1941 photo added, courtesy of Billy Ray Merritt.
It is the left building of the two that M & M Furniture currently inhabits.
307 W. Chickasha is the correct address for the Ritz.
M & M uses 309, because their entrance is in the right hand building, next door to where the Ritz was.
As they now have a combined storefront.
Late `80’s promo image as The Good Times Theatre Inc. added, image credit RockfordReminisce.com Facebook page.
Don’t know the span in years for this incarnation.
This link has the chronology through May 2016, with a breakdown of the public feedback as of then.
http://www.cityhpil.com/index.aspx?NID=617
Excerpt here:
Public feedback was attained through a survey that was available from September 21 – October 17, 2015. At its October 26, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting, the City presented results from the public survey. The City received 353 responses to the survey; however, because the survey was voluntary, the results are not scientific and only reflect the sentiments of those who responded and not the public as a whole. Public feedback from the survey was considered directional and was one of several components considered to assist the City in making a final determination regarding the property. Overall, survey respondents noted that neighborhood impact and land use were the most important characteristics of development for the Theater. Historic preservation and public parking were ranked as less significant factors that should be considered.
The link also has a good 2011 night shot with the marquee lit, which I re-posted in the Photos Section as there was none.
Probably the most telling paragraph in the story, as well as in the 2014 comment.
“The city purchased the struggling movie theater for $2.1 million in 2009 with the intent of keeping an entertainment venue at the eastern edge of the city’s downtown. The city continued to operate the movie theater until mid 2012, when it was closed for fire code violations.”
So now instead of spending the money 4 years ago to get it up to their own code (which they should have known when they bought it), they now are taking a million dollar loss.
“It abruptly closed in summer of 2012 after code violations came to light”?
What would have been the costs to get it up to code back then, so it could have at least continued operating and making money the last 4 years?
Or at a minimum made it more attractive to potential investors as an active venue that could remain that way.
Versus a dormant property for tear down.
Sounds like the city really didn’t want it there, and thought they could flip it much faster.
I wonder if they had invested in digital projectors, so it it could have ran first run films.
1928 photo added, photo credit Nathaniel L. Dewell, courtesy of the Nebraska State Historical Society. Copy courtesy of Charles Martens.
The buildings housing the G. & W. Sandwich Shop, Metro Cafe and Cole Theatre Supply Company, 15th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, 1928. Nathaniel L. Dewell, photographer. Notice that the Paxton Hotel is just beginning construction! The building with the arched window is known today as the Kraft building; there is a restaurant on the main level, apartments above and a photography studio. The Farnam Theater was on the upper levels in 1917.
Also the building and neighboring building’s full history in the below link.
Facebook page for the current tenant, Fais Do-Do Cafe. It has some video of the interior in the comments.
https://www.facebook.com/cafeFaisdodo/?hc_location=ufi
This 2013 link has two photos of the Colquitt.
https://vanishingsouthgeorgia.com/2013/01/12/colquitt-theatre-circa-1943-moultrie/
1970 photo by James Wolcott.
It was renamed the New Evanston sometime prior to December 5th, 1925. Print ad from that date added via David Floodstrand.
1944 photo added, photo credit Gordon Coster-Getty Images. Paris Theater directly behind the Billiards sign.
1968 photo added credit Felix Lenox.
August 1960 photo and a 1933 print story added about it’s use as a radio station. Via George Thomas Apfel.
Built in 1932.
The building housed the studios of Las Vegas' 1st radio station KGIX in the 1930’s.
June 25, 1933 owner J.M. Heaton struggled to keep the station on the air. Heaton was Agent for the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad.
This link has a version of the 1941 photo that can bee enlarged.
http://picclick.com.au/OLD-LARGE-HISTORIC-PHOTO-OF-CHICKASHA-KANSAS-OPENING-291952014744.html#&gid=1&pid=1
1937 photo as the Newsreel Theatre added. 13th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit Walter Kelleher.
1937 photo as the Mayfair added. 13th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit Walter Kelleher.
1941 photo added, courtesy of Billy Ray Merritt. It is the left building of the two that M & M Furniture currently inhabits. 307 W. Chickasha is the correct address for the Ritz.
M & M uses 309, because their entrance is in the right hand building, next door to where the Ritz was. As they now have a combined storefront.
Sorry samariano, didn’t see your post until today.
Wider version of the B.S. Moss Coliseum, circa 1920’s photo added credit Wurts Brothers.
Circa 1926 photo added, credit Duke University Collection.
Circa 1926 photo as the Columbia added, photo credit Duke University Collection.
10/5/73 photo by Quentin C. Dodt, Chicago Tribune.
Late `80’s promo image as The Good Times Theatre Inc. added, image credit RockfordReminisce.com Facebook page. Don’t know the span in years for this incarnation.
This link has the chronology through May 2016, with a breakdown of the public feedback as of then.
http://www.cityhpil.com/index.aspx?NID=617
Excerpt here:
Public feedback was attained through a survey that was available from September 21 – October 17, 2015. At its October 26, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting, the City presented results from the public survey. The City received 353 responses to the survey; however, because the survey was voluntary, the results are not scientific and only reflect the sentiments of those who responded and not the public as a whole. Public feedback from the survey was considered directional and was one of several components considered to assist the City in making a final determination regarding the property. Overall, survey respondents noted that neighborhood impact and land use were the most important characteristics of development for the Theater. Historic preservation and public parking were ranked as less significant factors that should be considered.
The link also has a good 2011 night shot with the marquee lit, which I re-posted in the Photos Section as there was none.
Probably the most telling paragraph in the story, as well as in the 2014 comment.
“The city purchased the struggling movie theater for $2.1 million in 2009 with the intent of keeping an entertainment venue at the eastern edge of the city’s downtown. The city continued to operate the movie theater until mid 2012, when it was closed for fire code violations.”
So now instead of spending the money 4 years ago to get it up to their own code (which they should have known when they bought it), they now are taking a million dollar loss.
“It abruptly closed in summer of 2012 after code violations came to light”? What would have been the costs to get it up to code back then, so it could have at least continued operating and making money the last 4 years? Or at a minimum made it more attractive to potential investors as an active venue that could remain that way. Versus a dormant property for tear down.
Sounds like the city really didn’t want it there, and thought they could flip it much faster. I wonder if they had invested in digital projectors, so it it could have ran first run films.
Rivest266, the Woods article re-posted here.
rivest266, the grand opening ad did not properly load to the photo section.
June 29th, 1964 via the recently added Grand Opening image.
1955 photo added courtesy of Jim Jasiota. Giant Marilyn Monroe image on the marquee, for “The Seven Year Itch”.
1928 photo added, photo credit Nathaniel L. Dewell, courtesy of the Nebraska State Historical Society. Copy courtesy of Charles Martens.
The buildings housing the G. & W. Sandwich Shop, Metro Cafe and Cole Theatre Supply Company, 15th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, 1928. Nathaniel L. Dewell, photographer. Notice that the Paxton Hotel is just beginning construction! The building with the arched window is known today as the Kraft building; there is a restaurant on the main level, apartments above and a photography studio. The Farnam Theater was on the upper levels in 1917.
Also the building and neighboring building’s full history in the below link.
https://myomahaobsession.com/2016/04/22/then-now-the-goodrich-pease-and-drexel-buildings/
The…