Yes but they are now meeting in various venues. Jason hasn’t updated his website since they left the theatre. The theatre is sitting there and not much has happened since the destruction of the interior. They did board up the front.
Jean, The Linn County historical society would probably love to have those, they do have an extensive collection of local theatre items. Their web site is http://www.historycenter.org/
The building is not in bad shape, just a different configuration.
The big reasons for chopping the theatre were; 1. Plays need a more intimate space than a huge auditorium. 2. Royalties for plays and musicals are based on the number of seats available, not tickets sold. (Therefore you can hold 3 sell out shows in a 500 seat theatre or one non sell out show in a 1500 seat auditorium)
In reality the theatre was not a typical “palace”. Its' design was more reminiscent of the Orpheum vaudeville houses of the late teens and early 20s. There was little in the way of lounges and foyers for handling the crowds. Basically it was a straight shot from the ticket lobby to the hallway behind the auditorium (it even had windows at the back of the main floor that were opened to the hallway). This was somewhat of a budget theatre that relied more on a gaudy paint job than fancy plaster. The promoter behind the theatre rushed to get it built before the Capitol (Paramount) opened and would out opulence all the other theatres in town.
If the community theatre had not bought the building it would be a parking lot now.
After the Strand (World) changed to the State theatre in 1930 the former Olympic theatre at 5101 16th Ave SW became the Strand.
The theatre is gutted now. The bank that owns the building kicked out the night club and a non profit group wants to turn it into an ethnic diversity center (the bank prez’s wife heads the group). They haven’t figured out what to do with the building but everything behind the entryway was gutted (the balcony, and even the plaster on the walls and ceiling were stripped. When I last got into the building the framework for the balcony was there and the wood framing of the proscenium was intact and sections of the plaster at the top of the proscenium had purposly been left in place.
The entryway was reopened to its' original 2 story configuration and tilework and terra cotta that had been covered were revealed for the first time in 60 years. The remnants of the two original ticket booths were uncovered.
The only thing that has been announced for certain is that the facade is to be restored and relit and a replica of the 1915 marquee is to be installed.
Gerald, you forget one thing. F911 is propaganda, it was not a factual or unbiased look at events. Mr. Moore makes no secret of his bias- he did so at last year’s Oscars. The owner of Fridley cinemas has a right to decide what movies his business will show. Just because someone has the right to make a particular film does not automatically guarantee that anyone has to show it. The right to free speech does not curtail others' right to ignore it…
Gerald, I suggest you look at the slipshod and exploitative piece of work that is Bowling for Columbine (another Moore “documentary”). Michael Moore is purely interested in promoting Michael Moore, not in showing complete truth or in examining a subject thoroughly. As for the President reading the book to the students, what would you have had him do? When he was reading the book everyone thought the first plane flying into the towers was a horrible accident. Nobody, thought it was terrorists until the second plane hit. If the president had suddenly jumped up and walked out with all of the cameras on him he would have caused more panic and confusion among people who had no idea what was going on. Can you imagine how the press that was covering the event would have trampled and upset the students in the classroom if he bolted suddenly? The president cannot leap up and spontaniously do anything- presidents have to act on deliberation and with the facts that they have. No responsible president acts on impulse- unless you are talking about a certain president and his intern?
The original seating capacity was 1800. In 1967 the theatre was remodeled by Central States Cinemas. The original, narrow seats on the main floor were replaced by wider, modern seats. This reduced seating to about 1500. The chandeliers over the opera boxes were removed at this time, as was the vertical blade ear of corn sign.
I have photos of the theatre, then and now, on my web site. www.jeffkorns.com
The original seating capacity of the theatre was 1945. In the late 1970s the first row on the main floor was removed to expand the orchestra pit, and some seats in the balcony were removed for a sound booth. This reduced the seating to 1901.
The theatre recently reopened after a multimillion dollar renovation. A new “rehearsal” hall was built for the symphony, next to the theatre. So far the symphony has ignored it. New HVAC, carpeting, electrical, lobby/restrooms, seating and plaster repair were done.
Unfortunately the company running the theatre for the city, still looks only at the bottom line and will probably run it in to the ground again with minimal maintanence.
This theatre opened in 1910 as the Olympic. In the 1930s it was renamed the Strand after the original Strand in town became the State. It was a small neighborhood theater. Located in the part of town settled by Czech and Slovak immigrants it specialized in Czech language films and second run Hollywood fare.
In 1951 the community theater moved in and stayed until 1984. When they moved it became a night club. It was torn down in 1992.
The Bay Theatre’s organ was installed in a recording studio in the Paramount building. This organ was used for making records and for radio broadcasts. It was not the auditorium organ, that organ is in Witchita Kansas. The original console for the auditorium organ burned in a fire while in storage and a replica replacement was built. The theatre’s organ was not designed by Jesse Crawford, the organist. Jesse repeatedly denied designing the organ, he attributed it to one of the designers at Wurlitzer. The organ in the recording studio was designed by Jesse.
In the early 80’s the theatre was converted to a nightclub- then an office supply store. Currently it has been renovated into a ballroom called “Let’s Dance”
The organ in the theatre was a 4 manual 36 rank Wurlitzer- not a Cassevant. Jesse Crawford was the star organist. It was considered the definitive theatre organ by many in the organ world. The Wurlitzer now resides in Witchita Kansas in their Century Exhibition Hall
Now the Ballroom is outta business
Yes but they are now meeting in various venues. Jason hasn’t updated his website since they left the theatre. The theatre is sitting there and not much has happened since the destruction of the interior. They did board up the front.
Jean, The Linn County historical society would probably love to have those, they do have an extensive collection of local theatre items. Their web site is http://www.historycenter.org/
The building is not in bad shape, just a different configuration.
The big reasons for chopping the theatre were; 1. Plays need a more intimate space than a huge auditorium. 2. Royalties for plays and musicals are based on the number of seats available, not tickets sold. (Therefore you can hold 3 sell out shows in a 500 seat theatre or one non sell out show in a 1500 seat auditorium)
In reality the theatre was not a typical “palace”. Its' design was more reminiscent of the Orpheum vaudeville houses of the late teens and early 20s. There was little in the way of lounges and foyers for handling the crowds. Basically it was a straight shot from the ticket lobby to the hallway behind the auditorium (it even had windows at the back of the main floor that were opened to the hallway). This was somewhat of a budget theatre that relied more on a gaudy paint job than fancy plaster. The promoter behind the theatre rushed to get it built before the Capitol (Paramount) opened and would out opulence all the other theatres in town.
If the community theatre had not bought the building it would be a parking lot now.
After the Strand (World) changed to the State theatre in 1930 the former Olympic theatre at 5101 16th Ave SW became the Strand.
The theatre is gutted now. The bank that owns the building kicked out the night club and a non profit group wants to turn it into an ethnic diversity center (the bank prez’s wife heads the group). They haven’t figured out what to do with the building but everything behind the entryway was gutted (the balcony, and even the plaster on the walls and ceiling were stripped. When I last got into the building the framework for the balcony was there and the wood framing of the proscenium was intact and sections of the plaster at the top of the proscenium had purposly been left in place.
The entryway was reopened to its' original 2 story configuration and tilework and terra cotta that had been covered were revealed for the first time in 60 years. The remnants of the two original ticket booths were uncovered.
The only thing that has been announced for certain is that the facade is to be restored and relit and a replica of the 1915 marquee is to be installed.
Gerald, you forget one thing. F911 is propaganda, it was not a factual or unbiased look at events. Mr. Moore makes no secret of his bias- he did so at last year’s Oscars. The owner of Fridley cinemas has a right to decide what movies his business will show. Just because someone has the right to make a particular film does not automatically guarantee that anyone has to show it. The right to free speech does not curtail others' right to ignore it…
Gerald, I suggest you look at the slipshod and exploitative piece of work that is Bowling for Columbine (another Moore “documentary”). Michael Moore is purely interested in promoting Michael Moore, not in showing complete truth or in examining a subject thoroughly. As for the President reading the book to the students, what would you have had him do? When he was reading the book everyone thought the first plane flying into the towers was a horrible accident. Nobody, thought it was terrorists until the second plane hit. If the president had suddenly jumped up and walked out with all of the cameras on him he would have caused more panic and confusion among people who had no idea what was going on. Can you imagine how the press that was covering the event would have trampled and upset the students in the classroom if he bolted suddenly? The president cannot leap up and spontaniously do anything- presidents have to act on deliberation and with the facts that they have. No responsible president acts on impulse- unless you are talking about a certain president and his intern?
The original seating capacity was 1800. In 1967 the theatre was remodeled by Central States Cinemas. The original, narrow seats on the main floor were replaced by wider, modern seats. This reduced seating to about 1500. The chandeliers over the opera boxes were removed at this time, as was the vertical blade ear of corn sign.
I have photos of the theatre, then and now, on my web site. www.jeffkorns.com
The original seating capacity of the theatre was 1945. In the late 1970s the first row on the main floor was removed to expand the orchestra pit, and some seats in the balcony were removed for a sound booth. This reduced the seating to 1901.
The theatre recently reopened after a multimillion dollar renovation. A new “rehearsal” hall was built for the symphony, next to the theatre. So far the symphony has ignored it. New HVAC, carpeting, electrical, lobby/restrooms, seating and plaster repair were done.
Unfortunately the company running the theatre for the city, still looks only at the bottom line and will probably run it in to the ground again with minimal maintanence.
This theatre opened in 1910 as the Olympic. In the 1930s it was renamed the Strand after the original Strand in town became the State. It was a small neighborhood theater. Located in the part of town settled by Czech and Slovak immigrants it specialized in Czech language films and second run Hollywood fare.
In 1951 the community theater moved in and stayed until 1984. When they moved it became a night club. It was torn down in 1992.
The Bay Theatre’s organ was installed in a recording studio in the Paramount building. This organ was used for making records and for radio broadcasts. It was not the auditorium organ, that organ is in Witchita Kansas. The original console for the auditorium organ burned in a fire while in storage and a replica replacement was built. The theatre’s organ was not designed by Jesse Crawford, the organist. Jesse repeatedly denied designing the organ, he attributed it to one of the designers at Wurlitzer. The organ in the recording studio was designed by Jesse.
In the early 80’s the theatre was converted to a nightclub- then an office supply store. Currently it has been renovated into a ballroom called “Let’s Dance”
The organ in the theatre was a 4 manual 36 rank Wurlitzer- not a Cassevant. Jesse Crawford was the star organist. It was considered the definitive theatre organ by many in the organ world. The Wurlitzer now resides in Witchita Kansas in their Century Exhibition Hall