CLEVELAND, Tenn (UPI) – Calvin Harvey, manager of the Princess Theater, will go on trial May 26 on charges the movie “And God Created Women” shown at his theater was obscene. Police arrested Harvey Friday at the end of the film’s five-day run.
Movie exhibitors have obtained court permission to continue showing the film “Fire Under Her Skin,” which has been labeled obscene by Los Angeles police. Superior Judge Kurt Kauffman issued an order temporarily restraining Police Chief William Parker from interfering with exhibition of the French picture pending a hearing on Dec. 12.
In a petition for injunction, Mayfair Pictures, distributors of the film, complained that police raided the Vagabond Theater on November 29 and confiscated the print. At that time, two theater executives, Sydney Linden and Roger Quijada, were charged with violating the city’s ordinance against showing obscene and indecent movies. In an affidavit filed with the suit, Mayfair president Robert Rosener admitted that the film “is not a great work of art.†“But it is not obscene,” he said. “It deals with sex but no more than any number of other foreign motion pictures that have been shown every day in every state of the Union.â€
Any purity squad worth its salt has to have a couple of war veterans:
Purity Squad Rules Show Off Screen
2/2/51 – A “purity” committee, composed of the police matron, a Catholic priest, member of the Parent-Teachers association and two World war II veterans Thursday asked the manager of the RKO-Orpheum theater to stop showing what they called an “obscene” movie. Mrs. Cecelia Storm, the police matron, said Russell Beach, manager of the theater, was “very cooperative” and the movie was withdrawn.
Mrs. Storm said the picture, “International Burlesqueâ€, starring Betty Rowland, was chiefly a series of action pictures of five different stripteasers. Billed as “A Ball of Fire,” Miss Rowland appeared to be completely undressed, the committee said. Beach, Mrs. Storm said, told her he intended stopping the presentation of the movie after he saw what type of production it was. The theater manager told Mrs. Storm he had never seen the picture before and was unaware of what type of film it was.
MOVIE PROMOTER GUILTY OF CHARGE
Holly Leslie Pleads Guilty to Showing
Obscene Picture At Hilan Theater
Holly Leslie, traveling motion picture promoter, pleaded guilty Monday to charges in two warrants of “showing to the public obscene pictures” and “having obscene pictures in his possession.” Leslie was arrested by Constable Dave Pierce and tried before Magistrate T. Mack Ketron. The court fined him $25 and costs in each case.
Pierce said the warrants were drawn as a result of numerous complaints received from those who had seen the picture shown on the screen of the Hilan theater. The officer said the warrants were drawn as provided by the state statute which prohibits the showing or possession of “obscene literature, books, pamphlets or pictures or possession thereof.” The picture had been booked at the theater since last Monday. Sex was the theme of the picture, officers said, including the showing of the spread of venereal diseases. The title of the film was “Body of Beautiful”.
Pleas of guilty were made by Harry Thomas and Earl A. Attlesey to the charge of violating the city ordinance against obscene pictures at the Globe Theater, 1422 Twenty Third Avenue, today before Police Judge George Samuels and each was fined $1.00. The charges of breaking the state law were dismissed against both men. It was alleged that the men were proprietors in the motion picture house that was raided while an alleged obscene film was being shownto a large number of men and boys. Wallace Asdy, the alleged operator, pleaded not guilty and his hearing was set for August 20, in Judge Samuels’ court. The same charge of breaking the state law against him was also dismissed.
Here is an account of the demolition in January 1976:
Capitol Theater is last to go
With little fanfare and almost unnoticed, Elyria’s motion picture theater era slipped quietly into history. Wreckers have begun the demolition of the Capitol Theater, 530 Broad St., which ceased operation in 1972. At one time, the last of Elyria’s three downtown movie houses and considered the finest, featured the better grade silent flicks.
It was built in 1918, the last year of the first of the World Wars and you could recognize it by its unique Spanish-looking facade. The Grand Restaurant, a top notch eatery, was located next to the theater. The first of the talking or sound movies, was a two-reeler entitled “Stark Mad,†shown in the old movie house in the mid-twenties. Al Jolson. who appeared in the first talking motion picture, “The Jazz Singer,” was featured in 1927 when the new movies sounded the death knell of the silent movies.
“I worked as an usher there in 1920,” Charles E. Hengartner, 300 Washington Ave., said, and it was always a class theater house.“ "As a matter of fact, I saw "The Sheik,” starring Rudolph Valentino, 17 times while I worked there.“ he chuckled. The Capitol was host to many radio and television personalities and vaudeville acts. These shows would work week engagements in Cleveland and then stage one night stands here before moving on to larger cities.
“One of those shows featured the ‘Harmonica Rascals’ whose star was Borah Minnevitch, the tiny madcap harmonica expert,” Hengartner recalled. The theater also saw the introduction of technicolor movies in the late thirties and the three-dimensional flick where the moviegoers used celluloid glasses for viewing.
Admission in those pioneer days and even until the thirties was a nickel for children and a dime for adults. Some of those famed Saturday serials were run, but the Capitol did not particularly feature those old shows. With the advent of television, the 1000-seat theater experienced a checkered career of openings and closings with its final closing in 1972. A parking lot will occupy the present site. The frontage portion of the building which includes the American Shoe Repair, The Tux Shop, and Mac’s Restaurant, will remain. The property is owned jointly by First National Bank of Elyria and Mrs. Helen C. Ely, co-trustees of the William A. Ely Estate.
The interior is being renovated. I tried to get in for a look around, but one of the construction workers evicted me. I did see a good sized auditorium towards the back of the building.
This article (which I condensed) was in the Newport Daily News, 1/27/59:
St. George’s Church Votes To Move To Middletown
The corporation of St. George’s Church voted last night to move to a four-acre site on Valley Road in Middletown and to construct a new church there. The Valley Road site was offered last year by Esau Kempenaar of the Boulevard Nurseries, whose family has long been associated with St. George’s. The gift site is just south of East Main Road, on the west side of. Valley Road, and would be about opposite the proposed Middletown high school.
The parish now known as St. George’s Church was founded here in 1833 as Zion Church and first met in the Colony House. An edifice was constructed at Touro and Clarke Streets and was consecrated in 1834. It is now the Strand Theater. The building was sold to St. Joseph’s Church in 1885 and the present site on Rhode Island Avenue was purchased in the same year.
Criswell was known for his appearances in Ed Wood films. He was a purported psychic, who later admitted to a career-long hoax. When he appeared at the Strand in March 1950, he as still known as Jeron King Criswell, Press-Telegram columnist. Criswell left us, presumably having been informed ahead of time, in 1982.
Criswell Closes at Strand Theater
Jeron King Criswell, who has been appearing in Long Beach theaters over three weeks, closed his run at the Strand Theater last night. He will devote this week to catching up on questions and answers submitted by Press-Telegram readers for his daily column.
On Wednesday, March 22, Criswell will open at the Lakewood Theater for a four-day appearance and will give a special ladies' matinee March 24, at 1 o'clock. He will open a week’s engagement
March 26 at the Atlantic Theater and will give a ladies’ matinee March 31.
Here is an article on the sale of the theater dated 8/22/58:
Strand Theater Building Sold to J. Edward Dery
The Strand Theater building and two parcels of property on Bradford Street have been sold to J. Edward Dery, Pittsfield funeral director for about $34,000. The propertv was sold by George A. Markell. Mr. Dery said he will use the parcels of land on Bradford Street for parking area for his funeral home. He said he has no definite plans for the theater building on North Street. The Strand has been closed since 1952.
The North Street property is 66 feet wide and 166 feet deep. The land is assessed for $38,490 and the theater building, for $4,210. The assessed valuation of all three parcels is $44,160. The Bradford Street parcel abuts on Mr. Dery’s property. He said he expects to be able to park about 40 to 45 cars on the new lot.
Here is an article on the sale of the theater dated 5/29/52:
Approves Sale of Strand Theater
Abraham Smead Pays $123,121 for Company
Sale of the partnership property in the Strand Theater Building company to Abraham C. Smead for $123,121.25 in a partition action was approved Wednesday afternoon by District Judge Martin. The Strand Theater Building company leases the property to the Strand Theater corporation, operator of the Strand theater. Operation of the theater will not be affected by the sale.
E. P. Juel, secretary of the Council Bluffs Savings and Loan association, who had been named by the court as referee to carry but the partition and make the sale of the property, reported it was made to Smead at private sale. The sale price was the appraised value that was placed on the property, the referee reported to the court.
The real estate and Strand Theater building, including fixtures, chattels and equipment contained in the building used in connection with the theater was appraised at $116,190. Equipment used in the theater building was appraised at $6,877.25. Fifty shares of common and four shares of non-voting stock of the Strand Theater corporation was appraised at $54. Judge Martin authorized Referee Juel to deliver the deed to the real estate and the bill of sale for the personal property and assignment of the shares of stock to Smead.
Smead had filed the partition suit last year. On Jan. 22, District Judge Charles Roe handed down a decree holding that Smead, Morris Cohn Smead and the estate of the late Benjamin Harding each
owned two-ninths interest. The trusteeship under the will of the late Samuel Harding owned a one-third interest, the court held. Samuel Harding died Feb. 22, 1947. Benjamin Harding died May 24. 1951. The court had appointed Leon Morse and Howard Shortley, local realtors, to appraise the property.
The Mont Clare theatre, 7133 W. Grand, opened its doors last Friday for the first time in five months. The theatre went out of business in February, and remained abandoned until June 15, when an unidentified buyer took control, and made some changes. It opened Friday night as a dollar-a-seat moviehouse, showing first run neighborhood films in double-features. In the five days between the purchase of the theatre and opening night several improvements kept workmen busy. The entire building was cleaned, 300 missing or broken seats were replaced, paint was applied where needed, and new carpeting was installed.
New manager Sal De Grazia, a theatre manager for 15 years and Austin area resident for 20, explained, “The theatre was 45 years old and it’s never really been cleaned. We could have opened up right away but, you know, we want to clean it up for the people.“ So the repairs were made and after a hectic Friday afternoon for De Grazia, the theatre opened, showing a typically old time double feature selection, a James Bond thriller, "Man With the Golden Gun,” and a John Wayne movie, “Branigan.”
The new theatre’s policy will be neighborhood oriented as much as possible. De Grazia said admission will be kept to a dollar unless it is impossible to work at that price. “We hope to keep it up for the neighborhood’s sake,” De Grazia explained “We’re going to try to keep it a family theatre, as much as possible,” De Grazia added. The theatre will show mainly first run double features, unless it obtains a high quality, longer movie, De Grazia said. The old management of the theatre showed mainly older films, De Grazia said.
The theatre will have Saturday and Sunday matinees every week, and will open weekdays around 5:30. De Grazia, who had managed the Mont Clare before, along with the old Rita theatre and the Manor, which has now been turned into a ballroom, said that if the neighborhood responds, he will have no trouble keeping it a low priced, family theatre.
Theater for sale in the Fitchburg Sentinel, September 1953:
THEATRE BUILDING, Just off Main St. Could be continued as theater or converted to store, studio or quarters for a civic organization. No information on telephone. Ralph S. Foster & Sons, 336 Main St.
The sheriff’s department is investigating the theft of $400 from the Century Theater in Coopersville some time after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Discovery was made Thursday morning that the money had been taken out of a locked cabinet in the office of the theater which is owned by Alfred Hefferan of Eastmanville. There was no forceful entry, it is reported.
The theater was remodeled in 1953 after a 14 year vacancy:
Remodel Old Theater Vacant For 14 Years
KILLBUCK â€" The old Duncan theater here, vacant for the past 14 years, is being remodeled and cleaned up far use as a public auditorium. The stage is being left in the theater as well as some of the seats. The building was closed down 14 years ago when a new theater was constructed here. Present owner of the old structure is Wallis Sprague of Newark.
3/14/58 – A 19-year-old sailor charged by police with breaking glass in the Paramount Theater ticket booth early this morning will be arraigned in District Court on a malicious mischief charge. Patrolman Thornton B. Drummond Jr., who heard glass breaking, found the youth in front of the theater. He admitted breaking the glass, police said. He was turned over to the shore patrol to appear in court later. Police declined to reveal the man’s name until he is arraigned.
Here is an article about the closing dated 11/7/52:
Palatine Theater Will Permanently Close December 2
Don Foster has decided to definitely close his Palatine theatre December 2. The reason, “unwillingness of Palatine people to wait for feature films until they arrive in Palatineâ€. “No other course is open to meâ€, Foster told a reporter Wednesday night. "Under the present movie setup, Arlington Heights can’t show pictures until after Des Plaines and I must in turn wait until Arlington Heights has had them. “Outdoor movies are allowed the big pictures the same time as the Chicago loop. As long as Palatine residents are unwilling to wait for their special movie entertainment until it is shown in Palatine, I have no other course than to close the show house”.
Mr. Foster pointed to his receipts that evening. “The Greatest Show on Earth,” which is classed as one of the big pictures of the year, was only accorded a half house. Foster has been putting off the decision the past two years, “I have no quarrel with Palatine people,“ says he. "They have the right to buy their entertainment wherever they desire, but I feel a little sorry for the youngsters who were my steady customers ”. Don will move his bargain basement to the first floor and may construct a second flat above the theatre.
This ad dated 5/14/55 announced the closing and renovation:
TO SERVE YOU BETTER
The Lyric Theatre will close Saturday night for the purpose of modernizing and redecorating the entire theatre. We will also improve the presentation of motion pictures, all of which we feel will enhance your enjoyment and entertainment at the Lyric Theatre.
We realize this closing will curtail your opportunity to enjoy our programs and will cause inconvenience to our public. It will work an equal hardship on us. We trust our patrons will bear with us during this period of renovation. We expect to open the Lyric theatre again in the near future in a more comfortable and inviting place of entertainment.
Sincerely yours,
C. V. Clark
Lyric Theatre Management
Trouble in May 1958:
Manager Arrested
CLEVELAND, Tenn (UPI) – Calvin Harvey, manager of the Princess Theater, will go on trial May 26 on charges the movie “And God Created Women” shown at his theater was obscene. Police arrested Harvey Friday at the end of the film’s five-day run.
Same problem as above in 1957:
Exhibitors Obtain Court Permission to Show Film
Movie exhibitors have obtained court permission to continue showing the film “Fire Under Her Skin,” which has been labeled obscene by Los Angeles police. Superior Judge Kurt Kauffman issued an order temporarily restraining Police Chief William Parker from interfering with exhibition of the French picture pending a hearing on Dec. 12.
In a petition for injunction, Mayfair Pictures, distributors of the film, complained that police raided the Vagabond Theater on November 29 and confiscated the print. At that time, two theater executives, Sydney Linden and Roger Quijada, were charged with violating the city’s ordinance against showing obscene and indecent movies. In an affidavit filed with the suit, Mayfair president Robert Rosener admitted that the film “is not a great work of art.†“But it is not obscene,” he said. “It deals with sex but no more than any number of other foreign motion pictures that have been shown every day in every state of the Union.â€
This theater on Main Street was open in 1916. Obviously no way to tell if this was the Capitol or some other theater.
http://tinyurl.com/2hkwcl
Any purity squad worth its salt has to have a couple of war veterans:
Purity Squad Rules Show Off Screen
2/2/51 – A “purity” committee, composed of the police matron, a Catholic priest, member of the Parent-Teachers association and two World war II veterans Thursday asked the manager of the RKO-Orpheum theater to stop showing what they called an “obscene” movie. Mrs. Cecelia Storm, the police matron, said Russell Beach, manager of the theater, was “very cooperative” and the movie was withdrawn.
Mrs. Storm said the picture, “International Burlesqueâ€, starring Betty Rowland, was chiefly a series of action pictures of five different stripteasers. Billed as “A Ball of Fire,” Miss Rowland appeared to be completely undressed, the committee said. Beach, Mrs. Storm said, told her he intended stopping the presentation of the movie after he saw what type of production it was. The theater manager told Mrs. Storm he had never seen the picture before and was unaware of what type of film it was.
Trouble in March 1939:
MOVIE PROMOTER GUILTY OF CHARGE
Holly Leslie Pleads Guilty to Showing
Obscene Picture At Hilan Theater
Holly Leslie, traveling motion picture promoter, pleaded guilty Monday to charges in two warrants of “showing to the public obscene pictures” and “having obscene pictures in his possession.” Leslie was arrested by Constable Dave Pierce and tried before Magistrate T. Mack Ketron. The court fined him $25 and costs in each case.
Pierce said the warrants were drawn as a result of numerous complaints received from those who had seen the picture shown on the screen of the Hilan theater. The officer said the warrants were drawn as provided by the state statute which prohibits the showing or possession of “obscene literature, books, pamphlets or pictures or possession thereof.” The picture had been booked at the theater since last Monday. Sex was the theme of the picture, officers said, including the showing of the spread of venereal diseases. The title of the film was “Body of Beautiful”.
Scandal in August 1919:
Enter Guilty Pleas in Obscene Case
Pleas of guilty were made by Harry Thomas and Earl A. Attlesey to the charge of violating the city ordinance against obscene pictures at the Globe Theater, 1422 Twenty Third Avenue, today before Police Judge George Samuels and each was fined $1.00. The charges of breaking the state law were dismissed against both men. It was alleged that the men were proprietors in the motion picture house that was raided while an alleged obscene film was being shownto a large number of men and boys. Wallace Asdy, the alleged operator, pleaded not guilty and his hearing was set for August 20, in Judge Samuels’ court. The same charge of breaking the state law against him was also dismissed.
Here is an account of the demolition in January 1976:
Capitol Theater is last to go
With little fanfare and almost unnoticed, Elyria’s motion picture theater era slipped quietly into history. Wreckers have begun the demolition of the Capitol Theater, 530 Broad St., which ceased operation in 1972. At one time, the last of Elyria’s three downtown movie houses and considered the finest, featured the better grade silent flicks.
It was built in 1918, the last year of the first of the World Wars and you could recognize it by its unique Spanish-looking facade. The Grand Restaurant, a top notch eatery, was located next to the theater. The first of the talking or sound movies, was a two-reeler entitled “Stark Mad,†shown in the old movie house in the mid-twenties. Al Jolson. who appeared in the first talking motion picture, “The Jazz Singer,” was featured in 1927 when the new movies sounded the death knell of the silent movies.
“I worked as an usher there in 1920,” Charles E. Hengartner, 300 Washington Ave., said, and it was always a class theater house.“ "As a matter of fact, I saw "The Sheik,” starring Rudolph Valentino, 17 times while I worked there.“ he chuckled. The Capitol was host to many radio and television personalities and vaudeville acts. These shows would work week engagements in Cleveland and then stage one night stands here before moving on to larger cities.
“One of those shows featured the ‘Harmonica Rascals’ whose star was Borah Minnevitch, the tiny madcap harmonica expert,” Hengartner recalled. The theater also saw the introduction of technicolor movies in the late thirties and the three-dimensional flick where the moviegoers used celluloid glasses for viewing.
Admission in those pioneer days and even until the thirties was a nickel for children and a dime for adults. Some of those famed Saturday serials were run, but the Capitol did not particularly feature those old shows. With the advent of television, the 1000-seat theater experienced a checkered career of openings and closings with its final closing in 1972. A parking lot will occupy the present site. The frontage portion of the building which includes the American Shoe Repair, The Tux Shop, and Mac’s Restaurant, will remain. The property is owned jointly by First National Bank of Elyria and Mrs. Helen C. Ely, co-trustees of the William A. Ely Estate.
It’s a pawn shop, obviously.
The interior is being renovated. I tried to get in for a look around, but one of the construction workers evicted me. I did see a good sized auditorium towards the back of the building.
There is an interior photo of the Paramount on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/2mavgn
There is a photo of the Lake on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/2mavgn
There is a photo on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/2x353r
And a picture of the theater’s organ on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/2gthrd
This article (which I condensed) was in the Newport Daily News, 1/27/59:
St. George’s Church Votes To Move To Middletown
The corporation of St. George’s Church voted last night to move to a four-acre site on Valley Road in Middletown and to construct a new church there. The Valley Road site was offered last year by Esau Kempenaar of the Boulevard Nurseries, whose family has long been associated with St. George’s. The gift site is just south of East Main Road, on the west side of. Valley Road, and would be about opposite the proposed Middletown high school.
The parish now known as St. George’s Church was founded here in 1833 as Zion Church and first met in the Colony House. An edifice was constructed at Touro and Clarke Streets and was consecrated in 1834. It is now the Strand Theater. The building was sold to St. Joseph’s Church in 1885 and the present site on Rhode Island Avenue was purchased in the same year.
Criswell was known for his appearances in Ed Wood films. He was a purported psychic, who later admitted to a career-long hoax. When he appeared at the Strand in March 1950, he as still known as Jeron King Criswell, Press-Telegram columnist. Criswell left us, presumably having been informed ahead of time, in 1982.
Criswell Closes at Strand Theater
Jeron King Criswell, who has been appearing in Long Beach theaters over three weeks, closed his run at the Strand Theater last night. He will devote this week to catching up on questions and answers submitted by Press-Telegram readers for his daily column.
On Wednesday, March 22, Criswell will open at the Lakewood Theater for a four-day appearance and will give a special ladies' matinee March 24, at 1 o'clock. He will open a week’s engagement
March 26 at the Atlantic Theater and will give a ladies’ matinee March 31.
Here is an article on the sale of the theater dated 8/22/58:
Strand Theater Building Sold to J. Edward Dery
The Strand Theater building and two parcels of property on Bradford Street have been sold to J. Edward Dery, Pittsfield funeral director for about $34,000. The propertv was sold by George A. Markell. Mr. Dery said he will use the parcels of land on Bradford Street for parking area for his funeral home. He said he has no definite plans for the theater building on North Street. The Strand has been closed since 1952.
The North Street property is 66 feet wide and 166 feet deep. The land is assessed for $38,490 and the theater building, for $4,210. The assessed valuation of all three parcels is $44,160. The Bradford Street parcel abuts on Mr. Dery’s property. He said he expects to be able to park about 40 to 45 cars on the new lot.
Great news.
Here is an article on the sale of the theater dated 5/29/52:
Approves Sale of Strand Theater
Abraham Smead Pays $123,121 for Company
Sale of the partnership property in the Strand Theater Building company to Abraham C. Smead for $123,121.25 in a partition action was approved Wednesday afternoon by District Judge Martin. The Strand Theater Building company leases the property to the Strand Theater corporation, operator of the Strand theater. Operation of the theater will not be affected by the sale.
E. P. Juel, secretary of the Council Bluffs Savings and Loan association, who had been named by the court as referee to carry but the partition and make the sale of the property, reported it was made to Smead at private sale. The sale price was the appraised value that was placed on the property, the referee reported to the court.
The real estate and Strand Theater building, including fixtures, chattels and equipment contained in the building used in connection with the theater was appraised at $116,190. Equipment used in the theater building was appraised at $6,877.25. Fifty shares of common and four shares of non-voting stock of the Strand Theater corporation was appraised at $54. Judge Martin authorized Referee Juel to deliver the deed to the real estate and the bill of sale for the personal property and assignment of the shares of stock to Smead.
Smead had filed the partition suit last year. On Jan. 22, District Judge Charles Roe handed down a decree holding that Smead, Morris Cohn Smead and the estate of the late Benjamin Harding each
owned two-ninths interest. The trusteeship under the will of the late Samuel Harding owned a one-third interest, the court held. Samuel Harding died Feb. 22, 1947. Benjamin Harding died May 24. 1951. The court had appointed Leon Morse and Howard Shortley, local realtors, to appraise the property.
This article is dated 6/26/75:
The Mont Clare theatre, 7133 W. Grand, opened its doors last Friday for the first time in five months. The theatre went out of business in February, and remained abandoned until June 15, when an unidentified buyer took control, and made some changes. It opened Friday night as a dollar-a-seat moviehouse, showing first run neighborhood films in double-features. In the five days between the purchase of the theatre and opening night several improvements kept workmen busy. The entire building was cleaned, 300 missing or broken seats were replaced, paint was applied where needed, and new carpeting was installed.
New manager Sal De Grazia, a theatre manager for 15 years and Austin area resident for 20, explained, “The theatre was 45 years old and it’s never really been cleaned. We could have opened up right away but, you know, we want to clean it up for the people.“ So the repairs were made and after a hectic Friday afternoon for De Grazia, the theatre opened, showing a typically old time double feature selection, a James Bond thriller, "Man With the Golden Gun,” and a John Wayne movie, “Branigan.”
The new theatre’s policy will be neighborhood oriented as much as possible. De Grazia said admission will be kept to a dollar unless it is impossible to work at that price. “We hope to keep it up for the neighborhood’s sake,” De Grazia explained “We’re going to try to keep it a family theatre, as much as possible,” De Grazia added. The theatre will show mainly first run double features, unless it obtains a high quality, longer movie, De Grazia said. The old management of the theatre showed mainly older films, De Grazia said.
The theatre will have Saturday and Sunday matinees every week, and will open weekdays around 5:30. De Grazia, who had managed the Mont Clare before, along with the old Rita theatre and the Manor, which has now been turned into a ballroom, said that if the neighborhood responds, he will have no trouble keeping it a low priced, family theatre.
Theater for sale in the Fitchburg Sentinel, September 1953:
THEATRE BUILDING, Just off Main St. Could be continued as theater or converted to store, studio or quarters for a civic organization. No information on telephone. Ralph S. Foster & Sons, 336 Main St.
Burglary in March 1957:
The sheriff’s department is investigating the theft of $400 from the Century Theater in Coopersville some time after 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Discovery was made Thursday morning that the money had been taken out of a locked cabinet in the office of the theater which is owned by Alfred Hefferan of Eastmanville. There was no forceful entry, it is reported.
The theater was remodeled in 1953 after a 14 year vacancy:
Remodel Old Theater Vacant For 14 Years
KILLBUCK â€" The old Duncan theater here, vacant for the past 14 years, is being remodeled and cleaned up far use as a public auditorium. The stage is being left in the theater as well as some of the seats. The building was closed down 14 years ago when a new theater was constructed here. Present owner of the old structure is Wallis Sprague of Newark.
What do you do with a drunken sailor…
3/14/58 – A 19-year-old sailor charged by police with breaking glass in the Paramount Theater ticket booth early this morning will be arraigned in District Court on a malicious mischief charge. Patrolman Thornton B. Drummond Jr., who heard glass breaking, found the youth in front of the theater. He admitted breaking the glass, police said. He was turned over to the shore patrol to appear in court later. Police declined to reveal the man’s name until he is arraigned.
Here is an article about the closing dated 11/7/52:
Palatine Theater Will Permanently Close December 2
Don Foster has decided to definitely close his Palatine theatre December 2. The reason, “unwillingness of Palatine people to wait for feature films until they arrive in Palatineâ€. “No other course is open to meâ€, Foster told a reporter Wednesday night. "Under the present movie setup, Arlington Heights can’t show pictures until after Des Plaines and I must in turn wait until Arlington Heights has had them. “Outdoor movies are allowed the big pictures the same time as the Chicago loop. As long as Palatine residents are unwilling to wait for their special movie entertainment until it is shown in Palatine, I have no other course than to close the show house”.
Mr. Foster pointed to his receipts that evening. “The Greatest Show on Earth,” which is classed as one of the big pictures of the year, was only accorded a half house. Foster has been putting off the decision the past two years, “I have no quarrel with Palatine people,“ says he. "They have the right to buy their entertainment wherever they desire, but I feel a little sorry for the youngsters who were my steady customers ”. Don will move his bargain basement to the first floor and may construct a second flat above the theatre.
This ad dated 5/14/55 announced the closing and renovation:
TO SERVE YOU BETTER
The Lyric Theatre will close Saturday night for the purpose of modernizing and redecorating the entire theatre. We will also improve the presentation of motion pictures, all of which we feel will enhance your enjoyment and entertainment at the Lyric Theatre.
We realize this closing will curtail your opportunity to enjoy our programs and will cause inconvenience to our public. It will work an equal hardship on us. We trust our patrons will bear with us during this period of renovation. We expect to open the Lyric theatre again in the near future in a more comfortable and inviting place of entertainment.
Sincerely yours,
C. V. Clark
Lyric Theatre Management
An ad on the same page gives the address as 75th & Exchange (2600 East), so it would be the same theater.