The Manos Theatre suffered projection damage from a fire on December 19, 1971. The Manos Theatre briefly reopened afterward but was closed on May 21, 1972 because of management issues. It reopened the following year as a concert venue.
I don’t know who the hell cut out that grand opening advertisement three days before its official opening, but the good news is that its grand opening advertisement on the exact opening date was found.
The Capitol opened its doors on February 28, 1930 with Jack Oakie in “Sweetie” along with the talking short “Marching To Georgia” and the Paramount Screen Song “Dixie”, featuring sound installations of Western Electric, and the original Morton Opera House likely opened its doors by manager Fletcher Terrell on September 27, 1900 with a live presentation of “Maloney’s Wedding”.
Unfortunately, there was an article from February 1930 that explained about the then-new Capitol that talked about the life of the Morton. It says that the Morton opened on March 8, 1901 with “The Princess Chic” starring Margaret Silva, but I’m very sure that is 100% incorrect. Its possibly a change of management and not an exact grand opening.
Malco last operated the theater for its remaining 29 years of operation until its closure on September 24, 2000. This left the Cinema 12 as the only theater operating in Owensboro for a time.
The New Pastime Theater operated as a first-run theater for many decades, but had many management changes throughout the 1990s. It was still open in 1999.
This opened as the Magnolia Theatre in 1948. It did receive a brief closure before reopening under the Cine Theatre name. It then made a brief closure in 1998 and was renamed the Magnolia Civic Center. It wasn’t until December 2023 when the original Magnolia Theatre name returned following the theater’s 75th anniversary.
New Albany also had two older indoor theaters, which were the Ritz and the Royal. The Ritz likely opened in late-1939 at the Cohn building on South Front Street after being purchased by David Webster and J.M. Lamb that July. Unfortunately the Ritz was destroyed by a fire in October 1953 and its aftermath remains unknown. I cannot find any information about the Royal for now.
The Richelieu Theatre, named after owner Charles H. Richelieu, opened its doors on February 29, 1924 with Tom Moore in “Big Brother” (unknown if extras added). It was renamed the Manos Theatre on October 20, 1936, and renamed again the Penn Theatre in April 1950.
The Penn Theatre likely closed as a movie theater on March 21, 1971 with “Woodstock”, and reopened the following day as a concert venue. It didn’t last long, and it closed by 1973.
Throughout the afternoon of April 14, 1942, Stroudsburg suffered a massive loss following a massive fire that destroyed several buildings, including the Sherman Theatre, estimating a loss of $250,000 in damages. The fire started inside a barn along 5th Street located a few roads north of Main Street, destroying several cars and a pipe organ from in and out. It then spread westwardly towards the Sherman Theatre. Despite nobody injured, the Sherman Theatre suffered destruction from the roof and suffered damage inside the auditorium from the roof collapse. The barn was blazing fiercely at the time making the fighting very difficult.
Fred Schuermann, the projectionist at the time, believed that the Sherman Theatre’s then-2½ inch concrete reinforced steel projection booth wasn’t damage at all but he had been unable to ascertain definitely. He expressed the opinion that only possibility of water entering through a ventilator on top of the booth suggested damage there. Seven units of the Stroudsburg Fire Department were called around 12:58 PM ET followed by arrival seven minutes later. Ten streams of water were being used on the flames by 2:30 PM which at the time the fire had burned through the Sherman’s roof. The roof edge of high aerial “well” into which stage scenery was hoisted was the last stronghold of the blaze, and water was being poured on it long after 4:00 PM that evening. The walls and the interior of the Sherman Theatre were saved from the fire but the walls of the auditorium were cracked and scorched as they are all made out of brick.
Two cars that had been stored in the barn were undamaged but two others therein and three outside were destroyed except for their tires, running gear, and chassis. Francis Meredith of the Wyckoff stores nearby rushed to the scene of the fire and drove his car out of the garage and to a nearby lot while flames crackled through the building above him. He then assisted a group of men in pushing an unmodeled Packard belonging to Joseph Wallace from the building. The other two cars inside were destroyed and the tops, upholstery, and other parts of car outside were burned.
One of the first to discover the blaze was Fred Salathe, the operator of a bakery and delicatessen store near the theater. He rushed into the Sherman after sounding the alarm, just as the flames began to eat into the auditorium. He and his employees attempted to find sufficient water to stop the blaze and some fire extinguishers were used but the blaze continued outside prevented them from halting the flames inside. Units form both Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg made it into scene. The Hometown Bakery Building with living apartments in its upper floor nearby abutting the theater lobby on the East were very minorly damaged, with the very small damage being by water but flames on the roof were halted at the edge of the building’s eaves.
The Sherman Theatre reopened later that year following the fire with an updated roof.
There is some information that the Major Drive-In was still open in 1967. Its likely that the Major Drive-In was just closed for the season and not permanently. It was already gone by 1983.
It was still open in 1990, but the screen was demolished by 1994, meaning that the drive-in closed in the early-1990s. As of 2025, the concession/projection booth still stands as well as many of its traces.
The Lyric Theatre suffered destruction from a fire twice. The first fire happened on December 23, 1939. It was rebuilt and reopened on August 22, 1940, and the second fire happened on November 19, 1957 when a furnace exploded which ended its life.
Opened on August 25, 1936 with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in “Follow The Fleet” (unknown if extras added), and was first managed by Cecil P. Taylor, who also operated the Majestic Theatre in Beaver Dam.
The Manos Theatre suffered projection damage from a fire on December 19, 1971. The Manos Theatre briefly reopened afterward but was closed on May 21, 1972 because of management issues. It reopened the following year as a concert venue.
Closed on October 29, 1978 with “Jaws 2” and “The Greek Tycoon”.
This opened as early as 1925.
I don’t know who the hell cut out that grand opening advertisement three days before its official opening, but the good news is that its grand opening advertisement on the exact opening date was found.
The Capitol opened its doors on February 28, 1930 with Jack Oakie in “Sweetie” along with the talking short “Marching To Georgia” and the Paramount Screen Song “Dixie”, featuring sound installations of Western Electric, and the original Morton Opera House likely opened its doors by manager Fletcher Terrell on September 27, 1900 with a live presentation of “Maloney’s Wedding”.
Malco last operated the theater for its remaining 29 years of operation until its closure on September 24, 2000. This left the Cinema 12 as the only theater operating in Owensboro for a time.
Actual closing date is January 30, 1997, last operated by Malco.
The Victory Theatre was once destroyed by a fire on May 3, 1959 and was rebuilt, reopening on March 11, 1960.
Last operated by Martin Theatres.
Closed on November 20, 1974 with “Moonrunners”.
The New Pastime Theater operated as a first-run theater for many decades, but had many management changes throughout the 1990s. It was still open in 1999.
Closed on August 26, 1999 with “The Matrix” in Screen 1 and “Never Been Kissed” in Screen 2.
Opened on December 21, 1984 as the Cine 3 Theatre.
Once operated by Cinemette.
Actual closing date as a movie theater is June 14, 1979 with “Good Guys Wear Black”.
The Skyview Twin Cinema was built at the former drive-in’s site. This was the only drive-in in East Liverpool.
So I’m very sure it means that it did open during the 1954 season.
A 1955 aerial view does show the drive-in operating, meaning that the theater had been operating since either 1955 or beforehand.
This opened as the Magnolia Theatre in 1948. It did receive a brief closure before reopening under the Cine Theatre name. It then made a brief closure in 1998 and was renamed the Magnolia Civic Center. It wasn’t until December 2023 when the original Magnolia Theatre name returned following the theater’s 75th anniversary.
The Richelieu Theatre, named after owner Charles H. Richelieu, opened its doors on February 29, 1924 with Tom Moore in “Big Brother” (unknown if extras added). It was renamed the Manos Theatre on October 20, 1936, and renamed again the Penn Theatre in April 1950.
The Penn Theatre likely closed as a movie theater on March 21, 1971 with “Woodstock”, and reopened the following day as a concert venue. It didn’t last long, and it closed by 1973.
Throughout the afternoon of April 14, 1942, Stroudsburg suffered a massive loss following a massive fire that destroyed several buildings, including the Sherman Theatre, estimating a loss of $250,000 in damages. The fire started inside a barn along 5th Street located a few roads north of Main Street, destroying several cars and a pipe organ from in and out. It then spread westwardly towards the Sherman Theatre. Despite nobody injured, the Sherman Theatre suffered destruction from the roof and suffered damage inside the auditorium from the roof collapse. The barn was blazing fiercely at the time making the fighting very difficult.
Fred Schuermann, the projectionist at the time, believed that the Sherman Theatre’s then-2½ inch concrete reinforced steel projection booth wasn’t damage at all but he had been unable to ascertain definitely. He expressed the opinion that only possibility of water entering through a ventilator on top of the booth suggested damage there. Seven units of the Stroudsburg Fire Department were called around 12:58 PM ET followed by arrival seven minutes later. Ten streams of water were being used on the flames by 2:30 PM which at the time the fire had burned through the Sherman’s roof. The roof edge of high aerial “well” into which stage scenery was hoisted was the last stronghold of the blaze, and water was being poured on it long after 4:00 PM that evening. The walls and the interior of the Sherman Theatre were saved from the fire but the walls of the auditorium were cracked and scorched as they are all made out of brick.
Two cars that had been stored in the barn were undamaged but two others therein and three outside were destroyed except for their tires, running gear, and chassis. Francis Meredith of the Wyckoff stores nearby rushed to the scene of the fire and drove his car out of the garage and to a nearby lot while flames crackled through the building above him. He then assisted a group of men in pushing an unmodeled Packard belonging to Joseph Wallace from the building. The other two cars inside were destroyed and the tops, upholstery, and other parts of car outside were burned.
One of the first to discover the blaze was Fred Salathe, the operator of a bakery and delicatessen store near the theater. He rushed into the Sherman after sounding the alarm, just as the flames began to eat into the auditorium. He and his employees attempted to find sufficient water to stop the blaze and some fire extinguishers were used but the blaze continued outside prevented them from halting the flames inside. Units form both Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg made it into scene. The Hometown Bakery Building with living apartments in its upper floor nearby abutting the theater lobby on the East were very minorly damaged, with the very small damage being by water but flames on the roof were halted at the edge of the building’s eaves.
The Sherman Theatre reopened later that year following the fire with an updated roof.
There is some information that the Major Drive-In was still open in 1967. Its likely that the Major Drive-In was just closed for the season and not permanently. It was already gone by 1983.
It was still open in 1990, but the screen was demolished by 1994, meaning that the drive-in closed in the early-1990s. As of 2025, the concession/projection booth still stands as well as many of its traces.
February 9, 1928
The Lyric Theatre suffered destruction from a fire twice. The first fire happened on December 23, 1939. It was rebuilt and reopened on August 22, 1940, and the second fire happened on November 19, 1957 when a furnace exploded which ended its life.
Opened on August 25, 1936 with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in “Follow The Fleet” (unknown if extras added), and was first managed by Cecil P. Taylor, who also operated the Majestic Theatre in Beaver Dam.