Additionally, the 1914-15 AMPD lists the Idle Hour Theatre on E 2nd St. Given that no commercial buildings face that part of 2nd, it likely referred to the large rear entrance to the Masonic building.
I think this listing may conflate two theaters. The Opera House is listed at 450 seats through 1929. Montgomery City does not appear in the 1930 Yearbook.
1931 lists the Opera House with 350 seats, and 1932 onward lists the Ritz with 350. I wonder if that isn’t an error. The 1932 map does not show a theater in the Masonic building, but shows a lodge hall on the 2nd floor. Being an upstairs theater, it may have been closed due to fire codes. The 1932 map does show a theater at what would have been 121-123 W 2nd. It was likely the Ritz, and was demolished long ago.
I suppose, presuming that the location was correct, (which is certainly dubious with this contributor’s entries), that this must have been the old two story building on the SW corner. There is what might possibly have been a poster case near the door. I’ve changed the address, but I have very low confidence in any of the information in the listing.
SethG
commented about
Air Domeon
Oct 18, 2026 at 2:55 pm
I’ve corrected the address and added a map view. It looks like the historic address was 314. 9th was known as Vine, and 10th was Walnut before they were given dull generic names. The 1914-15 AMPD incorrectly lists this on Main St.
This is not in Mexico City, but in the State of Mexico. The border is less than a block to the east of the theater. The phone numbers for Mexico are not formatted properly. It should be 52 for the country code if we’re using that, then a 2 or 3 digit area code, then 2 groups of 4 digits. In addition, none of the Mexican states are listed. For whatever reason, although the address is taken from Google, it maps to a location a few blocks west.
Either the site cited is garbage, or there was another bullring. This is actually a 25 minute drive to the north of the Plaza de Toros. The bridge in the foreground is still there, but was covered by an elevated expressway by 2011. I’ll update the name and address.
Address might have been 6, as the building at 8-10 is now the end of the block. This was directly across from where Baron Taylor’s Street comes out onto Academy. Academy now at least becomes Millburn. I don’t know if it always did. I think the theater was roughly where the mercat cross for the ugly mall is. It is a bit confusing, since the still extant Falcon Foundry once had a large hall which appears from a 1975 photo to have extended all the way out to Academy, but doesn’t show up in any of the photos of the theater.
The building where the lobby was located was constructed 1896-98. The architect was either William Macintosh or possibly Thomas Munro, who was then working with Mackintosh. Mackintosh moved his offices into the building when it was completed, and the successor firm maintained offices there through at least 1996. It was not facadomized as the entry implies, but was always used as offices, and is well preserved. The section that presumably contained the auditorium appears to have been older.
Trying to make sense of this. Chuck’s entries are always full of errors, and he can’t be relied upon for even something simple like an address. That said, this summary is a bit confusing.
The December 1906 map shows no movie theaters, aside from the Morton (later Garrick/Capitol).
The October 1912 map shows nothing on W. Center (then Centre or Main Cross), but does show a theater at what was then 111 E Centre (now 11 E Center). That building is still there, but cannot be the one in the picture since it only has 3 windows.
The September 1923 map shows a theater at 209 W. Centre (now 109 W Center). That must be this theater. The map shows that it was the west half of a building, with a different building of the same height to the west. This matches what we see in the photo. The entire block has been demolished for a big post office and parking lot. The theater on E Center has disappeared on this map.
I don’t see any evidence that a theater was at 24 W Center. It may have operated for only a few years and fallen into a gap between maps. I will fix the address and status, and use 1917 as the opening date. I think Cameo #1 must have been the 11 E Center theater. I’m not clear on where the original Dixie was, and the Capitol/Kentucky part is difficult to follow.
No, there’s nothing to indicate that isn’t true. I could have sworn this entry used to say that the theater opened in 1914. I think this is a duplicate of the unidentified Park Row theater that I submitted some time ago. If we can all agree on the dates, then I will combine the listings.
I think we have this in the wrong place. 416 was the Columbia, which was replaced by the Capitol. The picture of the entry for that theater is clearly a different building. If this was on Park Row, the problem is that 411 is a theater in 1909, but NOT in 1914, when this supposedly opened.
I think we should probably separate the Columbia out, since it was one door over, in a building that was demolished in the 1939 remodel. The Capitol auditorium was behind the older buildings. At any rate, we’ve finally put the 1890 opera house nonsense to rest.
This building and the neighboring structures have been progressively ruined by cheap sheet metal trash. Some of the original structure can be seen on the blurry 2008 streetview.
I have given the address of the EMBA building, although the theater space may have been entered from 6th St. The building is in perilous shape. It appears to have been vacant since at least 2014. The location of the gym/theater space is now some cheap metal sheds housing the city hall and fire department.
This theater appears on the Dec. 1912 Sanborn. This is the earliest map available, so no history on the building is available. The Princess was the southernmost of five storefronts in a large one story brick structure with a tin front. Rebuilt by May 1915 at the latest (it appears in the 1914-15 AMPD), it was now a two story brick building (possibly only one story at the rear). The theater remained a ground floor operation with a photo studio upstairs through at least 1925.
It appears at some point that the upper story was removed. The facade survived until sometime between 2014 and 2023. The interior had long been gutted, and the space used as a patio.
I’ve added a 1918 map view, including city hall (which was also destroyed in the 1923 fire and rebuilt on the same site). This shows how the channel was widened. Based on that view, and the later postcard, plus some pictures of the fire, I believe that the original structure was likely reused in the 1932 incarnation.
I’ve added a 1918 Sanborn view of the theater. The theater does not appear on the 1910 map, nor is it listed in the 1914-15 AMPD. The 1927 and 1950 maps are not available online. The entire two block frontage on the east side of Main, and going back most of the block behind, has been destroyed and replaced by a really depressingly ugly urban ‘renewal’ mall.
Additionally, the 1914-15 AMPD lists the Idle Hour Theatre on E 2nd St. Given that no commercial buildings face that part of 2nd, it likely referred to the large rear entrance to the Masonic building.
I think this listing may conflate two theaters. The Opera House is listed at 450 seats through 1929. Montgomery City does not appear in the 1930 Yearbook.
1931 lists the Opera House with 350 seats, and 1932 onward lists the Ritz with 350. I wonder if that isn’t an error. The 1932 map does not show a theater in the Masonic building, but shows a lodge hall on the 2nd floor. Being an upstairs theater, it may have been closed due to fire codes. The 1932 map does show a theater at what would have been 121-123 W 2nd. It was likely the Ritz, and was demolished long ago.
I suppose, presuming that the location was correct, (which is certainly dubious with this contributor’s entries), that this must have been the old two story building on the SW corner. There is what might possibly have been a poster case near the door. I’ve changed the address, but I have very low confidence in any of the information in the listing.
Thanks for the info!
Note that the historical address was 419 before most of the N-S streets got a dull generic number scheme.
I’ve corrected the address and added a map view. It looks like the historic address was 314. 9th was known as Vine, and 10th was Walnut before they were given dull generic names. The 1914-15 AMPD incorrectly lists this on Main St.
Thanks for providing some info on this exceptionally poor and lazy listing. I have given you credit for the entry.
Okay, I’ll update the listing based on that understanding.
So no FunAsia ownership?
This is not in Mexico City, but in the State of Mexico. The border is less than a block to the east of the theater. The phone numbers for Mexico are not formatted properly. It should be 52 for the country code if we’re using that, then a 2 or 3 digit area code, then 2 groups of 4 digits. In addition, none of the Mexican states are listed. For whatever reason, although the address is taken from Google, it maps to a location a few blocks west.
Either the site cited is garbage, or there was another bullring. This is actually a 25 minute drive to the north of the Plaza de Toros. The bridge in the foreground is still there, but was covered by an elevated expressway by 2011. I’ll update the name and address.
Address might have been 6, as the building at 8-10 is now the end of the block. This was directly across from where Baron Taylor’s Street comes out onto Academy. Academy now at least becomes Millburn. I don’t know if it always did. I think the theater was roughly where the mercat cross for the ugly mall is. It is a bit confusing, since the still extant Falcon Foundry once had a large hall which appears from a 1975 photo to have extended all the way out to Academy, but doesn’t show up in any of the photos of the theater.
The building where the lobby was located was constructed 1896-98. The architect was either William Macintosh or possibly Thomas Munro, who was then working with Mackintosh. Mackintosh moved his offices into the building when it was completed, and the successor firm maintained offices there through at least 1996. It was not facadomized as the entry implies, but was always used as offices, and is well preserved. The section that presumably contained the auditorium appears to have been older.
Judging by the dismally ugly hotel, it must have been built shortly after demolition.
Trying to make sense of this. Chuck’s entries are always full of errors, and he can’t be relied upon for even something simple like an address. That said, this summary is a bit confusing.
The December 1906 map shows no movie theaters, aside from the Morton (later Garrick/Capitol).
The October 1912 map shows nothing on W. Center (then Centre or Main Cross), but does show a theater at what was then 111 E Centre (now 11 E Center). That building is still there, but cannot be the one in the picture since it only has 3 windows.
The September 1923 map shows a theater at 209 W. Centre (now 109 W Center). That must be this theater. The map shows that it was the west half of a building, with a different building of the same height to the west. This matches what we see in the photo. The entire block has been demolished for a big post office and parking lot. The theater on E Center has disappeared on this map.
I don’t see any evidence that a theater was at 24 W Center. It may have operated for only a few years and fallen into a gap between maps. I will fix the address and status, and use 1917 as the opening date. I think Cameo #1 must have been the 11 E Center theater. I’m not clear on where the original Dixie was, and the Capitol/Kentucky part is difficult to follow.
No, there’s nothing to indicate that isn’t true. I could have sworn this entry used to say that the theater opened in 1914. I think this is a duplicate of the unidentified Park Row theater that I submitted some time ago. If we can all agree on the dates, then I will combine the listings.
I think we have this in the wrong place. 416 was the Columbia, which was replaced by the Capitol. The picture of the entry for that theater is clearly a different building. If this was on Park Row, the problem is that 411 is a theater in 1909, but NOT in 1914, when this supposedly opened.
I think we should probably separate the Columbia out, since it was one door over, in a building that was demolished in the 1939 remodel. The Capitol auditorium was behind the older buildings. At any rate, we’ve finally put the 1890 opera house nonsense to rest.
This building and the neighboring structures have been progressively ruined by cheap sheet metal trash. Some of the original structure can be seen on the blurry 2008 streetview.
I have given the address of the EMBA building, although the theater space may have been entered from 6th St. The building is in perilous shape. It appears to have been vacant since at least 2014. The location of the gym/theater space is now some cheap metal sheds housing the city hall and fire department.
This theater appears on the Dec. 1912 Sanborn. This is the earliest map available, so no history on the building is available. The Princess was the southernmost of five storefronts in a large one story brick structure with a tin front. Rebuilt by May 1915 at the latest (it appears in the 1914-15 AMPD), it was now a two story brick building (possibly only one story at the rear). The theater remained a ground floor operation with a photo studio upstairs through at least 1925.
It appears at some point that the upper story was removed. The facade survived until sometime between 2014 and 2023. The interior had long been gutted, and the space used as a patio.
Thanks, that takes care of the Ruby mystery.
I’ve added a 1918 map view, including city hall (which was also destroyed in the 1923 fire and rebuilt on the same site). This shows how the channel was widened. Based on that view, and the later postcard, plus some pictures of the fire, I believe that the original structure was likely reused in the 1932 incarnation.
I’ve added a 1918 Sanborn view of the theater. The theater does not appear on the 1910 map, nor is it listed in the 1914-15 AMPD. The 1927 and 1950 maps are not available online. The entire two block frontage on the east side of Main, and going back most of the block behind, has been destroyed and replaced by a really depressingly ugly urban ‘renewal’ mall.
I’ve set the closing date as April 23, but if it did indeed show films until May 12, we can change it.