stevebob;
There is currently no signage on the building that has the name ‘Million Dollar’. There is a small display mounted on a post located on the pavement outside the theatre, that gives details of the theatre (provided by the LA Conservancy I believe?). Hopefully with the planned re-opening of the Million Dollar Theatre, the name will come back to the actual building again.
I believe that the false ceilings and walls in the lobby only ‘cover over’ the original decoration which is still in place underneath.
You are correct to say that the Eastern Columbia Building has been totally gutted internally (the public lobby and the office spaces) and is currently being converted into loft appartments. The exterior remains intact.
The lobby of the Pellissier Office Building that houses the Wiltern Theatre remains intact.
Variety theatres in the UK also presented films as part of the programme. At the time, in the early days of cinema, they were the only opportunity for the population to experience this new form of entertainment.
When stores/shops and roller skating rinks were being converted into cinemas they initially would only be screening shorts and newsreels. The same in the USA with Nickelodeon’s, which begs the question are these cinemas?
Theatres such as the Hammerstein’s Victoria should be listed on Cinema Treasures as they are an important and a least documented part of the history and evolution of cinema presentation. According to Damien Farley’s posting on Sept 10th, the Victoria was screening ‘motion picture dramas’ in 1914.
Opened on 12th October 1936 with Sir Cedric Hardwick starring in “Tudor Rose” + a variety show ‘Bric-a-Brac’, Universal Talking News and a Walt Disney cartoon short “Cock O' the Walk”.
Two other pieces of information:
The architect Henry F. Elder was aged 27 when he designed this ‘super cinema’.
During the war, after the bombing of the free trade Hall in Manchester city centre, the Halle Orchestra appeared at the Longford Theatre.
I have information that the Curzon Cinema opened in December 1936. It had a 20feet deep stage, a proscenium opening of 45 feet and 3 dressing rooms. Operated as an independent it was taken over by G.B. Snape Circuit in the mid-1950’s.
In the 1960’s it was altered to become a twin screen cinema and a Bingo Hall. The two screens were name Major (400 seats) and Minor (134 seats).
Opened as the Longford Theatre in 1936. It was designed by architect Henry F. Elder of the Manchester firm of architects Roberts, Wood & Elder for the independent operators Jackson & Newport. Initially it was going to be a live theatre with some film use, but went the other way and opened with films with some stage use.
It was one of the most unusually designed cinemas to be built in the UK. The young architect was only in his 20’s when he came up with marvelous Art Deco design. There were two entrances, the main one on Chester Road was originally set well back from the road and had a courtyard (since road widening the building now abutts the pavement. The facade on this entrance is shaped like a giant 1930’s cash register and was originally faced with ceramic tiles. The other entrance on Edge Lane had a semi-circular recess above the canopy and a concrete column stood in the recess which must originally have had the name of the theatre on it.
There was a cafe that sat 146 persons and the fully equipped stage was 25feet deep. It was the first cinema in the north of England to have electric storage radiators in piping under the seats and the first to have blue neon lighting to light the aisles.
In August 1950 the Longford Theatre was taken over by the Essoldo Circuit and it was re-named Essoldo. It continued screening films until closing in September 1965.
It was converted into a Bingo Club and this lasted for many years. Since bingo pulled out it has sat closed and boarded up (at least 10 years).
The Empress Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 -1915. The address given is 550 West 181st Street, so a slight re-numbering has occurred.
The Orpheum Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915.
In the Film Daily Yearbook;1926 edition is is listed with a seating capacity of 596.
stevebob;
There is currently no signage on the building that has the name ‘Million Dollar’. There is a small display mounted on a post located on the pavement outside the theatre, that gives details of the theatre (provided by the LA Conservancy I believe?). Hopefully with the planned re-opening of the Million Dollar Theatre, the name will come back to the actual building again.
I believe that the false ceilings and walls in the lobby only ‘cover over’ the original decoration which is still in place underneath.
You are correct to say that the Eastern Columbia Building has been totally gutted internally (the public lobby and the office spaces) and is currently being converted into loft appartments. The exterior remains intact.
The lobby of the Pellissier Office Building that houses the Wiltern Theatre remains intact.
The auditorium of the New Victoria Theatre from the circle in 1973 here:
View link
A vintage 1949 photograph of the Wilton Road entrance to the New Victoria Theatre here:
View link
A 1971 exterior photograph of the Odeon Twickenham here:
View link
The ‘modernised’ facade of the Odeon Nottingham in 1971 here:
View link
A 1961 exterior photograph of the Odeon Hemel Hempstead here:
View link
And a full view of the Odeon in 1968 here:
View link
A 1970’s exterior view of the Odeon Biship Auckland here:
View link
A Christmas 1970 exterior photograph of the Odeon Barnsley here:
View link
Variety theatres in the UK also presented films as part of the programme. At the time, in the early days of cinema, they were the only opportunity for the population to experience this new form of entertainment.
When stores/shops and roller skating rinks were being converted into cinemas they initially would only be screening shorts and newsreels. The same in the USA with Nickelodeon’s, which begs the question are these cinemas?
Theatres such as the Hammerstein’s Victoria should be listed on Cinema Treasures as they are an important and a least documented part of the history and evolution of cinema presentation. According to Damien Farley’s posting on Sept 10th, the Victoria was screening ‘motion picture dramas’ in 1914.
Opened on 12th October 1936 with Sir Cedric Hardwick starring in “Tudor Rose” + a variety show ‘Bric-a-Brac’, Universal Talking News and a Walt Disney cartoon short “Cock O' the Walk”.
Two other pieces of information:
The architect Henry F. Elder was aged 27 when he designed this ‘super cinema’.
During the war, after the bombing of the free trade Hall in Manchester city centre, the Halle Orchestra appeared at the Longford Theatre.
Some small exterior photo’s and details here:
http://www.johnryan.org.uk/Essoldo.html
A larger, more recent photo of the Chester Road entrance here:
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ewm/ic8/15.jpg
The building is Listed Grade II.
A Winter 1987 exterior photograph (leaves on the trees obscure the view for 5 months of the year).
View link
I have information that the Curzon Cinema opened in December 1936. It had a 20feet deep stage, a proscenium opening of 45 feet and 3 dressing rooms. Operated as an independent it was taken over by G.B. Snape Circuit in the mid-1950’s.
In the 1960’s it was altered to become a twin screen cinema and a Bingo Hall. The two screens were name Major (400 seats) and Minor (134 seats).
Opened as the Longford Theatre in 1936. It was designed by architect Henry F. Elder of the Manchester firm of architects Roberts, Wood & Elder for the independent operators Jackson & Newport. Initially it was going to be a live theatre with some film use, but went the other way and opened with films with some stage use.
It was one of the most unusually designed cinemas to be built in the UK. The young architect was only in his 20’s when he came up with marvelous Art Deco design. There were two entrances, the main one on Chester Road was originally set well back from the road and had a courtyard (since road widening the building now abutts the pavement. The facade on this entrance is shaped like a giant 1930’s cash register and was originally faced with ceramic tiles. The other entrance on Edge Lane had a semi-circular recess above the canopy and a concrete column stood in the recess which must originally have had the name of the theatre on it.
There was a cafe that sat 146 persons and the fully equipped stage was 25feet deep. It was the first cinema in the north of England to have electric storage radiators in piping under the seats and the first to have blue neon lighting to light the aisles.
In August 1950 the Longford Theatre was taken over by the Essoldo Circuit and it was re-named Essoldo. It continued screening films until closing in September 1965.
It was converted into a Bingo Club and this lasted for many years. Since bingo pulled out it has sat closed and boarded up (at least 10 years).
Sandringham is considered a suburb of Melbourne – Victoria is the State name.
Two vintage exterior photographs from 1949 here:
View link
A side view here:
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Oopps… link to photo # 2 again here:
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More vintage exterior photographs of the Odeon Swiss Cottage here:
Exterior in 1949
View link
Exterior in 1956
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Exterior in 1968
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Some more historic details and a recent exterior photograph here:
http://www.tnunn.f2s.com/swisscot.htm
2004 photgraphs here:
Exterior View link
Circle foyer and entrance to Screen 1
View link
Auditorium Screen 1
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OOpps here is Link #3 again:
View link
Photographs of the Odeon Muswell Hill here:
An exterior night view in 1947.
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An exterior day view in November 1949.
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An exterior day view in 1956 with Lawrence Olivier in “Richard III” recieving an Odeon General Release.
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A good artists impression of the auditorium.
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The Empress Theatre is listed in the American Motion Picture Directory 1914 -1915. The address given is 550 West 181st Street, so a slight re-numbering has occurred.