Comments from Ken Roe

Showing 4,551 - 4,575 of 5,433 comments

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Hunt's Cinestage Theatre on May 7, 2005 at 12:54 am

Ron;
The RKO Palace closed as a movie house not long after Hunt’s Cinestage. It went over to live performance and concerts. The Southern Theatre was re-named Towne Theatre and, as you state, continued for some time.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Loew's Metropolitan Theatre on May 7, 2005 at 12:47 am

No, the Fulton Street entrance is still used when the church has ‘busy’ services. Plus, with a capacity of over 3,500 I would think that the authorities would never allow for exits to be removed.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Hunt's Cinestage Theatre on May 7, 2005 at 12:10 am

This was built on the site of the 1,000 Park Theatre, a playhouse and variety theatre built in 1890, which was destoyed by fire in 1893.

In January 1895 a new theatre, named the High Street Theatre opened, which closed in 1914. Re-named Lyceum Theatre it re-opened as a playhouse but closed again in 1915. It was re-modeled and became the Lyceum Burlesque Theatre and this was very successful until it 1932, when it suffered fire damage. It was quickly re-built but without a balcony and re-opened in October 1932, continuing as the Lyceum Burlesque until 1935.

It then went over to a full time movie theatre re-named the Uptown Theatre with a seating capacity given as 735 and operating as a double feature ‘grind’ policy.

In 1957, Herman Hunt, a local showman, re-modeled the Uptown into Hunt’s Cinestage Theatre which opened with the Todd A-O widescreen movie presentation of “Around the World in 80 Days”. Other movies to play here were “Dr Zhivago”, “Sweet Charity” and “Ben Hur”.

With attendances falling, Hunt’s Cinestage Theatre closed on 19th April 1972 and demolition began on 22nd January 1973.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Paramount Theatre on May 6, 2005 at 11:25 pm

The Capitol Theatre opened on 1st September 1928 with Richard Dix starring in “Warming Up”, the first Paramount Pictures sound movie. The Wurlitzer 3Manual/11Rank organ was played by Stanley Anstett who had previously been with the Chicago Theatre, Chicago.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about State Theatre on May 6, 2005 at 11:03 pm

The Schine State Theatre opened in 1928 and had a seating capacity of 1,759.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Omaha Theater on May 6, 2005 at 10:49 pm

The World Theatre opened in 1922.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Carolina Theatre on May 6, 2005 at 10:43 pm

The Durham Auditorium became a full time movie theatre from 1929 when it was re-named Carolina Theatre. Operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary H.F. Kincey in the 1940’s it was listed with a seating capacity of 1,596.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Loew's Metropolitan Theatre on May 6, 2005 at 3:51 pm

lostmemory;
The address used today as the main entrance to the church at 17 Smith Street is what I believe was originally an additional entrance/exit which originally served the rear orchestra level of the theatre. It is around the corner to the original main entrance on Fulton Street and retains its original decorations.

The main original entrance to the theatre at 392 Fulton Street (now I believe known as Fulton Mall)serves today as a supplementary entrance/exit. For some reason the original facade on this entrance was taken down and rebuilt to a simpler design and the marquee removed when the theatre was being transformed into the Tabernacle Church. If memory serves me right there is a low one storey retail building adjacent to this entrance which could be the current #392 you describe in the property report above.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Fremont Theatre on May 6, 2005 at 1:32 am

Vegasite;
Thanks for the link to that great print, but it is of the Freemont Theatre, San Luis Obispo,CA (now known as the Freemont 4)listed here… /theaters/2302/

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Strand Theatre on May 6, 2005 at 12:17 am

The Strand Theatre opened on 11th November 1918.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Montesano Theater on May 5, 2005 at 11:27 pm

Film Daily Yearbooks 1941 and 1943 list this as the Monte Theatre. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it is the New Monte Theatre.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Davis Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 11:20 pm

The Paramount Theatre opened in 1929.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Circle Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 11:12 pm

I have now found information that the Circle Theatre closed as a movie house in 1979.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Atlas Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 10:37 pm

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 and 1943 as closed, in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it is listed as open with a seating capacity of 404.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Hilan Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 5:35 pm

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook,1941 as the Hilan Theatre with a seating capacity of 800.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Lans Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 4:59 pm

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook,1950 edition it had a seating capacity of 803.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Majestic Midway Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 4:02 pm

The Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 edition lists the Mayfair Theater with a seating capacity of 250.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Boulton Center for the Performing Arts on May 5, 2005 at 3:37 pm

The Film Daily Yearbook,1930 gives a seating capacity of 770 for the Regent Theatre.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Paramount Theatre Centre and Ballroom on May 5, 2005 at 3:29 pm

Jim;
Thanks for your definition on style, I understand all that. What I was querying was the naming of A.M. Strauss as the architect of the Paramount, Anderson and not John Eberson, when it states on the headers here and on the website of Conrad Schmitt that Eberson was the architect.

I notice that in David Naylor’s book ‘Great American Movie Theaters’ the Embassy (Emboyd) Theatre, Fort Wayne, IN is credited to be the work of A.M.Strauss with John Eberson. So the two have worked together before, in this instance 1928 a year before the Paramount, Anderson,IN.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Buckhead Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 11:53 am

Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have, 1941-1950 editions, as the Buckhead Theatre. The seating capaities given in the 1940’s was for 1,000 and in 1950 it was for 942.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Central Theatre on May 5, 2005 at 11:34 am

Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have 1941-1950 editions as the Central Theatre. The address given is 43 W. Broad Street and seating capacities in the 1940’s is given as 600, in 1950 it is 662 seats.

The same F.D.Y. have the United Theatre, 11 Canal Street which has 1,000 seats listed in the 1940’s and in the 1950 edition 974 seats.

Nothing on the Lyric Theatre.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse on May 4, 2005 at 11:52 pm

Operated as the State Theatre during the 1940’s by Paramount Pictures Inc through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse on May 4, 2005 at 11:47 pm

That is correct lostmemory;
Listed as the State Theatre in Film Daily Yearbooks that I have 1941-1950 editions.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about SIFF Cinema Egyptian on May 4, 2005 at 11:39 pm

Thanks D. Roben;
Sorry to cause confusion here, I have added the Moore-Egyptian Theatre as a new entry to the site.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe commented about Capitol Theatre on May 4, 2005 at 10:56 pm

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook,1950 edition, the Capitol Theatre had a seating capacity of 944. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.