DETROIT-The Paradise Theater will reopen October 10 featuring Count Basie and Pearl Bailey. The house will continue its successful policy of playing colored star names with class B pictures on a first run basis. Upcoming bookings include Cab Calloway, October 17; Duke Ellington, October 24; Illinois Jacquet, October 31; Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald, November 14; and Erskine Hawkins and Arnett Cobb, November 21.
SEWARD, Neb.-E.J. Tilton, well known in midwest theater circles, has bought an interest in the Rivoli here and has taken over management of the house. Tilton has been Iowa-Nebraska manager for Selznick and Warner branch managers working out of Des Moines.
The Rivoli has been owned by Roy Lepovitz of Onawa, Iowa, and managed by his daughters Jean and Elizabeth for the last four years. Jean and Elizabeth are going home to Onawa to manage the two Lepovitz houses there. Their father intends to retire.
I saw more films here than the Bruin and the rest on the other side of Wilshire. This theater had its own parking, which was a plus as in its heyday Westwood Village was a parking nightmare.
It’s disaster movie week at the Egyptian! Friday night is Poseidon Adventure, the original. Saturday is Earthquake in Sensurround. The rest of the films are Towering Inferno, China Syndrome, Black Sunday and Hindenburg. Go on the American Cinematheque site for more info and tickets.
This was not a memorable theater, though, as opposed to the Crest just down the street. This was more like a multiplex you would find in the suburbs, just four boxes in a bigger box.
I saw each new Woody Allen film at this theater for about a six year stretch in the 1980s. I remember “Purple Rose of Cairo”, “Radio Days” and a few others. The theater was not demolished but was remodeled and is now a drug store. I also saw “Terminator 2” here in 1991, after waiting in line for several hours.
Bad news in October 1947, from Boxoffice magazine:
FULTON, MO.-Adult prices have been boosted 5 to 10 cents for night and Sunday shows at the Fulton Theater, owned by Sol Bank. Admission to the main floor was boosted from 35 to 40 cents and in the balcony from 25 to 35 cents.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, October 1947:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.-The Springfield-Frisina Theater Co. has purchased the Southtown Theater building from the Springfield Marine Bank for $35,000. The Frisina Amusement Co. has been operating the Southtown, a 300-seater, in conjunction with Leo Burnstine for a number of years. Mrs. Harry Burnstine manages the theater.
Best to everyone in the upcoming year. Feliz Ano Novo!
Here is a December 2008 article from the OC Register:
http://tinyurl.com/6bg8kq
Brazilians in line to see “I Robot” at the UCI Estacao in 2004:
http://tinyurl.com/a96pka
Newark in the winter? You’re a better man than I, Roger.
The Arcade has not been demolished. Status should be changed to closed and function to live performances.
http://www.ferridaysongfest.com/index.html
From Boxoffice magazine, October 1947:
DETROIT-The Paradise Theater will reopen October 10 featuring Count Basie and Pearl Bailey. The house will continue its successful policy of playing colored star names with class B pictures on a first run basis. Upcoming bookings include Cab Calloway, October 17; Duke Ellington, October 24; Illinois Jacquet, October 31; Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald, November 14; and Erskine Hawkins and Arnett Cobb, November 21.
I think it was half past six since about 1955.
From Boxoffice magazine, October 1947:
SEWARD, Neb.-E.J. Tilton, well known in midwest theater circles, has bought an interest in the Rivoli here and has taken over management of the house. Tilton has been Iowa-Nebraska manager for Selznick and Warner branch managers working out of Des Moines.
The Rivoli has been owned by Roy Lepovitz of Onawa, Iowa, and managed by his daughters Jean and Elizabeth for the last four years. Jean and Elizabeth are going home to Onawa to manage the two Lepovitz houses there. Their father intends to retire.
You don’t get this kind of detailed analysis on Cinematour.
Someone changed the time on the clock.
I suppose, if you were prescient enough to know about the series. Otherwise it might come and go, and you would miss Earthquake, one of my favorites.
Here is a painting of the 4th Avenue. The view is supposed to be of the opening in 1947.
http://tinyurl.com/7uv2vr
Take a look at the view on Google if you want to see how they incorporated the facade into the condos.
There are some interior photos on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/83yuac
I saw more films here than the Bruin and the rest on the other side of Wilshire. This theater had its own parking, which was a plus as in its heyday Westwood Village was a parking nightmare.
Take a look at this photo I posted in July 07. You can still see the Newsreel ads which are visible in the 1951 photo.
http://tinyurl.com/2y6cuj
It’s disaster movie week at the Egyptian! Friday night is Poseidon Adventure, the original. Saturday is Earthquake in Sensurround. The rest of the films are Towering Inferno, China Syndrome, Black Sunday and Hindenburg. Go on the American Cinematheque site for more info and tickets.
Building for sale on loopnet. Includes theater and projectors.
http://tinyurl.com/9qx24n
This was not a memorable theater, though, as opposed to the Crest just down the street. This was more like a multiplex you would find in the suburbs, just four boxes in a bigger box.
I saw each new Woody Allen film at this theater for about a six year stretch in the 1980s. I remember “Purple Rose of Cairo”, “Radio Days” and a few others. The theater was not demolished but was remodeled and is now a drug store. I also saw “Terminator 2” here in 1991, after waiting in line for several hours.
This page says it had four screens when it closed.
http://tinyurl.com/9zuwcr
Bad news in October 1947, from Boxoffice magazine:
FULTON, MO.-Adult prices have been boosted 5 to 10 cents for night and Sunday shows at the Fulton Theater, owned by Sol Bank. Admission to the main floor was boosted from 35 to 40 cents and in the balcony from 25 to 35 cents.
H.E. Hart was the owner of the Court in the late 1940s.
Here is a 1951 photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/7yryry
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, October 1947:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.-The Springfield-Frisina Theater Co. has purchased the Southtown Theater building from the Springfield Marine Bank for $35,000. The Frisina Amusement Co. has been operating the Southtown, a 300-seater, in conjunction with Leo Burnstine for a number of years. Mrs. Harry Burnstine manages the theater.
I remember the video arcade. There was a shooting there around 1986, some gang problem. The theater never seems very busy.