The Preston Royal Shopping Center held its Grand Opening on September 17, 1959 by Trammell Crow. Not far behind was the Preston Royal Theatre – the first new hardtop theatre in more than ten years built in the city of Dallas and its first built for widescreen films including Super Technirama 70 and Todd A-O though not Cinerama. Victoria X projection with Strong projection lamps were in the booth.
Architect Raymond F. Smith added a garden and aquarium to the lobby. The 1,000 seat auditorium had tangerine colored seating with wide rows. A special screening of “The Edge of Eternity” opened the $250,000 on November 9, 1959 before its Grand Opening on November 11, 1959 with “The House of Intrigue.”
The theatre closed August 18, 1983 as a sub-run, discount house. The final film was “Survivors.” It closed as a single-screen theatre. The Preston Royal Shopping Center has continued into the 21st Century. The former theatre was home to a long-running Blockbuster video store before becoming a liquor store.
Century’s Green Acres Theatre launched September 15, 1961 with “Two Women” on a 50-year lease. The theatre had 1,683 seats at its opening with a single screen. It was located in the Green Acres Shopping Center and closed at the end of lease on September 18, 2011.
Balaban & Katz Circuit launched it December 25th. 1964 with Send Me No Flowers with Doris Day in attendance, the theatre was supposed to be the way theatres would look in the year 2014 and a time capsule was place there to be opened in 50 years.
Arthur Porchert was the architect for the first new Miami Beach theatre in 15 years. It was built for Maurice Revitz and Sol Frankel with a $50,000 waterfall in its atmospheric lobby along with a 22 foot long chandelier. The $500,000 cinema also had a 20' curved snack bar and a 23'x54' Technikote Pearlescent screen. It launched February 17, 1966 with Sophia Loren in “Judith”.
Elmer Cornwell and W.A. McCausland launched the Star Theatre on a 20-year lease in downtown Mansfield. The Star Theatre Circuit sold the venue to new operators who changed the name to the Rialto Theatre in the sound era. At end of lease, new operators took on the Rialto. They were Harry Swain & Harry Taylor who fused their last names together to create the Twain on August 8, 1936. The first film as the Twain was “Showboat” and the theatre showed off its new RCA Photophone sound system.
Edwards and Portman were the architects of the Greenbriar which had a 27'x45' CinemaScope screen with 1,040 seats at opening with 280 of those seats equipped with ashtrays in the smokers' loge.
Conceptualized as a $3 million project, Samuel Shaprio had plans by Armand Carroll and Sydney Jelinek (in photos) that included a 150-room Fairless Hills Motel in which speakers would allow guests to watch the films along with the 1,500 capacity car lot. The projection was slated to be 70mm capable.
John L. Dorris was a co-founder of the Dorris and Dorris Electric Theatre / Airdome which launched in June of 1913 decided to build a new, all weather facility. The Dorris Theatre was built in the Northwest corner of the Hayti town square. The theatre launched May 27, 1914. Dorris sold the theatre in June of 1920 and the the new owners held a contest for a new name. H.P. Harbert chose Empress and that became the theater’s new name on June 24, 1920.
On March 23, 1929, new owners took over changing the name to the Maxy Theatre. The Maxy closed on July 11, 1932. New owners took on the Maxy renaming it the Missouri Theatre on August 28, 1932 launching with “Age for Love” with Billie Love. The theatre was destroyed by a fire in the projection on July 15, 1960.
John Mohrstadt launched the new-build Joy Theatre on December 19, 1946. The building had started on March 1, 1946. It was named in honor of the Mohrstadt’s baby daughter. The opening film was, “My Darling Clementine.” Western star Tim McCoy made an in-person appearance at the the theatre in October 21, 1965. The last film appears to be “The Restless Ones” on November 11, 1965. The Joy appears to have operated to the end of a 20-year lease with some special events but no films in 1966.
The Cine Latino was opened on 20th April 1960 with “Solomon and Sheba.”
Architect – Carlos Vergara Omana
Images of the Stanley refresh in 1959 to the plans of William H. Lee in photos.
Edward J. Nelson of the Ballantyne Co. architectural sketch in photos
The 1960 remodel as the Capri was handled by architect Louis Chiarmonte.
The theatre opened and closed as a single-screen theatre.
The Preston Royal Shopping Center held its Grand Opening on September 17, 1959 by Trammell Crow. Not far behind was the Preston Royal Theatre – the first new hardtop theatre in more than ten years built in the city of Dallas and its first built for widescreen films including Super Technirama 70 and Todd A-O though not Cinerama. Victoria X projection with Strong projection lamps were in the booth.
Architect Raymond F. Smith added a garden and aquarium to the lobby. The 1,000 seat auditorium had tangerine colored seating with wide rows. A special screening of “The Edge of Eternity” opened the $250,000 on November 9, 1959 before its Grand Opening on November 11, 1959 with “The House of Intrigue.”
The theatre closed August 18, 1983 as a sub-run, discount house. The final film was “Survivors.” It closed as a single-screen theatre. The Preston Royal Shopping Center has continued into the 21st Century. The former theatre was home to a long-running Blockbuster video store before becoming a liquor store.
Relaunch shown here on February 21, 1963 as the North Miami Theatre to the plans by E. Abraben & Associates firm with “A Girl Named Tamiko.
Century’s Green Acres Theatre launched September 15, 1961 with “Two Women” on a 50-year lease. The theatre had 1,683 seats at its opening with a single screen. It was located in the Green Acres Shopping Center and closed at the end of lease on September 18, 2011.
James E. Thompson architect – sketch in photos.
J.P Britton architectural sketch of the Cinema 70 in 1964 in Colorado Springs I photos.
1965 shot of the Wythe Theatre transforming to the Wythe Cinema in photos.
Balaban & Katz Circuit launched it December 25th. 1964 with Send Me No Flowers with Doris Day in attendance, the theatre was supposed to be the way theatres would look in the year 2014 and a time capsule was place there to be opened in 50 years.
Relaunched as the Camelot Theatre with “Goodbye Charlie” and “Fate is the Hunter” on December 31, 1964.
Yosh Machida architectural sketch of the Quo Vadis Theatre for the Shafer Theatre Circuit in photos.
Arthur Porchert was the architect for the first new Miami Beach theatre in 15 years. It was built for Maurice Revitz and Sol Frankel with a $50,000 waterfall in its atmospheric lobby along with a 22 foot long chandelier. The $500,000 cinema also had a 20' curved snack bar and a 23'x54' Technikote Pearlescent screen. It launched February 17, 1966 with Sophia Loren in “Judith”.
The $300,000 Clairemont Theatre launched in 1965 to the plans of Drew Eberson with seats for 1,200 patrons for Stanley Warner Circuit.
Elmer Cornwell and W.A. McCausland launched the Star Theatre on a 20-year lease in downtown Mansfield. The Star Theatre Circuit sold the venue to new operators who changed the name to the Rialto Theatre in the sound era. At end of lease, new operators took on the Rialto. They were Harry Swain & Harry Taylor who fused their last names together to create the Twain on August 8, 1936. The first film as the Twain was “Showboat” and the theatre showed off its new RCA Photophone sound system.
874 seats at opening.
Fox West Coast Theatres and National General built the $450,000 Fox in 1966. Architectural sketch in photos.
Edwards and Portman were the architects of the Greenbriar which had a 27'x45' CinemaScope screen with 1,040 seats at opening with 280 of those seats equipped with ashtrays in the smokers' loge.
Conceptualized as a $3 million project, Samuel Shaprio had plans by Armand Carroll and Sydney Jelinek (in photos) that included a 150-room Fairless Hills Motel in which speakers would allow guests to watch the films along with the 1,500 capacity car lot. The projection was slated to be 70mm capable.
Demolished May 2019
The New State Theatre launched July 17, 1941 with “San Antonio Rose.” It replaced the old State Theatre which then became the New Texan Theatre.
John L. Dorris was a co-founder of the Dorris and Dorris Electric Theatre / Airdome which launched in June of 1913 decided to build a new, all weather facility. The Dorris Theatre was built in the Northwest corner of the Hayti town square. The theatre launched May 27, 1914. Dorris sold the theatre in June of 1920 and the the new owners held a contest for a new name. H.P. Harbert chose Empress and that became the theater’s new name on June 24, 1920.
On March 23, 1929, new owners took over changing the name to the Maxy Theatre. The Maxy closed on July 11, 1932. New owners took on the Maxy renaming it the Missouri Theatre on August 28, 1932 launching with “Age for Love” with Billie Love. The theatre was destroyed by a fire in the projection on July 15, 1960.
John Mohrstadt launched the new-build Joy Theatre on December 19, 1946. The building had started on March 1, 1946. It was named in honor of the Mohrstadt’s baby daughter. The opening film was, “My Darling Clementine.” Western star Tim McCoy made an in-person appearance at the the theatre in October 21, 1965. The last film appears to be “The Restless Ones” on November 11, 1965. The Joy appears to have operated to the end of a 20-year lease with some special events but no films in 1966.