It seems (I can’t find copies online) that the 1928 map shows the theater still open, but by 1939 it had become the post office. The building was definitely still there in the early ‘50s.
That other Electric must have been at 116 W 6th, since the entire even side of the 100 block of E 6th was the C.G.W. Railroad freight depot. I didn’t look at the part of town across the river yet.
This is a very lazy listing with no information at all. The theater was constructed sometime between 1911 and 1916. The address would have been 801 G Ave. The building was demolished many years ago, although both neighboring structures remain. When built, it was on Main St, at the corner with 5th, but both streets have been renamed.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jul 19, 2023 at 10:39 am
This listing is for the theater on the corner.
SethG
commented about
Cinema 16on
Jul 18, 2023 at 6:48 pm
The building dates to 1954, and was originally a grocery.
Added a Sanborn view showing the plan. 1962 map shows 210-212 as one facade. I think the front was redone much more recently, and 214 incorporated into it.
Most importantly, it appears that the theater was completely demolished for the Osco. The building on the 1962 map is quite a bit deeper, and none of it is one story, which the theater is shown to be on the 1910 and 1918 maps.
It’s hard to tell if the bland Auto-CAD facade of what was 210-214 hides older buildings behind it. There hasn’t been an Osco for years. Even the 2009 streetview doesn’t show it. The building is called the ‘Regional Business Center’.
The Empress was actually quite an old building, and was built sometime before 1885 as an opera house. The 1892 to 1900 maps call it Packard’s Opera House, but the 1909 map notes that it is being used as a garage. It seems to have been cut down by about ten feet in front during its revival as a theater.
The Joy might be another theater I submitted, a block to the west, which seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. I’ll see if Ken can find it.
I assumed the ‘New Palace’ must have replaced an earlier one, but…
As far as I can tell, the addresses have never changed. 223 never existed, since it would have been the side yard of the gorgeous old Victorian wreck at 2nd and Elm (now Kitchell). I assume 223 was a typo for 123. 121-123 on the 1909 map was an old two-story wooden storefront. Perhaps the Palace ran there for a year or so before being replaced by the new building.
I’m not sure this was the same as the opera house. There was an opera house on the SW corner of Superior and 6th, which was constructed sometime between 1900 and 1907. Still apparently open on the 1926 map. There was a Rogers theater listed from 1928-31, which possibly could be this one.
I’m pretty sure the address is wrong. The 1925 map shows a theater at 115. It’s not on the 1916 map, and seems to be either a replacement or an extensive remodeling of the building shown on the older map. The building was two stories, so it has either been demolished or cut down. Pana was very depressing, and that whole section of the block is a really awful collection of bad remodeling and decay.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jun 30, 2023 at 8:37 am
The 1910 map is from February, but it is just possible that it’s the Colonial. Usually things that aren’t open have a ‘to be’ note before the description.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jun 29, 2023 at 7:13 am
Thanks for all that research. Yale does seem the most likely. Might the West End Lyric be a reopened Cozy? Further west than that, it’s all houses. Even on the 1933 map, the only businesses on W Main further out are two gas stations.
No idea where a replacement Rex might have been, it could have been any storefront, or possibly the first name for this one. The chronology does seem to fit. This could have opened 1912 or 1913 as the Rex, and become the Yale sometime after 1914.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jun 28, 2023 at 10:42 am
Since you’ve definitely identified a New Windsor theater, you should add the Cozy. Not sure where it would have been. There is only one map, from 1916, and it’s no help. New Windsor’s downtown is actually nicer than Windsor’s, and it’s possible the building is still there.
It seems (I can’t find copies online) that the 1928 map shows the theater still open, but by 1939 it had become the post office. The building was definitely still there in the early ‘50s.
That other Electric must have been at 116 W 6th, since the entire even side of the 100 block of E 6th was the C.G.W. Railroad freight depot. I didn’t look at the part of town across the river yet.
Note that odds and evens switched sides sometime after the theater was demolished.
This is a very lazy listing with no information at all. The theater was constructed sometime between 1911 and 1916. The address would have been 801 G Ave. The building was demolished many years ago, although both neighboring structures remain. When built, it was on Main St, at the corner with 5th, but both streets have been renamed.
This listing is for the theater on the corner.
The building dates to 1954, and was originally a grocery.
The 1962 map shows that the front of the building (retail and lobby space) was retained, but today the location is an enormous parking garage.
The 1918 Sanborn gives a capacity of 1,208, and shows a completely different balcony design from the 1910 map.
Added a Sanborn view showing the plan. 1962 map shows 210-212 as one facade. I think the front was redone much more recently, and 214 incorporated into it.
Most importantly, it appears that the theater was completely demolished for the Osco. The building on the 1962 map is quite a bit deeper, and none of it is one story, which the theater is shown to be on the 1910 and 1918 maps.
It’s hard to tell if the bland Auto-CAD facade of what was 210-214 hides older buildings behind it. There hasn’t been an Osco for years. Even the 2009 streetview doesn’t show it. The building is called the ‘Regional Business Center’.
1918 Sanborn gives a capacity of 735, 1962 map says 750.
The Empress was actually quite an old building, and was built sometime before 1885 as an opera house. The 1892 to 1900 maps call it Packard’s Opera House, but the 1909 map notes that it is being used as a garage. It seems to have been cut down by about ten feet in front during its revival as a theater.
Aha! I tried that site, and got the impression that it was one where you needed a login. Thanks.
Where did you find the 1928 map? I couldn’t find an online version.
This must be the ‘New’ Roxy, then, although obviously there’s only room for Roxy on the vertical.
The Joy might be another theater I submitted, a block to the west, which seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. I’ll see if Ken can find it.
I assumed the ‘New Palace’ must have replaced an earlier one, but…
As far as I can tell, the addresses have never changed. 223 never existed, since it would have been the side yard of the gorgeous old Victorian wreck at 2nd and Elm (now Kitchell). I assume 223 was a typo for 123. 121-123 on the 1909 map was an old two-story wooden storefront. Perhaps the Palace ran there for a year or so before being replaced by the new building.
Thanks to Ken Roe for confirming this as a cinema, and providing dates and a name.
Thanks to Ken Roe for helping with the ID and dates on this one.
I’ve added a terrible photo of mine from 2016. The light was wrong, and I’ve tried to brighten it a bit.
I’m not sure this was the same as the opera house. There was an opera house on the SW corner of Superior and 6th, which was constructed sometime between 1900 and 1907. Still apparently open on the 1926 map. There was a Rogers theater listed from 1928-31, which possibly could be this one.
I’m pretty sure the address is wrong. The 1925 map shows a theater at 115. It’s not on the 1916 map, and seems to be either a replacement or an extensive remodeling of the building shown on the older map. The building was two stories, so it has either been demolished or cut down. Pana was very depressing, and that whole section of the block is a really awful collection of bad remodeling and decay.
Marquee is long gone, roof has collapsed.
The 1910 map is from February, but it is just possible that it’s the Colonial. Usually things that aren’t open have a ‘to be’ note before the description.
Thanks for all that research. Yale does seem the most likely. Might the West End Lyric be a reopened Cozy? Further west than that, it’s all houses. Even on the 1933 map, the only businesses on W Main further out are two gas stations.
No idea where a replacement Rex might have been, it could have been any storefront, or possibly the first name for this one. The chronology does seem to fit. This could have opened 1912 or 1913 as the Rex, and become the Yale sometime after 1914.
Since you’ve definitely identified a New Windsor theater, you should add the Cozy. Not sure where it would have been. There is only one map, from 1916, and it’s no help. New Windsor’s downtown is actually nicer than Windsor’s, and it’s possible the building is still there.