The Rio survived a violent earthquake in 1935, according to the Helena Independent:
REPORTS THAT RIO TO OPEN NOT TRUE; STATEMENT ISSUED
Reports about the Rio theater opening in a few days are entirely erroneous, according to Paul McAdam, manager. In a statement yesterday, Mr. McAdam said: “The show will not open until everything has quieted down, the tremor ceased, and the building carefully inspected by the authorities. An examination of the building indicates there is no apparent damage done.
“The quake did not seem to strike as hard on the downtown section of town as in the residence district, and we even continued the show for a few minutes when the power was on. Not realizing the extensive damage done, we made an addition to an ad prepared for the morning paper. However, upon reaching home, the real force of the earthquake was apparent; our brick dwelling was in shambles, and our folks nearly hysterical. In forgetting about the ad, we no doubt caused considerable confusion, which anyone experiencing the quake can easily understand.
[Helena Independent; October 23, 1935]
This is from the 9/11/56 edition of the Oakland Tribune:
Pete De Cenzie, the gentleman who guides the destinies of Oakland’s El Rey theater, called to
our attention the fact that his theater was only closed for one right, two weeks ago when Miss Evelyn West was deemed by the police department to be a little TOO generous with her “treasure
Chest” exhibitions. Says Mr. De Cenzie, “That whole matter was straightened out at once. But people evidently had the impression that we had been shut down permanently. Nothing could be further from the facts. Right now we are featuring a movie called “Crimes of the Gestapo†and a stage show with Vallkyra who although she is six foot three qualifies as being exotic.”
If you have a photo saved as a jpg file on your desktop, you can sign on to photobucket and upload the jpg into your photobucket album. It will then be an url that you can post onto the CT page.
The S. S. Kresge Co. announced Wednesday that the 70-year-old Faurot building will be razed in 1953 to make way for a new building to house Kresge’s Lima outlet. John S. Hollister, real estate representative for the firm, said, “Things are not definite as yet, but Lima should have an imposing structure at Main and High Streets next year.” He said the proposed new building is definitely on the company’s schedule for 1953. Kresge leased the familiar landmark in 1946 and announced plans to raze the old four-story opera house. Hollister said that shortages of materials and later the freeze on commercial building have delayed construction plans until now.
Tenants of the Faurot building have received notice to vacate by Dec. 31. Hollister said that razing of the building should start shortly after the first of the year. In 1946 company plans called for a $500,000, air-conditioned, two story building. Plans have been revised, but not materially, Hollister indicated.
Kresge negotiated a 25-year lease in 1946 with the Maire Bros, owners of the building. Two 10 year renewal options were signed at the time of the lease. The Faurot opera house, once the largest between New York and Chicago, was built by Benjamin C. Faurot in 1882. It was one of the finest in the Midwest. Faurot sold the building a few years later when he entered the railroad business. The Maire Bros. purchased the building from John D. Rockefeller in 1902.
At one time opera patrons from all over Ohio came to Lima. It was the only stop between Pittsburgh and Chicago for traveling opera companies. The elaborate theatre was the scene of legitimate shows, vaudeville and movies until June 1934, when it closed permanently. Later Warner Bros. Inc., leased the theatre portion of the building as a storeroom, but that lease expired prior to 1946.
This is from the Appleton Post-Crescent, dated 8/27/64:
Beatles Film Debut Greeted With Sighs
Early-Rising Girls Wait Long Hours
For Seats of Afternoon Performance
A number of young girls showed up at the Viking Theater at 4 a.m. Wednesday to assure themselves a seat when the show opened after noon. Wayne Berkley, Viking manager, discovered them huddled on his doorstep and invited them in to get warm. Busy with arranging publicity material in the lobby, Berkley asked the girls to help and gave them some large Beatle pictures to move into place.
Berkley is still shaking his head in disbelief. He may not understand the Beatle mystique, but he does know the film packed his house to full capacity Wednesday. Next week, more exclusively adult adulation gets a chance at the Viking when Peter Sellers returns in a sort of sequel of “Pink Panther†as he bumbles through “A Shot in the Darkâ€. Then it will be the kids’ chance, perhaps, to shake their heads in disbelief.
This fire was at a Moscow movie theater at 58, Shosse Entuziastov. I checked the addresses of all the Moscow theaters listed and didn’t see a match. My knowledge of Moscow geography is severely limited. http://tinyurl.com/2matwl
Here is a story from the Long Beach Press Telegram about a fire that destroyed the Ritz on 12/12/51:
Early-Morning Fire Wrecks Ritz Theater: Fireman Victim
A two-alarm fire plunged the Ritz Theater, 681 Redondo Ave., into a blazing showplace early today, leaving “only the four walls and the candy vending machine intact” and sending one Long Beach fireman to Community Hospital in serious condition from smoke inhalation. Fire investigators said the blaze started at 2:10 a.m. in a heating system behind the stage. No one was in the theater when the fire broke out.
Owner Guy G. Black. 5351 Harco St., said that the building was a total loss. “The roof is ruined, the screen is a wreck, the seats are either burned or water-logged, and the projection room is covered with water.” the owner declared. “Only the four walls and the candy vending machine are intact.”
Here is a 12/10/53 article from the Sheboygan Press re demolition of the theater:
State Theater On S. 12th Street Being Demolished;
New Structure To Be Built
Sheboygan’s bustling southside business sectionâ€"the 1500 Block of S 12th Stâ€"is losing an “old timer” among its family of buildings But in its place next year will rise a new and modern structure.
Currently passing from the life of the thoroughfareâ€" under the wrecking ballâ€"is the 39-year-old State Theater building at 1511 S. 12th St, already only a shell of its former self The neighborhood movie place, darkened since the last film flickered across its screen late last year, is being torn down by Clarence J. Van Akkeren, who purchased the property from theater man Nic Johnson.
Mr. Van Akkeren, owner and operator of Van’s Radio and Television Service around the corner at 1526-C S. 12th St., announced that he plans to erect a complete new stone building on the site to house his expanding business. Once the demolition of the State Theater building is complete, the new construction will begin, probably not until next spring, however. The new building will mark Van
Akkeren’s 30th year in business here. He said tentative plans call for a one-story building about 65 feet deep and with a garage and loading shed in the rear. A modern radio and TV service shop will be located in the front of the building which will face west onto 12th Sheet. It is possible that a second story may be added later.
According to the memoirs of veteran businessmen in the 1500 Block, the theater venture was originally launched in 1914 by a corporation made up of Gus Radtke, Ernest and Otto Aldag, William Bickel and Fred Kuester, all now deceased, operating under the name of the South Side Amusement Co. Known originally as the Butterfly Theater, the show house was managed for the corporation by Radtke and Kuester during the silent picture days. In the early 1930’s the theater
was leased by Mr. Johnson, who purchased it from the corporation after a fire that started in the projection booth had extensively damaged the interior in 1934. Later Johnson sub-leased
the theater to several local men, including Earl Helfman and Nic Berg, the latter the most recent operator who discontinued shows there late in 1952.
This is the article that LM was referring to in his 4/2/06 post. You have to go to page 11 to read about the theater. There is a before picture when the theater was a flea market in the 1970s. http://tinyurl.com/37cq9r
See the pictures I took on March 24 – demolition was ongoing.
The Rio survived a violent earthquake in 1935, according to the Helena Independent:
REPORTS THAT RIO TO OPEN NOT TRUE; STATEMENT ISSUED
Reports about the Rio theater opening in a few days are entirely erroneous, according to Paul McAdam, manager. In a statement yesterday, Mr. McAdam said: “The show will not open until everything has quieted down, the tremor ceased, and the building carefully inspected by the authorities. An examination of the building indicates there is no apparent damage done.
“The quake did not seem to strike as hard on the downtown section of town as in the residence district, and we even continued the show for a few minutes when the power was on. Not realizing the extensive damage done, we made an addition to an ad prepared for the morning paper. However, upon reaching home, the real force of the earthquake was apparent; our brick dwelling was in shambles, and our folks nearly hysterical. In forgetting about the ad, we no doubt caused considerable confusion, which anyone experiencing the quake can easily understand.
[Helena Independent; October 23, 1935]
Here is the Washington Post article from August 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/3698rv
There is a 1997 photo of the State on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/2ok5lc
This is from the 9/11/56 edition of the Oakland Tribune:
Pete De Cenzie, the gentleman who guides the destinies of Oakland’s El Rey theater, called to
our attention the fact that his theater was only closed for one right, two weeks ago when Miss Evelyn West was deemed by the police department to be a little TOO generous with her “treasure
Chest” exhibitions. Says Mr. De Cenzie, “That whole matter was straightened out at once. But people evidently had the impression that we had been shut down permanently. Nothing could be further from the facts. Right now we are featuring a movie called “Crimes of the Gestapo†and a stage show with Vallkyra who although she is six foot three qualifies as being exotic.”
Here is a discussion of the renovation after the fire in 1988:
http://tinyurl.com/2d6bvl
Preservation alert:
http://tinyurl.com/ysjbwp
Photos and commentary here:
http://tinyurl.com/2dpq8a
If you have a photo saved as a jpg file on your desktop, you can sign on to photobucket and upload the jpg into your photobucket album. It will then be an url that you can post onto the CT page.
This article is from the Lima News dated 7/30/52:
Faurot Building, Lima Landmark, Doomed in ‘53
The S. S. Kresge Co. announced Wednesday that the 70-year-old Faurot building will be razed in 1953 to make way for a new building to house Kresge’s Lima outlet. John S. Hollister, real estate representative for the firm, said, “Things are not definite as yet, but Lima should have an imposing structure at Main and High Streets next year.” He said the proposed new building is definitely on the company’s schedule for 1953. Kresge leased the familiar landmark in 1946 and announced plans to raze the old four-story opera house. Hollister said that shortages of materials and later the freeze on commercial building have delayed construction plans until now.
Tenants of the Faurot building have received notice to vacate by Dec. 31. Hollister said that razing of the building should start shortly after the first of the year. In 1946 company plans called for a $500,000, air-conditioned, two story building. Plans have been revised, but not materially, Hollister indicated.
Kresge negotiated a 25-year lease in 1946 with the Maire Bros, owners of the building. Two 10 year renewal options were signed at the time of the lease. The Faurot opera house, once the largest between New York and Chicago, was built by Benjamin C. Faurot in 1882. It was one of the finest in the Midwest. Faurot sold the building a few years later when he entered the railroad business. The Maire Bros. purchased the building from John D. Rockefeller in 1902.
At one time opera patrons from all over Ohio came to Lima. It was the only stop between Pittsburgh and Chicago for traveling opera companies. The elaborate theatre was the scene of legitimate shows, vaudeville and movies until June 1934, when it closed permanently. Later Warner Bros. Inc., leased the theatre portion of the building as a storeroom, but that lease expired prior to 1946.
The address is 108 S. Main Street. It’s currently a bowling alley.
There is a photo of the Evelyn on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/yfxl7c
This is from the Appleton Post-Crescent, dated 8/27/64:
Beatles Film Debut Greeted With Sighs
Early-Rising Girls Wait Long Hours
For Seats of Afternoon Performance
A number of young girls showed up at the Viking Theater at 4 a.m. Wednesday to assure themselves a seat when the show opened after noon. Wayne Berkley, Viking manager, discovered them huddled on his doorstep and invited them in to get warm. Busy with arranging publicity material in the lobby, Berkley asked the girls to help and gave them some large Beatle pictures to move into place.
Berkley is still shaking his head in disbelief. He may not understand the Beatle mystique, but he does know the film packed his house to full capacity Wednesday. Next week, more exclusively adult adulation gets a chance at the Viking when Peter Sellers returns in a sort of sequel of “Pink Panther†as he bumbles through “A Shot in the Darkâ€. Then it will be the kids’ chance, perhaps, to shake their heads in disbelief.
Here is a 1968 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/3al8ll
There is a photo of the Palace on the source cited above.
Here are two articles concerning renovation of the Wyandotte:
http://tinyurl.com/yw8ayx
http://tinyurl.com/2tlaxm
Here is a photo of the Capitol:
http://tinyurl.com/2fkzbz
Here is a 1935 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2omoue
Thanks for the comprehensive list.
This fire was at a Moscow movie theater at 58, Shosse Entuziastov. I checked the addresses of all the Moscow theaters listed and didn’t see a match. My knowledge of Moscow geography is severely limited.
http://tinyurl.com/2matwl
Presumably the status is now closed/demolished.
Here is a story from the Long Beach Press Telegram about a fire that destroyed the Ritz on 12/12/51:
Early-Morning Fire Wrecks Ritz Theater: Fireman Victim
A two-alarm fire plunged the Ritz Theater, 681 Redondo Ave., into a blazing showplace early today, leaving “only the four walls and the candy vending machine intact” and sending one Long Beach fireman to Community Hospital in serious condition from smoke inhalation. Fire investigators said the blaze started at 2:10 a.m. in a heating system behind the stage. No one was in the theater when the fire broke out.
Owner Guy G. Black. 5351 Harco St., said that the building was a total loss. “The roof is ruined, the screen is a wreck, the seats are either burned or water-logged, and the projection room is covered with water.” the owner declared. “Only the four walls and the candy vending machine are intact.”
The date of the fire was 11/9/52.
Here is a 12/10/53 article from the Sheboygan Press re demolition of the theater:
State Theater On S. 12th Street Being Demolished;
New Structure To Be Built
Sheboygan’s bustling southside business sectionâ€"the 1500 Block of S 12th Stâ€"is losing an “old timer” among its family of buildings But in its place next year will rise a new and modern structure.
Currently passing from the life of the thoroughfareâ€" under the wrecking ballâ€"is the 39-year-old State Theater building at 1511 S. 12th St, already only a shell of its former self The neighborhood movie place, darkened since the last film flickered across its screen late last year, is being torn down by Clarence J. Van Akkeren, who purchased the property from theater man Nic Johnson.
Mr. Van Akkeren, owner and operator of Van’s Radio and Television Service around the corner at 1526-C S. 12th St., announced that he plans to erect a complete new stone building on the site to house his expanding business. Once the demolition of the State Theater building is complete, the new construction will begin, probably not until next spring, however. The new building will mark Van
Akkeren’s 30th year in business here. He said tentative plans call for a one-story building about 65 feet deep and with a garage and loading shed in the rear. A modern radio and TV service shop will be located in the front of the building which will face west onto 12th Sheet. It is possible that a second story may be added later.
According to the memoirs of veteran businessmen in the 1500 Block, the theater venture was originally launched in 1914 by a corporation made up of Gus Radtke, Ernest and Otto Aldag, William Bickel and Fred Kuester, all now deceased, operating under the name of the South Side Amusement Co. Known originally as the Butterfly Theater, the show house was managed for the corporation by Radtke and Kuester during the silent picture days. In the early 1930’s the theater
was leased by Mr. Johnson, who purchased it from the corporation after a fire that started in the projection booth had extensively damaged the interior in 1934. Later Johnson sub-leased
the theater to several local men, including Earl Helfman and Nic Berg, the latter the most recent operator who discontinued shows there late in 1952.
This is the article that LM was referring to in his 4/2/06 post. You have to go to page 11 to read about the theater. There is a before picture when the theater was a flea market in the 1970s.
http://tinyurl.com/37cq9r