Some quick facts about the attractor across the street from the Cohan: It weighed 12 tons, was 200' high, had 4,600 lamps, the Moses figure at right is 28' high and both the left and right figurines were painted by artist Ezra Williams.
Technically, the theater’s grand opening was July 1, 1915. It was given a major facelift closing for period from November 15, 1921 relaunching as the remodeled Queen Theatre on July 3, 1922. The Queen’s name continued over at the Rialto on those dates with that theater changing back to the Rialto on July 3, 1922. The Rialto started Saturday only operation in September and closed prior to year’s end. Grand opening ad for the Queen in photos, as well as ads for the Rialto Theatre, as well as the precursors to those theaters in Hendersonville: the Grand Theatre and the Opera House.
J.N. Benderly and H.O. Brown formed the B&B Theatre at 1722-1724 Beaver Avenue in 1909 in a former dry good location. There appears to be a legal battle in 1919 which ends the theater’s life. However, that also is the end of a ten-year lease which may also be why the theater closed. A massive urban development project announced in 1960 decimated the Manchester retail district leading to the demolition of 900 buildings including the what once was the B&B.
Opened as a burly house on April 6, 1914 with moving pictures following Mademoiselle De Leon’s “Catch a Garter” that day. The theater’s claim to fame in a marathon dance contest that ran 303 consecutive hours only stopped because of police intervention. And the vaudeville shows continued during the marathon. The theater also had live boxing. A film catches on fire there in 1927 and that seems to be about it for film activities while live activities appear to move elsewhere closer to downtown.
Opened in 1914 as the Imperial Theater managed by Thomas Eichholz. It’s a quick casulaty and is purchased in 1915 and remodeled by Thomas Gilbert. That doesn’t do much better and in 1917, Louis Handel acquires the property and it becomes the Hippodrome under Louis Hendel with more mixing in of live vaudeveille. In 1924, Hendel sells the theater to the Browarsky Brothers Circuit which ran the theater much of its successful life.
In the TV age, the theater and area begin to slide. September 9, 1960 was the end of the line for the Hippodrome with “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” and “Warlock.” A massive urban development project announced in 1960 decimated the Manchester retail district leading to the demolition of 900 buildings including the Hippodrome as well as the uprooting of its streetcar line in the creation of new roadways.
Grand opening was April 1, 1938. Commonwealth closed the theatre for the third time on November 16, 1947 citing lack of patronage and letting a ten year lease lapse. As a weekend-only and closing in the summer months operation due to lack of air conditioning, the theater’s last cinematic offering was appropriately enough, “Ridin' Down the Trail.” It was used for live events by a variety of interests mostly for church services thereafter. In 1959, the theater was converted to apartments and retail usage.
Grand opening day was June 12, 1914 with the film, “Home Sweet Home.” Architect was Myron B. Vorce. Wurlitzer orchestra organ at the open. Manager Joseph Grossman hosted 50 veterans of the Spanish American War of which was one.
It was still going with first-run films in 1989 – which I believe was its last year. The first-run features were often the low budget action films, comedies, and horror films that usually got a week there before heading to home video (e.g. Lyle Alzado in “Destroyer” or Rod Steiger/Yvonne DeCarlo in “American Gothic). It always looked out of business throughout the late 80s finally closing to an indifferent marketplace and was demolished in 1995. We always figured the operator simply wanted to reach the 75th Anniversary and stop as audiences pretty much gave up going.
E. Russell Hardwick of the Lyceum, State and Mesa theaters went with a 450-seat theater in the 200 block of South Main. Long gone and unsuccessful, the Plains launched March 12, 1937 with “The Plainsman.“ It closed throughout World War II due to personnel shortages. It reopened on December 29, 1945 just two days a week. It didn’t work out.
Jack Corgan architected the third Mesa Theatre in Clovis launching December 29, 1948 with “Deep Waters.” In October of 1960, the theatre which was only open two days a week at that point switched to all Spanish films. Its last screening was on November 20, 1960 with “Dos Maridos Baratos.” It was then that Norman Petty bought the 784-seat theatre and converted for non-theatrical purposes.
E.C. Parker architected the second Mesa Theatre in the same spot for Griffith Theatres opening to two full houses on August 26, 1931 with “I’ll Take This Woman.” It held 1,000 patrons. The silent era Mesa Theater launched in 1918 and competed with the Lyceum until purchased by Lyceum owners in the 1920s.
Architected by F.M. Anderson of Galena and Iola, KS in 1903 with a New Year’s Eve planned launch. The disastrous Iroquois Theatre in Chicago fire happened on December 30, 1903 and people were so nervous about the Grand’s planned opening that plans were scrapped so that two last minute exits could be added to the Grand second tier. The theatre opened January 8, 1904.
Grand opening as the Walter Reade Circle Theatre on December 23, 1970. It was architected by David Marner of Asbury Park. Mrs. Walter Reade Jr. did the interior design and the first film was a benefit screening of “Tora! Tora! Tora!” General Cinema Corp. took on the theater June 17, 1977 changing it to the Seaview Square Cinema to match the mall that was opened.
Built in 1910 for just $5,000, the theatre sold off its pipe organ in a 1939 remodel. It struggled in the TV era becoming a church in 1961 to 1971. It was then converted to retail purposes,
Lou Wagner launched the Alps Theatre on August 8, 1905 at 4124 Easton Avenue with a film played there during the St Louis World’s Fair when that location was a chapel. The film was “The Passion Play of Oberammergau.” The Alps had talent shows, vaudeville, and moving pictures until closure in 1915. Likely it served a ten-year lease and moved on following a classified selling its seats. They did tent shows and airdrome shows in warmer weather. Wagner was fined for awarding talent show prize money to minors which was viewed as violating child labor laws.
Cinema X was fined $400 a day beginning in December of 1971 for showing adult films. The theater was padlocked by local officials on January 11, 1972 and was in the news over legal battles for a year as locals then seized assets and ordered an auction of the theater contents in 1973. The city of Newport, KY contacted Cincinnati officials to rid that city of their Cinema X. But the First Amendment proved to be honored in Kentucky mores than Southern Ohio and the Newport finally was bought out of existence a full ten years later by the city.
Architected by Wetherell & Harrison and decorated by the interior design division of the locally famous Younkers Dept. Store, this was the second Ingersoll Theatre in Des Moines. The first was built at the turn of the 19th Century and was part of an amusement park called Ingersoll Park. The second Ingersoll theatre had love seats and talkies beginning in October of 1939.
Some quick facts about the attractor across the street from the Cohan: It weighed 12 tons, was 200' high, had 4,600 lamps, the Moses figure at right is 28' high and both the left and right figurines were painted by artist Ezra Williams.
Technically, the theater’s grand opening was July 1, 1915. It was given a major facelift closing for period from November 15, 1921 relaunching as the remodeled Queen Theatre on July 3, 1922. The Queen’s name continued over at the Rialto on those dates with that theater changing back to the Rialto on July 3, 1922. The Rialto started Saturday only operation in September and closed prior to year’s end. Grand opening ad for the Queen in photos, as well as ads for the Rialto Theatre, as well as the precursors to those theaters in Hendersonville: the Grand Theatre and the Opera House.
November 23, 1908 grand opening ad and two early exterior architectural drawings posted in photos.
J.N. Benderly and H.O. Brown formed the B&B Theatre at 1722-1724 Beaver Avenue in 1909 in a former dry good location. There appears to be a legal battle in 1919 which ends the theater’s life. However, that also is the end of a ten-year lease which may also be why the theater closed. A massive urban development project announced in 1960 decimated the Manchester retail district leading to the demolition of 900 buildings including the what once was the B&B.
Opened as a burly house on April 6, 1914 with moving pictures following Mademoiselle De Leon’s “Catch a Garter” that day. The theater’s claim to fame in a marathon dance contest that ran 303 consecutive hours only stopped because of police intervention. And the vaudeville shows continued during the marathon. The theater also had live boxing. A film catches on fire there in 1927 and that seems to be about it for film activities while live activities appear to move elsewhere closer to downtown.
Opened in 1914 as the Imperial Theater managed by Thomas Eichholz. It’s a quick casulaty and is purchased in 1915 and remodeled by Thomas Gilbert. That doesn’t do much better and in 1917, Louis Handel acquires the property and it becomes the Hippodrome under Louis Hendel with more mixing in of live vaudeveille. In 1924, Hendel sells the theater to the Browarsky Brothers Circuit which ran the theater much of its successful life.
In the TV age, the theater and area begin to slide. September 9, 1960 was the end of the line for the Hippodrome with “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” and “Warlock.” A massive urban development project announced in 1960 decimated the Manchester retail district leading to the demolition of 900 buildings including the Hippodrome as well as the uprooting of its streetcar line in the creation of new roadways.
1916 ad posted in photos
Closing ad from October 14, 1952 is posted in photos.
Launched on December 17, 1975 with benefit screenings of “Young Frankenstein,” “Benji,” and “Walking Tall 2”.
Grand opening was April 1, 1938. Commonwealth closed the theatre for the third time on November 16, 1947 citing lack of patronage and letting a ten year lease lapse. As a weekend-only and closing in the summer months operation due to lack of air conditioning, the theater’s last cinematic offering was appropriately enough, “Ridin' Down the Trail.” It was used for live events by a variety of interests mostly for church services thereafter. In 1959, the theater was converted to apartments and retail usage.
Myron B. Vorce was the original architect prior to the remodeling.
Grand opening day was June 12, 1914 with the film, “Home Sweet Home.” Architect was Myron B. Vorce. Wurlitzer orchestra organ at the open. Manager Joseph Grossman hosted 50 veterans of the Spanish American War of which was one.
It was still going with first-run films in 1989 – which I believe was its last year. The first-run features were often the low budget action films, comedies, and horror films that usually got a week there before heading to home video (e.g. Lyle Alzado in “Destroyer” or Rod Steiger/Yvonne DeCarlo in “American Gothic). It always looked out of business throughout the late 80s finally closing to an indifferent marketplace and was demolished in 1995. We always figured the operator simply wanted to reach the 75th Anniversary and stop as audiences pretty much gave up going.
Launched with “Green Hell” on May 30, 1941, the Sunshine set for good in 1954.
E. Russell Hardwick of the Lyceum, State and Mesa theaters went with a 450-seat theater in the 200 block of South Main. Long gone and unsuccessful, the Plains launched March 12, 1937 with “The Plainsman.“ It closed throughout World War II due to personnel shortages. It reopened on December 29, 1945 just two days a week. It didn’t work out.
Jack Corgan architected the third Mesa Theatre in Clovis launching December 29, 1948 with “Deep Waters.” In October of 1960, the theatre which was only open two days a week at that point switched to all Spanish films. Its last screening was on November 20, 1960 with “Dos Maridos Baratos.” It was then that Norman Petty bought the 784-seat theatre and converted for non-theatrical purposes.
E.C. Parker architected the second Mesa Theatre in the same spot for Griffith Theatres opening to two full houses on August 26, 1931 with “I’ll Take This Woman.” It held 1,000 patrons. The silent era Mesa Theater launched in 1918 and competed with the Lyceum until purchased by Lyceum owners in the 1920s.
November 29, 1922 grand opening with the great “Blood and Sand” ad posted in photos.
Architected by F.M. Anderson of Galena and Iola, KS in 1903 with a New Year’s Eve planned launch. The disastrous Iroquois Theatre in Chicago fire happened on December 30, 1903 and people were so nervous about the Grand’s planned opening that plans were scrapped so that two last minute exits could be added to the Grand second tier. The theatre opened January 8, 1904.
Grand opening as the Walter Reade Circle Theatre on December 23, 1970. It was architected by David Marner of Asbury Park. Mrs. Walter Reade Jr. did the interior design and the first film was a benefit screening of “Tora! Tora! Tora!” General Cinema Corp. took on the theater June 17, 1977 changing it to the Seaview Square Cinema to match the mall that was opened.
Built in 1910 for just $5,000, the theatre sold off its pipe organ in a 1939 remodel. It struggled in the TV era becoming a church in 1961 to 1971. It was then converted to retail purposes,
Lou Wagner launched the Alps Theatre on August 8, 1905 at 4124 Easton Avenue with a film played there during the St Louis World’s Fair when that location was a chapel. The film was “The Passion Play of Oberammergau.” The Alps had talent shows, vaudeville, and moving pictures until closure in 1915. Likely it served a ten-year lease and moved on following a classified selling its seats. They did tent shows and airdrome shows in warmer weather. Wagner was fined for awarding talent show prize money to minors which was viewed as violating child labor laws.
Closed as a subrun discount house showing 99 cent films on November 18, 1993 virtually at the end of its 20-year lease.
Launched October 15, 1937. Architectural sketch in photos. Still showing films there in 1962.
Cinema X was fined $400 a day beginning in December of 1971 for showing adult films. The theater was padlocked by local officials on January 11, 1972 and was in the news over legal battles for a year as locals then seized assets and ordered an auction of the theater contents in 1973. The city of Newport, KY contacted Cincinnati officials to rid that city of their Cinema X. But the First Amendment proved to be honored in Kentucky mores than Southern Ohio and the Newport finally was bought out of existence a full ten years later by the city.
Opened as a Roy S. White theater May 23, 1973 and closed as a Loew’s cinema on Jan. 6, 1991.
Architected by Wetherell & Harrison and decorated by the interior design division of the locally famous Younkers Dept. Store, this was the second Ingersoll Theatre in Des Moines. The first was built at the turn of the 19th Century and was part of an amusement park called Ingersoll Park. The second Ingersoll theatre had love seats and talkies beginning in October of 1939.