Here is part of an article in the Fitchburg Sentinel, dated 3/7/36:
CHICAGO, March 6-For the seoond time in recent years a theater is being razed to make way for a parking lot. This time it’s the Illinois theater, home of the “Follies” and the big musical extravaganzas of a decade ago The old Cort theater in the heart of the Rialto district was effaced to make room for an auto parking lot several years ago.
The Long Beach Independent reported on May 10, 1956 that the old Laughlin Theater building was to be razed. The last performance was in 1934. Following that, the building was used for storage.
Here is part of an Oakland Tribune article dated 10/11/49:
Oakland’s newest theater, the Airport Auto Movie, a drive-in, will open tomorrow night on the fringe of Oakland Airport, at 131 Jones Avenue near Doolittle Drive. With a capacity of 900 cars, the 12-acre site has been brought up to a grade suitable for drive-in theater purposes by the addition of 30,000 cubic yards of gravel. Airport Auto Movie is another motion picture theater project for the Enea family, long active in the industry.
A waiting space off Jones Avenue will provide “standing” parking for 150 cars as a special convenience and safety feature in getting cars off the highway while waiting for the next show. This will be something like the roped off outer lobby of a conventional indoor theater.
The snack bar, projection room and administration building has been housed in a red brick building 100x60 feet. A screen 80 feet wide is said to be the largest yet installed locally. Latest type RCA portable car speakers have been installed between the parking spaces for each car.
Tomorrow night’s opening show will feature the 20th Century Fox production, “Come to the Stable,” starring Loretta Young and Celeste Holm.
This church is at 207 Broad Street. Looking at the photo on their site, I’m wondering if that’s the former Capitol marquee, since it appears curved as per the description at the top of the page. http://www.christianlifefamilychurch.org/
Here is part of an April 12, 1979 article from the LA Times about renovation of the Philharmonic:
For nearly sixty years, the names of Galli-Curci, Tito Schipa, John McCormack, Mary Garden, the Ballet Russe, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and of course the Light Opera Association, as well as many others, graced the marquee above 5th Street.
All that changed in 1965, when, except for an occasional production of a Broadway musical, the theatrical lights dimmed at the Philharmonic and the scene changed to the new Music Center.
Since then the 2,600-seat auditorium with its vast stage, ceiling of concentric sound circles and acoustically perfect interior has been dark-and silent-except on Sundays when the faithful attend Temple Baptist Church worship services.
Now that is changing. The auditorium and its adjoining nine-story office building overlooking Pershing Square have been sold by the church to Auditorium Management Company for a reported $3 million. The new group of entrepeneurs, investors and developers has started to renovate the old auditorium to return it to its original grandeur as a showcase for Broadway-type productions.
David Houk, president of the management company said the auditorium-office building had been for sale for five years but his group had doubts about purchasing it because, as he put it, “Downtown is dead”. Enter Stephen Rothman, a specialist in theater restoration who has done similar work at the old Paramount Theater in Aurora, Ill., and the Hartman Theater in Stamford, Conn. “This is a true Broadway stage”, said Rothman, “It just needs a little sanding. Otherwise it’s in incredible shape”.
It’s not Pittsburgh here, it’s Google. Their microfilming or whatever they do is horrible. If you go on the LA Times database or Newspaperarchive.com, no problem.
Renovations afoot:
http://tinyurl.com/5wdzat
The current occupant at 2620 Centenary Boulevard is the Centenary Business Center, an office building.
Here is a very recent article about the theater from the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript:
http://tinyurl.com/5ux8u2
Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon until 1972.
I drove by the Belasco this morning. No photos as no place to put them. Alas.
Absolutely. The first photo I clicked on shows a great new view of the Rosslyn Theater.
That’s an excellent view of Main Street. Thanks.
Here is part of an article in the Fitchburg Sentinel, dated 3/7/36:
CHICAGO, March 6-For the seoond time in recent years a theater is being razed to make way for a parking lot. This time it’s the Illinois theater, home of the “Follies” and the big musical extravaganzas of a decade ago The old Cort theater in the heart of the Rialto district was effaced to make room for an auto parking lot several years ago.
Here is a report of the fire in November 1940:
http://tinyurl.com/674yst
Here is an article about the demise of the Uptown. Date is 7/21/71:
http://tinyurl.com/6zjx5r
The Long Beach Independent reported on May 10, 1956 that the old Laughlin Theater building was to be razed. The last performance was in 1934. Following that, the building was used for storage.
The Coshocton Tribune reported that the old Sixth Street Theater building would be razed in February 1970.
Here is a page from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated 2/10/49:
http://tinyurl.com/6nfb7d
Here is part of an Oakland Tribune article dated 10/11/49:
Oakland’s newest theater, the Airport Auto Movie, a drive-in, will open tomorrow night on the fringe of Oakland Airport, at 131 Jones Avenue near Doolittle Drive. With a capacity of 900 cars, the 12-acre site has been brought up to a grade suitable for drive-in theater purposes by the addition of 30,000 cubic yards of gravel. Airport Auto Movie is another motion picture theater project for the Enea family, long active in the industry.
A waiting space off Jones Avenue will provide “standing” parking for 150 cars as a special convenience and safety feature in getting cars off the highway while waiting for the next show. This will be something like the roped off outer lobby of a conventional indoor theater.
The snack bar, projection room and administration building has been housed in a red brick building 100x60 feet. A screen 80 feet wide is said to be the largest yet installed locally. Latest type RCA portable car speakers have been installed between the parking spaces for each car.
Tomorrow night’s opening show will feature the 20th Century Fox production, “Come to the Stable,” starring Loretta Young and Celeste Holm.
Here is a July 1955 news article about the opening:
http://tinyurl.com/57e2lq
The theater is mentioned in this article, about five paragraphs down.
http://tinyurl.com/6ykvrm
This church is at 207 Broad Street. Looking at the photo on their site, I’m wondering if that’s the former Capitol marquee, since it appears curved as per the description at the top of the page.
http://www.christianlifefamilychurch.org/
2006 photo of the former location here:
http://tinyurl.com/6ctqek
That’s my recommendation for the style.
A familiar sight on my way to work:
http://tinyurl.com/5ewb94
The Rainbow Cinemas website doesn’t seem to be working.
www.rainbow.co.zw
Right into the ground. Nice idea, anyway.
Here is part of an April 12, 1979 article from the LA Times about renovation of the Philharmonic:
For nearly sixty years, the names of Galli-Curci, Tito Schipa, John McCormack, Mary Garden, the Ballet Russe, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and of course the Light Opera Association, as well as many others, graced the marquee above 5th Street.
All that changed in 1965, when, except for an occasional production of a Broadway musical, the theatrical lights dimmed at the Philharmonic and the scene changed to the new Music Center.
Since then the 2,600-seat auditorium with its vast stage, ceiling of concentric sound circles and acoustically perfect interior has been dark-and silent-except on Sundays when the faithful attend Temple Baptist Church worship services.
Now that is changing. The auditorium and its adjoining nine-story office building overlooking Pershing Square have been sold by the church to Auditorium Management Company for a reported $3 million. The new group of entrepeneurs, investors and developers has started to renovate the old auditorium to return it to its original grandeur as a showcase for Broadway-type productions.
David Houk, president of the management company said the auditorium-office building had been for sale for five years but his group had doubts about purchasing it because, as he put it, “Downtown is dead”. Enter Stephen Rothman, a specialist in theater restoration who has done similar work at the old Paramount Theater in Aurora, Ill., and the Hartman Theater in Stamford, Conn. “This is a true Broadway stage”, said Rothman, “It just needs a little sanding. Otherwise it’s in incredible shape”.
It’s not Pittsburgh here, it’s Google. Their microfilming or whatever they do is horrible. If you go on the LA Times database or Newspaperarchive.com, no problem.
Here is an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated 7/3/51:
http://tinyurl.com/5w49j6