An article in the San Mateo Times in November 1975 included a photo of the Serra. They were talking about turning the theater into a municipal auditorium. http://tinyurl.com/bh3bjl
Going back to the 3/11/09 comment, remember that Bruce Springsteen opened for Anne Murray once, and the audience didn’t want him to leave the stage. That was the last time he was an opening act.
The theater was razed in 1994, according to this excerpt from an article in the Beacon Journal dated 5/30/99:
FLICKERING HISTORY SUMMIT COUNTY’S MOVIE PALACES AND NEIGHBORHOOD THEATERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
The 20th century is fading to black, but not without final credits. Here are memorable indoor theaters that entertained Summit County moviegoers over the past 10 decades. Original addresses, years of operation and current use are listed. (Note: Some streets no longer exist and some addresses were changed when buildings were renumbered during remodeling.) How many of these places do you remember visiting? Akron Square Cinema 6 — 1615 S. Arlington St., 1976-1994. Demolished 1994….
Part of an article in the Baltimore Sun in August 2006:
Aug. 26—Lena K. Lee, an educator and attorney who was one of the first African-American women elected to the Maryland General Assembly, died in her sleep Thursday evening in her home in the 1800 block of Madison Ave., where she had lived since 1940. She had celebrated her 100th birthday last month. The daughter of a coal miner, Mrs. Lee taught in the city schools, earned a law degree in her 40s and wasn’t elected to state office until she was 60. But her life and devotion to public service were praised yesterday by a number of political and civic activists. Mrs. Lee was married for many years to Robert R. Lee, a Baltimore businessman who owned the Biddle Theater and died more than 40 years ago.
Enter 128 Washington Avenue on Google and take a look at the building across the street from the church. I don’t have any personal knowledge of this theater, so I would like to know if any locals recognize this as the former Dumont. There is an interesting colonial building up the street, now a Wachovia bank, but I don’t think that was the theater building.
Thanks for the photos, Sam. It looks like the Googlemobile got lost in Premont, as their view doesn’t look remotely like the neighborhood in your photos.
Here is an article from the Raleigh Register dated 4/11/47:
MOUNT HOPE-The Mount Hope Theater, erected in the same location as the Royal, which burned recently, will open today. Owned by a syndicate known as the Oak Hill Theater Company, the new theater is considered one of the best equipped in the states.
Charles Taylor, Jr., of Mount Hope, is serving three one to ten year sentences in the state penitentiary at Moundsville after confessing to setting fire to the Royal Theater, predecessor of the Mount Hope. The Royal Theater building was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning, September 30, 1945, the blaze being the largest in the history of Fayette County.
Construction of the new building started early in 1947. Edward Pasley is the new manager of the theater. Formerly of Bramwell, Pasley assumed managership of the Oak Hill Theater last August following his discharge from the Marine Corps.
Here is a December 1957 ad from the Harrisburg Daily Register. “Zero Hour” was the inspiration for the 1980 film “Airplane”.
http://tinyurl.com/cksz9j
This photo from wikipedia shows the location of the former Grand Theater on Main Street:
http://tinyurl.com/bdknof
Here is a November 1955 ad from the Suburbanite Economist:
http://tinyurl.com/bvmwnj
Here is a November 1949 ad from the Alton Evening Telegraph:
http://tinyurl.com/bqshox
An article in the San Mateo Times in November 1975 included a photo of the Serra. They were talking about turning the theater into a municipal auditorium.
http://tinyurl.com/bh3bjl
Here is an April 1966 ad from the Pasadena Independent:
http://tinyurl.com/bf73vf
Here is a November 1965 ad from the Fresno Bee Republican. It looks like they were showing adult films by that time.
http://tinyurl.com/dkhkwc
Going back to the 3/11/09 comment, remember that Bruce Springsteen opened for Anne Murray once, and the audience didn’t want him to leave the stage. That was the last time he was an opening act.
Here is an April 1964 ad from the Oakland Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/arkn4u
Here is an October 1972 ad from the Oxnard Press-Courier:
http://tinyurl.com/cb8mwt
Here is a March 1977 ad from the Placerville Mountain Democrat:
http://tinyurl.com/cqqr4j
Here is a June 1949 ad from the Wisconsin State Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/cnbvlg
Here is an October 27, 1963 ad from the Appleton Post-Crescent:
http://tinyurl.com/admnmo
A photo of the theater accompanied a March 7, 1971 article in the Appleton Post-Crescent when the theater closed:
http://tinyurl.com/c4672j
The theater was razed in 1994, according to this excerpt from an article in the Beacon Journal dated 5/30/99:
FLICKERING HISTORY SUMMIT COUNTY’S MOVIE PALACES AND NEIGHBORHOOD THEATERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
The 20th century is fading to black, but not without final credits. Here are memorable indoor theaters that entertained Summit County moviegoers over the past 10 decades. Original addresses, years of operation and current use are listed. (Note: Some streets no longer exist and some addresses were changed when buildings were renumbered during remodeling.) How many of these places do you remember visiting? Akron Square Cinema 6 — 1615 S. Arlington St., 1976-1994. Demolished 1994….
Enter 2882 Cashwell Drive on Google to see a view of the cinema.
Here is an article about the closing from the Goldsboro News-Argus in November 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/d9s7eb
You can see Coffee Dan’s in the photo posted on 4/1/08.
Part of an article in the Baltimore Sun in August 2006:
Aug. 26—Lena K. Lee, an educator and attorney who was one of the first African-American women elected to the Maryland General Assembly, died in her sleep Thursday evening in her home in the 1800 block of Madison Ave., where she had lived since 1940. She had celebrated her 100th birthday last month. The daughter of a coal miner, Mrs. Lee taught in the city schools, earned a law degree in her 40s and wasn’t elected to state office until she was 60. But her life and devotion to public service were praised yesterday by a number of political and civic activists. Mrs. Lee was married for many years to Robert R. Lee, a Baltimore businessman who owned the Biddle Theater and died more than 40 years ago.
Enter 128 Washington Avenue on Google and take a look at the building across the street from the church. I don’t have any personal knowledge of this theater, so I would like to know if any locals recognize this as the former Dumont. There is an interesting colonial building up the street, now a Wachovia bank, but I don’t think that was the theater building.
Rhonda Fleming was married to Ted Mann.
I think I saw Porky’s at that theater.
If you enter 176 W. Main Street, it takes you right to the theater.
Thanks for the photos, Sam. It looks like the Googlemobile got lost in Premont, as their view doesn’t look remotely like the neighborhood in your photos.
Here is an article from the Raleigh Register dated 4/11/47:
MOUNT HOPE-The Mount Hope Theater, erected in the same location as the Royal, which burned recently, will open today. Owned by a syndicate known as the Oak Hill Theater Company, the new theater is considered one of the best equipped in the states.
Charles Taylor, Jr., of Mount Hope, is serving three one to ten year sentences in the state penitentiary at Moundsville after confessing to setting fire to the Royal Theater, predecessor of the Mount Hope. The Royal Theater building was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning, September 30, 1945, the blaze being the largest in the history of Fayette County.
Construction of the new building started early in 1947. Edward Pasley is the new manager of the theater. Formerly of Bramwell, Pasley assumed managership of the Oak Hill Theater last August following his discharge from the Marine Corps.