Gulf States appears to have closed the Columbia Theatre after the September 26, 1974 showing of “The Education of Sonny Carson” and “Legend of Charlie”
The Rialto was a silent era movie house in downtown Hammond. Christine Foltz ran it for many years. It converted to sound to remain viable though closed during the Depression. After years of dormancy, the Columbia Amusement Company took on the theater after Foltz’s death and gave it a streamline moderne makeover. It also renamed the venue as the Rex Theatre opening on March 23, 1940 with George Raft in “Invisible Stripes.“The Rex ceased operation in November 30, 1953 with "Hangman’s Knot” and “Voodoo Tiger.” The building was later converted for other retail purposes.
The Joy launched November 7, 1968 with “Angels from Hell” and “It’s a Bikini World.” It became a Twin on December 6, 1974 with “Serpico” and “Superfly TNT” on Joy 1 and adult films, “X” and “Robin Hood,” on Joy 2.
Launched April 6, 1940 with “Ma, He’s Making Eyes at Me” supported by Chapter 1 of the “Kit Carson” serial" and a Fox short subject. After the War, the Pic was downgraded to four-day a week operation and closed for films on September 25, 1950 with “The Boy From Indiana.” It is then used for live music events, wrestling events, and house of worship events. On May 8, 1960 fire destroyed the Ideal Theatre in town and own Ernest Drake reopened the Pic to play out his films.
The Pic appears to have closed permanently on Jul 1, 1967 with “Rings Around the World” and “Nashville Rebel.” In 1970, the Pic was razed to construct a Dollar General Store.
The New Ideal Theatre opened on April 24, 1923 with “The Town That Forgot God.” The theatre converted to sound in 1929 to remain viable. The theater’s marketing including the line, “Our screen speaks for itself” to emphasize talking pictures.
On May 6, 1960, the theatre was refreshed. On May 8, 1960, the theatre showed Rita Hayworth’s “The Story on Page One.” Unfortunately, it was the theatre, itself, that made page one as a fire destroyed the theatre. Its final ad continued to carry the 30+ year old tagline, “Our screen speaks for itself.” The remnants of the building were demolished thereafter. Ernest Drake decided to reopen the dormant Pic Theatre to play out his contracted films.
Lad Medve and Larry LeBlanc were the first to open a Jerry Lewis Cinema in Canada doing so on April Fool’s weekend of 1972. Sadly, the joke was on the franchisees as Jerry Lewis and Network Cinema Corporation were already well on their way to imploding. With franchise fees of just $17,500 for a single screen and $30,000 for a double, Medve and LeBlanc committed to 19 more Ontario Jerry Lewis locations and would not have been surprised to see that number rise to 100.
In all of Canada, the actual number of opened Jerry Lewis Cinemas peaked at three - here, Mississauga, and Peace River. A fourth in Montreal was constructed but failed to open under the Lewis nameplate. The Cambridge Lewis Twin location launched in the Parkway Shopping Center that began with a Zehr’s Supermarket opening early in 1970 and joined by a short-lived Sayvette Store later that year.
In 1971/2, the Parkway Mall concept was added between those anchors. Multiple Automated Cinemas of Ottawa was the Network Cinema Corp. subsidiary in charge adding some $20,000 of automation equipment for the theaters that could be run with a single push of a button, at least in concept. Two identical 350 seat auditoriums were built here for 700 total sats. The theater opened on March 31, 1972 with “Skin Game” and a double-feature of “With Six, You Get An Egg Roll” and “Big Jake.”
Within months of the Parkway Mall’s launch, both it and the cinema were in for renaming. The Lewis franchise closed briskly in summer and was renamed as the Cambridge Twin Cinemas at its reopening on November 10, 1972. It officially opened at the renamed Cambridge Shoppers Mall which was in use as of October 26, 1972. With both the Parkway Mall and Jerry Lewis signage chiseled off, the theatre ran to the end of its 15-year lease with Premier Theatres leaving it behind on February 22, 1987. On February 27, 1987, Cineplex Odeon took on the venues operating it until the December 12, 1996 showings of “Jingle All the Way” and “Space Jam.” It launched the Cambridge Cinemas 7 the next day.
The Carolina Theatre was the sound-era movie house in Andrews. It launched on July 4, 1930 with Delores Del Rio in “Romance of the Rio Grande.” Under new operators in 1935, the theatre was renamed as the Andrews Theatre. On February 25, 1944, the theatre under new operators becomes the Henn Theatre with Olsen and Johnson in “Crazy House.” The last advertisement for the Henn Theatre was February 28, 1957 with “Teenage Rebel.”
The Carver Theatre launched on May 1, 1942 with “Dark Passage” on a 30-year lease. A great deal of the operational cycle was by Dixie Amusement Company. It would serve African American Audiences along with the long-running Capitol Theatre. Dixie updated the venue in the 1950s. Following the expiry of the lease, new operators relaunched the venue after closing it for another refresh.Upon reopening, it was renamed The New Carver Theatre on May 10, 1972 with a double feature of “Soul to Soul” and “Beast from the Amazon.” Under new operators, the theater’s name reverted to the Carver Theatre showing chopsocky and blaxploitation double features beginning on May 3, 1974 with “Hell Up In Harlem” and “Top of the Heap.”
Under new operators and very likely on a sublease, the venue is renamed as the Capri Theatre showing double feature X-rated films. Its relaunch as the Capri occurred on April 2, 1975 with “Lady Delia” and “Me Please.” A topless usherette promotion at the Capri went awry in July of 1976 likely leading to the end of the X-rated policy. On July 21, 1976, the Capri - likely back to its previous operators - switched back to blaxploitation, cult repertory, and chopsocky double features. Film exhibition ended at the Capri / former Carver permanently on January 22, 1978 with a double feature of “The Creatures” and “Velvet Empire.”
Beginning in 1979, the venue was used for a house of worship. In the 1990s, the name of the venue was restored to the Carver Theatre with live plays before returning to a house of worship in the 2000s. On July 17, 2003, the Carver Theatre received a National Register of Historic Places designation and sign. Officials of the local HBCU institution, Allen University, purchased the building and announced a restoration plan in 2022 to restore the Carver to its original luster.
Mr. A. Shepherd “Shep” Brinkley opened the Plymouth Theatre October 11, 1938 with “The Vogues of 1938.“ The New Theatre changed its name whimsically to the New (Old) Theatre that day until it burned down in 1939. Brinkley would add the Daly Theatre after the War to replace the New (Old).
Launched at 102 West Eden street on May 18, 1948, its first film was “The Return of Rin Tin Tin” in Vitacolor. The architect was Frank Whitaker Benton. In 1962, the building was offered for $15,750 and, not long after, the Colonial Furniture launched an annex store in the former Eden Theatre. Offered for sale in 2024, it was listed for $320,000.
Renamed as the Cinemark 14 Lewisville & XD when the Music City Mall concept failed. Under new operators, the struggling shopping center was renamed The Vista.
The E.M. MacDaniel Building was built to house multiple business in 1939 with a theater in the center at 941 Starling. The delayed project opened on September 11, 1941 as the Starling Theatre, a streamlined movie house playing sub-run discount films. F.W. Carper opened the Starling with “Here Comes Mr. Jordan.” It was managed by John L. Garst of Martinsville’s National and Roxy theaters also owned by Carper’s circuit. The building also had Reed’s Confectionery that served as the de facto concession stand and was the original home of Gilbert’s Beauty Salon.
The Starling booth was equipped with E7 Simplex projectors with 4-Star Simplex sound. The stage was installed by Novelty Scenic of New York and the seats were designed by Heywood-Wakefield. But Wartime worker shortages were cited as the end of the road as the Starling closed with “Lady, Let’s Dance” on December 10, 1944.
The theater came back to life after the War when Bernard Depkin opened the former Starling as the Bee Dee (Bernard Depkin’s nickname) Theatre. The Bee Dee launched on April 24, 1947 with “The Best Years Of Our Lives.” At that time, Depkin operated the Rives Theatre as as manager an co-owner.
In October of 1948, W. Pritchett took on the venue and renamed it as the Martin Theatre. Pritchett moved it to a double-feature, discount sub-run movie house. Opening titles as the Martin were on October 29, 1949 were June Allyson in “Good News” and Randolph Scott in “Trial Street.” Martinsville Theatre Management (MTM) Circuit closed the Martin some 35 years later on July 3, 1985 with “The Goonies” as the theatre needed major repairs.
The Rives Theatre opened in 1935. It was closed in 1984 to duplex the house. Martin Theatre Management (MTM) relaunched in time for the venue’s 50th Anniversary now as the Rives Cinema 1 & 2. The theatre rebranded to the Rives Theatre in the 21st Century playing movies until closing in 2009. It became a live theatre thereafter.
The Friendly Drive-In Theatre opened on June 22, 1950 with “Red Canyon.” It went widescreen in 1957 and did not advertise after that season. The lot is auctioned in 1970 likely at the end of its 20-year lease and is sold for other purposes.
L.L. Theimer’s South Drive-In Theaters Inc. opened its 23d location with the 220 Drive-In Theatre in 1968. It launched August 30, 1968 with Clint Eastwood in “Hang ‘em High” supported by three cartoons.
But the fame and legacy of the 220 Drive-In occurred when the drive-in hosted The Allman Brothers live during their third Rock Festival of the 1970 season on August 9, 1970. The last ad for the 220 was a November 27, 1977 double feature with Roger Corman’s “Moonshine County Express” and “Hustler Squad.” However, the ozoner likely opened for part of the 1978 season closing at the end of its 20-year lease.
Gulf States appears to have closed the Columbia Theatre after the September 26, 1974 showing of “The Education of Sonny Carson” and “Legend of Charlie”
The Rialto was a silent era movie house in downtown Hammond. Christine Foltz ran it for many years. It converted to sound to remain viable though closed during the Depression. After years of dormancy, the Columbia Amusement Company took on the theater after Foltz’s death and gave it a streamline moderne makeover. It also renamed the venue as the Rex Theatre opening on March 23, 1940 with George Raft in “Invisible Stripes.“The Rex ceased operation in November 30, 1953 with "Hangman’s Knot” and “Voodoo Tiger.” The building was later converted for other retail purposes.
The Joy launched November 7, 1968 with “Angels from Hell” and “It’s a Bikini World.” It became a Twin on December 6, 1974 with “Serpico” and “Superfly TNT” on Joy 1 and adult films, “X” and “Robin Hood,” on Joy 2.
Launched April 6, 1940 with “Ma, He’s Making Eyes at Me” supported by Chapter 1 of the “Kit Carson” serial" and a Fox short subject. After the War, the Pic was downgraded to four-day a week operation and closed for films on September 25, 1950 with “The Boy From Indiana.” It is then used for live music events, wrestling events, and house of worship events. On May 8, 1960 fire destroyed the Ideal Theatre in town and own Ernest Drake reopened the Pic to play out his films.
The Pic appears to have closed permanently on Jul 1, 1967 with “Rings Around the World” and “Nashville Rebel.” In 1970, the Pic was razed to construct a Dollar General Store.
The New Ideal Theatre opened on April 24, 1923 with “The Town That Forgot God.” The theatre converted to sound in 1929 to remain viable. The theater’s marketing including the line, “Our screen speaks for itself” to emphasize talking pictures.
On May 6, 1960, the theatre was refreshed. On May 8, 1960, the theatre showed Rita Hayworth’s “The Story on Page One.” Unfortunately, it was the theatre, itself, that made page one as a fire destroyed the theatre. Its final ad continued to carry the 30+ year old tagline, “Our screen speaks for itself.” The remnants of the building were demolished thereafter. Ernest Drake decided to reopen the dormant Pic Theatre to play out his contracted films.
Lad Medve and Larry LeBlanc were the first to open a Jerry Lewis Cinema in Canada doing so on April Fool’s weekend of 1972. Sadly, the joke was on the franchisees as Jerry Lewis and Network Cinema Corporation were already well on their way to imploding. With franchise fees of just $17,500 for a single screen and $30,000 for a double, Medve and LeBlanc committed to 19 more Ontario Jerry Lewis locations and would not have been surprised to see that number rise to 100.
In all of Canada, the actual number of opened Jerry Lewis Cinemas peaked at three - here, Mississauga, and Peace River. A fourth in Montreal was constructed but failed to open under the Lewis nameplate. The Cambridge Lewis Twin location launched in the Parkway Shopping Center that began with a Zehr’s Supermarket opening early in 1970 and joined by a short-lived Sayvette Store later that year.
In 1971/2, the Parkway Mall concept was added between those anchors. Multiple Automated Cinemas of Ottawa was the Network Cinema Corp. subsidiary in charge adding some $20,000 of automation equipment for the theaters that could be run with a single push of a button, at least in concept. Two identical 350 seat auditoriums were built here for 700 total sats. The theater opened on March 31, 1972 with “Skin Game” and a double-feature of “With Six, You Get An Egg Roll” and “Big Jake.”
Within months of the Parkway Mall’s launch, both it and the cinema were in for renaming. The Lewis franchise closed briskly in summer and was renamed as the Cambridge Twin Cinemas at its reopening on November 10, 1972. It officially opened at the renamed Cambridge Shoppers Mall which was in use as of October 26, 1972. With both the Parkway Mall and Jerry Lewis signage chiseled off, the theatre ran to the end of its 15-year lease with Premier Theatres leaving it behind on February 22, 1987. On February 27, 1987, Cineplex Odeon took on the venues operating it until the December 12, 1996 showings of “Jingle All the Way” and “Space Jam.” It launched the Cambridge Cinemas 7 the next day.
The Carolina Theatre was the sound-era movie house in Andrews. It launched on July 4, 1930 with Delores Del Rio in “Romance of the Rio Grande.” Under new operators in 1935, the theatre was renamed as the Andrews Theatre. On February 25, 1944, the theatre under new operators becomes the Henn Theatre with Olsen and Johnson in “Crazy House.” The last advertisement for the Henn Theatre was February 28, 1957 with “Teenage Rebel.”
Address: 51 Century Circle, Hazard, KY 41701. Photo in pictures
The Carver Theatre launched on May 1, 1942 with “Dark Passage” on a 30-year lease. A great deal of the operational cycle was by Dixie Amusement Company. It would serve African American Audiences along with the long-running Capitol Theatre. Dixie updated the venue in the 1950s. Following the expiry of the lease, new operators relaunched the venue after closing it for another refresh.Upon reopening, it was renamed The New Carver Theatre on May 10, 1972 with a double feature of “Soul to Soul” and “Beast from the Amazon.” Under new operators, the theater’s name reverted to the Carver Theatre showing chopsocky and blaxploitation double features beginning on May 3, 1974 with “Hell Up In Harlem” and “Top of the Heap.”
Under new operators and very likely on a sublease, the venue is renamed as the Capri Theatre showing double feature X-rated films. Its relaunch as the Capri occurred on April 2, 1975 with “Lady Delia” and “Me Please.” A topless usherette promotion at the Capri went awry in July of 1976 likely leading to the end of the X-rated policy. On July 21, 1976, the Capri - likely back to its previous operators - switched back to blaxploitation, cult repertory, and chopsocky double features. Film exhibition ended at the Capri / former Carver permanently on January 22, 1978 with a double feature of “The Creatures” and “Velvet Empire.”
Beginning in 1979, the venue was used for a house of worship. In the 1990s, the name of the venue was restored to the Carver Theatre with live plays before returning to a house of worship in the 2000s. On July 17, 2003, the Carver Theatre received a National Register of Historic Places designation and sign. Officials of the local HBCU institution, Allen University, purchased the building and announced a restoration plan in 2022 to restore the Carver to its original luster.
Closed permanently on July 5, 1958 with “The Delicate Delinquent” and “The Tall Texan.”
Mr. A. Shepherd “Shep” Brinkley opened the Plymouth Theatre October 11, 1938 with “The Vogues of 1938.“ The New Theatre changed its name whimsically to the New (Old) Theatre that day until it burned down in 1939. Brinkley would add the Daly Theatre after the War to replace the New (Old).
Howell Theatres launched the Wakelon on September 2, 1937 with The Marx Brothers in “A Day at the Races.”
Minor note: its name is the Hi-Way 17 Drive-In (not Hwy 17 D-I).
And remove note: “The address above is my best guess as to her explanation of where it was.” The address now provided is its former address.
Opened July 22, 1948 with “Up Goes Maisie”
Launched at 102 West Eden street on May 18, 1948, its first film was “The Return of Rin Tin Tin” in Vitacolor. The architect was Frank Whitaker Benton. In 1962, the building was offered for $15,750 and, not long after, the Colonial Furniture launched an annex store in the former Eden Theatre. Offered for sale in 2024, it was listed for $320,000.
Grand reopening as the Ding Hao Drive-In Theatre in photos. For around ten seasons, it did business as the Ding Hao Drive-In and Ding-Hao Drive-In.
Renamed as the Cinemark 14 Lewisville & XD when the Music City Mall concept failed. Under new operators, the struggling shopping center was renamed The Vista.
The E.M. MacDaniel Building was built to house multiple business in 1939 with a theater in the center at 941 Starling. The delayed project opened on September 11, 1941 as the Starling Theatre, a streamlined movie house playing sub-run discount films. F.W. Carper opened the Starling with “Here Comes Mr. Jordan.” It was managed by John L. Garst of Martinsville’s National and Roxy theaters also owned by Carper’s circuit. The building also had Reed’s Confectionery that served as the de facto concession stand and was the original home of Gilbert’s Beauty Salon.
The Starling booth was equipped with E7 Simplex projectors with 4-Star Simplex sound. The stage was installed by Novelty Scenic of New York and the seats were designed by Heywood-Wakefield. But Wartime worker shortages were cited as the end of the road as the Starling closed with “Lady, Let’s Dance” on December 10, 1944.
The theater came back to life after the War when Bernard Depkin opened the former Starling as the Bee Dee (Bernard Depkin’s nickname) Theatre. The Bee Dee launched on April 24, 1947 with “The Best Years Of Our Lives.” At that time, Depkin operated the Rives Theatre as as manager an co-owner.
In October of 1948, W. Pritchett took on the venue and renamed it as the Martin Theatre. Pritchett moved it to a double-feature, discount sub-run movie house. Opening titles as the Martin were on October 29, 1949 were June Allyson in “Good News” and Randolph Scott in “Trial Street.” Martinsville Theatre Management (MTM) Circuit closed the Martin some 35 years later on July 3, 1985 with “The Goonies” as the theatre needed major repairs.
The Rives Theatre opened in 1935. It was closed in 1984 to duplex the house. Martin Theatre Management (MTM) relaunched in time for the venue’s 50th Anniversary now as the Rives Cinema 1 & 2. The theatre rebranded to the Rives Theatre in the 21st Century playing movies until closing in 2009. It became a live theatre thereafter.
Just kidding - famous hygiene commentator and non-doctor Elliot Forbes was live on the stage of the National Theatre in Martinsville.
First day: November 28, 1935.
The Castle Drive-In opened July 11, 1952 with “Sound Off” - ad in photos.
The Rives Theatre opened in 1935.
The Friendly Drive-In Theatre opened on June 22, 1950 with “Red Canyon.” It went widescreen in 1957 and did not advertise after that season. The lot is auctioned in 1970 likely at the end of its 20-year lease and is sold for other purposes.
L.L. Theimer’s South Drive-In Theaters Inc. opened its 23d location with the 220 Drive-In Theatre in 1968. It launched August 30, 1968 with Clint Eastwood in “Hang ‘em High” supported by three cartoons.
But the fame and legacy of the 220 Drive-In occurred when the drive-in hosted The Allman Brothers live during their third Rock Festival of the 1970 season on August 9, 1970. The last ad for the 220 was a November 27, 1977 double feature with Roger Corman’s “Moonshine County Express” and “Hustler Squad.” However, the ozoner likely opened for part of the 1978 season closing at the end of its 20-year lease.