Both 1956 and 1957 aerial views show the theater operating in its entirety, meaning that the Madison Drive-In probably opened sometime in the early-1950s.
The Eaco Theatre opened its doors on April 17, 1922 with Constance Talmadge in “Woman’s Place” and John Gilbert in “Shame” along with short addresses before both shows, and was first managed by L.D. Whitaker.
The Cort Theater closed on January 22, 1984 with “D.C. Cab” and was demolished on August 12, 1986.
NOTE: It did close because of the rise of multiplex theaters and television, but it was not the Bridgewater Commons Cinemas who closed it because Bridgewater’s seven-screener didn’t exist yet at the time. However, the popularity of both the Somerville Drive-In and the GCC Somerville Circle Triplex nearby probably might’ve caused the Cort Theatre’s closure.
The Cinema 9 first started life as a first-run mainstream theater until 1981 when the theater went dark for more than a year.
The Cinema 9 relaunched again back as a mainstream theater the following year but only for a very short stint before briefly closing again after its August 3, 1982 showing of “Star Trek II”. The Cinema 9 reopened as a X-rated house two weeks later.
The Brook Theater closed as a first-run movie theater on November 2, 1986 with “Nothing In Common” due to a one-month renovation which led to a reopening as a performing arts house the following month.
Kenmore, I need your help here. Do you think the Lakeside and the Wonderland are both the same drive-in?
The opposite side of 5028 Burwell Road, Webster, FL 33597 appears to show the Wonderland in two aerial views from 1957 and 1958 but was gone by 1960. Earlier today, I read an advertisement from the Lakeside that said that the theater was located three miles north on County Road 575 which immediately targets the same theater.
The 2,000-seat Airdome opened its gates on May 25, 1909 with a live presentation of “A Dangerous Friend”. It was originally scheduled for open one day before but was postponed due to both severe weather and electric fixture delays. It was originally operated by Grand Opera House manager A.R. Waterman.
The actual opening date is June 9, 1924 with Lloyd Hughes in “Judgement Of The Storm” along with five acts of vaudeville by the Junior Orpheum circuit.
Fact: Both the New Grand Theatre and the Ferris Grand Opera House ended its operations with a fire destruction within 11 years, three months, and ten days apart.
The Princess Theatre opened its doors on October 10, 1912 with a live presentation of “The City” (which previously had its long-run engagement in both New York and Chicago at the time), and was renamed the Chief Theatre on August 20, 1949.
The Chief Theatre name came very unexpectedly from local resident John K. Lorenz when he received a whole shoe box filled with letters during a free theater naming contest that was held between July 30 and August 6, 1949. Some other people submitted other names but was unlisted. At the time, the theater was operated by H.S. (Doc) Twedt.
The Chief Theatre closed as a movie house in the mid-1980s, and was then bought out by the Britt Chamber of Commerce following renovation in August 1988.
First known as Plaza Theatre, later the State Theatre, and finally the Strand Theater since July 30, 1931. The Strand Theatre last operated as a weekend-only theater before closure in the mid-to-late-1960s.
The entirety of the Masonic Temple building took at least more than a year to construct when it was first erected in early December 1893, while the clock tower was erected in mid-August 1894. It was home to many offices and stores.
The theater had many changes over the years. It started life as the Avenue Theatre in 1908, renamed the Star Theatre in August 1910, briefly renamed the Rainbow Theatre in April 1919 but was unused, renamed the Princess Theatre the following month, and renamed the Stuart Theatre in 1936.
Once operated by Esquire Theatres of America, last operated by CinemaNational.
Last operated by Regal.
Both 1956 and 1957 aerial views show the theater operating in its entirety, meaning that the Madison Drive-In probably opened sometime in the early-1950s.
I’m very sure that the car capacity is truly around 120 cars.
Destroyed by fire on August 2, 1945 that also injured a 53-year-old man, later rebuilt.
Opened on September 12, 1986.
The Eaco Theatre opened its doors on April 17, 1922 with Constance Talmadge in “Woman’s Place” and John Gilbert in “Shame” along with short addresses before both shows, and was first managed by L.D. Whitaker.
The Cort Theater closed on January 22, 1984 with “D.C. Cab” and was demolished on August 12, 1986.
The Cinema 9 first started life as a first-run mainstream theater until 1981 when the theater went dark for more than a year.
The Cinema 9 relaunched again back as a mainstream theater the following year but only for a very short stint before briefly closing again after its August 3, 1982 showing of “Star Trek II”. The Cinema 9 reopened as a X-rated house two weeks later.
Opened on May 14, 1999.
The Brook Theater closed as a first-run movie theater on November 2, 1986 with “Nothing In Common” due to a one-month renovation which led to a reopening as a performing arts house the following month.
Kenmore, I need your help here. Do you think the Lakeside and the Wonderland are both the same drive-in?
The opposite side of 5028 Burwell Road, Webster, FL 33597 appears to show the Wonderland in two aerial views from 1957 and 1958 but was gone by 1960. Earlier today, I read an advertisement from the Lakeside that said that the theater was located three miles north on County Road 575 which immediately targets the same theater.
The Grand Theatre actually closed as a movie house in the early-1980s, not 1957.
Originally housed 450 seats.
The 2,000-seat Airdome opened its gates on May 25, 1909 with a live presentation of “A Dangerous Friend”. It was originally scheduled for open one day before but was postponed due to both severe weather and electric fixture delays. It was originally operated by Grand Opera House manager A.R. Waterman.
It was closed in September 1916.
The actual opening date is June 9, 1924 with Lloyd Hughes in “Judgement Of The Storm” along with five acts of vaudeville by the Junior Orpheum circuit.
Still operating in the 1980s, but was gone by the 1990s.
I’m very sure it was the last drive-in theater to open before the death of the war.
Still open in the 1980s, but was gone by the 1990s.
The Princess Theatre opened its doors on October 10, 1912 with a live presentation of “The City” (which previously had its long-run engagement in both New York and Chicago at the time), and was renamed the Chief Theatre on August 20, 1949.
The Chief Theatre closed as a movie house in the mid-1980s, and was then bought out by the Britt Chamber of Commerce following renovation in August 1988.
First known as Plaza Theatre, later the State Theatre, and finally the Strand Theater since July 30, 1931. The Strand Theatre last operated as a weekend-only theater before closure in the mid-to-late-1960s.
Good news is that the tornado didn’t hit downtown. It was southwest of it.
This opened in January 1914 as a replacement of an older Star Theatre that was renamed Tryit Theatre at the same time.
Opened in September 1907, closed in July 1908.
The entirety of the Masonic Temple building took at least more than a year to construct when it was first erected in early December 1893, while the clock tower was erected in mid-August 1894. It was home to many offices and stores.
The theater had many changes over the years. It started life as the Avenue Theatre in 1908, renamed the Star Theatre in August 1910, briefly renamed the Rainbow Theatre in April 1919 but was unused, renamed the Princess Theatre the following month, and renamed the Stuart Theatre in 1936.
The Stuart Theatre closed in 1965.