Uploaded a 1944 photo of the Royal which also included photos of the owners and their daughters which I found on the Facebook site of the Opp Historical Society. Comment indicated the theatre was on Covington Avenue.
Guodone- a belated response to your comment. The bulk of the theatres on 42nd Street started life as legitimate theatres. Grant you some appeared to be holes in the wall because only the entrance was on 42nd Street, not the full width of the theatre. The garish cutouts they had at the entrance really changed the appearance. I recall walking past some of the scantily clothed images on a cold winters day and shivering at the sight.
Re the original theatre: In the last few years of its operation a fifth auditorium was created in dressing rooms and storage space in the basement. Access was from an outside stairway apart from the main entrance.
Also village bureaucracy was a factor in the creation of the Southampton 4. The operator wanted to close the in town location and do a new build elsewhere. Town said no so they demolished all but the facade of the old theatre and constructed the new auditoriums.
Bureaucracy went beyond commercial real estate. My cousin wanted to build a modest house on Old Town Road. The Village Board even had a say on elements of the interior of the house requiring her to put up a pony wall between the dining and living rooms rather than allowing an open concept. Many years later this house was sold (for an outrageous amount) only to be torn down and replaced by a structure which is really too big for the lot.
Although the facade had to be replicated the signage was salvaged and repaired. This signage is a replication of the original fabricated less than ten years ago at a cost of $22,000.
Post Covid reopening this past weekend.
Uploaded a 1944 photo of the Royal which also included photos of the owners and their daughters which I found on the Facebook site of the Opp Historical Society. Comment indicated the theatre was on Covington Avenue.
Be nice if someone could find a photo.
Now if only someone could find a picture of this theatre.
Technically not demolished. Structure was significantly altered.
At one time the owners were a group of lawyers. They added a couple of illegal screens. Go figure.
Supposed to reopen April 3rd but has not yet done so.
Reportedly during the times of segregation the Aztec did not admit persons of color.
The Center was a segregated theatre. Persons of color sat in the balcony.
This address currently houses the Aliceville Entertainment Complex. I have uploaded a photo of it.
That’s good news. Thought we lost another one to Covid.
Guodone- a belated response to your comment. The bulk of the theatres on 42nd Street started life as legitimate theatres. Grant you some appeared to be holes in the wall because only the entrance was on 42nd Street, not the full width of the theatre. The garish cutouts they had at the entrance really changed the appearance. I recall walking past some of the scantily clothed images on a cold winters day and shivering at the sight.
Uploaded a photo of a ticket stub.
Uploaded a photo from the Village Museum collection.
Theatre was segregated. Bessie Smith played to a mixed race audience in 1932. The floor was sloped and remained so when it was converted to retail.
This is a family owned venue for movies and occasional live events hence the full moniker Riverview Cinemas and Showplace. Photo uploaded.
Uploaded an image from the Princeville High School 1946 Maroon Yearbook in which the Prince had a booster ad.
Re the original theatre: In the last few years of its operation a fifth auditorium was created in dressing rooms and storage space in the basement. Access was from an outside stairway apart from the main entrance.
Also village bureaucracy was a factor in the creation of the Southampton 4. The operator wanted to close the in town location and do a new build elsewhere. Town said no so they demolished all but the facade of the old theatre and constructed the new auditoriums.
Bureaucracy went beyond commercial real estate. My cousin wanted to build a modest house on Old Town Road. The Village Board even had a say on elements of the interior of the house requiring her to put up a pony wall between the dining and living rooms rather than allowing an open concept. Many years later this house was sold (for an outrageous amount) only to be torn down and replaced by a structure which is really too big for the lot.
Tpward the end of its life an additional auditorium was created in dressing room space in the basement. Access was from an outside staircase.
Uploaded a 1989 newspaper photo of the Citadel celebrating the 50th anniversary of when Gone With the Wind played there.
Although the facade had to be replicated the signage was salvaged and repaired. This signage is a replication of the original fabricated less than ten years ago at a cost of $22,000.
I’ve uploaded a 1911 photo in front of the theatre, a September 1911 ad for the theatre and the 1939 announcement of the mega sound system.
Family operated, seasonal operation for more than 40 years. Uploaded interior and exterior photos.
Added an image from Okla.net since the one referred to by seymourcox was not in the photo section.
Uploaded two additional photos to show how plain it really is.