The Warner Theatre was part of the Mark Strand New England Circuit acquired by Warner Brothers in 1929. It was known as the Strand Theatre and after Warner Brothers took it over they closed it April 2, 1930 and made renovations and reopend it as the Warner on April 19, 1930. It closed in 1965 after Stanley Warner opened the White City in Shrewsbury. The White City was designed by Drew Eberson.
The Stanley Theatre in Jersey City opened on March 28, 1928. It was part of the Stanley-Fabian Corporation which was acquired by Warner Bros. in October 1, 1928. It operated as part of the Warner Bros. theatre chain until the US Justice Department required the motion picture companies to divest the theatre operations from film production. A new corporation, the Stanley-Warner Corporation was created and taken over from the Warner Brothers by Si Fabian who along with his father and Samuel Rosen operated the original Fabian Corporation. Stanley-Warner was acquired by RKO and it became RKO- Stanley Warner. The Stanley Theatre facade is prominently displayed as part of the Theatre Historical Society letter head on its stationery.
The Minneapolis Shubert and the St. Paul Shubert both opened on the night of August 28, 1910. The St. Paul Shubert was designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Marshall & Fox. Although not certain there is a chance that the Minneapolis Shubert was designed by the same firm.
The balcony was closed off for an upstairs cinema and the auditorium was partitioned to make a small cinema and an area used for storage for inventory of the adult retail store.
The city has talked about redeveloping this area for over 30 years. The entire block is suppposed to be redeveloped. The interior of the theatre is deteriorating. The theatre is located close to the Worcester City Hall.
My friend & colleague, the late Brother Andrew Corsini, one of the founders of the Theatre Historical Society, indicated to me that the State originally opened as the Blackstone and was designed by the architectural firm of Newhouse & Bernham. It opened on January 29, 1921. On opening it had a Kimball 2 manual organ.
The Paramount Theatre is listed in both the 1931 and 1949 Film Daily Yearbooks with 700 seats. The address is listed as 26th Avenue. It was part of the Saenger/Paramount chain. The Paramount may have been originally called the Strand. The Strand had a Robert Morton organ installed in 1923.
According to research by Craig Morrison and Irv Glazer the Aldine Theatre was built by Warner and designed by Thomas W. Lamb. It was built around 1921 and traded to Loew’s and reopened as Loew’s Aldine on October 2, 1941. It closed late 1970.
The 1407 seat Shore Theatre opened on November 7, 1939 designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Thalheimer & Weitz. The theatre was twinned in January 1971 by closing off the balcony and dividing the auditorium into two screening rooms. The Blaker was later twinned and became part of the Shore Four.
The Stanley Theatre designed by Hoffman-Henon achitectural firm opened on August 3, 1928. The opening attraction was the film “State Street Sadie” with Myrna Loy and 4 acts of vaudeville. It was a joint venture of the Stanley Company of America and Fox Theatres of New Jersey, not to be confused with William Fox Theatres. It ended its affiliation with Warner Bros. who acquired the Stanley Company and operated as part of the Atlantic Theatres, Inc., Ben Amsterdam, President-Treasurer in 1949. Melvin Fox was a principal of the firm. It showed its final film on May 12, 1951. The building was converted for use as a super market and then as offices and plant for the Bridgeport Evening News. The Stanley Company also was responsible for the building and operation of theatres named Stanley in Camden, Atlantic City, Newark and Jersey City
The Arlo Theatre, designed by architect William H. Lee opened on July 7, 1949. It had about 1000 seats. It was built for and operated by the Varbalow Cirucit who had their offices in the Walt Whitman Theate in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The Varbalow Circuit also operated the first run Savar Theatre in downtown Camden. The Savar name was a combination of Samuel or Sadie Varbalow. The Savar was an eloquent art deco design and the Arlo was reputed to be one of the most eloquent theatres designed by William H. Lee.
The Piccadilly Theatre opened on September 27, 1924 with the world premiere of “Barbara Frietchie” a Thomas H. Ince film production with Florence Vidor and Edmund Lowe and also musical and stage novelties including John Hammond at the Marr & Colton organ and Vincent Lopez and his Piccadilly orchestra.
The Nile Theatre opened on September 2, 1924. It was operated as a partnership between Mesa theatre operator Willaim Menhennet and Richards & Nace of Phoenix. Universal Pictures acquired an interest in the Richards and Nace company and Menhennet sold his interest in the Nile to Universal. The architect was Hugh E. Gilbert who designed a number of theatres for Rickards & Nace. Rickards & Nace sold out to Paramount-Publix in late 1929. There is a history of the Rickards & Nace company in Marquee Vol. 37, No. 1. The Nile closed as a movie thaetre in 1951.
The Strand Theatre was originally called the Barcil, built in 1921, because it was located between Barrett and Clinton streets. It was extensively remodelled and reopend as the Strand on September 4, 1931.
The State Theatre opened on December 10, 1922. The arhitectural firm Reilly & Hall designed the theatre. The Schenectady Gazette of December 9, 1922 reported that the Mark Strand Theatre Circuit is the owner and builder of the theatre. Mark Strand operated the Strand Theatre in New York City and theatres in Brooklyn, Albany, Troy, Rochester and Buffalo. In the 1931 Film Daily Year Book Green County Amusement Company is listed as the operator. Fabian Theatres acquired the theatres of the Green County Amusement Company (W. W. Farley)in 1935.
The Palladium Theatre opened on November 24, 1928. It was designed by Arland W. Johnson who also designed the Roger Sherman, New Haven, Commodore Hull, Derby, Ct. and the Garde in New London.
All four theatres were operated by Alfred Gottesman who sold out to Warner Bros. in 1929. Warner Bros. chose to renovate the Worcester Strand and reopen it as the Warner.
The Plymouth was taken over by E. M. Loew, an independent New England theatre operator.
The Plaza Theatre opened on August 28, 1931 with 2382 seats. It was the second of two theatres built by Jacob (father) and Si (son) Fabian after they left the Stanley-Fabian Theatres that were acquired by Warner Bros. in 1928. The two theatres, the Palace in Albany and the Plaza in Schenectady were leased to RKO. RKO defaulted on the leases and the theatres were taken back by the Fabians and operated as part of the Fabian Theaters circuit. The Plaza Theatre was demolished in 1964.
The Paris Theatre opened as the Capitol Theatre on December 25,1926. The auditorium is of atmospheric design with a Spanish theme, On opening it had a Wurlitzer 3 manual, 7 rank organ, Opus #1492. There is a large newspaper article on the opening. It had at least one major renovation closing and reopening on December 25, 1962.
Encylopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Volume 2 indicates that a Robert-Morton organ was installed in the Egyptian (Rialto) Theatre in 1928.
Film Daily Year Books for 1931, 1946, and 1949 indicate that the theatre was operated by Fox Theatre subsidiaries.
From the obituary of Moe Mark, the New York Times Novemner 3, 1032.
Moe Mark, one of the pioneers of motion picture business, whose Strand Theatre on New York’s Broadway was the forunner of the present day motion picture palace.
The 2989 seat Strand opened on April 11, 1914. The great Roxy was the manager.
The names on Broadway theaters such as, Strand, Palace, Rialto, Rivoli, Capitol were often used by theater operators to give the impression of the spendor of the New York City Broadway Theatres.
The name Strand was used by the Mark Strand Corporation for many of the theaters that they operated throughout New York State.
Mitchell Mark died on March 21, 1918. Moe Mark died on November 3, 1932.
The Mark Strand Corpoartion theaters became part of the Stanley Company of America in 1926. The Satnley Company of America became part of Warner Bros. in 1928. A separate corporation, Mark Strand New England was acquired by Warner Bros. in 1929.
The name Strand, Palace, Orpheum, Fox and Paramount were amonst the most popular theatter names.
The Colonial Theatre located at 830 Boston Avenue opened on January 29, 1921. It closed in 1952 and was used as a church beginning in 1955. It has been used for storage.
The Warner Theatre was part of the Mark Strand New England Circuit acquired by Warner Brothers in 1929. It was known as the Strand Theatre and after Warner Brothers took it over they closed it April 2, 1930 and made renovations and reopend it as the Warner on April 19, 1930. It closed in 1965 after Stanley Warner opened the White City in Shrewsbury. The White City was designed by Drew Eberson.
The Stanley Theatre in Jersey City opened on March 28, 1928. It was part of the Stanley-Fabian Corporation which was acquired by Warner Bros. in October 1, 1928. It operated as part of the Warner Bros. theatre chain until the US Justice Department required the motion picture companies to divest the theatre operations from film production. A new corporation, the Stanley-Warner Corporation was created and taken over from the Warner Brothers by Si Fabian who along with his father and Samuel Rosen operated the original Fabian Corporation. Stanley-Warner was acquired by RKO and it became RKO- Stanley Warner. The Stanley Theatre facade is prominently displayed as part of the Theatre Historical Society letter head on its stationery.
The Minneapolis Shubert and the St. Paul Shubert both opened on the night of August 28, 1910. The St. Paul Shubert was designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Marshall & Fox. Although not certain there is a chance that the Minneapolis Shubert was designed by the same firm.
The balcony was closed off for an upstairs cinema and the auditorium was partitioned to make a small cinema and an area used for storage for inventory of the adult retail store.
The city has talked about redeveloping this area for over 30 years. The entire block is suppposed to be redeveloped. The interior of the theatre is deteriorating. The theatre is located close to the Worcester City Hall.
My friend & colleague, the late Brother Andrew Corsini, one of the founders of the Theatre Historical Society, indicated to me that the State originally opened as the Blackstone and was designed by the architectural firm of Newhouse & Bernham. It opened on January 29, 1921. On opening it had a Kimball 2 manual organ.
The Shore and Blaker Theatre long idle have been demolished.
The Paramount Theatre is listed in both the 1931 and 1949 Film Daily Yearbooks with 700 seats. The address is listed as 26th Avenue. It was part of the Saenger/Paramount chain. The Paramount may have been originally called the Strand. The Strand had a Robert Morton organ installed in 1923.
Ron Salters is correct in that the Capitol opened on December 11, 1926.
According to research by Craig Morrison and Irv Glazer the Aldine Theatre was built by Warner and designed by Thomas W. Lamb. It was built around 1921 and traded to Loew’s and reopened as Loew’s Aldine on October 2, 1941. It closed late 1970.
According to researh by Craig Morrison and Irv Glazer the architect was Wallace E. Hance
The 1407 seat Shore Theatre opened on November 7, 1939 designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Thalheimer & Weitz. The theatre was twinned in January 1971 by closing off the balcony and dividing the auditorium into two screening rooms. The Blaker was later twinned and became part of the Shore Four.
The Stanley Theatre designed by Hoffman-Henon achitectural firm opened on August 3, 1928. The opening attraction was the film “State Street Sadie” with Myrna Loy and 4 acts of vaudeville. It was a joint venture of the Stanley Company of America and Fox Theatres of New Jersey, not to be confused with William Fox Theatres. It ended its affiliation with Warner Bros. who acquired the Stanley Company and operated as part of the Atlantic Theatres, Inc., Ben Amsterdam, President-Treasurer in 1949. Melvin Fox was a principal of the firm. It showed its final film on May 12, 1951. The building was converted for use as a super market and then as offices and plant for the Bridgeport Evening News. The Stanley Company also was responsible for the building and operation of theatres named Stanley in Camden, Atlantic City, Newark and Jersey City
The Savar Theatre was designed by architect William H. Lee.
The Arlo Theatre, designed by architect William H. Lee opened on July 7, 1949. It had about 1000 seats. It was built for and operated by the Varbalow Cirucit who had their offices in the Walt Whitman Theate in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The Varbalow Circuit also operated the first run Savar Theatre in downtown Camden. The Savar name was a combination of Samuel or Sadie Varbalow. The Savar was an eloquent art deco design and the Arlo was reputed to be one of the most eloquent theatres designed by William H. Lee.
The Piccadilly Theatre opened on September 27, 1924 with the world premiere of “Barbara Frietchie” a Thomas H. Ince film production with Florence Vidor and Edmund Lowe and also musical and stage novelties including John Hammond at the Marr & Colton organ and Vincent Lopez and his Piccadilly orchestra.
The building in 2005 uses the auditorium as a church and the lobby as a book store.
The Nile Theatre opened on September 2, 1924. It was operated as a partnership between Mesa theatre operator Willaim Menhennet and Richards & Nace of Phoenix. Universal Pictures acquired an interest in the Richards and Nace company and Menhennet sold his interest in the Nile to Universal. The architect was Hugh E. Gilbert who designed a number of theatres for Rickards & Nace. Rickards & Nace sold out to Paramount-Publix in late 1929. There is a history of the Rickards & Nace company in Marquee Vol. 37, No. 1. The Nile closed as a movie thaetre in 1951.
The Strand Theatre was originally called the Barcil, built in 1921, because it was located between Barrett and Clinton streets. It was extensively remodelled and reopend as the Strand on September 4, 1931.
The State Theatre opened on December 10, 1922. The arhitectural firm Reilly & Hall designed the theatre. The Schenectady Gazette of December 9, 1922 reported that the Mark Strand Theatre Circuit is the owner and builder of the theatre. Mark Strand operated the Strand Theatre in New York City and theatres in Brooklyn, Albany, Troy, Rochester and Buffalo. In the 1931 Film Daily Year Book Green County Amusement Company is listed as the operator. Fabian Theatres acquired the theatres of the Green County Amusement Company (W. W. Farley)in 1935.
The Palladium Theatre opened on November 24, 1928. It was designed by Arland W. Johnson who also designed the Roger Sherman, New Haven, Commodore Hull, Derby, Ct. and the Garde in New London.
All four theatres were operated by Alfred Gottesman who sold out to Warner Bros. in 1929. Warner Bros. chose to renovate the Worcester Strand and reopen it as the Warner.
The Plymouth was taken over by E. M. Loew, an independent New England theatre operator.
The Plaza Theatre opened on August 28, 1931 with 2382 seats. It was the second of two theatres built by Jacob (father) and Si (son) Fabian after they left the Stanley-Fabian Theatres that were acquired by Warner Bros. in 1928. The two theatres, the Palace in Albany and the Plaza in Schenectady were leased to RKO. RKO defaulted on the leases and the theatres were taken back by the Fabians and operated as part of the Fabian Theaters circuit. The Plaza Theatre was demolished in 1964.
The Paris Theatre opened as the Capitol Theatre on December 25,1926. The auditorium is of atmospheric design with a Spanish theme, On opening it had a Wurlitzer 3 manual, 7 rank organ, Opus #1492. There is a large newspaper article on the opening. It had at least one major renovation closing and reopening on December 25, 1962.
Encylopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Volume 2 indicates that a Robert-Morton organ was installed in the Egyptian (Rialto) Theatre in 1928.
Film Daily Year Books for 1931, 1946, and 1949 indicate that the theatre was operated by Fox Theatre subsidiaries.
From the obituary of Moe Mark, the New York Times Novemner 3, 1032.
Moe Mark, one of the pioneers of motion picture business, whose Strand Theatre on New York’s Broadway was the forunner of the present day motion picture palace.
The 2989 seat Strand opened on April 11, 1914. The great Roxy was the manager.
The names on Broadway theaters such as, Strand, Palace, Rialto, Rivoli, Capitol were often used by theater operators to give the impression of the spendor of the New York City Broadway Theatres.
The name Strand was used by the Mark Strand Corporation for many of the theaters that they operated throughout New York State.
Mitchell Mark died on March 21, 1918. Moe Mark died on November 3, 1932.
The Mark Strand Corpoartion theaters became part of the Stanley Company of America in 1926. The Satnley Company of America became part of Warner Bros. in 1928. A separate corporation, Mark Strand New England was acquired by Warner Bros. in 1929.
The name Strand, Palace, Orpheum, Fox and Paramount were amonst the most popular theatter names.
The Colonial Theatre located at 830 Boston Avenue opened on January 29, 1921. It closed in 1952 and was used as a church beginning in 1955. It has been used for storage.