PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA.-Alpine Theater has been acquired by Warner Brothers Circuit Management Corp. Transfer is from Harry Batastini. The Alpine was an independent theater, not affiliated with a circuit operated under that name. Warner has the Jefferson here which is managed by Mrs. Marietta McCartney.
NANTY GLO, PA.-The Family Theater, operated by Joseph Delisi for many years, has been extensively remodeled and acquired by Thomas Bello, who recently assumed full operation of the Capitol. The Family is now known as the New Liberty Theater.
DES MOINES-The Eastown, new Tri-States and East Des Moines Theater Corp. theater here, is scheduled to open Wednesday. The new house will be the tenth Tri-States theater in the city.
CHICAGO-The Essaness Vogue, which has been recently remodeled, had a gala opening Friday. Another Essaness house, the North Center, which has also been remodeled, will have its official opening Thursday.
RANTOUL, ILL.-Construction of the new 517-seat Kerasotes theater here is getting underway. The lot has been purchased and the old buildings removed. The theater, 14th in the Kerasotes group, will be named “Wings”, since the U.S. Army’s technical flying school is located in Rantoul. It is expected to be open early in September. J. Fletcher Lankton is the architect.
There’s almost a nautical look to the building, which is funny as it is in landlocked Newhall. The portholes remind me of the Vern Theater in East LA, which of course was also done by S. Charles Lee.
E. Harold Hall, new manager and operator of the American Theater in Newhall, staged a grand opening May 23. He leased the house from the Newhall American Legion. House was built through donations by William S. Hart, who has been living there since 1927.
O'DONNELL, TEX.-Harvey Gardenhire reached his 12th anniversary as manager of C.C. Caldwell’s Rex Theater on Christmas Day. Mr. Gardenhire formulated a film splice which was adopted by one of the leading screen advertising companies. He is a member of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers.
TULSA-John E. Feeney, veteran southwestern theater owner, who operates the Gem and Cozy, is seriously ill. Feeney has operated theaters in Oklahoma since 1913. In the course of his career he has opened eight theaters and has managed houses in Bartlesville, Okmulgee, Henryetta and other towns.
Boxoffice magazine reported in January 1946 that the State recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, so it would have opened in late 1939 or very early in 1940.
There is a swap meet every weekend at the Alpine Village in Torrance, a few miles south of the old Vermont, but no one complains about that. The Alpine swap meet is immense.
The Gregory Boat Company has two buildings on this block at the theater address. You can see an aerial on the site posted on 10/4/08. Out of thr two, the building further west may be the theater, but the boat company has built something in front of it, I believe.
This is from Boxoffice magazine, May 1941, and may answer the question posted above:
QUINCY-Plans are afoot to remodel a skating rink on School Street into a theater.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1941:
PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA.-Alpine Theater has been acquired by Warner Brothers Circuit Management Corp. Transfer is from Harry Batastini. The Alpine was an independent theater, not affiliated with a circuit operated under that name. Warner has the Jefferson here which is managed by Mrs. Marietta McCartney.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1941:
NANTY GLO, PA.-The Family Theater, operated by Joseph Delisi for many years, has been extensively remodeled and acquired by Thomas Bello, who recently assumed full operation of the Capitol. The Family is now known as the New Liberty Theater.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1941:
DES MOINES-The Eastown, new Tri-States and East Des Moines Theater Corp. theater here, is scheduled to open Wednesday. The new house will be the tenth Tri-States theater in the city.
Interesting that the other theater in Rantoul was called Wings and was a Kerasotes theater, but apparently did not open until the late 1970s.
The seat count is right. They may have changed the name before the official opening.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in May 1941:
CHICAGO-The Essaness Vogue, which has been recently remodeled, had a gala opening Friday. Another Essaness house, the North Center, which has also been remodeled, will have its official opening Thursday.
Here is an item in Boxoffice magazine, May 1941:
RANTOUL, ILL.-Construction of the new 517-seat Kerasotes theater here is getting underway. The lot has been purchased and the old buildings removed. The theater, 14th in the Kerasotes group, will be named “Wings”, since the U.S. Army’s technical flying school is located in Rantoul. It is expected to be open early in September. J. Fletcher Lankton is the architect.
There’s almost a nautical look to the building, which is funny as it is in landlocked Newhall. The portholes remind me of the Vern Theater in East LA, which of course was also done by S. Charles Lee.
Here is an item in Boxoffice magazine, May 1941:
E. Harold Hall, new manager and operator of the American Theater in Newhall, staged a grand opening May 23. He leased the house from the Newhall American Legion. House was built through donations by William S. Hart, who has been living there since 1927.
Was the LA Times wrong about the Van Nuys Drive-In still being open in May 1996?
Yikes. I hadn’t about that. Glad I missed it.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1946:
O'DONNELL, TEX.-Harvey Gardenhire reached his 12th anniversary as manager of C.C. Caldwell’s Rex Theater on Christmas Day. Mr. Gardenhire formulated a film splice which was adopted by one of the leading screen advertising companies. He is a member of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1946:
TULSA-John E. Feeney, veteran southwestern theater owner, who operates the Gem and Cozy, is seriously ill. Feeney has operated theaters in Oklahoma since 1913. In the course of his career he has opened eight theaters and has managed houses in Bartlesville, Okmulgee, Henryetta and other towns.
The Cozad chamber of commerce site says the Rialto is closed. I called the number, (308) 784-3770, but it was disconnected.
Boxoffice magazine reported in January 1946 that the State recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, so it would have opened in late 1939 or very early in 1940.
Here is an August 2007 story from the Topeka Capital Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/77g639
Looking at the view on Google, the former Home does appear to be residential now. The function should be changed accordingly.
There is a swap meet every weekend at the Alpine Village in Torrance, a few miles south of the old Vermont, but no one complains about that. The Alpine swap meet is immense.
There are some 2004 photos on this page:
http://pittsburghsigns.org/archives/dormont/
Here is a view of the theater from Google maps:
http://tinyurl.com/9uk9a2
It’s also being used for storage. For sale, 1.6 million, on loopnet:
http://tinyurl.com/9o6vvb
The Gregory Boat Company has two buildings on this block at the theater address. You can see an aerial on the site posted on 10/4/08. Out of thr two, the building further west may be the theater, but the boat company has built something in front of it, I believe.
It looks like there’s an auto business on the ground floor and residences on the upper floors.
Automotive Alignment Services
3210 Dobson St
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 682-2800‎
May 2008 article about digital cinema and the Paramount:
http://tinyurl.com/7n6uvf