The Tooga Theatre was opened at 10107 Commerce Street in 1947. Luther Smith, who had been the projectionist and manager at the nearby Royal, transferred to it when the Royal closed. He and his wife, Beth, purchased and managed the Tooga as well as the Penn Drive-In.
After it closed in the late 1970s the Tooga served as a community center, community theatre and auditorium when owned by the Shriners who renamed it the Dandee Denson Auditorium.
In 2015 it was purchased by Chattooga County and is now undergoing a $500,000 renovation. The name for the theatre has been derived from the County name.
I have uploaded photos of the original entrance, the building under construction, the image of a flyer, the facade as the Denson Auditorium, interior photos prior to the renovation and an illustration of the proposed new signage to restore the Tooga name to the building.
The Martin Theatre was the scene of a civil rights march by 15 teenage girls challenging its segregation policy. They were arrested and held for 45 days in the Leesburg Stockade. This was the beginning of the Americus movement that lasted until 1965.
Jerry, that theatre is not on Cinema Treasures. Could you pinpoint the location so we could do some research and establish it on Cinema Treasures? There are several travel agents in North Reading. Perhaps you recall the name?
Joe Your comment mentions that Dr. Riley, the owner, had owned and managed the Nugget Theatre in Mansfield. There is no Nugget Theatre in Mansfield on Cinema Treasures, only the Mansfield Theatre which started out life as the Paradise.
The $50 million renovation will fast track in October when the building will, literally, be raised. The process should take two weeks. The new entrance will be on 47th street with an 80 foot marquee. There will be additional wing space, a larger lobby and twice the number of bathrooms. I have seen nothing to indicate major changes to the 105 year old auditorium.
Uploaded a 1935 photo from the Ed Wind Collection which I found on Facebook. Obviously, someone added the identifying title rather than the theatre ever having been named as such.
For a time it was operated by Luther and Beth Smith who owned the Tooga in nearby Summerville.
The Tooga Theatre was opened at 10107 Commerce Street in 1947. Luther Smith, who had been the projectionist and manager at the nearby Royal, transferred to it when the Royal closed. He and his wife, Beth, purchased and managed the Tooga as well as the Penn Drive-In.
After it closed in the late 1970s the Tooga served as a community center, community theatre and auditorium when owned by the Shriners who renamed it the Dandee Denson Auditorium.
In 2015 it was purchased by Chattooga County and is now undergoing a $500,000 renovation. The name for the theatre has been derived from the County name.
I have uploaded photos of the original entrance, the building under construction, the image of a flyer, the facade as the Denson Auditorium, interior photos prior to the renovation and an illustration of the proposed new signage to restore the Tooga name to the building.
I have uploaded a poster for the then Community Center Theatre from 1953. Wonder when and why the name changed for the last few years of operation.
Uploaded a photo from the site. Spelling is Moonlite. Heading should be changed.
The Martin Theatre was the scene of a civil rights march by 15 teenage girls challenging its segregation policy. They were arrested and held for 45 days in the Leesburg Stockade. This was the beginning of the Americus movement that lasted until 1965.
Trolleyguy-but property records show this as a 1980 build, and it looks like it. Theatre in question was around in the early 1940s.
Jerry, that theatre is not on Cinema Treasures. Could you pinpoint the location so we could do some research and establish it on Cinema Treasures? There are several travel agents in North Reading. Perhaps you recall the name?
Joe Your comment mentions that Dr. Riley, the owner, had owned and managed the Nugget Theatre in Mansfield. There is no Nugget Theatre in Mansfield on Cinema Treasures, only the Mansfield Theatre which started out life as the Paradise.
Uploaded the photo mentioned in the theatre description.
Belated July 4th report. No change from June 20th. Next report mid-August.
Uploaded a photo showing the vertical of the theatre taken at the time the location was Genesee Street.
Converted to sound early on. Found a 1929 reference to Helen Twelvetrees in “The Ghost Talks”.
The theatre, located on the lower level of the Encino Town Center Mall, is very much open for business. Status should be changed. Photo uploaded.
The $50 million renovation will fast track in October when the building will, literally, be raised. The process should take two weeks. The new entrance will be on 47th street with an 80 foot marquee. There will be additional wing space, a larger lobby and twice the number of bathrooms. I have seen nothing to indicate major changes to the 105 year old auditorium.
Uploaded photos of the current facade, the original Giving Tree marquee, the original Garden marquee when it was a photo studio and an aerial shot.
Would like to see the photos that say Garden.
Uploaded a photo of the abandoned theatre.
Uploaded a 1981 photo by Peter Laskaris.
Uploaded a 1982 photo by Peter Laskaris when it was still a single screen theatre.
Uploaded 1981 photo by Peter Laskaris.
Uploaded a 1935 photo from the Ed Wind Collection which I found on Facebook. Obviously, someone added the identifying title rather than the theatre ever having been named as such.
Uploaded photo from 1988 Middletown: A Photographic History.
Uploaded an early photo as the Alhambra from the 1988 Middletown: A Photographic History.
Uploaded the photo referred to by bazookadave.
A shopping center was constructed at this address in 2001. Presumably the Windsor was a short lived theatre in it.