as the Fox Plaza Theatre on September 14, 1930 with the film “Dancing Sweeties.” Fox retired the Plaza during World War III but decided to rehab the theatre after the Fox Theatre fire of December 9, 1947. The Fox bookings were moved here as of January 14, 1948 when the theatre was renamed the Fox Jewell Theatre named after Harry S. Jewell opening with the films “Good News” and “Blondie’s Sweethearts.” Movies ended on February 3, 1954 at the Jewell Theatre with a double feature of “Gun Fury” in 3-D and “China Venture” in 2-D.
The Jewell then became home to the locally-produced but nationally-fed ABC radio network series, “Ozark Jubilee” that ran from August 7, 1954 to September 23, 1960. When the series ended, the Jewell closed. Following a demolition sale, the Jewell was demolished almost 50 years after it was built in February of 1961.
.
Dr. Diemer’s Theatre launched March 13, 1905 with the live play, “The Little Torrent.” The theatre operator had carved out a space in the Mercantile Building. There was a direct entrance to the theatre from the nearby bridge. Pearl White worked in the box office before becoming a player for the Diemer Theater Company. She went to Hollywood and became a popular serial actress including “The Perils of Pauline” and “The Exploits of Elaine.”
The Diemer played a motion picture in February of 1916 though mainly used as a live stage play venue. The Diemer Theatre stopped live plays in 1917 and was used as a live event venue until 1920. The location became Prescott’s Laundry and then a bank in 1941. The direct entry from the bridge was removed in 1954. The entire building was torn down in 1972.
I don’t, however, see any evidence that it was ever a nickelodeon.
The adult theater, the Studio, launched with the John Lamb documentary, “The Raw Ones” on March 8, 1969. It was closed on the Sabbath so as not to offend the community. The theatre survived the golden age of the porno chic era of film through to the advent of home video. The Studio closed on February 1, 1986 with Olinka Hardiman in “Blondes Like it Hot.”
The Grand Theatre launched likely on a twenty-year lease on June 18,1910 by W.W. Smith with motion pictures on a Mirror Glass Curtain. The nearly 800-seat theatre closed at the end of its lease on April 10, 1930 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Circus” never converting to sound.
On a new twenty-year lease, the venue had been wired for Western Electric sound becoming the New Iris Theatre showing movies. The independent operator’s opening double bill was on September 12, 1930 showing “Tarzan the Tiger” and “Boarder Romance.” The Iris Theatre (dropping New) operated as a discount sub-run house. The theatre appears to have closed with a bill of “Ghost City,” “Vanishing Legion,” and an Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit cartoon.
It was then taken over by Midwest Theatre Circuit out of Tulsa which also ran the Mullikin. Midwest and manager John Brown equipped it with 600 seats and went for a Spanish themed architectural style. It launched on August 9, 1933 with George Raft in “Night After Night” supported by Laurel & Hardy in “Scram” and Burns & Allen in “Your Hat.” The Mozark appears to have gone out of business at the end of its 20-year lease on August 18, 1950 with the double feature of “The Fatal Hour” and “The Shadow Returns.”
Just to be clear, this was never a newsreel movie theatre.
In September of 1956, the Kickapoo experimented with art films giving out coffee in the lobby. That appears to have been the last shot for the Kickapoo which ceased operations on November 30, 1956 with a double feature of “Diabolique” and “Captain’s Paradise.” It had a brief run as the Four Star Arena with live country music and also as a roller skating rink.
The Mullikin Theatre ended its movie run on December 28, 1952 with an awesome western triple feature of “Fury at Furnace Creek,” “Rope of Sand,” and “El Paso.” It then had a special nine-feature all-adult show for New Year’s Eve in 1952.
The Granada Theatre launched on January 12, 1937 with Joe E. Brown in “Sons o' Guns.” It was closed by police on August 10, 158 with a triple feature of “Hollywood Peep Show,” “Raw Confession of a Nudist.” and “Chained for Life.” However, the police allowed all patrons to finish the final showing of “Chained for Life” to avoid having to provide refunds. Dickinson Theatre offered the building for sale “cheap.”
DJ Charles Burton took on the location showing “art” films as the New Lyric Theatre opening September 4, 1959. That lasted one month. The theatre then became a house of worship, the Freedom Temple in 1960. In 1961, it resumed as a live concert venue, the Lyric Theatre, with live country music. it ended operations on July 31, 1964. It became a furniture store before demolition.
The Hi-M opened July 15, 1961 with “The Wonderful Country” and “Rio Bravo.” It closed for the season on August 30, 1984 with “Indiana Jones” and “Ice Pirates.” In fairly quick succession in late 1984 and early 1985, the concession stand was vandalized, the property was sold, demolished and became home to multi-family residences.
Commonwealth Amusements closed the theatre with “Six Pack” and “Stroker Ace” on the screen facing the road and “Campus Teasers” and “Sugar Lips” on the screen away from the road on September 29, 1985. But the highlight of the final month had to be the Dusk to Dawn Labor Day marathon with “Savage Streets,” “Chained Heat,” “Caged Heat,” “Concrete Jungle,” and “Avenging Angel.” Those who made it from beginning to end got a free breakfast.
The Drive-In screens and equipment were removed for use elsewhere.
The Texan Theatre was at 724 Indiana. The State was at 713 Indiana. The Texan Theatre was indeed demolished in April of 1955 in favor of a bank building. The State (which has its own CinemaTreasure Page) was still standing vacant in the 21st Century.
The Kozy Theatre opened in 1917 for Fred Perry on East Main Street in downtown Healdton. After an ownership change, the Kozy became part of the Thompson Theatres Circuit in 1921 owned by Glen D. and Ferris C. Thompson. They also would open the Lyric Airdome there in 1921 and, after it burned that year, would replace it with the Thompson Theatre.
The Kozy was closed in 1927 and initially not converted by sound by the Thompsons. The town continued with the Thompson which did convert to sound. The Circuit revisited the Kozy in 1931 equipping it for sound. The Kozy burned down in the Fall of 1948. It was then demolished.
Can be added to Interstate Theatres Circuit which converted it from a family theatre in 1966 to sub-run discount house to adult X-Rated cinema during the porno chic era by 1968. In 1975, it was rebranded as the Palace Adult Theatre through August 30, 1984 at the end of its lease ending with Pamela Mann in “Unthinkable” and Carol Connors in “Desires for Men.” In July of 1986, it became a live music venue through 1990 as the Palace Theatre. After a period of inactivity, it became a Latin America music club opening on August 2, 2000 as Xcape D' Club. In the 2010s, it was known as Tricky Falls, another live venue which closed in October of 2019. As of 2020, it was not operating.
This is likely two different theatres. C.A. Runyon launched the Runyon Theatre in 1915. During the Depression, the theatre closed twice reopening in 1930 and 1932. Runyon retired at the end of May 1939 with a show consisting of movies and live acts until midnight on his final night. Walter J. Logan took over the venue in 1939 renaming it the Barnsdall Theatre.
After ten years of operation, Logan departed and new operators used the name of the Roxy Theatre in the Fall of 1950. The reason that the Roxy had a short run is that it was leveled by a May 4, 1953 fire. That likely ends this theater’s run.
It appears to have been replaced by the Thompson Theatre which was active from 1954/5 to early in 1961 closing and reopening by Gene Thompson and Bill Petty months later in 1961. The theatre was still active late in 1969 as the Thompson Theatre.
The original Majestic Theatre launched December 7, 1908 by Floyd L. Kerns showing motion pictures in the Steele Opera House building with 700 seats. It was his second theatre after the short-lived Parlin Theatre in Fairbury. The theatre was so successful that a new Majestic Building was built in 1910. The $15,000 New Majestic has 480 seats and opened on October 24, 1910 with Nebraska Governor Ashton C. Shallenberger giving the opening speech. The Majestic operated to the end of a 20-year lease not converting to sound. The competing Bonham Theatre did convert to sound with the Majestic used for sporadic live events including boxing and plays.
T.J. Kempkes took on the venue reopening with RCA sound showing the Astaire and Rogers film, “Top Hat” at the Majestic’s grand reopening on April 12, 1936. Tri-States operated the theatre closing it for regular showings on January 11, 1942 with “All that Money Can Buy.” There were sporadic events scheduled thereafter but the Bonham was the town’s motion picture venue.
New operator Ira Crain took on the Majestic and, following a refresh, reopened it as the Woods Theatre on December 25, 1951 with “Yesterday’s Hero.” His original intent was to operate the Jack Rabbit Drive-In Theatre in the warm months and the Woods Theatre in the wintry months. But Crain apparently demoralized by constant rain decided to close the Jack Rabbit permanently when the Woods was almost ready. Final seat count at the Woods was 462.
The Woods Theatre then closed on December 15, 1955 with a double feature of “You’re Never Too Young” and “The First Traveling Saleslady.” Crain took on the managerial role at the Bonham Theatre. Again, the Bonham was the sole movie theater in town. The building was converted to the local Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (A.S.C.) office.
(To address the comments above, the Pla-Mor was a bowling alley with popular Play-Mor Café.)
Operator Ira Crain said the 1951 drive-in season was plagued with constant rain. He opened the Woods Theatre at the end of the Jack Rabbit’s first season and decided to stick only with the Woods Theatre. - likely moving the Jack Rabbit projection and sound equipment to the Woods for good instead of operating part year with the indoor and outdoor screens as had been planned.
The Crest Drive-In appears to have gone out of business in 1986 perhaps closing with “Thunder Row” and “The Hitcher.” It was heavily vandalized in January of 1989 and demolished in May of 1990 likely at the end of a 40-year leasing period.
The Rivoli Theatre was the heir apparent to the Gilbert. The grand opening of the Rivoli had to be postponed with that screening moved to the Gilbert. But thereafter, the Rivoli booked new features and the Gilbert was downgraded to carrying four-wall exploitation films and some live events with its last film screened as “Did Tunney Win the Fight?” on December 10, 1927. The Gilbert Theatre did not convert to sound. It was converted for other retail purposes by 1930.
The Busboom Brothers designed and built the new Rivoli Theatre. It was scheduled to open on September 27, 1926 with Constance Talmadge in “The Duchess of Buffalo.” That screening was shuffled off to the Gilbert Theatre when the Rivoli equipment did not arrive in time. The Rivoli’s grand opening took place on October 5, 1926 with Red Grange in “One Minute to Play.” Iru Price was at the Kilgen Organ at opening but Eddie Borgens moved from the Garrick Theatre in Minneapolis to play the Kilgen Organ beginning in 1927. In October of 1928, the Rivoli went with Vitaphone to become the fourth theatre in the state with sound (supposedly).
The theatre was refurbished in 1930 for a new deco look and received improved sound in a 1934 refresh complete with air conditioning. In 1948, the Pix Theatre was refurbished becoming home to the “new” Rivoli which was changed at the 11th hour to the Fox Theatre. The last film at the Rivoli was Montgomery Clift in “The Search.” The former Rivoli was transformed to a Hested’s retail store.
W.W. Smith launched the Delmar Garden on July 24, 1911 which had an indoor and an outdoor theater. Opening day featured Schepp’s Famous Performing Ponies, Dogs and Monkeys along with motion pictures. The theatre appears to close during the summer of 1913.
The 300-seat Happy Hour Theatre opened with motion pictures on April 11, 1912 by the aforementioned Robert Franklin Barrett with the films, “The Fugitive,” “A Life for Sale” and “Symphony in Black.” The Unhappy Hour occurred on October 15, 1916 when the theatre closed with a triple feature of Lon Chaney in “The Desert Bat,” the Alva Brothers' “Mexican Insurrection” and Elsie Alberts in “Pie.”
The Ritz Theatre launched with a preview show on February 9, 1927 with Monte Blue in “Other Women’s Husbands” supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The actual Grand Opening was on February 13, 1927 with “Mile a Minute Morgan” starring Matty Mattison supported by a newsreel, a comedy short, a live vaudeville act. The Ritz was renamed as the Royal Theater on August 21, 1927 with the exploitation films, “Tell Me Why” and “The Naked Truth.” The Royal was a quick casualty not converting to sound.
The Park-In Theater launched August 31, 1947 in the brand new Plaza Shopping Center on Gladstone. It’s opening film was “The Yearling.” The neighborhood theater was next to Park-In Furniture as meterless parking by the door was aggressively marketed as a chief advantage by the shopping center. But almost immediately, people were confusing the Park-In bookings with the popular Drive- In Theater’s elsewhere in town. Nearly one year later, the theater was rebranded as the Tower Theatre on August 22, 1948 and would celebrate its first anniversary under that name eight days later. The theatre closed at the end of its second 25-year lease in 1997.
The Electric Theatre launched October 8, 1916 with Theda Bara in “Her Double Life.” Ten years later, the Electric Theatre received a major refresh including a mighty $25,000 Wurlitzer Orchestral Organ. Sydney B. Dawson was the organist at the opening. On February 9, 1930, the Electric became the Publix Electric Theatre when the circuit took on the location.
On September 24, 1930, the theatre became the Paramount Theatre with a dedication show screening of “The Santa Fe Trail” starring Richard Arlen. In 1933, Fox purchased the Paramount when Paramount Publix went into bankruptcy reorganization. It reverted reverted to the Electric Theatre with a November 30, 1933 showing of “Man’s Town.” The Electric became the Fox Theatre with a major streamlined moderne facelift and a World Premiere showing of “Killer McCoy” on December 4, 1947. Just five days later, the Fox was gutted by fire leaving its front and four walls intact.
The Fox moved its screenings to the inactive Jefferson Theatre while recreating the Fox. the Fox reopened on June 23, 1949 having a 35 year run. The architects for the new look Fox were Kent Cole and Sam Bihr, Jr. The Fox Theatre closed on December 2, 1984 with Clint Eastwood in “Tightrope.”
Fox took over the Jefferson Theatre renaming it as the Fox Plaza Theatre on September 14, 1930 with the film “Dancing Sweeties.” Fox retired the Plaza during World War III but decided to rehab the theatre after the Fox Theatre fire of December 9, 1947. The Fox bookings were moved here as of January 14, 1948 when the theatre was renamed the Fox Jewell Theatre named after Harry S. Jewell opening with the films “Good News” and “Blondie’s Sweethearts.” Movies ended on February 3, 1954 at the Jewell Theatre with a double feature of “Gun Fury” in 3-D and “China Venture” in 2-D.
The Jewell then became home to the locally-produced but nationally-fed ABC radio network series, “Ozark Jubilee” that ran from August 7, 1954 to September 23, 1960. When the series ended, the Jewell closed. Following a demolition sale, the Jewell was demolished almost 50 years after it was built in February of 1961. .
Dr. Diemer’s Theatre launched March 13, 1905 with the live play, “The Little Torrent.” The theatre operator had carved out a space in the Mercantile Building. There was a direct entrance to the theatre from the nearby bridge. Pearl White worked in the box office before becoming a player for the Diemer Theater Company. She went to Hollywood and became a popular serial actress including “The Perils of Pauline” and “The Exploits of Elaine.”
The Diemer played a motion picture in February of 1916 though mainly used as a live stage play venue. The Diemer Theatre stopped live plays in 1917 and was used as a live event venue until 1920. The location became Prescott’s Laundry and then a bank in 1941. The direct entry from the bridge was removed in 1954. The entire building was torn down in 1972.
I don’t, however, see any evidence that it was ever a nickelodeon.
The adult theater, the Studio, launched with the John Lamb documentary, “The Raw Ones” on March 8, 1969. It was closed on the Sabbath so as not to offend the community. The theatre survived the golden age of the porno chic era of film through to the advent of home video. The Studio closed on February 1, 1986 with Olinka Hardiman in “Blondes Like it Hot.”
The Grand Theatre launched likely on a twenty-year lease on June 18,1910 by W.W. Smith with motion pictures on a Mirror Glass Curtain. The nearly 800-seat theatre closed at the end of its lease on April 10, 1930 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Circus” never converting to sound.
On a new twenty-year lease, the venue had been wired for Western Electric sound becoming the New Iris Theatre showing movies. The independent operator’s opening double bill was on September 12, 1930 showing “Tarzan the Tiger” and “Boarder Romance.” The Iris Theatre (dropping New) operated as a discount sub-run house. The theatre appears to have closed with a bill of “Ghost City,” “Vanishing Legion,” and an Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit cartoon.
It was then taken over by Midwest Theatre Circuit out of Tulsa which also ran the Mullikin. Midwest and manager John Brown equipped it with 600 seats and went for a Spanish themed architectural style. It launched on August 9, 1933 with George Raft in “Night After Night” supported by Laurel & Hardy in “Scram” and Burns & Allen in “Your Hat.” The Mozark appears to have gone out of business at the end of its 20-year lease on August 18, 1950 with the double feature of “The Fatal Hour” and “The Shadow Returns.”
Just to be clear, this was never a newsreel movie theatre.
In September of 1956, the Kickapoo experimented with art films giving out coffee in the lobby. That appears to have been the last shot for the Kickapoo which ceased operations on November 30, 1956 with a double feature of “Diabolique” and “Captain’s Paradise.” It had a brief run as the Four Star Arena with live country music and also as a roller skating rink.
The Mullikin Theatre ended its movie run on December 28, 1952 with an awesome western triple feature of “Fury at Furnace Creek,” “Rope of Sand,” and “El Paso.” It then had a special nine-feature all-adult show for New Year’s Eve in 1952.
The Granada Theatre launched on January 12, 1937 with Joe E. Brown in “Sons o' Guns.” It was closed by police on August 10, 158 with a triple feature of “Hollywood Peep Show,” “Raw Confession of a Nudist.” and “Chained for Life.” However, the police allowed all patrons to finish the final showing of “Chained for Life” to avoid having to provide refunds. Dickinson Theatre offered the building for sale “cheap.”
DJ Charles Burton took on the location showing “art” films as the New Lyric Theatre opening September 4, 1959. That lasted one month. The theatre then became a house of worship, the Freedom Temple in 1960. In 1961, it resumed as a live concert venue, the Lyric Theatre, with live country music. it ended operations on July 31, 1964. It became a furniture store before demolition.
The Hi-M opened July 15, 1961 with “The Wonderful Country” and “Rio Bravo.” It closed for the season on August 30, 1984 with “Indiana Jones” and “Ice Pirates.” In fairly quick succession in late 1984 and early 1985, the concession stand was vandalized, the property was sold, demolished and became home to multi-family residences.
Commonwealth Amusements closed the theatre with “Six Pack” and “Stroker Ace” on the screen facing the road and “Campus Teasers” and “Sugar Lips” on the screen away from the road on September 29, 1985. But the highlight of the final month had to be the Dusk to Dawn Labor Day marathon with “Savage Streets,” “Chained Heat,” “Caged Heat,” “Concrete Jungle,” and “Avenging Angel.” Those who made it from beginning to end got a free breakfast.
The Drive-In screens and equipment were removed for use elsewhere.
The Nusho likely had runs as the Texan Theatre and, in 1957, as the Tripoli Theatre.
The Texan Theatre was at 724 Indiana. The State was at 713 Indiana. The Texan Theatre was indeed demolished in April of 1955 in favor of a bank building. The State (which has its own CinemaTreasure Page) was still standing vacant in the 21st Century.
The Kozy Theatre opened in 1917 for Fred Perry on East Main Street in downtown Healdton. After an ownership change, the Kozy became part of the Thompson Theatres Circuit in 1921 owned by Glen D. and Ferris C. Thompson. They also would open the Lyric Airdome there in 1921 and, after it burned that year, would replace it with the Thompson Theatre.
The Kozy was closed in 1927 and initially not converted by sound by the Thompsons. The town continued with the Thompson which did convert to sound. The Circuit revisited the Kozy in 1931 equipping it for sound. The Kozy burned down in the Fall of 1948. It was then demolished.
Can be added to Interstate Theatres Circuit which converted it from a family theatre in 1966 to sub-run discount house to adult X-Rated cinema during the porno chic era by 1968. In 1975, it was rebranded as the Palace Adult Theatre through August 30, 1984 at the end of its lease ending with Pamela Mann in “Unthinkable” and Carol Connors in “Desires for Men.” In July of 1986, it became a live music venue through 1990 as the Palace Theatre. After a period of inactivity, it became a Latin America music club opening on August 2, 2000 as Xcape D' Club. In the 2010s, it was known as Tricky Falls, another live venue which closed in October of 2019. As of 2020, it was not operating.
This is likely two different theatres. C.A. Runyon launched the Runyon Theatre in 1915. During the Depression, the theatre closed twice reopening in 1930 and 1932. Runyon retired at the end of May 1939 with a show consisting of movies and live acts until midnight on his final night. Walter J. Logan took over the venue in 1939 renaming it the Barnsdall Theatre.
After ten years of operation, Logan departed and new operators used the name of the Roxy Theatre in the Fall of 1950. The reason that the Roxy had a short run is that it was leveled by a May 4, 1953 fire. That likely ends this theater’s run.
It appears to have been replaced by the Thompson Theatre which was active from 1954/5 to early in 1961 closing and reopening by Gene Thompson and Bill Petty months later in 1961. The theatre was still active late in 1969 as the Thompson Theatre.
The original Majestic Theatre launched December 7, 1908 by Floyd L. Kerns showing motion pictures in the Steele Opera House building with 700 seats. It was his second theatre after the short-lived Parlin Theatre in Fairbury. The theatre was so successful that a new Majestic Building was built in 1910. The $15,000 New Majestic has 480 seats and opened on October 24, 1910 with Nebraska Governor Ashton C. Shallenberger giving the opening speech. The Majestic operated to the end of a 20-year lease not converting to sound. The competing Bonham Theatre did convert to sound with the Majestic used for sporadic live events including boxing and plays.
T.J. Kempkes took on the venue reopening with RCA sound showing the Astaire and Rogers film, “Top Hat” at the Majestic’s grand reopening on April 12, 1936. Tri-States operated the theatre closing it for regular showings on January 11, 1942 with “All that Money Can Buy.” There were sporadic events scheduled thereafter but the Bonham was the town’s motion picture venue.
New operator Ira Crain took on the Majestic and, following a refresh, reopened it as the Woods Theatre on December 25, 1951 with “Yesterday’s Hero.” His original intent was to operate the Jack Rabbit Drive-In Theatre in the warm months and the Woods Theatre in the wintry months. But Crain apparently demoralized by constant rain decided to close the Jack Rabbit permanently when the Woods was almost ready. Final seat count at the Woods was 462.
The Woods Theatre then closed on December 15, 1955 with a double feature of “You’re Never Too Young” and “The First Traveling Saleslady.” Crain took on the managerial role at the Bonham Theatre. Again, the Bonham was the sole movie theater in town. The building was converted to the local Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation (A.S.C.) office.
(To address the comments above, the Pla-Mor was a bowling alley with popular Play-Mor Café.)
Operator Ira Crain said the 1951 drive-in season was plagued with constant rain. He opened the Woods Theatre at the end of the Jack Rabbit’s first season and decided to stick only with the Woods Theatre. - likely moving the Jack Rabbit projection and sound equipment to the Woods for good instead of operating part year with the indoor and outdoor screens as had been planned.
Grand opening July 28, 1948 with “Sunbonnet Sue” - ad in photos
The Crest Drive-In appears to have gone out of business in 1986 perhaps closing with “Thunder Row” and “The Hitcher.” It was heavily vandalized in January of 1989 and demolished in May of 1990 likely at the end of a 40-year leasing period.
The Rivoli Theatre was the heir apparent to the Gilbert. The grand opening of the Rivoli had to be postponed with that screening moved to the Gilbert. But thereafter, the Rivoli booked new features and the Gilbert was downgraded to carrying four-wall exploitation films and some live events with its last film screened as “Did Tunney Win the Fight?” on December 10, 1927. The Gilbert Theatre did not convert to sound. It was converted for other retail purposes by 1930.
The Busboom Brothers designed and built the new Rivoli Theatre. It was scheduled to open on September 27, 1926 with Constance Talmadge in “The Duchess of Buffalo.” That screening was shuffled off to the Gilbert Theatre when the Rivoli equipment did not arrive in time. The Rivoli’s grand opening took place on October 5, 1926 with Red Grange in “One Minute to Play.” Iru Price was at the Kilgen Organ at opening but Eddie Borgens moved from the Garrick Theatre in Minneapolis to play the Kilgen Organ beginning in 1927. In October of 1928, the Rivoli went with Vitaphone to become the fourth theatre in the state with sound (supposedly).
The theatre was refurbished in 1930 for a new deco look and received improved sound in a 1934 refresh complete with air conditioning. In 1948, the Pix Theatre was refurbished becoming home to the “new” Rivoli which was changed at the 11th hour to the Fox Theatre. The last film at the Rivoli was Montgomery Clift in “The Search.” The former Rivoli was transformed to a Hested’s retail store.