Here is an ad that was in Boxoffice magazine back in April 1962:
FOR SALE: “Rig Theater” Premont Texas. Now operating and in excellent condition. Original cost over $50,000. Will sell whole building and equipment for $25,000. Includes ground floor office or store (street front) and upstairs apartment, all air-conditioned. Write Dr. R.N. Smith, Jr. 513 Lake Drive, Harlingen, Texas.
The Senate Theater in Chicago made front page headlines when a lion refused to carry out his feature role in a stage show which had the house filled to capacity. The lion, named Hank, had been trained to do a disappearing act in a magician program. To get the lion, Charles Gomez, owner of the Senate, had to buy him from the Animal Kingdom pet shop. When he steadfastly refused to perform, Gomez decided to raffle him off. He was won by a couple who didn’t know how to handle him and Hank was returned to the pet shop-but no refund to Gomez.
This may have been called the New Falls Theater in 1962, when the Cinerama conversion took place. This is from Boxoffice magazine at that time:
The New Falls Theater, recreated and renewed by Louis Horwitz and Sanford Leavitt of the Washington circuit, got underway most successfully with Cinerama. With a screen from floor to ceiling-and renewed from wall to wall-the New Falls is the only house now in northeastern Ohio showing Cinerama. The Palace is expected to return to Cinerama early in July.
The New Falls has not only been received as a new theater should be-usually packed from wall to wall-but it’s the first of the 100 Cinerama Theaters to show the wraparound screen and one single projection booth.
Boxoffice magazine reported in April 1962 that the Parker Square Theater in Wichita Falls was slated for demolition. It opened in 1958 and lasted just three years before being converted to a department store.
Members of CORE staged a 40-minute demonstration April 3 at Wometco’s 163rd Street Theater in the 163rd Street shopping center. The Committee of Racial Equality sent some 30 Negroes to the box office to purchase tickets. When they were refused, the demonstrators formed a revolving line which continued the requests until the ticket window closed for the night.
I used to go the Promenade when it was more interesting. The Midnight Special bookstore closed a long time ago, so all that’s left is Banana Republic and Gap. Great deal if you like to buy clothes.
Homer and Rita Michael returned to the theater business when they reopened the Evergreen Drive-In in the Mount Pleasant-Scottsdale area. They acquired the drive-in from Mrs. Donald Ruth, widow of the original owner who managed this ozoner last year.
The Michaels, former operators of the Liberty Theater on Pittsburgh’s south side, have modernized the Evergreen, first with a complete fresh paint job, including screen resurfacing, and also with installation of new in-car speakers. The concession building, with various new features and equipment, has been turned into a self-service operation under management of Rita Michael.
CHERRY HILL, N.J.-The new Cherry Hill Cinema was to have its grand opening on Wednesday, April 11. The new 1,425-seat theater is located in the Cherry Hill Mall Shopping Center, on Route 38 at Haddonfield Road. Managing the new theater is Max Bernstein. General Drive-In Corp., operated by president Richard A. Smith, is the owner. The opening picture at the new Cinema was “The Children’s Hour”.
It looks like the theater is advertising Spanish films. There is also a sign by the door that says “Teatro”. Interesting that they were doing that so close to the opening.
Here is an ad that was in Boxoffice magazine back in April 1962:
FOR SALE: “Rig Theater” Premont Texas. Now operating and in excellent condition. Original cost over $50,000. Will sell whole building and equipment for $25,000. Includes ground floor office or store (street front) and upstairs apartment, all air-conditioned. Write Dr. R.N. Smith, Jr. 513 Lake Drive, Harlingen, Texas.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in April 1962:
The Senate Theater in Chicago made front page headlines when a lion refused to carry out his feature role in a stage show which had the house filled to capacity. The lion, named Hank, had been trained to do a disappearing act in a magician program. To get the lion, Charles Gomez, owner of the Senate, had to buy him from the Animal Kingdom pet shop. When he steadfastly refused to perform, Gomez decided to raffle him off. He was won by a couple who didn’t know how to handle him and Hank was returned to the pet shop-but no refund to Gomez.
This may have been called the New Falls Theater in 1962, when the Cinerama conversion took place. This is from Boxoffice magazine at that time:
The New Falls Theater, recreated and renewed by Louis Horwitz and Sanford Leavitt of the Washington circuit, got underway most successfully with Cinerama. With a screen from floor to ceiling-and renewed from wall to wall-the New Falls is the only house now in northeastern Ohio showing Cinerama. The Palace is expected to return to Cinerama early in July.
The New Falls has not only been received as a new theater should be-usually packed from wall to wall-but it’s the first of the 100 Cinerama Theaters to show the wraparound screen and one single projection booth.
From Boxoffice magazine, April 1962:
WATERBURY, CONN.-The subsequent-run Carroll recently played a stage show, featuring the Isley Brothers, at $2 top ticket.
Boxoffice magazine reported in April 1962 that the Parker Square Theater in Wichita Falls was slated for demolition. It opened in 1958 and lasted just three years before being converted to a department store.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in April 1962:
Members of CORE staged a 40-minute demonstration April 3 at Wometco’s 163rd Street Theater in the 163rd Street shopping center. The Committee of Racial Equality sent some 30 Negroes to the box office to purchase tickets. When they were refused, the demonstrators formed a revolving line which continued the requests until the ticket window closed for the night.
Here are some photos of the marquee coming down from the Bay City Times in August 2008:
http://tinyurl.com/9zj3r4
Was Casselman the architect or the builder?
Here is an undated photo of the marquee:
http://tinyurl.com/9ss546
Renovation information here:
http://tinyurl.com/9vmav9
There are some interior photos from 2004 on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/9eeoxj
Here is a January 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/7p7zup
I used to go the Promenade when it was more interesting. The Midnight Special bookstore closed a long time ago, so all that’s left is Banana Republic and Gap. Great deal if you like to buy clothes.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in April 1962:
Homer and Rita Michael returned to the theater business when they reopened the Evergreen Drive-In in the Mount Pleasant-Scottsdale area. They acquired the drive-in from Mrs. Donald Ruth, widow of the original owner who managed this ozoner last year.
The Michaels, former operators of the Liberty Theater on Pittsburgh’s south side, have modernized the Evergreen, first with a complete fresh paint job, including screen resurfacing, and also with installation of new in-car speakers. The concession building, with various new features and equipment, has been turned into a self-service operation under management of Rita Michael.
From Boxoffice magazine, April 1962:
CHERRY HILL, N.J.-The new Cherry Hill Cinema was to have its grand opening on Wednesday, April 11. The new 1,425-seat theater is located in the Cherry Hill Mall Shopping Center, on Route 38 at Haddonfield Road. Managing the new theater is Max Bernstein. General Drive-In Corp., operated by president Richard A. Smith, is the owner. The opening picture at the new Cinema was “The Children’s Hour”.
Some photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/8fto4w
Note the name of the apartment complex on the site:
http://tinyurl.com/8d6cav
Here is the 1910 photo discussed above:
http://tinyurl.com/8mtx3z
Here is a 1951 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/92l8mz
Here is a 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/9tf6xl
Here is a late 1940s photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/9nyjvt
Here are some early 1930s views from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/98q3hh
It looks like the theater is advertising Spanish films. There is also a sign by the door that says “Teatro”. Interesting that they were doing that so close to the opening.
Here is a circa 1947 photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/94acve
Here is a picture of the foyer on opening night, from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/a59xz6