Just for argument’s sake, if the 1914 date on the building is correct, I would think there were quite a few nickelodeons built before that date that were solely for showing films.
Advertised as early as 1912 in the Indianapolis Star, assuming B.F. Keith’s is the same theater. A 1970 story states the Keith had been renovated and was being used for offices at that time. I don’t see a later reference to the actual demolition of the theater, but if I do I will pass it along.
Here are the six suspects arrested for the bombing on 4/7/28:
Joe Million, business agent of the Hammond Motion Picture Operators Union
William Kleihege, lessee of the State when it was bombed
Harry L. Ames, business agent of the Hammond Hod Carriers' Union
(that’s what it says, don’t ask me what a hod carrier is)
James Tuto, business agent of the Hammond Finishers' Union
Marwood Williams, trustee of the Hod Carriers' Union
Dean Melloy, Chicago hoodlum
The Los Angeles Times reported a downtown fire in Philadelphia on 1/22/47 that routed the 1200 patrons at the nearby Keith Theater. The theater sustained some smoke damage but was otherwise unmarred.
Here is an LA Times article dated 2/14/89 describing a fire at the Broadway:
A predawn fire that burned for more than three hours gutted the vacant Broadway Theater in downtown Santa Ana early today.
About 100 firefighters battled the blaze, including crews from the Orange County Fire Department, Santa Ana fire spokeswoman Sharon Frank said.
A police officer on patrol reported the fire about 2:40 a.m., Frank said. Firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to adjoining buildings, and it was extinguished about 6 a.m., she said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials said the building is probably a total loss, but they will not know until the end of the week whether the three-story structure’s walls can be preserved, Deputy City Manager Jan Perkins said.
The theater, thought to be more than 50 years old, was purchased by the city for $900,000 in 1987 as part of Centerpointe, a major downtown redevelopment project that was to have included a hotel and and office complex.
Value Almost `Nil'
Perkins said the purchase price represented the value of the land, because the dilapidated building’s worth was “practically nil.”
Developers of the project backed out last year after marketing studies showed that a large downtown hotel was not viable. The city has not yet contracted with another developer to build on the site, which extends east from the theater’s location on Broadway between Fourth and Fifth streets to Ross Street.
The theater was once part of the Fox Theater chain, Frank said. A fire in the 1950s destroyed much of the building. In the years before its purchase by the city, the theater was leased to a company that showed Spanish-language films.
City Real Estate Manager Bob Hoffman said the theater’s ultimate fate would have been left up to the developers who buy the site. “Our plan was not to demolish it until we had a developer on the site on the chance that he would incorporate it into a larger development, either as a theater or just preserving the walls.”
Hoffman said, however, that the chances that a developer would preserve the building as a theater were slim. “Large theaters in downtown are considered white elephants today.”
Here are some photos from June 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/2zos4u
http://tinyurl.com/2haefg
http://tinyurl.com/2ge8jf
Here are some photos from June 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/26mcr5
http://tinyurl.com/yw9xn9
http://tinyurl.com/277kkz
http://tinyurl.com/29ezr4
http://tinyurl.com/yu9c7f
http://tinyurl.com/yv5z3g
http://tinyurl.com/2hxdfr
You may be right. I saw some similarities to the California in the closest building to to the right, but I’m no architectural expert.
I was asking if that was the Park, looking north on Pacific. I don’t know if it’s the Park or the California.
I’m pretty sure this is demolished.
I have a 1911 photo of a Princess in St. Cloud, MN. I’m wondering if that was a typo, and it should have been St. Paul.
Architect was Lacy & Son. Opened on July 8, 1948.
The first Summer opened in 1948. Operator was Kemmons Wilson, Mr. Holiday Inn. This drive-in should have its own listing. Car capacity was 670.
Can we fix the typos in the caption? It’s Smyrna.
Seated 2478 at opening in 1948.
I was reading about the Milford in the 1948 theater catalog today. Seating at the outset was 1675. Architects were John & Drew Eberson.
Designed by the architectural firm of Chapman & Magney.
I have a 1909 photo which puts the Gem at 312 State Street. I will post the photo after I get it on a disk. Perhaps it’s a different theater.
That’s what I thought. Thanks.
There is a recent photo on this blog:
http://tinyurl.com/28cdx7
Just for argument’s sake, if the 1914 date on the building is correct, I would think there were quite a few nickelodeons built before that date that were solely for showing films.
Waymarking.com has a few photos:
http://tinyurl.com/24dngg
They were showing the Paris Hilton porn film as a feature? I didn’t know they could do that.
Interesting. It really fits the bill of a small town theater.
Advertised as early as 1912 in the Indianapolis Star, assuming B.F. Keith’s is the same theater. A 1970 story states the Keith had been renovated and was being used for offices at that time. I don’t see a later reference to the actual demolition of the theater, but if I do I will pass it along.
Here are the six suspects arrested for the bombing on 4/7/28:
Joe Million, business agent of the Hammond Motion Picture Operators Union
William Kleihege, lessee of the State when it was bombed
Harry L. Ames, business agent of the Hammond Hod Carriers' Union
(that’s what it says, don’t ask me what a hod carrier is)
James Tuto, business agent of the Hammond Finishers' Union
Marwood Williams, trustee of the Hod Carriers' Union
Dean Melloy, Chicago hoodlum
The Los Angeles Times reported a downtown fire in Philadelphia on 1/22/47 that routed the 1200 patrons at the nearby Keith Theater. The theater sustained some smoke damage but was otherwise unmarred.
Was that the Subway Terminal at 3rd and Hill?
What did we change? Did I have it listed as demolished before?
Here is an LA Times article dated 2/14/89 describing a fire at the Broadway:
A predawn fire that burned for more than three hours gutted the vacant Broadway Theater in downtown Santa Ana early today.
About 100 firefighters battled the blaze, including crews from the Orange County Fire Department, Santa Ana fire spokeswoman Sharon Frank said.
A police officer on patrol reported the fire about 2:40 a.m., Frank said. Firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to adjoining buildings, and it was extinguished about 6 a.m., she said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials said the building is probably a total loss, but they will not know until the end of the week whether the three-story structure’s walls can be preserved, Deputy City Manager Jan Perkins said.
The theater, thought to be more than 50 years old, was purchased by the city for $900,000 in 1987 as part of Centerpointe, a major downtown redevelopment project that was to have included a hotel and and office complex.
Value Almost `Nil'
Perkins said the purchase price represented the value of the land, because the dilapidated building’s worth was “practically nil.”
Developers of the project backed out last year after marketing studies showed that a large downtown hotel was not viable. The city has not yet contracted with another developer to build on the site, which extends east from the theater’s location on Broadway between Fourth and Fifth streets to Ross Street.
The theater was once part of the Fox Theater chain, Frank said. A fire in the 1950s destroyed much of the building. In the years before its purchase by the city, the theater was leased to a company that showed Spanish-language films.
City Real Estate Manager Bob Hoffman said the theater’s ultimate fate would have been left up to the developers who buy the site. “Our plan was not to demolish it until we had a developer on the site on the chance that he would incorporate it into a larger development, either as a theater or just preserving the walls.”
Hoffman said, however, that the chances that a developer would preserve the building as a theater were slim. “Large theaters in downtown are considered white elephants today.”