The Plaza del Sol Mall launched March 10, 1979 in Del Rio, Texas. About a month later, on April 19th, 1979, Plitt opened the multiscreen Cinema III in the mall. Plitt also operated the Cinema Plaza and Gay 90 Drive-In at that time before closing both in 1981.
The struggling Plitt Circuit would be partially absorbed by Cinemark which took on the theatre on May 8, 1987. Cinemark slightly rebranded the the venue as the Cinema 3 which it operated until February of 1996. It would then create the larger Movies 8 facility that opened later in 1996 and continued into the 21st Century.
The Princess Theatre was located in a building at 636 South Main built in 1913. It switched to both talkies and air conditioning in 1929. After the War, business faded until 1953 when “Bwana Devil” and several subsequent 3D titles brought back audiences. The theatre closed after a July 23, 1958 showing of “Paths of Glory.” It was demolished in March of 1960.
Grand opening of the Belle Theatre was June 28, 1931 and managed by Leo Peterson. The theatre opened with a Spanish motif. It was operated by the Black Hills Amusement Company. It appears to close after a June 3, 1973 showing of “The Mechanic”.
A.P. Parker opened the Dixie Theatre for films on Thanksgiving Day 1925 after a soft launch in October with live events. On January 11, 1940, the theatre was decimated in a fire. After being closed for three months, on April 12, 1940, the reconstructed facility relaunched as the Madison Theatre. Ad are discontinued December 31, 1985 as the Madison’s regular feature days appear to end.
This might be a bit closer to the theatre’s timeline using the local paper and trade press:
P.W. Goodson & Son opened the Lathrop Theatre in the existing Lowry Building on May 18, 1923 ending the run of the inferior Star Theatre. The theatre was likely on a ten-year lease and remained silent to ending its film run in 1933 playing very out of date films.
The theatre housed live events over the next three years including political rallies, school functions, and minstrel shows. Bill Waer took on the theatre in 1936 to modernize the venue renaming it the Tri-Town Theatre which closes quickly.
George A. Owen relaunched the venue as the “new” Lathrop Theatre on May 8, 1937. As another ten year lease lapsed, a new operator, W.W. Weldon of Kansas City, refreshed the venue relaunching as the Joy Theatre on August 19, 1944.
James Wolf purchased the venue in 1947 and returned it to its original name of the Lathrop Theatre. The theatre closes on June 22, 1953 after thirty years of operation with a break during the Depression. A salvage sale in 1954 including plank converts the Lowry Building from theatre to level-floor retail building.
Note: Opened and closed as the Lathrop Theatre – so title should be that with Joy Theatre as a previous name.
The Windsor Opera House launched January 2, 1901 with live fare. The theatre was showing movies by 1921 and installed Vitaphone to go with talking pictures in 1930. The venue changed to the Windsor Theatre in 1935 and closed April 2, 1966.
As best as can be determined, this is the timeline of this venue.
Opened as the Jobson Opera House on October 31, 1889. By 1897, Col. F.W. Blees takes over and calls it the Blees Theatre. Harry Logan took on the venue continuing as the Logan Theatre in 1911. Motion pictures were later added to the live mix with the theatre becoming primarily known for motion pictures.
This is where things become a bit tricky. The Logan goes dark late in 1918 and very briefly reopens in a new location in 1919. On October 3, 1919, the original Logan was taken over by W.D. Woods of Kansas City. The Princess Theatre launched on October 11, 1919 with “His Majesty, Bunker Bean” and listed as “formerly the Logan.” The short-lived Logan location became the original location of the Grand Theatre. The original Grand opened in July of 1919 – it, too, was also listed as “formerly the Logan.”
On December 29, 1922, the Princess under new owners relaunched as the Yale Theatre with “My Old Kentucky Home.” After closing in June of 1923, the venue relaunched under J. Earl Hayes as the Royal Theatre on August 25, 1923. The Royal Theatre’s “ghost sign” /outside advertisement was maintained into the 21st Century.
On December 31, 1929, the theatre became the Dickinson Theatre installing RCA sound and converting the interior to a Moorish architectural design. Dickinson sold his interest in the theatre and one of his employees took on the house. Under new operation, it re-launched October 28, 1936 as the long-running Macon Theatre. In 2004, the facility became live theatre opening its first season as the Maples Repertory Theatre.
That all may be incorrect but it’s the best timeline based on the local papers and the trade press.
The history of the Ozark Theatre does not jibe with the local newspaper or the trade press of the era. So if they are both incorrect, the above is fine. According to the local newspaper and the trade press, they claim that the Ozark Theatre launched May 2, 1929 with “Craig’s Wife.” It was a new build venue with sloped floors and was the new home of the former Gem Theatre. The building was built by Carry Hall and the theatre was opened as a silent house.
A big deal was made about the wiring for sound which took place in 1930. “Lord Byron of Broadway” was the first sound feature and carried a hefty $1 admission on November 2, 1930. The south side of the square venue closed August 11, 1946 when Glen Hall launched the new Hall Theatre.
The Belle Theatre launched as a 600-seat venue on February 21, 1942 with “"Three Girls About Town” and “Outlaws of the Panhandle.” The converted Gleck Garage was equipped with Simplex projection and Western Electric sound.
Judge Thomas N. Rigney of Albany selected architect Carl Boller of Kansas City to build a 900-seat theatre capable of staging live events and motion pictures. It launched December 30, 1914 with a live stage play but would also have motion pictures within months of its launch.
In 1931, the orchestra pit was torn out with the full conversion to full time talking pictures. On December 6, 1956, the Rigney converted to widescreen equipment to show CinemaScope titles. In 1966, the venue was sold and became the Wilcox Theatre. It would later get its original name back before closing.
The Horsefield Brothers launched the Gasconade Theatre on February 2, 1919 with “Grandma’s Boy.” Mrs. F.H. Gail was there taking a $5 prize for suggesting the name. The picture shows at been held previously at Henneke’s Hall. The Gasconade installed a new sound system on May 19, 1929. In 1955, the theatre installed widescreen to play CinemaScope titles.
The Cozy Theatre launched August 1, 1934 with “Paddy the Next Big Thing” likely on a ten year lease. Don Harlo was next up relaunching as the Harlo Theatre on October 21, 1944 with “Cobra Woman.” The Harlo closed in 1952 becoming a place of worship for the Church of Christ in 1953.
The Family Theatre opened in 1909 likely on a 5 year lease with moving pictures and songs. In July of 1910, under new owners, the theatre changed to the Park Picture Parlor. In November, under new operation, it changed to the Princess Theatre mixing in a few live events with the predominate motion picture operation.
In 1914, it renewed is lease for 20 years and on April 28, 1929 switched to talkies with “The Carnation Kid” under F.M. Meyer. A new lease in 1934 brought new ownership. Re-launching June 30, 1934, new operator J.J. Huston remodeled the operation with new projection and improved sound as the Huston Theatre.
Under new operator T.A. Spurgin, the name was changed June 18, 1937 to the Moderne Theatre in a name contest in which actor Wallace Beery picked from the entries. After more than 30 years under his guidance, Spurgin closed the Moderne on January 3, 1969. Rex Eckard reopened the venue as the Stanberry Theatre operating it from 1970 to closing on December 8, 1974 with “Mr. Majestyk” likely at end of lease. The 65-year old theatre does not appear to have reopened. It was then used as storage.
Opened Christmas Day 1938 with “Young Dr. Kildare”, the Range was the first theatre in Hurley since the silent-era Rivoli Theatre that closed in 1927/8. That theatre was at the same location though demolished
Richard J. Budd and C. Robert Budd had an idea of opening a billiard parlor in the Heilner Building in Lykens. But a friend said to take a shot at moving pictures. The Budds opened the Theatorium in 1907 raking in $7.05 in nickels on opening day. Bullish business continued in Lykens for the Budds who enlarged the Theatorium in 1913.
The Theotorium converted to talking pictures in June of 1929. On November 13, 1941, the Theatorium became the Budd Theatre. Richard Budd would give the theatre a new front and sign a year later. The theatre would eventually celebrate 60 years of operation.
The Victoria Theatre launched November 9, 1911 by L.J. Chamberlin. With two Powers projectors, diminutive lobby, and sloped floor, the Victoria was a mainstay in silent film presentation in Sunbury. When the Victoria was sold to Comerford Circuit in 1930, it was changed to the Rialto Theatre, the name which it retained until 1978.
A.J. “Ace” and John J. Stuckey opened the Stuckey Theatre in 1923. The architect was T.W. Biddle Jr of Cumberland, Maryland. The theatre converted to sound and the Stuckey Brothers later sold the theatre after Christmas of 1945 to Theodore Grance.
Grance took the Stuckey Bros. businesses including the Stuckey Theatre, Hotel, Bowling, and Restaurant converting them all to the Everett Theatre, Everett Hotel, Everett Bowling Alleys, and Everett Restaurant.
The Columbia Theatre launched December 24, 1919. It closed on June 19, 1954 after a 50% year-over-year decrease in attendance due to television. It doesn’t appear to have reopened.
The Plaza del Sol Mall launched March 10, 1979 in Del Rio, Texas. About a month later, on April 19th, 1979, Plitt opened the multiscreen Cinema III in the mall. Plitt also operated the Cinema Plaza and Gay 90 Drive-In at that time before closing both in 1981.
The struggling Plitt Circuit would be partially absorbed by Cinemark which took on the theatre on May 8, 1987. Cinemark slightly rebranded the the venue as the Cinema 3 which it operated until February of 1996. It would then create the larger Movies 8 facility that opened later in 1996 and continued into the 21st Century.
The Princess Theatre was located in a building at 636 South Main built in 1913. It switched to both talkies and air conditioning in 1929. After the War, business faded until 1953 when “Bwana Devil” and several subsequent 3D titles brought back audiences. The theatre closed after a July 23, 1958 showing of “Paths of Glory.” It was demolished in March of 1960.
According to Owner Joe Brokaw, he opened his theatre August 27, 1931 (see letter in photos)
1932 promo for organist Egon Dougherty in Astoria
The last listing in the newspaper is May 17, 1950. The theatre was auctioned off and the seats removed in June of 1950.
Correction – Screen
Grand opening of the Belle Theatre was June 28, 1931 and managed by Leo Peterson. The theatre opened with a Spanish motif. It was operated by the Black Hills Amusement Company. It appears to close after a June 3, 1973 showing of “The Mechanic”.
A.P. Parker opened the Dixie Theatre for films on Thanksgiving Day 1925 after a soft launch in October with live events. On January 11, 1940, the theatre was decimated in a fire. After being closed for three months, on April 12, 1940, the reconstructed facility relaunched as the Madison Theatre. Ad are discontinued December 31, 1985 as the Madison’s regular feature days appear to end.
This might be a bit closer to the theatre’s timeline using the local paper and trade press:
P.W. Goodson & Son opened the Lathrop Theatre in the existing Lowry Building on May 18, 1923 ending the run of the inferior Star Theatre. The theatre was likely on a ten-year lease and remained silent to ending its film run in 1933 playing very out of date films.
The theatre housed live events over the next three years including political rallies, school functions, and minstrel shows. Bill Waer took on the theatre in 1936 to modernize the venue renaming it the Tri-Town Theatre which closes quickly.
George A. Owen relaunched the venue as the “new” Lathrop Theatre on May 8, 1937. As another ten year lease lapsed, a new operator, W.W. Weldon of Kansas City, refreshed the venue relaunching as the Joy Theatre on August 19, 1944.
James Wolf purchased the venue in 1947 and returned it to its original name of the Lathrop Theatre. The theatre closes on June 22, 1953 after thirty years of operation with a break during the Depression. A salvage sale in 1954 including plank converts the Lowry Building from theatre to level-floor retail building.
Note: Opened and closed as the Lathrop Theatre – so title should be that with Joy Theatre as a previous name.
The Windsor Opera House launched January 2, 1901 with live fare. The theatre was showing movies by 1921 and installed Vitaphone to go with talking pictures in 1930. The venue changed to the Windsor Theatre in 1935 and closed April 2, 1966.
As best as can be determined, this is the timeline of this venue.
Opened as the Jobson Opera House on October 31, 1889. By 1897, Col. F.W. Blees takes over and calls it the Blees Theatre. Harry Logan took on the venue continuing as the Logan Theatre in 1911. Motion pictures were later added to the live mix with the theatre becoming primarily known for motion pictures.
This is where things become a bit tricky. The Logan goes dark late in 1918 and very briefly reopens in a new location in 1919. On October 3, 1919, the original Logan was taken over by W.D. Woods of Kansas City. The Princess Theatre launched on October 11, 1919 with “His Majesty, Bunker Bean” and listed as “formerly the Logan.” The short-lived Logan location became the original location of the Grand Theatre. The original Grand opened in July of 1919 – it, too, was also listed as “formerly the Logan.”
On December 29, 1922, the Princess under new owners relaunched as the Yale Theatre with “My Old Kentucky Home.” After closing in June of 1923, the venue relaunched under J. Earl Hayes as the Royal Theatre on August 25, 1923. The Royal Theatre’s “ghost sign” /outside advertisement was maintained into the 21st Century.
On December 31, 1929, the theatre became the Dickinson Theatre installing RCA sound and converting the interior to a Moorish architectural design. Dickinson sold his interest in the theatre and one of his employees took on the house. Under new operation, it re-launched October 28, 1936 as the long-running Macon Theatre. In 2004, the facility became live theatre opening its first season as the Maples Repertory Theatre.
That all may be incorrect but it’s the best timeline based on the local papers and the trade press.
The history of the Ozark Theatre does not jibe with the local newspaper or the trade press of the era. So if they are both incorrect, the above is fine. According to the local newspaper and the trade press, they claim that the Ozark Theatre launched May 2, 1929 with “Craig’s Wife.” It was a new build venue with sloped floors and was the new home of the former Gem Theatre. The building was built by Carry Hall and the theatre was opened as a silent house.
A big deal was made about the wiring for sound which took place in 1930. “Lord Byron of Broadway” was the first sound feature and carried a hefty $1 admission on November 2, 1930. The south side of the square venue closed August 11, 1946 when Glen Hall launched the new Hall Theatre.
The Belle Theatre launched as a 600-seat venue on February 21, 1942 with “"Three Girls About Town” and “Outlaws of the Panhandle.” The converted Gleck Garage was equipped with Simplex projection and Western Electric sound.
Judge Thomas N. Rigney of Albany selected architect Carl Boller of Kansas City to build a 900-seat theatre capable of staging live events and motion pictures. It launched December 30, 1914 with a live stage play but would also have motion pictures within months of its launch.
In 1931, the orchestra pit was torn out with the full conversion to full time talking pictures. On December 6, 1956, the Rigney converted to widescreen equipment to show CinemaScope titles. In 1966, the venue was sold and became the Wilcox Theatre. It would later get its original name back before closing.
The Horsefield Brothers launched the Gasconade Theatre on February 2, 1919 with “Grandma’s Boy.” Mrs. F.H. Gail was there taking a $5 prize for suggesting the name. The picture shows at been held previously at Henneke’s Hall. The Gasconade installed a new sound system on May 19, 1929. In 1955, the theatre installed widescreen to play CinemaScope titles.
Lott R. Champion opened the Capitol in 1923 and closed his Gem Theatre there. Architects were T.H. Moss & Co. of Rochester, Minnesota.
The Cozy Theatre launched August 1, 1934 with “Paddy the Next Big Thing” likely on a ten year lease. Don Harlo was next up relaunching as the Harlo Theatre on October 21, 1944 with “Cobra Woman.” The Harlo closed in 1952 becoming a place of worship for the Church of Christ in 1953.
The Family Theatre opened in 1909 likely on a 5 year lease with moving pictures and songs. In July of 1910, under new owners, the theatre changed to the Park Picture Parlor. In November, under new operation, it changed to the Princess Theatre mixing in a few live events with the predominate motion picture operation.
In 1914, it renewed is lease for 20 years and on April 28, 1929 switched to talkies with “The Carnation Kid” under F.M. Meyer. A new lease in 1934 brought new ownership. Re-launching June 30, 1934, new operator J.J. Huston remodeled the operation with new projection and improved sound as the Huston Theatre.
Under new operator T.A. Spurgin, the name was changed June 18, 1937 to the Moderne Theatre in a name contest in which actor Wallace Beery picked from the entries. After more than 30 years under his guidance, Spurgin closed the Moderne on January 3, 1969. Rex Eckard reopened the venue as the Stanberry Theatre operating it from 1970 to closing on December 8, 1974 with “Mr. Majestyk” likely at end of lease. The 65-year old theatre does not appear to have reopened. It was then used as storage.
Opened Christmas Day 1938 with “Young Dr. Kildare”, the Range was the first theatre in Hurley since the silent-era Rivoli Theatre that closed in 1927/8. That theatre was at the same location though demolished
Richard J. Budd and C. Robert Budd had an idea of opening a billiard parlor in the Heilner Building in Lykens. But a friend said to take a shot at moving pictures. The Budds opened the Theatorium in 1907 raking in $7.05 in nickels on opening day. Bullish business continued in Lykens for the Budds who enlarged the Theatorium in 1913.
The Theotorium converted to talking pictures in June of 1929. On November 13, 1941, the Theatorium became the Budd Theatre. Richard Budd would give the theatre a new front and sign a year later. The theatre would eventually celebrate 60 years of operation.
The Victoria Theatre launched November 9, 1911 by L.J. Chamberlin. With two Powers projectors, diminutive lobby, and sloped floor, the Victoria was a mainstay in silent film presentation in Sunbury. When the Victoria was sold to Comerford Circuit in 1930, it was changed to the Rialto Theatre, the name which it retained until 1978.
The Strand doubled in size installing the Moller organ and had its Spanish architectural style when it closed and re-launched November 12, 1928.
A.J. “Ace” and John J. Stuckey opened the Stuckey Theatre in 1923. The architect was T.W. Biddle Jr of Cumberland, Maryland. The theatre converted to sound and the Stuckey Brothers later sold the theatre after Christmas of 1945 to Theodore Grance.
Grance took the Stuckey Bros. businesses including the Stuckey Theatre, Hotel, Bowling, and Restaurant converting them all to the Everett Theatre, Everett Hotel, Everett Bowling Alleys, and Everett Restaurant.
Opened as the City Theatre in November of 1926. Converted to sound in March of 1930.
The Columbia Theatre launched December 24, 1919. It closed on June 19, 1954 after a 50% year-over-year decrease in attendance due to television. It doesn’t appear to have reopened.