Brauns and Martin Dawe Thomas began an association in the early 20s. The Braunmart Theatre in Iron Mountain is a combination of their names. Thomas had been a manager for Fox and formed the Thomas Theatre Group in 1922. The Group purchased or operated more than a dozen theatres in Michigan. The Colonial is listed as part of that group. Was Brauns a silent partner?
In 1935 the Colonial and the Braunmart were modernized. The organ from the Colonial was sold to a Catholic church.
The Martin Group also included the Capitol Theatre in Iron Mountain which is, as of this date, not on Cinema Treasures.
I did a Google search of “Rockwall: Historical Photos-City of Rockwell.” There is a crawl on the home page including a burred photo of the Ritz. Since it was on the move I couldn’t capture it. Couldn’t find that image anywhere else.
Subsequent to opening the Tower Rapp opened the Ranger Drive-In in Loop Strawn. This has its own listing on Cinema Treasures. Rapp retired from the Drive-In in 1978. Presumably he was still operating the Tower at that time.
ridethetrain of the “open” theatres you mentioned only the Bellmore Playhouse is. The only other “indie” I found to be open in Nassau County is the Manhasset. The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is just opening for selected films but not yet for live entertainment.
Theatre has yet to reopen after the Covid closing although the nearby Playhouse has. I find that interesting because there was an article quite some time back how they were outfitting the space with barriers to enable social distancing.
The theatre has reopened and the status should be changed. Unfortunately that is not yet the case for the Roslyn, Herricks, Squire, Soundview, North Shore Towers, Malverne, Bellmore Movies, Grand Avenue Cinemas or Franklin Square.
The Rex was located in the original Liberty which would place it in the 200s block of South Rusk. I have uploaded a photo of the original Liberty which was located next to the Masonic Hall.
This, the second theatre to bear that name in Ranger, started life as the Majestic. It was purchased and renamed by the owner of the original Liberty. The Majestic, itself, was the second with that name, the original having been destroyed in a massive fire which ravaged a large part of downtown Ranger. Although I did not find a picture of the original Majestic, I did find one of the original Liberty which was located on South Rusk next to the Masonic Hall the image of which I’ve uploaded.
The later Liberty had considerable seating, loge stalls and a balcony.
The historical society deeded the property to Chad Cunningham who envisioned a bar and grill venue with Country Western entertainment and Saturday afternoon movies for the children. The theatre had been damaged by fire and there had been a boiler explosion at the attached building which housed a dry cleaners and apartments. The two had been derelict for years.
Renovations began in December 2015 for a Spring 2016 opening. It was also necessary to have local ordinances changed to permit the selling of alcohol at a restaurant.
I have uploaded a before picture just as the renovation was starting and the final realization of the facade of the Lone Star Theatre Bar. The overhead “Theatre” sign is a replica of the one that used to exist.
I’ve also included an image of original painted signage on the side of the building.
Rapp opened the Ranger subsequent to operating the Tower in Ranger. It had a Western Town theme that was displayed under the screen. I have uploaded a photo of that. The area for the theatre was reportedly carved out of the side of Ranger Hill which was east of Ranger proper.
At the time it was built it was intended as a venue for shows and movies. The stage was 22 feet by 40 feet. As a movie theatre it was billed as the “House of Hits”.
This is now an event site called City Farm Chehalis. When they renovated the building in 2006 they found Italian Style frescos under the walls and the original chandelier.
According to local history and newspaper articles the Gem was originally to be called the Magnolia. It opened on June 14, 1928 with a seating capacity of 425.
On the afternoon of December 6, 1929 the empty theatre was ravaged by a fire of unknown origin which caused interior damage.
On Jan 3, 1930 the renovated and redecorated Gem reopened with the addition of 40 loge seats, upgraded sound proofing and a “talking pictures exclusively” policy.
The name was probably changed to Omak Theatre on the date in the introduction.
Larry and Mary Lassila bought the theatre on April 1, 1976 and changed the name to Omak Cinema.
In 2004 they also opened the Mirage Theatre across the street in the former Brownies Building.
I have looked at current photos of Cottage Avenue taken from the same Division Avenue vantage point. No signs of the three story building that housed the Royal. Doing some detective work on that.
Brauns and Martin Dawe Thomas began an association in the early 20s. The Braunmart Theatre in Iron Mountain is a combination of their names. Thomas had been a manager for Fox and formed the Thomas Theatre Group in 1922. The Group purchased or operated more than a dozen theatres in Michigan. The Colonial is listed as part of that group. Was Brauns a silent partner?
In 1935 the Colonial and the Braunmart were modernized. The organ from the Colonial was sold to a Catholic church.
The Martin Group also included the Capitol Theatre in Iron Mountain which is, as of this date, not on Cinema Treasures.
I did a Google search of “Rockwall: Historical Photos-City of Rockwell.” There is a crawl on the home page including a burred photo of the Ritz. Since it was on the move I couldn’t capture it. Couldn’t find that image anywhere else.
Subsequent to opening the Tower Rapp opened the Ranger Drive-In in Loop Strawn. This has its own listing on Cinema Treasures. Rapp retired from the Drive-In in 1978. Presumably he was still operating the Tower at that time.
Good. I wonder how many of the indies we’ll have lost due to the pandemic.
ridethetrain of the “open” theatres you mentioned only the Bellmore Playhouse is. The only other “indie” I found to be open in Nassau County is the Manhasset. The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is just opening for selected films but not yet for live entertainment.
Theatre has yet to reopen after the Covid closing although the nearby Playhouse has. I find that interesting because there was an article quite some time back how they were outfitting the space with barriers to enable social distancing.
The theatre has reopened and the status should be changed. Unfortunately that is not yet the case for the Roslyn, Herricks, Squire, Soundview, North Shore Towers, Malverne, Bellmore Movies, Grand Avenue Cinemas or Franklin Square.
According to one individual the Nassau may have started life as an air dome.
Uploaded CGI of the proposed venture.
The Rex was located in the original Liberty which would place it in the 200s block of South Rusk. I have uploaded a photo of the original Liberty which was located next to the Masonic Hall.
Another victim of the 1920 fire.
Destroyed along with a large portion of the business district in a massive fire, 1919 or 1920.
Apparently the second Liberty was also located on South Rusk not too far from the original.
This, the second theatre to bear that name in Ranger, started life as the Majestic. It was purchased and renamed by the owner of the original Liberty. The Majestic, itself, was the second with that name, the original having been destroyed in a massive fire which ravaged a large part of downtown Ranger. Although I did not find a picture of the original Majestic, I did find one of the original Liberty which was located on South Rusk next to the Masonic Hall the image of which I’ve uploaded.
The later Liberty had considerable seating, loge stalls and a balcony.
The Tower was reimagined in the former Temple.
The historical society deeded the property to Chad Cunningham who envisioned a bar and grill venue with Country Western entertainment and Saturday afternoon movies for the children. The theatre had been damaged by fire and there had been a boiler explosion at the attached building which housed a dry cleaners and apartments. The two had been derelict for years.
Renovations began in December 2015 for a Spring 2016 opening. It was also necessary to have local ordinances changed to permit the selling of alcohol at a restaurant.
I have uploaded a before picture just as the renovation was starting and the final realization of the facade of the Lone Star Theatre Bar. The overhead “Theatre” sign is a replica of the one that used to exist.
I’ve also included an image of original painted signage on the side of the building.
Rapp opened the Ranger subsequent to operating the Tower in Ranger. It had a Western Town theme that was displayed under the screen. I have uploaded a photo of that. The area for the theatre was reportedly carved out of the side of Ranger Hill which was east of Ranger proper.
Rapp sold the Ranger when he retired in 1978.
Uploaded an historic downtown photo in which the Elks Hall and the Masonic Temple supposedly appear. Could find nothing more definite.
At the time it was built it was intended as a venue for shows and movies. The stage was 22 feet by 40 feet. As a movie theatre it was billed as the “House of Hits”.
This is now an event site called City Farm Chehalis. When they renovated the building in 2006 they found Italian Style frescos under the walls and the original chandelier.
Uploaded a photo of the Dream.
At some point during the pandemic the Mirage screened movies at a pop up drive in.
The theatre was opened by the then owners of the Omak Theatre across the street, Larry and Mary Lassila, in the former Brownies Building.
At some point the name went back to Omak Theatre.
According to local history and newspaper articles the Gem was originally to be called the Magnolia. It opened on June 14, 1928 with a seating capacity of 425.
On the afternoon of December 6, 1929 the empty theatre was ravaged by a fire of unknown origin which caused interior damage.
On Jan 3, 1930 the renovated and redecorated Gem reopened with the addition of 40 loge seats, upgraded sound proofing and a “talking pictures exclusively” policy.
The name was probably changed to Omak Theatre on the date in the introduction.
Larry and Mary Lassila bought the theatre on April 1, 1976 and changed the name to Omak Cinema.
In 2004 they also opened the Mirage Theatre across the street in the former Brownies Building.
I have looked at current photos of Cottage Avenue taken from the same Division Avenue vantage point. No signs of the three story building that housed the Royal. Doing some detective work on that.