R. McGee: In your recent post you spoke of the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Atlanta. I’m in the Charlotte area and recently found a former Coca-Cola bottling plant on West Morehead Street that has ornamental exterior cement coca-cola bottles along the top facade! Very unique and so thankful it still exists in a town that demolished many wonderful old buildings over the many years! The building is now office space. I thought I would be able to provide a link to see this former plant, but at the moment have not been able to locate the photo that was provided on the www.cmhpf.org site. “cmhpf” stands for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Preservation Foundation. When I mentioned Charlotte demolishing many old buildings that I viewed in a book entitled Remembering Charlotte I came to realize that one that hasn’t been demolished, but is in dire need of a MAJOR restoration is the Carolina Theatre. I thought it best to also interject a theatre note with my non-theatre related comments.
Ron: Great to read this sentence in regards to the Strand…..“New information will soon be on the site about the Robert Morton Theatre Organ that will be installed in this Art Deco house.” Congratulations and I have emailed a lady named Cheryl who is with Friends of the Strand to receive further information.
Just viewed the photos on the Friends of the Strand site and during my visit to Marietta do not recall seeing any facade with marquee,ticket booth, etc. while in town so perhaps this has all been changed yet the auditorium still exists?
I was in Marietta in December and took a photo of a former theatre on the square, but it was in the middle of the block and not on the corner as depicted in some of the photos on this link….so did Marietta have 2 theatres?
Dawn has posted on CT so perhaps you’ve read her words on the Grand Theatre/Westfield NY link since her father onced owned and operated that hometown theatre.
lostmemory: Where did you see this promo or ad written by Dawn Kirsch? She is Joe’s daughter. And as far as adding drive-ins to this cinema website perhaps we should ask the founders of the site and see what they prefer.
TC: Just viewed the tourist brochure and found it most fascinating as it shows some area homes such as bungalows which are my most favorite style of home. Thanks.
Well, all I know is that there are drive-in theatres listed and many have them are included on personal profile links so I don’t have a problem with including them.
lostmemory: Just noticed that you have 3 of my hometown area drive-ins on your profile sheet, but since nobody has posted on any of those pages thought I mention it here……I was recently in contact with a man in Erie PA who owns and operates the Corry Drive-In in Corry PA, Joe Kirsch. I plan to meet with him this spring/summer to discuss his career in theatre/drive-in ownership so should be a fascinating interview. Also, he once owned my hometown theatre in western NYS. My hometown also had a drive-in on Route 20.
Yes, these additional b/w photos worked correctly and were fun to see yet I’m devastated to see the Walgreens sign high above that most unusual facade. Can’t believe though that the ‘Couch Republic’ isn’t up in arms over this pharmacy purchase! The ‘theater’ is definitely on THE street in Key West….Duval Street!
lostmemory: After really studying the photo that you posted I am truly outraged now as I see the marquee has been ‘torn’ off! The folks passing by on the street should be holding picket signs and protesting rather than just walking by like they don’t have a care in the world! Unbelievable that this theatre would be allowed to be raped in quaint Key West where there is so much culture and attention to the arts! I would like to read what other members think of this recent ‘development’ that is going in the wrong direction!
lostmemory: Thanks for the photo, but that tacky Walgreens sign at the top of the facade is just that…….tacky! So I guess this means that the theatre is owned by Walgreens afterall! :–(
TC: THANKS for the photos site of this Key West theater. It’s a real shame that Walgreens got their pharmacy fingers on this one! Now my question about the Walgreens connection has been sadly answered! :–( I, too, have been to Key West during the years I lived in South Florida,but don’t recall seeing this theatre with its beautiful facade and now certainly regret that oversight. :–(
lostmemory: Thanks for the Bristol Drive-In site! Fun story about the drive-in being used when Nascar is in town!
If anyone has any current news on the Strand in Key West, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.
And if Walgreens intends to make it a pharmacy I sure hope they keep the unique facade! At least do that Mr. Walgreens!
lostmemory: I agree and btw, what is the link for the drive-in website as it would be fun to visit. Thanks.
R. McGee: In your recent post you spoke of the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Atlanta. I’m in the Charlotte area and recently found a former Coca-Cola bottling plant on West Morehead Street that has ornamental exterior cement coca-cola bottles along the top facade! Very unique and so thankful it still exists in a town that demolished many wonderful old buildings over the many years! The building is now office space. I thought I would be able to provide a link to see this former plant, but at the moment have not been able to locate the photo that was provided on the www.cmhpf.org site. “cmhpf” stands for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Preservation Foundation. When I mentioned Charlotte demolishing many old buildings that I viewed in a book entitled Remembering Charlotte I came to realize that one that hasn’t been demolished, but is in dire need of a MAJOR restoration is the Carolina Theatre. I thought it best to also interject a theatre note with my non-theatre related comments.
Ron: Great to read this sentence in regards to the Strand…..“New information will soon be on the site about the Robert Morton Theatre Organ that will be installed in this Art Deco house.” Congratulations and I have emailed a lady named Cheryl who is with Friends of the Strand to receive further information.
Just viewed the photos on the Friends of the Strand site and during my visit to Marietta do not recall seeing any facade with marquee,ticket booth, etc. while in town so perhaps this has all been changed yet the auditorium still exists?
I was in Marietta in December and took a photo of a former theatre on the square, but it was in the middle of the block and not on the corner as depicted in some of the photos on this link….so did Marietta have 2 theatres?
Dawn has posted on CT so perhaps you’ve read her words on the Grand Theatre/Westfield NY link since her father onced owned and operated that hometown theatre.
lostmemory: Where did you see this promo or ad written by Dawn Kirsch? She is Joe’s daughter. And as far as adding drive-ins to this cinema website perhaps we should ask the founders of the site and see what they prefer.
Also see from the brochure that there were TWO Deland cinemas!
I just compared the photo on the Athens link and the one in the b/w tourist brochure and sure see a big difference in the front facade!
TC: Just viewed the tourist brochure and found it most fascinating as it shows some area homes such as bungalows which are my most favorite style of home. Thanks.
Well, all I know is that there are drive-in theatres listed and many have them are included on personal profile links so I don’t have a problem with including them.
Steve: Well written and I DITTO your comments! Have a nice day despite the Walgreens-Strand photo!
lostmemory: Just noticed that you have 3 of my hometown area drive-ins on your profile sheet, but since nobody has posted on any of those pages thought I mention it here……I was recently in contact with a man in Erie PA who owns and operates the Corry Drive-In in Corry PA, Joe Kirsch. I plan to meet with him this spring/summer to discuss his career in theatre/drive-in ownership so should be a fascinating interview. Also, he once owned my hometown theatre in western NYS. My hometown also had a drive-in on Route 20.
With the new millenium comes change and not always for the best, imo.
Yes, these additional b/w photos worked correctly and were fun to see yet I’m devastated to see the Walgreens sign high above that most unusual facade. Can’t believe though that the ‘Couch Republic’ isn’t up in arms over this pharmacy purchase! The ‘theater’ is definitely on THE street in Key West….Duval Street!
lostmemory: After really studying the photo that you posted I am truly outraged now as I see the marquee has been ‘torn’ off! The folks passing by on the street should be holding picket signs and protesting rather than just walking by like they don’t have a care in the world! Unbelievable that this theatre would be allowed to be raped in quaint Key West where there is so much culture and attention to the arts! I would like to read what other members think of this recent ‘development’ that is going in the wrong direction!
lostmemory: Thanks for the photo, but that tacky Walgreens sign at the top of the facade is just that…….tacky! So I guess this means that the theatre is owned by Walgreens afterall! :–(
Happy Valentine’s Day to all! Take your significant other to a movie today! Suggestion: Shall We Dance with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez
Steve: This a.m. I rec’d a personal email from Todd Smith so please email me @ so I can forward it to you! Thanks.
TC: Thanks for the vintage Ritz photo.
Riprod: I just noticed that after the word STATUS it reads “Closed/Renovating/Restoring” so doesn’t this mean what it says? Hope we’re all wrong!
TC: THANKS for the photos site of this Key West theater. It’s a real shame that Walgreens got their pharmacy fingers on this one! Now my question about the Walgreens connection has been sadly answered! :–( I, too, have been to Key West during the years I lived in South Florida,but don’t recall seeing this theatre with its beautiful facade and now certainly regret that oversight. :–(