Architected by its owner J.C. Hartman, the $100,000 Park opened in 1921. A Wurlitzer-Hope-Jones organ was there at opening along with Simplex projectors.
Bill Hart’s theatre held 150 patrons and was purportedly a converted stable. He had success, reportedly, by constructing a billboard at the railway station and used enormous 24-sheet posters to keep potential patrons apprised of each show at his theatre. A picture is in the photos section.
When J. Louis Rome added the Apollo to the State Theatres Circuit in January of 1921, it was the firm’s fifth Baltimore theatre joining the Poplar, Capitol, Rialto and Broadway. With Powers projection and Minusa screen at opening, the $250,000 neighborhood theatre sported reasonable prices at 22 cents for regular shows and 11 cents for the matinees though Rome said matinee attendance towered over lightly-attended evening shows. A Moller organ added to the presentation and management was by Rome’s relative, Samuel H. Rome.
Architected by Lester Avery, the Capitol launched with the feature, “Dinty” on March 21, 1921. Sporting Powers 6B projectors, the 600-seat theatre was owned by H. Pittman of Dunedin’s Dixie Theatre. A Seeburg Photo Player piano complemented the 5-piece orchestra.
Grand opening shot of the Hermon Weingarten Parthenon on February 26, 1921 in photos section. The $300,000 complex opened with 1,600 seats and Type S Simplex projectors
John Hamrick owned and designed his $350,000 showplace launching on Christmas Day 1920 with “The Furnace.” The glassed-in projection room with Simplex projectors was fashioned after the famous Capitol Theatre in NYC.
Old Forge had two theatres on Main Street: John M. Holland’s original Holland Theatre dating to at least 1913 and the Pilosi family’s Pilosi’s Theatre which dates back to at least 1915. Someone in Old Forge probably knows the answer but the Holland Theatre appears to originate as part of the Holland House operation. Plans are drawn up for a new facility in 1922 but construction occurs in 1925/6 with Comerford Circuit taking on the operation with the New Holland opening in the present-day Holland Building launching March 25, 1926. “Little Annie Rooney” was the first film. A Link pipe organ was the original instrument though later replaced. Management stayed in the family with the first manager Daniel Holland.
Pilosi’s Theatre was within Pilosi Building and continued as a silent operation until 1928 It played Paramount and Fox films before ceasing film exhibition deciding not to enter sound films. It was used for live events until the early 1930s and its use was discontinued. The Holland became Old Forge’s only movie theatre before also ceasing operation and becoming a church. Photos of Pilosi’s and the Holland are in the photos area.
Chariton had two silent era theaters in the Grand Theatre (apparently opening in 1903) and the Temple Theatre owned by Victoria Dewey and Becker & Bowen. The two entities got together and consolidated in the 914 Court location becoming the Lincoln Theatre. Henry Cramer then built the Ritz Theatre in March of 1927 taking over a retail spot held by The Woman’s Shop at 908 Court with the Lincoln just feet away. The 800-seat Ritz launched August 31, 1927.
Unfortunately, that theatre and the entire Lincoln Building with the Lincoln Barber Shop, the Lincoln Cafe, Ostman Jewelry, and apartments burned on February 27,1930 in a huge blaze. The Ritz Theatre auditorium was a casualty as well as only one building and some facades remained in the block.
William L. Perkins architected the Ritz retaining just the facade and — building very quickly — reopening May 22, 1930. Pictures of the Lincoln are in the photos section.
The entrance doors to the theater were on Barrett Street and the exit doors were on Clinton Street. The name of the theater was a fusion of these two touching streets making it the distinctive Barcli Theatre. William E. Gladstone was its first manager and it was owned by Lincoln Theatre operator John Walker. Charles H. Travis was the opening projectionist in 1920.
William Ostenberg bought the Orpheum in January of 1919 and – under his of the Midwest Amusement and Realty Company circuit – renamed it the Bluffs Theatre.
The $50,000 Osage Theatre owned for about 30 years by Richard R. Biechele launched February 26, 1922 with “Sailor Made Man.” The theatre was 75x120 feet and housed 1,000 at opening. The Osage replaced a smaller theater that had fewer than 500 seats (explaining the seat count discrepancy). The theatre suffered a roof collapse in 1948 injuring patrons but reopened.During the 1951 flood that swept through the Armourdale district, the Osage was forced to close. With 1952 likely as the terminus of Biechele’s lease, he made no effort to reopen. The theatre was vacant until 1957 and was rezoned from G commercial to manufacturing first converted for a neon sign company and as of the 2010s, a boat servicing center.
Leon H. Lempert architected the new Strand which launched in 1923 with the film, “3 Wise Fools.” The new iteration of the Strand had a Wurlitzer organ and nine-piece orchestra led by H.W. Minier, seating by Karen & Sons, and operated by William Bernstein.
Grand opening was March 31, 1923 with Jack Coogan in “Daddy,” Buster Keaton in “The Balloonatic” as well as Randall’s Royal Orchestra, Broadway News Review and Ralph Mason at the organ.
Gregory Burkitt Webb architected and his plans from 1920 are in the photos area
Architected by its owner J.C. Hartman, the $100,000 Park opened in 1921. A Wurlitzer-Hope-Jones organ was there at opening along with Simplex projectors.
Architected by Charles G. Davis and built by H.T. Underwood Contractors Company of New Orleans.
Bill Hart’s theatre held 150 patrons and was purportedly a converted stable. He had success, reportedly, by constructing a billboard at the railway station and used enormous 24-sheet posters to keep potential patrons apprised of each show at his theatre. A picture is in the photos section.
Architected by Harry Lawrie of Mendelssohn, Fisher and Lawrie
This Skouras Brothers Circuit location opened in April of 1921 with its first feature “Good Women”
When J. Louis Rome added the Apollo to the State Theatres Circuit in January of 1921, it was the firm’s fifth Baltimore theatre joining the Poplar, Capitol, Rialto and Broadway. With Powers projection and Minusa screen at opening, the $250,000 neighborhood theatre sported reasonable prices at 22 cents for regular shows and 11 cents for the matinees though Rome said matinee attendance towered over lightly-attended evening shows. A Moller organ added to the presentation and management was by Rome’s relative, Samuel H. Rome.
Architected by Lester Avery, the Capitol launched with the feature, “Dinty” on March 21, 1921. Sporting Powers 6B projectors, the 600-seat theatre was owned by H. Pittman of Dunedin’s Dixie Theatre. A Seeburg Photo Player piano complemented the 5-piece orchestra.
Grand opening shot of the Hermon Weingarten Parthenon on February 26, 1921 in photos section. The $300,000 complex opened with 1,600 seats and Type S Simplex projectors
John Hamrick owned and designed his $350,000 showplace launching on Christmas Day 1920 with “The Furnace.” The glassed-in projection room with Simplex projectors was fashioned after the famous Capitol Theatre in NYC.
1921
Old Forge had two theatres on Main Street: John M. Holland’s original Holland Theatre dating to at least 1913 and the Pilosi family’s Pilosi’s Theatre which dates back to at least 1915. Someone in Old Forge probably knows the answer but the Holland Theatre appears to originate as part of the Holland House operation. Plans are drawn up for a new facility in 1922 but construction occurs in 1925/6 with Comerford Circuit taking on the operation with the New Holland opening in the present-day Holland Building launching March 25, 1926. “Little Annie Rooney” was the first film. A Link pipe organ was the original instrument though later replaced. Management stayed in the family with the first manager Daniel Holland.
Pilosi’s Theatre was within Pilosi Building and continued as a silent operation until 1928 It played Paramount and Fox films before ceasing film exhibition deciding not to enter sound films. It was used for live events until the early 1930s and its use was discontinued. The Holland became Old Forge’s only movie theatre before also ceasing operation and becoming a church. Photos of Pilosi’s and the Holland are in the photos area.
A picture of the Lyric from 1920 is posted in photos.
Chariton had two silent era theaters in the Grand Theatre (apparently opening in 1903) and the Temple Theatre owned by Victoria Dewey and Becker & Bowen. The two entities got together and consolidated in the 914 Court location becoming the Lincoln Theatre. Henry Cramer then built the Ritz Theatre in March of 1927 taking over a retail spot held by The Woman’s Shop at 908 Court with the Lincoln just feet away. The 800-seat Ritz launched August 31, 1927.
Unfortunately, that theatre and the entire Lincoln Building with the Lincoln Barber Shop, the Lincoln Cafe, Ostman Jewelry, and apartments burned on February 27,1930 in a huge blaze. The Ritz Theatre auditorium was a casualty as well as only one building and some facades remained in the block.
William L. Perkins architected the Ritz retaining just the facade and — building very quickly — reopening May 22, 1930. Pictures of the Lincoln are in the photos section.
The entrance doors to the theater were on Barrett Street and the exit doors were on Clinton Street. The name of the theater was a fusion of these two touching streets making it the distinctive Barcli Theatre. William E. Gladstone was its first manager and it was owned by Lincoln Theatre operator John Walker. Charles H. Travis was the opening projectionist in 1920.
William Ostenberg bought the Orpheum in January of 1919 and – under his of the Midwest Amusement and Realty Company circuit – renamed it the Bluffs Theatre.
Architected by William H. McElfatrick and opened in 1913
Architected by Nathan Myers and launching in 1913.
Architected by L. D. Bayley of Hartford and opened in 1913.
Opened in 1923 by J.C. Morris.
The $50,000 Osage Theatre owned for about 30 years by Richard R. Biechele launched February 26, 1922 with “Sailor Made Man.” The theatre was 75x120 feet and housed 1,000 at opening. The Osage replaced a smaller theater that had fewer than 500 seats (explaining the seat count discrepancy). The theatre suffered a roof collapse in 1948 injuring patrons but reopened.During the 1951 flood that swept through the Armourdale district, the Osage was forced to close. With 1952 likely as the terminus of Biechele’s lease, he made no effort to reopen. The theatre was vacant until 1957 and was rezoned from G commercial to manufacturing first converted for a neon sign company and as of the 2010s, a boat servicing center.
Leon H. Lempert architected the new Strand which launched in 1923 with the film, “3 Wise Fools.” The new iteration of the Strand had a Wurlitzer organ and nine-piece orchestra led by H.W. Minier, seating by Karen & Sons, and operated by William Bernstein.
The “New” Rex opened in 1923 and was architected by W.C.Weeks and operated by E.J. Hoefer.
Grand opening was March 22, 1923 by Samuel Lesselbaum.
Grand opening was March 31, 1923 with Jack Coogan in “Daddy,” Buster Keaton in “The Balloonatic” as well as Randall’s Royal Orchestra, Broadway News Review and Ralph Mason at the organ.