The October, 1920, issue of Western Magazine said: “Pipestone’s new $100,000 theater, the Orpheum, will be formally opened September 1.” Why an event taking place in September was written of in the future tense in October I don’t know.
Street View is set to the wrong location. The Broadway Theatre was at the northwest corner of Broadway and College Street, as shown in the 1940 photo kencmcintyre linked to on August 16, 2006. The facade was remodeled (probably part of Liebenberg & Kaplan’s work of the later 1940s) after that photo was taken, but the building still stands and still has the name Broadway emblazoned across the front above the upper floor windows.
The finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota lists the Broadway Theatre in Albert Lea as a 1927 project, with additional work done in the period 1942-1947.
A remodeling of the Bismarck Theatre is listed as a 1929 project in the finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. I’ve been unable to discover who designed the 1937 remodeling.
The Bijou Theatre in Minneapolis is listed as a project in both 1927 and 1931-1933 in the finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. Any extensive alterations must have been confined mostly to the interior, as the facade remained little changed over the years aside from the replacement of the corner towers seen in this early photo with a mansard that was hardly less old fashioned, and the addition of a modern theater marquee.
The finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota lists this theater as the “Band Box (Field) 1939-1940”. Possibly it opened sometime earlier as the Field Theatre and was renamed the Bandbox after a remodeling job.
This house was remodeled by Liebenberg & Kaplan in 1938, and is listed as the Badger Theatre in the finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota.
The Avon Theatre actually opened in 1935 as the Rex Theatre but was soon renamed. The house is listed with both names in the finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. It is listed as a 1934-35 project.
The Boxoffice article Tinseltoes linked to credits the firm of Liebenberg & Kaplan with the design for the 1960 remodeling of the Aster Theatre.
The Astor Theatre, aka Riviera, mentioned in the introduction for the Aster, is listed in the finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. The firm worked on that house in 1930-31 and again in 1935. The Astor/Riviera does not appear to be listed at Cinema Treasures. Oddly, the finding aid does not mention the Aster.
This house was in operation prior to 1918. The February 2, 1918, issue of The Moving Picture World had this item datelined Portland:
“Extensive improvements costing $100,000 are being made to the Strand theater at 565 Congress street. House will reopen under management of W. E. Reeves.”
An item in The American Contractor of the same date listed the Strand project as involving additions and alterations. The house was owned by the Nickel Amusement Company. lostmemory’s first comment on this theater notes the Austin organ moved from the Nickel Theatre to the Strand in 1917.
The finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota Library lists two theater projects the firm worked on in Storm Lake. The first is listed as “Campus (Tracy Theatre) 1947-48” and the second as “Vista 1948”. The Vista must have been this house, but I’ve been unable to find any other references to theaters called either the Campus or the Tracy.
Storm Lake had a theater called the Empire operating from at least as early as 1916 and at least into the early 1930s, and I’ve found reference to houses called the Empress and the Princess operating in 1918. Storm Lake’s Opera House, which had been opened by 1889, was operating as a movie house when it burned down in 1916.
At least two movie theater projects were proposed for Storm Lake in 1913, but I’ve been unable to find names for them or confirm that either was built.
A January 22, 1962, item in the Pipestone Star mentioned an Alo Theater building on East Main Street. I don’t know if this was an AKA for the Quarry or the Orpheum or was another theater altogether. There was also an Alo Theatre in Albany, Minnesota. Given the unusual name, perhaps they were under the same ownership.
The finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota Library lists a theater project at Albany, but it is undated. The name Alo does not appear anywhere in the finding aid.
I’m pretty sure that the Alo Theatre is the small building with a marquee seen in this photo of Railroad Avenue dated 1957. It looks like the name might be on the small vertical sign at the center of the marquee.
The building, which probably didn’t start out as a theater, is still standing and is occupied by a bar called The Well Saloon. The address is 411 Railroad Avenue.
Internet search has unearthed another house called the Alo Theatre, this one in Pipestone, Minnesota. Perhaps it was under the same ownership as the Albany house.
Judging from the photos in the Boxoffice article Tinseltoes linked to it looks like “French Riviera Style of architecture” means atmospheric with a bit of Mediterranean tile and some potted plants.
The article Tinseltoes linked to gives the exact opening date of the Elk Rapids Theatre as September 20, 1940, and also notes that the house was designed by Stewart-Kingscott Company. One of the partners was Louis C. Kingscott. I’ve been unable to find Stewart’s first name or initials.
A more recent photo of Norbury Hall illustrates this article from the Ellenville Journal.
This web page says that there will be an auction of antiques and collectibles held at Norbury Hall on September 30 (the page will probably vanish after that day.) I can’t find any other events scheduled for the hall, but anyone who wants to see the inside can go bid on some antiques.
This web page has a description of the Welte Orchestral Unit organ that was built for the Wakefield Theatre. The organ was temporarily on display at the Exposition of Architecture and Allied Arts held at the Grand Central Palace in Manhattan in early 1927.
The Laconia Theatre was probably the projected house that was the subject of this item in the January 31, 1926, issue of The Film Daily:
“Theater, stores and offices at White Plains Ave. and 224th St.; owners, Menlo Bldg. Co., 749 E. 216th St.; architect, J. W. Telson, 250 W. 57th St.; to cost $175,000, and seat 1,500.”
If this comment looks familiar, it’s because I originally posted it on the Wakefield Theatre page after misreading the Wakefield’s location on the Google map as 224th street (it’s at 234th Street.)
Seymour Joseph, currently listed as the architect of the Laconia, was born in 1914, so he must have been the architect for a later remodeling of the house. I’ve been unable to find out anything about J.W. Telson, credited as the original architect by The Film Daily.
When Street View was made (2007) this theater building was still standing. Satellite view (undated) shows the auditorium roof, too. Has it been demolished since then? Scavello’s Market is still listed at this address on multiple web sites.
The October, 1920, issue of Western Magazine said: “Pipestone’s new $100,000 theater, the Orpheum, will be formally opened September 1.” Why an event taking place in September was written of in the future tense in October I don’t know.
The current related website link doesn’t have any information about upcoming events at the Orpheum, but the site Friends of the Orpheum does.
The Brynwood Theatre is listed, but undated, in the finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota.
Street View is set to the wrong location. The Broadway Theatre was at the northwest corner of Broadway and College Street, as shown in the 1940 photo kencmcintyre linked to on August 16, 2006. The facade was remodeled (probably part of Liebenberg & Kaplan’s work of the later 1940s) after that photo was taken, but the building still stands and still has the name Broadway emblazoned across the front above the upper floor windows.
The finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota lists the Broadway Theatre in Albert Lea as a 1927 project, with additional work done in the period 1942-1947.
The finding aid to the Libernberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota lists the Brainerd Theatre as a 1937 project.
A remodeling of the Bismarck Theatre is listed as a 1929 project in the finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. I’ve been unable to discover who designed the 1937 remodeling.
The Bijou Theatre in Minneapolis is listed as a project in both 1927 and 1931-1933 in the finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. Any extensive alterations must have been confined mostly to the interior, as the facade remained little changed over the years aside from the replacement of the corner towers seen in this early photo with a mansard that was hardly less old fashioned, and the addition of a modern theater marquee.
The finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota lists this theater as the “Band Box (Field) 1939-1940”. Possibly it opened sometime earlier as the Field Theatre and was renamed the Bandbox after a remodeling job.
This house was remodeled by Liebenberg & Kaplan in 1938, and is listed as the Badger Theatre in the finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota.
The Avon Theatre actually opened in 1935 as the Rex Theatre but was soon renamed. The house is listed with both names in the finding aid to the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. It is listed as a 1934-35 project.
The Boxoffice article Tinseltoes linked to credits the firm of Liebenberg & Kaplan with the design for the 1960 remodeling of the Aster Theatre.
The Astor Theatre, aka Riviera, mentioned in the introduction for the Aster, is listed in the finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota. The firm worked on that house in 1930-31 and again in 1935. The Astor/Riviera does not appear to be listed at Cinema Treasures. Oddly, the finding aid does not mention the Aster.
The finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the Univeristy of Minnesota lists the Ashland Theatre as one of their projects.
The architectural firm of Liebenberg & Kaplan designed alterations for the Arcade Theatre in 1934 and again in 1941-1942.
This house was in operation prior to 1918. The February 2, 1918, issue of The Moving Picture World had this item datelined Portland:
An item in The American Contractor of the same date listed the Strand project as involving additions and alterations. The house was owned by the Nickel Amusement Company. lostmemory’s first comment on this theater notes the Austin organ moved from the Nickel Theatre to the Strand in 1917.The finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota Library lists two theater projects the firm worked on in Storm Lake. The first is listed as “Campus (Tracy Theatre) 1947-48” and the second as “Vista 1948”. The Vista must have been this house, but I’ve been unable to find any other references to theaters called either the Campus or the Tracy.
Storm Lake had a theater called the Empire operating from at least as early as 1916 and at least into the early 1930s, and I’ve found reference to houses called the Empress and the Princess operating in 1918. Storm Lake’s Opera House, which had been opened by 1889, was operating as a movie house when it burned down in 1916.
At least two movie theater projects were proposed for Storm Lake in 1913, but I’ve been unable to find names for them or confirm that either was built.
A January 22, 1962, item in the Pipestone Star mentioned an Alo Theater building on East Main Street. I don’t know if this was an AKA for the Quarry or the Orpheum or was another theater altogether. There was also an Alo Theatre in Albany, Minnesota. Given the unusual name, perhaps they were under the same ownership.
The finding aid for the Liebenberg & Kaplan papers at the University of Minnesota Library lists a theater project at Albany, but it is undated. The name Alo does not appear anywhere in the finding aid.
I’m pretty sure that the Alo Theatre is the small building with a marquee seen in this photo of Railroad Avenue dated 1957. It looks like the name might be on the small vertical sign at the center of the marquee.
The building, which probably didn’t start out as a theater, is still standing and is occupied by a bar called The Well Saloon. The address is 411 Railroad Avenue.
Internet search has unearthed another house called the Alo Theatre, this one in Pipestone, Minnesota. Perhaps it was under the same ownership as the Albany house.
The article Tinseltoes linked to confirms Liebenberg & Kaplan as architects of the 1936 remodeling job.
Judging from the photos in the Boxoffice article Tinseltoes linked to it looks like “French Riviera Style of architecture” means atmospheric with a bit of Mediterranean tile and some potted plants.
The article Tinseltoes linked to gives the exact opening date of the Elk Rapids Theatre as September 20, 1940, and also notes that the house was designed by Stewart-Kingscott Company. One of the partners was Louis C. Kingscott. I’ve been unable to find Stewart’s first name or initials.
A more recent photo of Norbury Hall illustrates this article from the Ellenville Journal.
This web page says that there will be an auction of antiques and collectibles held at Norbury Hall on September 30 (the page will probably vanish after that day.) I can’t find any other events scheduled for the hall, but anyone who wants to see the inside can go bid on some antiques.
This web page has a description of the Welte Orchestral Unit organ that was built for the Wakefield Theatre. The organ was temporarily on display at the Exposition of Architecture and Allied Arts held at the Grand Central Palace in Manhattan in early 1927.
The Laconia Theatre was probably the projected house that was the subject of this item in the January 31, 1926, issue of The Film Daily:
If this comment looks familiar, it’s because I originally posted it on the Wakefield Theatre page after misreading the Wakefield’s location on the Google map as 224th street (it’s at 234th Street.)Seymour Joseph, currently listed as the architect of the Laconia, was born in 1914, so he must have been the architect for a later remodeling of the house. I’ve been unable to find out anything about J.W. Telson, credited as the original architect by The Film Daily.
When Street View was made (2007) this theater building was still standing. Satellite view (undated) shows the auditorium roof, too. Has it been demolished since then? Scavello’s Market is still listed at this address on multiple web sites.