The Star Lite Drive-In Theatre launched September 14, 1949 with Glenn Ford in “The Return of October” supported by a cartton and short subjects. At the opening pf the 1950 season, the venue advertised as the Starlite Drive-in. In 1955, the original screen tower was widened to present CinemaScope films. Sunday sermons were a feature at the ozoner. The Starlite closed for the season a final time on August 30, 1976 with Burt Reynolds in “The Longest Yard.” Rumors of a 1977 season opener didn’t transpire.
The Elite Theatre was created in an existing retail building launching February 8, 1913 with an hour of films for a dime. Sheilds, Duncan and Hoil gave the theatre a refresh and a new front relaunching the venue as the Sterling Theatre on August 20, 1915. The Elite converted to sound to stay current on April 22, 1929 with the Super Mellaphone Talking Picture equipment which synchronized a record to the film.
The Sterling moved to new digs beginning on September 20, 1944 in the former Barcus Clothing Company retail location. It relaunched as the New Sterling Theatre with “Buffalo Bill” in Technicolor. The theatre would be equipped with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope films. The Sterling closed on September 26, 1956.
A city council meeting took up the matter of finding a new operator in December of 1956 to success. The theatre reopened one last time on March 30, 1957 when the Blue Hill Improvement Association took on the operation. But the impact of television was too great and the Sterling closed for the final time on July 24, 1957 with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in “Funny Face.” The Association promised to reopen after the hot summer months passed but a classified ad offering all of the equipment told a different story.
Duane Barnason bought the building converting it into a location for Barnason’s Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) Supermarket early in 1958.
The Brady Electric Theatre launched in the M.W.A. Hall on January 20, 1914 with motion pictures. The theatre closed as a silent operation in 1930. It was wired for sound upon relaunch in 1935.
Robinson & Allen opened the Home Theatre on January 9, 1908. in the Y.Z. Building. In 1924, the pair bought the Smokehouse Restaurant building to make the New Home Theatre. They opened the Home Theatre on March 25, 1925 with dog star Peter, the Great, in “The Silent Accuser” supported by a Lloyd Hamilton comedy short and live music from Lyle Reeh’s Orchestra. The theatre was still in operation in 1967.
John Decker launched the new-build Orpheum Theatre on July 1, 1916 on Broadway Street in downtown Bloomfield (in the building described above without the star). At that point, Bloomfield had three operating theaters with the (original) Star Theatre which played movies, the new Orpheum also playing movies and the Pospeshil Theatre / Opera House mostly programming live events.
By December of 1916, it was clear that all three venues couldn’t survive. Decker sold out the Orpheum to the Star’s Beckman and Yeagar. The Star was closed on December 14, 1916 but its signage was moved to the Orpheum becoming the New Star Theatre on December 28, 1916 and resuming soon after as the Star Theatre (dropping the “New”).
The original Star Theatre was repurposed as an auto garage in 1916. The Pospeshil Theatre / Opera House became the Bloomfield Opera House and added motion pictures to its mix in the 1920s.
The Parmele Opera House was built in the year 1900 and opened October 29, 1900 by C.C. and T.E. Parmele with a play starring Clay Clement. In 1901, it was advertised as the Parmele Theatre. G.G. Griffin, who had operated the Ritz Theatre since 1928, took on the Parmele on July 29, 1931 and held a renaming contest.
On August 10, 1931, the Parmele became the Platz Theatre – a nickname some had for Plattsmore. Griffin would close the theatre in 1935 – and would be on hand for the theater’s blaze in 1961. But M.F. Westerlund took on the closed Platz and gave it a streamlined moderne makeover relaunching as the Cass Theatre on February 9, 1936 with “Farmer Takes a Wife.”
On June 22, 1961, the Cass Theatre played “Gold of the Seven Saints” – its last film before the fire that ended operations. It also had the film, “Elmer Gantry” on the premises for June 25-27, 1961 screenings that never took place. On April 26, 1964, the Ritz Theatre in a classy move brought the film, “Elmer Gantry,” back to to town saying, “We had this picture (booked) when the Cass theatre burned!” People could finally see the film that was advertised but never played at the Cass.
Edward Novak launched the Star Theatre in September of 1915. Under operator A.R Pytlik, the Star converted to sound to present talkies beginning on November 24, 1929. Czech films were part of the film mix as there was a large group of Czech pioneers who had been in the town back to the late 1800s. In fact, the Star’s final offering was the Czech film, “Harmonika” shown on March 28, 1943. It closed thereafter.
The Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic just prior to the late shows. On August 6, Showcase Cinemas Circuit made the closure permanent stating, “It has been a great pleasure to serve the Fairfield community for the last 26 years. Due to business circumstances, we will not reopen Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square. Any Showcase Starpass rewards currently available will be forfeited and no substitutions will be awarded. Since we don’t have any nearby theaters for you to visit, we will deactivate your account.” It was one of many theaters which closed during the pandemic which did not reopen.
Television challenged the Victory Theatre which had a period of closure when Millard Rethwisch closed it on June 11, 1957. But, apparently, Millard’s wife said she would run the place when it had its relaunch on August 15, 1957. However, the theater’s final show was August 27, 1961 when a fire gutted the auditorium on the morning of August 28, 1961. The Victory was a loss.
In reading further, the original Royal Theatre was opened in 1914 by the Downey family. Mrs. Gerogia Rasley took on the theatre. She had the Royal completely gutted for a refurbish in the same location which included a sloped floor with more seating, the arched front entry, the canopy with new-look sign, and sound system. The Royal appears to have made it to 1990.
The New Royal Theatre launched on November 13, 1930 with Amos ‘n’ Andy in “Check and Double Check.” It replaced the former Royal Theatre which had opened in 1914.
Opened February 1, 1967 with “The Blue Max.” Martin Theatres Circuit twinned the theater relaunching it as the Cinema Twin 1 & 2 with “Gone with the Wind” and “Day of the Dolphin” on December 20, 1974. Carmike took on the venue closing it as the Cinema Twin at the end of lease on August 28, 1997 with “Air Force One” splitting with “Nothing to Lose” on Screen 1 and “Mimic” on Screen 2.
The M.K.B. Sunset Drive-In Theatre opened April 28, 1949 with Ann Southern and Jack Carson in “April Showers” supported by the Popeye cartoon, “House Tricks?” It closed with Dolores Hart in “Lisa” on September 11, 1963.
The Sky-Vue Drive-In opened December 11, 1953 with George Montgomery in “Fort Ti” supported by widescreen shorts including a Three Stooges comedy and two cartoons. The Sky-Vue’s final owner, Carmike Theatres closed the theatre on September 2, 1985 with a Clint Eastwood double-feature of “Pale Rider” and “Tightrope.”
The Drive-In Theatre launched July 9, 1947 with “God’s Country” starring Robert Lowery. When the ozoner opened for its second season on March 5, 1948, it was renamed the Sumter Drive-In. It closed December 9, 1958 with Randolph Scott in “Buchanan Rides Alone.” It does not appear to have reopened.
Just for the sake of ease, this should be changed to the Lyric Theatre at 210 West State Street. (One picture of the Miller Theatre should be moved to that theater’s new entry.) This one should read:
Arthur G. “Tidy” Miller’s first Miller Theatre had launched in 1912 as the Electric Theatre then, later, Miller’s Theatre. But it proved too small for the town’s growing interest in motion pictures. Miller moved the operation to the town’s Memorial Hall. He launched the Lyric Theatre on February 9, 1926 on a 20-year lease with Lon Chaney in “The Unholy Three.” The theatre had 250 seats.
On January 19, 1930, the theatre was equipped with Western Electric sound showing the film, “The Sophomore” to bring talkies to Atkinson. After World War II and the Lyric’s leasing deal reaching expiry, Miller closed the Lyric to move to a new location. The former Memorial Hall/Lyric Theatre served as the town’s American Legion Building. When the American Legion moved, it became the town’s library and community auditorium sometimes referred to as the Lyric Theatre.
As for Tidy Miller, he converted the former Seger Brothers garage to launch the town’s second Miller Theatre. It opened on May 12, 1946 on a 30-year lease. It has its own entry. Miller survived the first 29 years of the new Miller Theatre but passed away after more than 60 years of motion picture operation in downtown Atkinson.
The local paper reports no listings for a Brewster Theater. There was a movie theatre established in town and was installed in Miller Hall. The Harris Theatre was opened by Lester Harris on October 4, 1941. Harris also operated the nearby Dunning and Halsey theaters. The Harris Theatre appears to have ceased operation in February of 1947.
Fred Rodocker took over the operation showing films until January 1, 1954 as the Rodocker Theatre. On October 9, 1957 the Rodocker Theatre reopened for one last shot at relevance in the TV era. Ot does not appear to have been welcomed back by patrons.
The Star Theatre launched on November 25, 1915 by L.F. Flower with “Ole Johnson in Mexico” as its opening film. It operated before the town had electrical light service so had its own generator. When the New Ideal Theatre opened in September of 1918, it became fairly clear that the operators would struggle in a two-owner town. Flower bought the Ideal in 1919 to reduce ownership to one operator and downgraded the Star to weekend operation only.
Flower then sold the operation to Thomas Ishmael who closed the Star after a brief period of operation. The town was operating with just one theater. But at the end of 1922, William Ostenberg, Jr. and Lloyd Streed took on the Star renaming it as the Rialto Theatre with a grand relaunch on January 22, 1923 with Thomas Meighan and Lila Lee in “Back Home and Broke” supported by a Buster Keaton comedy short, “The Boat.”
On November 26, 1928, Fox West Coast Theatre Circuit took on the location calling it the Fox Rialto Theatre. Fox promised the Rialto’s conversion to sound three different times in 1930 but appears to have simply and quietly dropped the theatre from its chain in mid-1930. The theatre closed under new operators early in 1931 though doing some live local events during the year.
At some point, the theatre became the Rex Theatre and wired for sound. Fire just prior to the May 19, 1945 gutted the interior of the theater.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rodgers opened the new-build, New Ideal Theatre which launched on September 5, 1918. It was operated by Jim. I Zimmerman and Thomas Ishmael. In 1919, the operator of the Star Theatre took on the Ideal relegating the Star to Saturday night only operation. It was then sold to Ishmael who operated it for a short period and closed the Star.
On September 3, 1927, the Rodgers took control back over the Ideal operation and renamed it the Palm Theatre likely for its new owners. Sallow & Hughes Circuit ran the venture followed by at least four other operators.
July 10, 1953 was the grand opening of the 250-car Oshkosh Drive-In Theatre with a double-feature of Frankie Laine in “Rainbow Round My Shoulder” and George Montgomery in “Jack McCall, Desperado.” Appears to have closed following the 1972 season at the end of a 20-year lease.
The AMC Classic North Platte 6 closed March 16, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 30, 2020, AMC announced the North Platte 6 closure would be permanent becoming one of many theaters closed permanently during the pandemic.
The Star Theatre launched April 19, 1909 in a new-build facility by O.H. Mevis on the East Side of the Broken Bow square. The fifth operator of the Star Theatre closed it on July 3, 1918 and moved the equipment to Seneca ending the theater’s run for just over a year. The theatre reopened under new operator W.H. Jones on July 29, 1919. Jones had previously operated the theater in Merna.
Horace F. Kennedy of the Lyric took over the theatre one year later ostensibly to remove a competitor. It was converted for use as a dry cleaner which opened in 1922. Myers Dry Cleaners closed there in 1941 with the building then demolished for the new-build and short-lived Farris-Black Store.
The O’Neill Drive-In launched June. 1, 1952 and operated two weeks before a windstorm closed it temporarily. The theater was rebuilt and continued for 30 years into the beginning of the home video era.
The Bow Drive-In Theatre was launched by the Kennedy family which had opened its first movie theater in downtown Broken Bow in 1911. This was Horace’s son, C, Howard who was launching his second theater following the 1936 opening of the Bow Theater. The Bow opened with “White Witch Doctor” on August 20, 1953.
And you likely won’t have to worry about setting foot in it ever again. The Real to Reel Theatre in Johnson City closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. The independent sub-run discount cinema made the closure permanent with an announcement two months later in mid-June ending the theater’s run.
The Star Lite Drive-In Theatre launched September 14, 1949 with Glenn Ford in “The Return of October” supported by a cartton and short subjects. At the opening pf the 1950 season, the venue advertised as the Starlite Drive-in. In 1955, the original screen tower was widened to present CinemaScope films. Sunday sermons were a feature at the ozoner. The Starlite closed for the season a final time on August 30, 1976 with Burt Reynolds in “The Longest Yard.” Rumors of a 1977 season opener didn’t transpire.
The Elite Theatre was created in an existing retail building launching February 8, 1913 with an hour of films for a dime. Sheilds, Duncan and Hoil gave the theatre a refresh and a new front relaunching the venue as the Sterling Theatre on August 20, 1915. The Elite converted to sound to stay current on April 22, 1929 with the Super Mellaphone Talking Picture equipment which synchronized a record to the film.
The Sterling moved to new digs beginning on September 20, 1944 in the former Barcus Clothing Company retail location. It relaunched as the New Sterling Theatre with “Buffalo Bill” in Technicolor. The theatre would be equipped with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope films. The Sterling closed on September 26, 1956.
A city council meeting took up the matter of finding a new operator in December of 1956 to success. The theatre reopened one last time on March 30, 1957 when the Blue Hill Improvement Association took on the operation. But the impact of television was too great and the Sterling closed for the final time on July 24, 1957 with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in “Funny Face.” The Association promised to reopen after the hot summer months passed but a classified ad offering all of the equipment told a different story.
Duane Barnason bought the building converting it into a location for Barnason’s Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) Supermarket early in 1958.
The Brady Electric Theatre launched in the M.W.A. Hall on January 20, 1914 with motion pictures. The theatre closed as a silent operation in 1930. It was wired for sound upon relaunch in 1935.
Robinson & Allen opened the Home Theatre on January 9, 1908. in the Y.Z. Building. In 1924, the pair bought the Smokehouse Restaurant building to make the New Home Theatre. They opened the Home Theatre on March 25, 1925 with dog star Peter, the Great, in “The Silent Accuser” supported by a Lloyd Hamilton comedy short and live music from Lyle Reeh’s Orchestra. The theatre was still in operation in 1967.
John Decker launched the new-build Orpheum Theatre on July 1, 1916 on Broadway Street in downtown Bloomfield (in the building described above without the star). At that point, Bloomfield had three operating theaters with the (original) Star Theatre which played movies, the new Orpheum also playing movies and the Pospeshil Theatre / Opera House mostly programming live events.
By December of 1916, it was clear that all three venues couldn’t survive. Decker sold out the Orpheum to the Star’s Beckman and Yeagar. The Star was closed on December 14, 1916 but its signage was moved to the Orpheum becoming the New Star Theatre on December 28, 1916 and resuming soon after as the Star Theatre (dropping the “New”).
The original Star Theatre was repurposed as an auto garage in 1916. The Pospeshil Theatre / Opera House became the Bloomfield Opera House and added motion pictures to its mix in the 1920s.
The Parmele Opera House was built in the year 1900 and opened October 29, 1900 by C.C. and T.E. Parmele with a play starring Clay Clement. In 1901, it was advertised as the Parmele Theatre. G.G. Griffin, who had operated the Ritz Theatre since 1928, took on the Parmele on July 29, 1931 and held a renaming contest.
On August 10, 1931, the Parmele became the Platz Theatre – a nickname some had for Plattsmore. Griffin would close the theatre in 1935 – and would be on hand for the theater’s blaze in 1961. But M.F. Westerlund took on the closed Platz and gave it a streamlined moderne makeover relaunching as the Cass Theatre on February 9, 1936 with “Farmer Takes a Wife.”
On June 22, 1961, the Cass Theatre played “Gold of the Seven Saints” – its last film before the fire that ended operations. It also had the film, “Elmer Gantry” on the premises for June 25-27, 1961 screenings that never took place. On April 26, 1964, the Ritz Theatre in a classy move brought the film, “Elmer Gantry,” back to to town saying, “We had this picture (booked) when the Cass theatre burned!” People could finally see the film that was advertised but never played at the Cass.
Edward Novak launched the Star Theatre in September of 1915. Under operator A.R Pytlik, the Star converted to sound to present talkies beginning on November 24, 1929. Czech films were part of the film mix as there was a large group of Czech pioneers who had been in the town back to the late 1800s. In fact, the Star’s final offering was the Czech film, “Harmonika” shown on March 28, 1943. It closed thereafter.
The Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic just prior to the late shows. On August 6, Showcase Cinemas Circuit made the closure permanent stating, “It has been a great pleasure to serve the Fairfield community for the last 26 years. Due to business circumstances, we will not reopen Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square. Any Showcase Starpass rewards currently available will be forfeited and no substitutions will be awarded. Since we don’t have any nearby theaters for you to visit, we will deactivate your account.” It was one of many theaters which closed during the pandemic which did not reopen.
Television challenged the Victory Theatre which had a period of closure when Millard Rethwisch closed it on June 11, 1957. But, apparently, Millard’s wife said she would run the place when it had its relaunch on August 15, 1957. However, the theater’s final show was August 27, 1961 when a fire gutted the auditorium on the morning of August 28, 1961. The Victory was a loss.
In reading further, the original Royal Theatre was opened in 1914 by the Downey family. Mrs. Gerogia Rasley took on the theatre. She had the Royal completely gutted for a refurbish in the same location which included a sloped floor with more seating, the arched front entry, the canopy with new-look sign, and sound system. The Royal appears to have made it to 1990.
The New Royal Theatre launched on November 13, 1930 with Amos ‘n’ Andy in “Check and Double Check.” It replaced the former Royal Theatre which had opened in 1914.
Opened February 1, 1967 with “The Blue Max.” Martin Theatres Circuit twinned the theater relaunching it as the Cinema Twin 1 & 2 with “Gone with the Wind” and “Day of the Dolphin” on December 20, 1974. Carmike took on the venue closing it as the Cinema Twin at the end of lease on August 28, 1997 with “Air Force One” splitting with “Nothing to Lose” on Screen 1 and “Mimic” on Screen 2.
The M.K.B. Sunset Drive-In Theatre opened April 28, 1949 with Ann Southern and Jack Carson in “April Showers” supported by the Popeye cartoon, “House Tricks?” It closed with Dolores Hart in “Lisa” on September 11, 1963.
The Sky-Vue Drive-In opened December 11, 1953 with George Montgomery in “Fort Ti” supported by widescreen shorts including a Three Stooges comedy and two cartoons. The Sky-Vue’s final owner, Carmike Theatres closed the theatre on September 2, 1985 with a Clint Eastwood double-feature of “Pale Rider” and “Tightrope.”
The Drive-In Theatre launched July 9, 1947 with “God’s Country” starring Robert Lowery. When the ozoner opened for its second season on March 5, 1948, it was renamed the Sumter Drive-In. It closed December 9, 1958 with Randolph Scott in “Buchanan Rides Alone.” It does not appear to have reopened.
Just for the sake of ease, this should be changed to the Lyric Theatre at 210 West State Street. (One picture of the Miller Theatre should be moved to that theater’s new entry.) This one should read:
Arthur G. “Tidy” Miller’s first Miller Theatre had launched in 1912 as the Electric Theatre then, later, Miller’s Theatre. But it proved too small for the town’s growing interest in motion pictures. Miller moved the operation to the town’s Memorial Hall. He launched the Lyric Theatre on February 9, 1926 on a 20-year lease with Lon Chaney in “The Unholy Three.” The theatre had 250 seats.
On January 19, 1930, the theatre was equipped with Western Electric sound showing the film, “The Sophomore” to bring talkies to Atkinson. After World War II and the Lyric’s leasing deal reaching expiry, Miller closed the Lyric to move to a new location. The former Memorial Hall/Lyric Theatre served as the town’s American Legion Building. When the American Legion moved, it became the town’s library and community auditorium sometimes referred to as the Lyric Theatre.
As for Tidy Miller, he converted the former Seger Brothers garage to launch the town’s second Miller Theatre. It opened on May 12, 1946 on a 30-year lease. It has its own entry. Miller survived the first 29 years of the new Miller Theatre but passed away after more than 60 years of motion picture operation in downtown Atkinson.
The local paper reports no listings for a Brewster Theater. There was a movie theatre established in town and was installed in Miller Hall. The Harris Theatre was opened by Lester Harris on October 4, 1941. Harris also operated the nearby Dunning and Halsey theaters. The Harris Theatre appears to have ceased operation in February of 1947.
Fred Rodocker took over the operation showing films until January 1, 1954 as the Rodocker Theatre. On October 9, 1957 the Rodocker Theatre reopened for one last shot at relevance in the TV era. Ot does not appear to have been welcomed back by patrons.
The Star Theatre launched on November 25, 1915 by L.F. Flower with “Ole Johnson in Mexico” as its opening film. It operated before the town had electrical light service so had its own generator. When the New Ideal Theatre opened in September of 1918, it became fairly clear that the operators would struggle in a two-owner town. Flower bought the Ideal in 1919 to reduce ownership to one operator and downgraded the Star to weekend operation only.
Flower then sold the operation to Thomas Ishmael who closed the Star after a brief period of operation. The town was operating with just one theater. But at the end of 1922, William Ostenberg, Jr. and Lloyd Streed took on the Star renaming it as the Rialto Theatre with a grand relaunch on January 22, 1923 with Thomas Meighan and Lila Lee in “Back Home and Broke” supported by a Buster Keaton comedy short, “The Boat.”
On November 26, 1928, Fox West Coast Theatre Circuit took on the location calling it the Fox Rialto Theatre. Fox promised the Rialto’s conversion to sound three different times in 1930 but appears to have simply and quietly dropped the theatre from its chain in mid-1930. The theatre closed under new operators early in 1931 though doing some live local events during the year.
At some point, the theatre became the Rex Theatre and wired for sound. Fire just prior to the May 19, 1945 gutted the interior of the theater.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rodgers opened the new-build, New Ideal Theatre which launched on September 5, 1918. It was operated by Jim. I Zimmerman and Thomas Ishmael. In 1919, the operator of the Star Theatre took on the Ideal relegating the Star to Saturday night only operation. It was then sold to Ishmael who operated it for a short period and closed the Star.
On September 3, 1927, the Rodgers took control back over the Ideal operation and renamed it the Palm Theatre likely for its new owners. Sallow & Hughes Circuit ran the venture followed by at least four other operators.
July 10, 1953 was the grand opening of the 250-car Oshkosh Drive-In Theatre with a double-feature of Frankie Laine in “Rainbow Round My Shoulder” and George Montgomery in “Jack McCall, Desperado.” Appears to have closed following the 1972 season at the end of a 20-year lease.
The AMC Classic North Platte 6 closed March 16, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 30, 2020, AMC announced the North Platte 6 closure would be permanent becoming one of many theaters closed permanently during the pandemic.
The Star Theatre launched April 19, 1909 in a new-build facility by O.H. Mevis on the East Side of the Broken Bow square. The fifth operator of the Star Theatre closed it on July 3, 1918 and moved the equipment to Seneca ending the theater’s run for just over a year. The theatre reopened under new operator W.H. Jones on July 29, 1919. Jones had previously operated the theater in Merna.
Horace F. Kennedy of the Lyric took over the theatre one year later ostensibly to remove a competitor. It was converted for use as a dry cleaner which opened in 1922. Myers Dry Cleaners closed there in 1941 with the building then demolished for the new-build and short-lived Farris-Black Store.
The O’Neill Drive-In launched June. 1, 1952 and operated two weeks before a windstorm closed it temporarily. The theater was rebuilt and continued for 30 years into the beginning of the home video era.
The Bow Drive-In Theatre was launched by the Kennedy family which had opened its first movie theater in downtown Broken Bow in 1911. This was Horace’s son, C, Howard who was launching his second theater following the 1936 opening of the Bow Theater. The Bow opened with “White Witch Doctor” on August 20, 1953.
And you likely won’t have to worry about setting foot in it ever again. The Real to Reel Theatre in Johnson City closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. The independent sub-run discount cinema made the closure permanent with an announcement two months later in mid-June ending the theater’s run.