Flix Brewhouse Chandler close March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on September 10, 2020 only to close again on October 13, 2020. Flix made the closure permanent later. The fledgling Look Cinema Circuit took on the venue reopening a year later on October 14, 2021 as the Chandler, AZ LOOK Dine-in Cinema.
The Midway Drive-In Theatre was built by Charles Handy launching for Mrs. W.C. Handy and Sons on July 3, 1953 with “Ruby Gentry” and “Blackbeard, the Pirate.”
The first use of the 507-seat auditorium occurred on April 11, 1931 with the live play, “Meet Uncle Sally” with the first film playing less than a month later with “The Great Meadow” playing on May 6, 1931. The venue was designed with a Colonial style with 430 floor seats and 79 balcony seats. The back curtain had a view of Willoughby Lake. It was still operating - though just twice a week - with movies in the 1950s.
Grand opening was May 18, 1949 with Jennifer Jones starring in “Portrait of Jennie.” It closed at the end of lease with John Cusack at the end of a second 20-year leasing period shortly after its 40th Anniversary on July 1, 1989 with John Cusack in “Say Anything.”
Herbert Norman Slotnick of Syracuse had worked in his father’s theaters after he returned from active duty in World War II including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. With his wife, Joan, they expanded Slotnick Enterprises building suburban theaters and drive-ins under Drive In Management, then Carrol’s Drive-Ins, Carrol’s Cinema’s, and Cinema National branded locations. This project was announced simultaneously with a theatre in DeWitt in 1965.
The Kmart Plaza housing the proposed theatre had opened November 7, 1963. An addition to the plaza was announced in 1965 - and on the boards of Todd & Giroux Architects - as the Northway Cinema, promising 70mm projection, roadshow presentations, and stereo sound. The venue opened as the new Cinema North on December 25, 1965 on a 25-year lease with the feature, “Do Not Disturb.” It was operated by Carrol’s Development Corporation, Cinema National, and USA Cinemas. It was closed at end of lease by its final operator in 1990. It was used for other purposes briefly but remained vacant for a prolonged period falling into disrepair. It was mercifully razed in 2017.
The Woodlawn Theatre launched on May 16, 1914 originally with 367 seats. Prior to the address renumbering of 1925, the theatre was located at 2211-2213 Main Street just off of the corner of Oregon Street. It remained there until closing although it was renumbered as 1011-1013 Main Street.
Harry Koster launched the new Koster Theatre in July of 1930 as a talkie with 240 seats. Citing the combination of drought and grasshoppers that hurt the agricultural community, the theater was closed just over one year later. (It is one of the few theaters in the database to list “grasshoppers” as an official reason for closure.)
New operators took on the venue in July 1932 with shows on Saturday and Sunday and with a change of program for Wednesday and Thursday. Walter Krall was one of three local business persons to take on the venue. They operated until selling it in 1938. Joe B. Liska took on the venue and renamed it as the Niobrara Theater. He operated from 1938 to November of 1963 when it was badly damaged by fire. We believe that was the end of the theater’s run although the building remained until its demolition in 1977. The reason was not grasshoppers or drought but a flood which caused the town to be demolished and moved.
Martro Theatres Inc. of Millersburg announced the Cinema Center to be located in a former Jamesway retail store in 1997. It was designed as a $2.5 million 12-screen theatre which opened 2,300 seats. The architects were Fountainhead Associates. The North Londberry Square had opened theatre-less in 1989 and ran into financial issues. Martro went into the project after also taking over a former Ames Department store in Bloomsburg and converted it to an 8-plex.
It closed on July 29, 2009. Since being reopened in October of 2014, it has reduced seat count with recliner seating.
Trans-Lux closed the Howard Twin on October 1, 1998 as a sub-run discount house playing Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon 4” and Eddie Murphy in “Dr. Doolittle.”
The Osage Drive-In ends its run with a Labor Day weekend triple feature of “Nature Girl and the Slaver,” “The Queen of Sheeba” and “The Alligator People” on September 5, 1960 with the drive-in began to be dismantled the next day.
The State Theatre launched September 28, 1928 with William Haines in “Excess Baggage” supported by shorts including Laurel & Hardy’s “Should Married Men Go Home?” Architects were Gemmmill & Billmeyer (plans are in photos). On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the Strand. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950.
Goldman first closed the Strand in 1953, then the Park in 1964 and, finally, the State on February 1, 1965 with “The Americanization of Emily” and “The Secret of Magic Island.” It soon became home for a teen club and performance space. Goldman was convinced to reconsider the decision and refreshed the theatre with a lavish grand reopening on May 14, 1965 as the Hanover Theatre. Its first film was “Cheyenne October.”
Goldman sold the venue to Fox Theatres of Reading. They would build a modern single-screen theatre that became a quad in 1983. It was only a matter of time before Fox would move on from the aging downtown theatre. The theatre closed August 30, 1984 with “Oxford Blues.” (The 1986 date is in error.)
All references to the architect of this building is Gemmill & Billmeyer including signed drawings - see, e.g., Variety (August 17, 1927, p. 30).
F.S. Sechrist announced this new theatre in the Summer of 1940 launching November 15, 1940 with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in “Strike Up the Band.” It has 500-seats at opening with Simplex projection. The theatre discontinued screenings in 1987 and it was converted to a flea market.
The Star Theatre discontinued operations moving to the existing Sheppard and Meyers building on September 20, 1917. The 480-seat venue was equipped with a Malcolm Love piano and two Powers No. 6B projectors throwing to a mirrored screen that was 10' by 13'. The theatre would add a Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player combined in 1927 to improve presentations of silent film.
On July 30, 1929, the Strand began showing sound films using RCA Photophone equipment with the film, “Alibi.” On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the State. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950. Goldman played westerns almost exclusively.
Goldman closed the Strand on May 16, 1953. Within weeks, it was remodeled for a retail store.
George Osborne opened the New Star Theatre on September 15, 1923 with movies accompanied by its Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player. It was offered for sale likely bailing out at the end of a five-year leasing point. It became Fisher’s Star Theatre effective with the August 21, 1928 shows under new ownership.
On February 7, 1929, it was renamed as Fisher’s State Theatre - “The Home of Better Pictures.” On April 26, 1929, it added sound with the film, “Weary River” playing at the grand reopening. It played Vitaphone and Movietone features. The theatre became, simply, the State Theatre operating to the end of a 30-year lease on April 11, 1959 with a great double feature of “Blood of the Vampire” and “Monster on Campus.” The theatre soldiered on with sporadic live events from that point with the Carroll and the local Drive-In being the places to see movies locally.
Opened as Showcase Cinemas North on December 7th, 1979. Showcase left the theatre as a 30-year lease was due to expire. Rave Motion Pictures Circuit took on it and the Showcase West location. The name here officially changed to the Rave Motion Pictures Pittsburgh North 11 on April 29, 2010. However, it was almost exclusively listed as Rave Cinemas Pittsburgh North 11 for its 2010-2012 existence likely making use of some existing signage.
In 2012, Cinemark purchased Rave and acquired the venue. Cinemark would officially change names here on July 4, 2013 to the Cinemark Pittsburgh North 11. It closed under that name in 2015.
Opened May 24, 1989 by Movie One of Texas as a sub-run discount house with “Karate Kid,” “K-9,” “Roger Rabbit,” “Rainmain,” “License to Kill,” “Weekend at Bernies,” and “UHF.“ It then became part of the Silver Cinemas Circuit in 1995 when it acquired Movie One.
Super Saver Cinema was opened by Movie One Theater Inc. of Texas - the originator of the Super Saver Cinema concept. It launched in the former G.C. Murphy retail store spot in Northway Mall. It was soon acquired in early 1990 by National Amusement which placed the Super Saver 8 under its Showcase Cinema brand.
On November 1, 2001, the venue changed names to Northway Mall Cinema 8 as National Amusements gravitated the location to first-run status. In 2005, the Northway Mall changed its name to Shoppes at Northway. The venue became known in 2005 as the Cinema 8 at the Shoppes at Northway - a mouthful - until an announced closure of January 28, 2007. It indeed closed under that name but likely discontinuing operations earlier on January 17, 2007.
Silver Cinemas operated this as a sub-run discount house under its Super Saver brand until February 29, 2000 and would proceed to shut down 17 locations in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The last of the nine discount sub-run features to play that night was “Three Kings.”
Silver Cinemas operated this also as a sub-run discount house until May 1, 2000 when it shut down 17 locations including here and two other Oklahoma locations.
From 1954 to 1966, it was known and advertised as the Monocacy Open Air Theatre. The venue opened and later closed as the Monocacy Drive-In Theatre. The Monocacy closed September 3, 1984 with “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” It was offered at a sheriff’s auction on May 21, 1985.
The R/C Hanover Movies 9 with 2,500 seats at launch to the plans of TK Architects. The megaplex opened with four screens available on its opening day of February 11, 2000. Opening films were “Girl, Interrupted,” “Snow Day,” “The Tigger Movie,” and “The Beach.” It was the first theatre to offer stadium seating in the town’s history. The complex would later expand to a 16-plex.
An extensive architectural redesign was approved and carried out to the plans of the firm, Hamme and Leber with the Opera House having a grand reopening in 1902.
Flix Brewhouse Chandler close March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on September 10, 2020 only to close again on October 13, 2020. Flix made the closure permanent later. The fledgling Look Cinema Circuit took on the venue reopening a year later on October 14, 2021 as the Chandler, AZ LOOK Dine-in Cinema.
The Midway Drive-In Theatre was built by Charles Handy launching for Mrs. W.C. Handy and Sons on July 3, 1953 with “Ruby Gentry” and “Blackbeard, the Pirate.”
The first use of the 507-seat auditorium occurred on April 11, 1931 with the live play, “Meet Uncle Sally” with the first film playing less than a month later with “The Great Meadow” playing on May 6, 1931. The venue was designed with a Colonial style with 430 floor seats and 79 balcony seats. The back curtain had a view of Willoughby Lake. It was still operating - though just twice a week - with movies in the 1950s.
Grand opening was May 18, 1949 with Jennifer Jones starring in “Portrait of Jennie.” It closed at the end of lease with John Cusack at the end of a second 20-year leasing period shortly after its 40th Anniversary on July 1, 1989 with John Cusack in “Say Anything.”
Herbert Norman Slotnick of Syracuse had worked in his father’s theaters after he returned from active duty in World War II including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. With his wife, Joan, they expanded Slotnick Enterprises building suburban theaters and drive-ins under Drive In Management, then Carrol’s Drive-Ins, Carrol’s Cinema’s, and Cinema National branded locations. This project was announced simultaneously with a theatre in DeWitt in 1965.
The Kmart Plaza housing the proposed theatre had opened November 7, 1963. An addition to the plaza was announced in 1965 - and on the boards of Todd & Giroux Architects - as the Northway Cinema, promising 70mm projection, roadshow presentations, and stereo sound. The venue opened as the new Cinema North on December 25, 1965 on a 25-year lease with the feature, “Do Not Disturb.” It was operated by Carrol’s Development Corporation, Cinema National, and USA Cinemas. It was closed at end of lease by its final operator in 1990. It was used for other purposes briefly but remained vacant for a prolonged period falling into disrepair. It was mercifully razed in 2017.
The Woodlawn Theatre launched on May 16, 1914 originally with 367 seats. Prior to the address renumbering of 1925, the theatre was located at 2211-2213 Main Street just off of the corner of Oregon Street. It remained there until closing although it was renumbered as 1011-1013 Main Street.
Harry Koster launched the new Koster Theatre in July of 1930 as a talkie with 240 seats. Citing the combination of drought and grasshoppers that hurt the agricultural community, the theater was closed just over one year later. (It is one of the few theaters in the database to list “grasshoppers” as an official reason for closure.)
New operators took on the venue in July 1932 with shows on Saturday and Sunday and with a change of program for Wednesday and Thursday. Walter Krall was one of three local business persons to take on the venue. They operated until selling it in 1938. Joe B. Liska took on the venue and renamed it as the Niobrara Theater. He operated from 1938 to November of 1963 when it was badly damaged by fire. We believe that was the end of the theater’s run although the building remained until its demolition in 1977. The reason was not grasshoppers or drought but a flood which caused the town to be demolished and moved.
Martro Theatres Inc. of Millersburg announced the Cinema Center to be located in a former Jamesway retail store in 1997. It was designed as a $2.5 million 12-screen theatre which opened 2,300 seats. The architects were Fountainhead Associates. The North Londberry Square had opened theatre-less in 1989 and ran into financial issues. Martro went into the project after also taking over a former Ames Department store in Bloomsburg and converted it to an 8-plex.
It closed on July 29, 2009. Since being reopened in October of 2014, it has reduced seat count with recliner seating.
The Carmike Cinema 2 closed March 2, 2000 following showings of “Pokemon” and Duece Bigelow."
Trans-Lux closed the Howard Twin on October 1, 1998 as a sub-run discount house playing Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon 4” and Eddie Murphy in “Dr. Doolittle.”
The Osage Drive-In ends its run with a Labor Day weekend triple feature of “Nature Girl and the Slaver,” “The Queen of Sheeba” and “The Alligator People” on September 5, 1960 with the drive-in began to be dismantled the next day.
The State Theatre launched September 28, 1928 with William Haines in “Excess Baggage” supported by shorts including Laurel & Hardy’s “Should Married Men Go Home?” Architects were Gemmmill & Billmeyer (plans are in photos). On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the Strand. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950.
Goldman first closed the Strand in 1953, then the Park in 1964 and, finally, the State on February 1, 1965 with “The Americanization of Emily” and “The Secret of Magic Island.” It soon became home for a teen club and performance space. Goldman was convinced to reconsider the decision and refreshed the theatre with a lavish grand reopening on May 14, 1965 as the Hanover Theatre. Its first film was “Cheyenne October.”
Goldman sold the venue to Fox Theatres of Reading. They would build a modern single-screen theatre that became a quad in 1983. It was only a matter of time before Fox would move on from the aging downtown theatre. The theatre closed August 30, 1984 with “Oxford Blues.” (The 1986 date is in error.)
All references to the architect of this building is Gemmill & Billmeyer including signed drawings - see, e.g., Variety (August 17, 1927, p. 30).
F.S. Sechrist announced this new theatre in the Summer of 1940 launching November 15, 1940 with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in “Strike Up the Band.” It has 500-seats at opening with Simplex projection. The theatre discontinued screenings in 1987 and it was converted to a flea market.
The Star Theatre discontinued operations moving to the existing Sheppard and Meyers building on September 20, 1917. The 480-seat venue was equipped with a Malcolm Love piano and two Powers No. 6B projectors throwing to a mirrored screen that was 10' by 13'. The theatre would add a Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player combined in 1927 to improve presentations of silent film.
On July 30, 1929, the Strand began showing sound films using RCA Photophone equipment with the film, “Alibi.” On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the State. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950. Goldman played westerns almost exclusively.
Goldman closed the Strand on May 16, 1953. Within weeks, it was remodeled for a retail store.
George Osborne opened the New Star Theatre on September 15, 1923 with movies accompanied by its Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player. It was offered for sale likely bailing out at the end of a five-year leasing point. It became Fisher’s Star Theatre effective with the August 21, 1928 shows under new ownership.
On February 7, 1929, it was renamed as Fisher’s State Theatre - “The Home of Better Pictures.” On April 26, 1929, it added sound with the film, “Weary River” playing at the grand reopening. It played Vitaphone and Movietone features. The theatre became, simply, the State Theatre operating to the end of a 30-year lease on April 11, 1959 with a great double feature of “Blood of the Vampire” and “Monster on Campus.” The theatre soldiered on with sporadic live events from that point with the Carroll and the local Drive-In being the places to see movies locally.
Opened as Showcase Cinemas North on December 7th, 1979. Showcase left the theatre as a 30-year lease was due to expire. Rave Motion Pictures Circuit took on it and the Showcase West location. The name here officially changed to the Rave Motion Pictures Pittsburgh North 11 on April 29, 2010. However, it was almost exclusively listed as Rave Cinemas Pittsburgh North 11 for its 2010-2012 existence likely making use of some existing signage.
In 2012, Cinemark purchased Rave and acquired the venue. Cinemark would officially change names here on July 4, 2013 to the Cinemark Pittsburgh North 11. It closed under that name in 2015.
Opened May 24, 1989 by Movie One of Texas as a sub-run discount house with “Karate Kid,” “K-9,” “Roger Rabbit,” “Rainmain,” “License to Kill,” “Weekend at Bernies,” and “UHF.“ It then became part of the Silver Cinemas Circuit in 1995 when it acquired Movie One.
Super Saver Cinema was opened by Movie One Theater Inc. of Texas - the originator of the Super Saver Cinema concept. It launched in the former G.C. Murphy retail store spot in Northway Mall. It was soon acquired in early 1990 by National Amusement which placed the Super Saver 8 under its Showcase Cinema brand.
On November 1, 2001, the venue changed names to Northway Mall Cinema 8 as National Amusements gravitated the location to first-run status. In 2005, the Northway Mall changed its name to Shoppes at Northway. The venue became known in 2005 as the Cinema 8 at the Shoppes at Northway - a mouthful - until an announced closure of January 28, 2007. It indeed closed under that name but likely discontinuing operations earlier on January 17, 2007.
Silver Cinemas operated this as a sub-run discount house under its Super Saver brand until February 29, 2000 and would proceed to shut down 17 locations in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The last of the nine discount sub-run features to play that night was “Three Kings.”
Silver Cinemas operated this also as a sub-run discount house until May 1, 2000 when it shut down 17 locations including here and two other Oklahoma locations.
From 1954 to 1966, it was known and advertised as the Monocacy Open Air Theatre. The venue opened and later closed as the Monocacy Drive-In Theatre. The Monocacy closed September 3, 1984 with “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” It was offered at a sheriff’s auction on May 21, 1985.
Gemmill & Billmeyer’s exterior architectural sketch of the State Theatre.
The R/C Hanover Movies 9 with 2,500 seats at launch to the plans of TK Architects. The megaplex opened with four screens available on its opening day of February 11, 2000. Opening films were “Girl, Interrupted,” “Snow Day,” “The Tigger Movie,” and “The Beach.” It was the first theatre to offer stadium seating in the town’s history. The complex would later expand to a 16-plex.
The Cross-Keys opened on June 16, 1950 with “Streets of Laredo” It closed on Sept. 1, 1986 with “Top Gun” and Blake Edwards' “A Fine Mess.”
An extensive architectural redesign was approved and carried out to the plans of the firm, Hamme and Leber with the Opera House having a grand reopening in 1902.