A number of Unique Theatres were associated with the Edison Unique Theatre circuit and would play, Edison-made films with Edison-centric equipment within their vaudeville shows.
Given its 1905 origin, it was very likely an Edison-heavy location but in their ads they just say they are showing “Unique-graph” films (see ad in photos). The films must have worked as the Unique turned all motion picture in 1910 according to the local paper.
The short lived Rainbow Theatre #1 in Grand Falls – unrelated – opened in 1909. This theater’s run as the Pantages ran for only weeks from its opening on August 10, 1914 to its epic failure closing after September 6, 1914 amidst financial troubles it could not overcome.
The Palace Theatre took over the spot of the dormant Pantages on July 1, 1915. On March 23, 1926, this Rainbow took over the Palace Theatre which had its final show on February 11, 1926. The Rainbow continuously booked until closing May 23, 1965 after a showing of “Harlow.” Fox Intermountain went outside the CBD to launch its Fox Holiday Village. Also, it’s 601 Central (not 6011). The fire referenced was on May 24, 2009. (Ads in photos.)
The Village Twin opened November 12, 1976 with “Marathon Man” and “Next Man”.Mel C. Glatz was the architect. It closed February 8, 2001 likely at the end of a 25-year lease as a dollar house. The space became a clinic.
Closed September 3, 1978 after “Close Encounters” and “You Light Up My Life”. The original screen tower burned down June 18, 1956 and was closed while building a new tower.
The trade press reports say this theatre opened as the Liberty Theatre in March of 1918. The Bush Circuit purchases the theatre and remodels the auditorium reducing seat count to 600 opening in November of 1920 as a second-run double-feature venue. The theatre transitions to sound and is supposedly renamed the Forum Theatre briefly. The theatre gets Western Electric sound in 1932 and is back under the Vista Theatre nameplate. Looks have discontinuity in operation and is transferred to Kaplan & Klein in 1935 which, for competitive reasons, likely closed and/or retrofitted the theatre building as it was opening the new Adams about two miles away.
The New Plaza Theatre was launched on December 24, 1927. It competed with the nearby Five Points Theatre that had opened in 1920 as a Fall to Spring non-air conditioned house. The competitive situation didn’t work for either theatre and they merged concentrating their efforts at the newer Plaza.
Grand opening as the Gennett Theatre was December 22, 1899 with Otis Skinner and Company doing the live play, “The Liars.” On September 16, 1916, it relaunched as the Washington Theatre with the film, “Undine” and booking legitimate theatre in 1917. On October 14, 1926, it rebooted as the Lawrence Theatre doing live legit performances. For all intense and purpose, the Lawrence closed in February of 1931 as a legit house. Some rehearsals and high school shows occur until 1933. A demolition sale in October of 1935 preceded its demolition in November of 1935.
Architect was John Edmund Kelley of Boston. Opened October 12, 1928 with Wings. The theatre, silent at opening, was equipped with Vitaphone and Movietone sound within four months. The final movies listed were in 1962. The venue ended its entertainment life as the Silhouette Ballroom with dancing and live music in 1967. Demolished in 1969 as part of an urban development plan to provide additional parking.
Opened in April 1, 1929 with DeForest Phonofilm sound and Robert Morton Unit Organ. The theater closed abruptly just after opening. New operators were in place reopening October 10, 1929. The competing Plymouth Theatre took over the Metropolitan in 1930. The last show appears to be “Blow Up” on June 6, 1967 with demolition ten years later in 1977.
Launched in 1950 as the Alum Rock Drive-In. In June of 1960, it was sold to El Rancho Drive-In which spent $450,000 to add the second screen and giving the theatre a tropical theme created by designer Gail Santocono who also did the La Habra Theatre. Manley cafeteria, Midway playground equipment and a mini-train were among the other improvements for the April 1, 1961 rebooted Tropicaire Twin-Vue Drive-In Theatre.
Working backwards, the former Dixie Theatre was demolished in July of 1932. The Dixie has suffered a projection booth fire on January 10, 1929 and appeared to not re-open. The main operator was David Bernbaum who had opened a turn of the century nickelodeon in New York City and helped form the Robb & Rowley Circuit in Dallas. The first operator of the Dixie – which most peg opening in 1910 – was under William McIlheran and transferring to Bernbaum within two years.
Addressing the also known as: 1) The Theatorium’s address might have been more likely in the 300 block of Elm where the Bush Temple Theatre took over having its grand opening on October 18, 1908. 2) While the Wonderland could have been the opening name of this location for a period, the Dallas Photoplay House (aka “The Dallas”) at the corner – 1301 Elm – is a much more likely home to that store-show era theater.
My best guess is that this was the Dixie Theatre at opening through its closing with the Theatrorium at 307/9 Elm and the Wonderland at 1301 Elm. But that’s only a guess based on the newspaper and trade articles.
Opening date was November 11, 1932 launching with the film, “The Lawyer” with William Powell. Final day was May 13, 1984. The final regular shows were on May 12, 1984 showing “National Lampoon’s Vacation” with “Police Academy” on one screen and “Hardbodies” and “Purple Hearts” on the other. And as mentioned above, on May 13, 1984, the theatre returned to William Powell showing “The Thin Man” on one screen and “Libeled Lady” on the other.
Correction: Rainbow Theatre #1 at bottom.
A number of Unique Theatres were associated with the Edison Unique Theatre circuit and would play, Edison-made films with Edison-centric equipment within their vaudeville shows.
Given its 1905 origin, it was very likely an Edison-heavy location but in their ads they just say they are showing “Unique-graph” films (see ad in photos). The films must have worked as the Unique turned all motion picture in 1910 according to the local paper.
The short lived Rainbow Theatre #1 in Grand Falls – unrelated – opened in 1909. This theater’s run as the Pantages ran for only weeks from its opening on August 10, 1914 to its epic failure closing after September 6, 1914 amidst financial troubles it could not overcome.
The Palace Theatre took over the spot of the dormant Pantages on July 1, 1915. On March 23, 1926, this Rainbow took over the Palace Theatre which had its final show on February 11, 1926. The Rainbow continuously booked until closing May 23, 1965 after a showing of “Harlow.” Fox Intermountain went outside the CBD to launch its Fox Holiday Village. Also, it’s 601 Central (not 6011). The fire referenced was on May 24, 2009. (Ads in photos.)
Appears to have closed on September 1, 1974 with “The Revengers” and “The Red Sun” which times out with a twenty-year lease.
The Village Twin opened November 12, 1976 with “Marathon Man” and “Next Man”.Mel C. Glatz was the architect. It closed February 8, 2001 likely at the end of a 25-year lease as a dollar house. The space became a clinic.
Closed September 3, 1978 after “Close Encounters” and “You Light Up My Life”. The original screen tower burned down June 18, 1956 and was closed while building a new tower.
Launched July 1, 1919 with 650 seats and a $10,000 Wurlitzer organ.
The $25,000 theater opened December 12, 1918 for Ball & Barry out of Kansas City.
The trade press reports say this theatre opened as the Liberty Theatre in March of 1918. The Bush Circuit purchases the theatre and remodels the auditorium reducing seat count to 600 opening in November of 1920 as a second-run double-feature venue. The theatre transitions to sound and is supposedly renamed the Forum Theatre briefly. The theatre gets Western Electric sound in 1932 and is back under the Vista Theatre nameplate. Looks have discontinuity in operation and is transferred to Kaplan & Klein in 1935 which, for competitive reasons, likely closed and/or retrofitted the theatre building as it was opening the new Adams about two miles away.
The New Plaza Theatre was launched on December 24, 1927. It competed with the nearby Five Points Theatre that had opened in 1920 as a Fall to Spring non-air conditioned house. The competitive situation didn’t work for either theatre and they merged concentrating their efforts at the newer Plaza.
Attributed architects as Yost & Packard of Dayton
Grand opening as the Gennett Theatre was December 22, 1899 with Otis Skinner and Company doing the live play, “The Liars.” On September 16, 1916, it relaunched as the Washington Theatre with the film, “Undine” and booking legitimate theatre in 1917. On October 14, 1926, it rebooted as the Lawrence Theatre doing live legit performances. For all intense and purpose, the Lawrence closed in February of 1931 as a legit house. Some rehearsals and high school shows occur until 1933. A demolition sale in October of 1935 preceded its demolition in November of 1935.
The local paper said that the architectural plans were drawn by Yost & Packard of Dayton in 1899
Grand opening ad January 27, 1928 as the State Theatre. it launched with a Page Organ demonstration and the film, “The Better Olé”
Architect was John Edmund Kelley of Boston. Opened October 12, 1928 with Wings. The theatre, silent at opening, was equipped with Vitaphone and Movietone sound within four months. The final movies listed were in 1962. The venue ended its entertainment life as the Silhouette Ballroom with dancing and live music in 1967. Demolished in 1969 as part of an urban development plan to provide additional parking.
Opened in April 1, 1929 with DeForest Phonofilm sound and Robert Morton Unit Organ. The theater closed abruptly just after opening. New operators were in place reopening October 10, 1929. The competing Plymouth Theatre took over the Metropolitan in 1930. The last show appears to be “Blow Up” on June 6, 1967 with demolition ten years later in 1977.
The $250,000 theater architects were Funk & Wilcox with a Robert Morgan organ at its launch on January 8, 1923. (Technically, it was built in 1922.)
August 17, 1931 Iola Theatre grand opening ad in photos.
Lou Wiethe and Harry Hilling opened their Ludlow Theatreon Jan. 4. 1947. Architectural sketch in photos.
Wolff & Ewens were the architects of the original structure.
Launched in 1950 as the Alum Rock Drive-In. In June of 1960, it was sold to El Rancho Drive-In which spent $450,000 to add the second screen and giving the theatre a tropical theme created by designer Gail Santocono who also did the La Habra Theatre. Manley cafeteria, Midway playground equipment and a mini-train were among the other improvements for the April 1, 1961 rebooted Tropicaire Twin-Vue Drive-In Theatre.
Architect Sidney E. Aftel of (Edward) Thal and Aftel. Was the Columnia Theatre (see photo).
The Hill was built in 1913 to the plans of architect Nathan Myers
Working backwards, the former Dixie Theatre was demolished in July of 1932. The Dixie has suffered a projection booth fire on January 10, 1929 and appeared to not re-open. The main operator was David Bernbaum who had opened a turn of the century nickelodeon in New York City and helped form the Robb & Rowley Circuit in Dallas. The first operator of the Dixie – which most peg opening in 1910 – was under William McIlheran and transferring to Bernbaum within two years.
Addressing the also known as: 1) The Theatorium’s address might have been more likely in the 300 block of Elm where the Bush Temple Theatre took over having its grand opening on October 18, 1908. 2) While the Wonderland could have been the opening name of this location for a period, the Dallas Photoplay House (aka “The Dallas”) at the corner – 1301 Elm – is a much more likely home to that store-show era theater.
My best guess is that this was the Dixie Theatre at opening through its closing with the Theatrorium at 307/9 Elm and the Wonderland at 1301 Elm. But that’s only a guess based on the newspaper and trade articles.
Opening date was November 11, 1932 launching with the film, “The Lawyer” with William Powell. Final day was May 13, 1984. The final regular shows were on May 12, 1984 showing “National Lampoon’s Vacation” with “Police Academy” on one screen and “Hardbodies” and “Purple Hearts” on the other. And as mentioned above, on May 13, 1984, the theatre returned to William Powell showing “The Thin Man” on one screen and “Libeled Lady” on the other.