Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s in the 1940’s as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc and Butterfield Michigan Theaters Co.
I notice on the postcard photo it is The Plaza, not La Plaza. It does certainly look like a large theatre. Maybe La Plaza (or LaPlaza is it is spelt in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook) was a small theatre attached to the larger Plaza Theatre that was no longer there from 1941 onwards. Just a thought.
We need someone local with first hand knowledge to help solve this one. What is currently located on the 504 Central Avenue address?
The World Premier of “How the West Was Won” was held at the Casino Cinerama Theatre on 1st November 1962 and it went on to play at this theatre for a record breaking 123 weeks (longer than any other theatre in the world for this movie). It opened in 10 other cities around the world before having its first American date at the Warner Cinerama, Hollywood CA on 20th February 1963.
Listed as the LaPlaza Theatre in Film Daily Yearbook;1941 and La Plaza Theatre 1943 editions as having a seating capacity of 375 in both editions. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.
In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the La Plaza Theatre, 504 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL has a seating capacity listed as 2,390! Surely a mis-print here and it must be 390?
I agree to leave this theatre as it is too. After all it, it has now been stated here that it was located where the State Theatre was built. I have just mentioned that on the State Theatre page: /theaters/241/
The architect of Flicks (G.H.B. Gould) also designed the 800 seat West Cliff Gardens Theatre on Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea. It has been operating as a live theatre since opening on 25th May 1928 and continues today as the West Cliff Theatre. It has never screened films, so doesn’t qualify for listing on Cinema Treasures, but I thought I would mention it here.
Film Daily Yearbooks; 1950 and 1952 list this as the Arcade Theatre, 404 North Central Avenue, Glendale with a seating capacity of 652.
Strangely, it is not listed as either the Villa Glen or Arcade in editions of F.D.Y. that I have for 1940 or 1943, yet the above description states it probably dates from the silent era.
The Cottage Road Cinema (which first opened in July 1912) has been taken over by a new operator Mr Morris who operates cinemas in Lancaster and Skipton and other places. It continues to screen films.
The 1941 Film Daily Yearbook has this listed as the New Broad Theater with a seating capacity of 500. Two years later in the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it is the St. Marys Theater, still with 500 seats. The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. lists the St. Marys Theater with a seating capacity of 613.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition Wintergarden Theatre, 640 seats. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.; Winter Garden Theatre, Curch Street & Temple Street, Freedonia, NY. seating capacity 672.
This opened as the Grand Circle Theatre in 1913. It was re-named the Central Theatre in 1921 and closed as the Central Theatre in 1924.
The photo posted by Charles above dates from around 1913-1916 as the adjacent Park Theatre (1911-1916) at 2125 Woodward Avenue can be seen on the right.
The newspaper article on the impending demolition of this and the Beverly Theatre states this was called the the Hitching Post. Article is on the Beverly Theatre page /theaters/494/
I know of the Hitching Post Theatre in Hollywood (now demolished) and there was a Hitching Post Theatre in Santa Monica located at 1448 4th Streeet.
Film Daily Yearbook’s;1941 and 1943 editions list a seating capacity of 1,500 and the Gladmer Theatre is being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. throught their subsidiary W.S. Butterfield Theatres Inc and Butterfield Michigan Theatres Co.
The 1950 F.D.Y. gives the Gladmer Theatre address as 231-235 N. Washington Avenue, Lancing, MI with a seating capacity of 1,485.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s;1941 and 1943 editions as the Ritz Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,270. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity of the Ritz is given as 1,220 and the address is 415 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL.
Film Daily Yearbooks list the Castle Theatre as being in Mt. Pleasant, RI. the address given is 1039 Chalkstone Street and it has a seating capacity of 989.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s in the 1940’s as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc and Butterfield Michigan Theaters Co.
I notice on the postcard photo it is The Plaza, not La Plaza. It does certainly look like a large theatre. Maybe La Plaza (or LaPlaza is it is spelt in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook) was a small theatre attached to the larger Plaza Theatre that was no longer there from 1941 onwards. Just a thought.
We need someone local with first hand knowledge to help solve this one. What is currently located on the 504 Central Avenue address?
The World Premier of “How the West Was Won” was held at the Casino Cinerama Theatre on 1st November 1962 and it went on to play at this theatre for a record breaking 123 weeks (longer than any other theatre in the world for this movie). It opened in 10 other cities around the world before having its first American date at the Warner Cinerama, Hollywood CA on 20th February 1963.
Listed as the LaPlaza Theatre in Film Daily Yearbook;1941 and La Plaza Theatre 1943 editions as having a seating capacity of 375 in both editions. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.
In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the La Plaza Theatre, 504 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL has a seating capacity listed as 2,390! Surely a mis-print here and it must be 390?
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have;1941, 1943 and 1950 editions as being located in Auburn. It’s seating capacity is listed as 1,200.
The State Theatre was built on the site of the Grand Circus Theatre, listed on Cinema Treasures: /theaters/13410/
I agree to leave this theatre as it is too. After all it, it has now been stated here that it was located where the State Theatre was built. I have just mentioned that on the State Theatre page: /theaters/241/
The architect of Flicks (G.H.B. Gould) also designed the 800 seat West Cliff Gardens Theatre on Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea. It has been operating as a live theatre since opening on 25th May 1928 and continues today as the West Cliff Theatre. It has never screened films, so doesn’t qualify for listing on Cinema Treasures, but I thought I would mention it here.
Listed as the Fairlawn Theatre in 1941 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook, but no further details are given, not even a seating capacity.
By the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it is still the Fairlawn Theatree and has a seating capacity given as 800.
Film Daily Yearbooks; 1950 and 1952 list this as the Arcade Theatre, 404 North Central Avenue, Glendale with a seating capacity of 652.
Strangely, it is not listed as either the Villa Glen or Arcade in editions of F.D.Y. that I have for 1940 or 1943, yet the above description states it probably dates from the silent era.
The Cottage Road Cinema (which first opened in July 1912) has been taken over by a new operator Mr Morris who operates cinemas in Lancaster and Skipton and other places. It continues to screen films.
It was converted into a skating rink, but that venture failed and it is now in use as a pub.
When it first opened in 1929 it was known as the Castle Super Cinema and had a seating capacity of 1,696.
Some further information and photos here: http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/castlecinema.htm
The 1941 Film Daily Yearbook has this listed as the New Broad Theater with a seating capacity of 500. Two years later in the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it is the St. Marys Theater, still with 500 seats. The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. lists the St. Marys Theater with a seating capacity of 613.
That last address in the above post should read: Church Street & Temple Street, Fredonia, NY
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition Wintergarden Theatre, 640 seats. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.; Winter Garden Theatre, Curch Street & Temple Street, Freedonia, NY. seating capacity 672.
Listed as the Roxy Theatre in Film Daily Yearbook’s;1941 and 1943 editions. Seating capacity is given as 450.
This opened as the Grand Circle Theatre in 1913. It was re-named the Central Theatre in 1921 and closed as the Central Theatre in 1924.
The photo posted by Charles above dates from around 1913-1916 as the adjacent Park Theatre (1911-1916) at 2125 Woodward Avenue can be seen on the right.
When first opened as the Carlton Cinema on 28th February 1934, the seating capacity was 1,298. The architect was R.A. Thomas.
The newspaper article on the impending demolition of this and the Beverly Theatre states this was called the the Hitching Post. Article is on the Beverly Theatre page /theaters/494/
I know of the Hitching Post Theatre in Hollywood (now demolished) and there was a Hitching Post Theatre in Santa Monica located at 1448 4th Streeet.
Film Daily Yearbook’s;1941 and 1943 editions list a seating capacity of 1,500 and the Gladmer Theatre is being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. throught their subsidiary W.S. Butterfield Theatres Inc and Butterfield Michigan Theatres Co.
The 1950 F.D.Y. gives the Gladmer Theatre address as 231-235 N. Washington Avenue, Lancing, MI with a seating capacity of 1,485.
Listed as a Negro theatre in Film Daily Yearbook’s; 1941 – 1955. The seating capacity of the De Luxe Theater is given as 740.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s;1941 and 1943 editions as the Ritz Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,270. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity of the Ritz is given as 1,220 and the address is 415 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL.
According to reports, demolition is imminent and will begin on 22nd August 2005.
Film Daily Yearbooks list the Castle Theatre as being in Mt. Pleasant, RI. the address given is 1039 Chalkstone Street and it has a seating capacity of 989.
The architect’s of the Palacio Chino were Luis De la Mora and Alfredo Olagaray.
It operated as a single screen cinema until it was sub-divided into 4 screens which opened on 11th October 1979.