Here is a photo advertised on eBay. My apologies if it’s a duplicate, but there are too many entries to go through for this theater: http://tinyurl.com/23cels
Welcomed by the Hon. Melvin C. Hazen, president of the Board of District Commissioners, and D.W. Gabelin, president of the Chillum Heights Citizens' Association, to a thickly populated residential section of northwest Washington, heretofore without its own neighborhood motion picture house, the Warner Brothers' handsome new Kennedy Theater last night threw open its doors to the public.
The Rialto closed briefly or was planning to close in 1951:
JOLIET â€"(AP)â€"The closing of Joliet’s Rialto theater, one of the most costly movie houses in downstate Illinois, was announced today. Roy Rogan, manager, told theater employees that the closing date will be June 9. The theater cost about $1,500,000 when it was built 25 years ago. Rogan did not state why the theater is closing.
Here is another case concerning allegations of anti-trust against Stanley-Warner, although the case doesn’t concern the Warner theater directly: http://tinyurl.com/yppuq5
The first comment about the Esquire being an art house is probably correct if you look at the photo of the Esquire hanging in the restaurant. The picture was a French film, title unrecalled.
Here is an article from the Oakland Tribune dated 6/8/56:
Orpheum Theater May Be Torn Down for Parking Lot Site
The Orpheum Theater at 1730 Broadway, closed for the past four years, may be torn down to make way for a parking lot. Officials of Fox West Coast to what a Fox spokesman called Theaters met with wrecking company representatives today to discuss possible razing of the 33-year-old theater. Robert Bracken, purchasing agent for the theater chain, said only the theater itself would be razed and the adjoining three-story office and store building would remain.
The theater seats 2,550 persons. It closed in May, 1952, due to a “multiple first run situation.” If the theater is torn down, Bracken said a ground level parking lot with a capacity of about 55 cars will be put in. He said the company will have only its decision in about a week.
Check out this blurb from Time in September 1950. Any ideas as to the identity of this unique theater?
The Abundant Life. Near Washington, Pa., there was a grand opening of “The Only Drive-In Theatre in the World That Offers Lake Fishing” (“You Can Fish and Watch the Movies at the Same Time”).
A closed television circuit carrying the Rocky Marciano-Ezzard Charles heavyweight championship fight blacked out because of technical difficulties in several cities Friday night and in some cases theater managers were forced to make refunds. Theatre Television Network, Inc. carried the fight to 70 theaters in 50 cities.
At Chester. Pa., some 3,000 patrons of the Stanley Theatre were on the verge of rioting, police said, when the TV screen blacked out in the second round and the telecast was not resumed. Some irate patrons began to tear up seats. Forty policemen were rushed to the scene and the crowd was herded to the outside where they
milled around until theatre manager J.M. Feldhun promised refunds of $3.60 to ticket stub holders.
Here is a short article from November 1971 re adult films at the Rustic:
Theater license up; bid to halt X-films
NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I.â€" The Town Council has taken a step toward eliminating X-rated movies from the town’s only theater: It upped the license fee from $160 to $18,000 per year. Councilman Robert E. Mowry proposed the motion to charge Rustic Drive-In movie theater $50 per day in fees so it “can no longer operate profitably.” Residents have objected to the theater’s policy of showing two X-rated.movies nightly.
No surfing in Bell, apparently, even on Christmas Eve:
Theater fight Ends In Death Of Two Youths
12/24/64 – BELL, Los Angeles Co.â€"The police reported today a boy fighting with other teenagers in a theater after drinking beer and whisky stabbed two youths to death. The fight in a washroom and lobby of the Alcazar Theater last night also left two other teenagers with knife wounds. George Escobedo, 15, of nearby Huntington Park, was booked on suspicion of murder. The dead youths: Robert Haney, 17, Cudahy, and Billie Bogard, 17, Bell Gardens. The injured: Mike Goodwin, 14, and Patrick Clarkson, 17, both of Bell.
Police Lieutenant George Wagner gave this account of the bloody melee: Escobedo said he and a 15 year old companion got some beer and a half pint of whisky, then went to an alley, where he found a butcher type knife. He then went to the movie with it. As they went into a washroom during an intermission, four other teenagers including Haney and Bogard blocked the door, said “we don’t like surfers around here” and the fight started, Escobedo pulling out the knife. Bogard and Haney were knifed in the washroom, the others in the lobby as Escobedo ran through it. Spectators finally subdued Escobedo, threw him to the floor and held him until the police arrived.
Here is a 1958 article which mentions the Liberty and many other local theaters:
Movie attendance is picking up in the Mon Valley. But not nearly enough to reopen any of the theatres darkened several years ago by the advent of television. That seems to be the opinion of district theatre men. According to a survey by The Daily Independent, there was pretty general agreement that movie attendance is “considerably better” than a year ago. However movie crowds are still much smaller than in the Hollywood heyday during the forties. Frank Bugala, of the Manos Theatre chain, said he attributes the recent increase in attendance to two factors, better films and a tendency on the part of the public to tire of television.
“We are booking some excellent movies into our Manos Theatre in Monessen and State Theatre in Charleroi,” Bugala points but. He added that both “Old Yeller” and “Sayonara†played to good houses. Bugala said district movie-goers can expect these highly touted films in the weeks ahead: Peyton Dlace, Farewell to Arms, Raintree
County, and Witness for the Prosecution. Despite improving attendance, Bugala said the Manos company had no immediate plans to reopen he darkened Star Theatre.
In Donora, Mrs. Mary Davis, manager of the Harris Theatre, agreed that attendance is picking up. However the theatre, operated by Warner Brothers, is open only four days a week. On both Thursday and Friday, the Harris is open in the evening only. Two other Donora theatres â€"Liberty and Princess â€" have been closed for about eight years. There are no plans at present to open either, it was learned.
The only valley community which still has more than one movie house is Charleroi. Three theatres are still operating daily, the Coyle, Palace and State. All three reported “improved” attendance. Only one Charleroi theatre â€"the Menlo â€" has closed in recent years. In North Belle Vernon, the Verdi Theatre operates four days a
week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In Belle Vernon, the Flitz Theatre has been closed for good and is now a school for bricklayers. The Bell Theatre in Fayette City is open on weekends. Attendance is about “50 per cent of what it used to be,” according to the manager.
Mon Valley Theatres Fighting TV; Attendance Is Picking Up
Movie attendance is picking up in the Mon Valley. But not nearly enough to reopen any of the theatres darkened several years ago by the advent of television. That seems to be the opinion of district theatre men. According to a survey by The Daily Independent, there was pretty general agreement that movie attendance is “considerably better” than a year ago. However movie crowds are still much smaller than in the Hollywood heyday during the forties. Frank Bugala, of the Manos Theatre chain, said he attributes the recent increase in attendance to two factors, better films and a tendency on the part of the public to tire of television.
“We are booking some excellent movies into our Manos Theatre in Monessen and State Theatre in Charleroi,” Bugala points but. He added that both “Old Yeller” and “Sayonara†played to good houses. Bugala said district movie-goers can expect these highly touted films in the weeks ahead: Peyton Dlace, Farewell to Arms,
Raintree County, and Witness for the Prosecution. Despite improving attendance, Bugala said the Manos company had no immediate plans to reopen he darkened Star Theatre.
In Donora, Mrs. Mary Davis, manager of the Harris Theatre, agreed that attendance is picking up. However the theatre, operated by Warner Brothers, is open only four days a week. On both Thursday and Friday, the Harris is open in the evening only. Two other Donora theatres â€"Liberty and Princess â€" have been closed for about eight years. There are no plans at present to open either, it was learned.
The only valley community which still has more than one movie house is Charleroi. Three theatres are still operating daily, the Coyle, Palace and State. All three reported “improved” attendance. Only one Charleroi theatre â€"the Menlo â€" has closed in recent years. In North Belle Vernon, the Verdi Theatre operates four days a week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In Belle Vernon, the Flitz Theatre has been closed for good and is now a school for bricklayers. The Bell Theatre in Fayette City is open on weekends. Attendance is about “50 per cent of what it used to be,” according to the manager.
Here is an ad on eBay for a July 1960 schedule of films at the Ruby:
http://tinyurl.com/3bywdk
Here is a photo being advertised on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/2rpxag
Here is a photo being advertised on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/36encm
Here is a photo being advertised on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/3dxch3
Here is a photo being advertised on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/2tp7ju
Here is a photo advertised on eBay. My apologies if it’s a duplicate, but there are too many entries to go through for this theater:
http://tinyurl.com/23cels
Opened 6/16/39:
Welcomed by the Hon. Melvin C. Hazen, president of the Board of District Commissioners, and D.W. Gabelin, president of the Chillum Heights Citizens' Association, to a thickly populated residential section of northwest Washington, heretofore without its own neighborhood motion picture house, the Warner Brothers' handsome new Kennedy Theater last night threw open its doors to the public.
It was pretty hard to read. I must have walked up and down Fairfax for ten years before I noticed the writing on the wall.
The Rialto closed briefly or was planning to close in 1951:
JOLIET â€"(AP)â€"The closing of Joliet’s Rialto theater, one of the most costly movie houses in downstate Illinois, was announced today. Roy Rogan, manager, told theater employees that the closing date will be June 9. The theater cost about $1,500,000 when it was built 25 years ago. Rogan did not state why the theater is closing.
Here is an anti-trust suit involving the Leader in 1945:
http://tinyurl.com/2belyv
Here is an anti-trust suit involving the Culver filed in 1945:
http://tinyurl.com/2belyv
Here is a real estate suit filed against the Komms in 1955:
http://tinyurl.com/2fmjsq
Here is another case concerning allegations of anti-trust against Stanley-Warner, although the case doesn’t concern the Warner theater directly:
http://tinyurl.com/yppuq5
The first comment about the Esquire being an art house is probably correct if you look at the photo of the Esquire hanging in the restaurant. The picture was a French film, title unrecalled.
The signage has been painted over, unfortunately.
Here is an article from the Oakland Tribune dated 6/8/56:
Orpheum Theater May Be Torn Down for Parking Lot Site
The Orpheum Theater at 1730 Broadway, closed for the past four years, may be torn down to make way for a parking lot. Officials of Fox West Coast to what a Fox spokesman called Theaters met with wrecking company representatives today to discuss possible razing of the 33-year-old theater. Robert Bracken, purchasing agent for the theater chain, said only the theater itself would be razed and the adjoining three-story office and store building would remain.
The theater seats 2,550 persons. It closed in May, 1952, due to a “multiple first run situation.” If the theater is torn down, Bracken said a ground level parking lot with a capacity of about 55 cars will be put in. He said the company will have only its decision in about a week.
Check out this blurb from Time in September 1950. Any ideas as to the identity of this unique theater?
The Abundant Life. Near Washington, Pa., there was a grand opening of “The Only Drive-In Theatre in the World That Offers Lake Fishing” (“You Can Fish and Watch the Movies at the Same Time”).
Riot in September 1954:
A closed television circuit carrying the Rocky Marciano-Ezzard Charles heavyweight championship fight blacked out because of technical difficulties in several cities Friday night and in some cases theater managers were forced to make refunds. Theatre Television Network, Inc. carried the fight to 70 theaters in 50 cities.
At Chester. Pa., some 3,000 patrons of the Stanley Theatre were on the verge of rioting, police said, when the TV screen blacked out in the second round and the telecast was not resumed. Some irate patrons began to tear up seats. Forty policemen were rushed to the scene and the crowd was herded to the outside where they
milled around until theatre manager J.M. Feldhun promised refunds of $3.60 to ticket stub holders.
Warners acquired the Liberty via sublease in 1930:
http://tinyurl.com/2s5v4a
Obscenity problems in 1972:
http://tinyurl.com/2a7ugf
Here is a short article from November 1971 re adult films at the Rustic:
Theater license up; bid to halt X-films
NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I.â€" The Town Council has taken a step toward eliminating X-rated movies from the town’s only theater: It upped the license fee from $160 to $18,000 per year. Councilman Robert E. Mowry proposed the motion to charge Rustic Drive-In movie theater $50 per day in fees so it “can no longer operate profitably.” Residents have objected to the theater’s policy of showing two X-rated.movies nightly.
No surfing in Bell, apparently, even on Christmas Eve:
Theater fight Ends In Death Of Two Youths
12/24/64 – BELL, Los Angeles Co.â€"The police reported today a boy fighting with other teenagers in a theater after drinking beer and whisky stabbed two youths to death. The fight in a washroom and lobby of the Alcazar Theater last night also left two other teenagers with knife wounds. George Escobedo, 15, of nearby Huntington Park, was booked on suspicion of murder. The dead youths: Robert Haney, 17, Cudahy, and Billie Bogard, 17, Bell Gardens. The injured: Mike Goodwin, 14, and Patrick Clarkson, 17, both of Bell.
Police Lieutenant George Wagner gave this account of the bloody melee: Escobedo said he and a 15 year old companion got some beer and a half pint of whisky, then went to an alley, where he found a butcher type knife. He then went to the movie with it. As they went into a washroom during an intermission, four other teenagers including Haney and Bogard blocked the door, said “we don’t like surfers around here” and the fight started, Escobedo pulling out the knife. Bogard and Haney were knifed in the washroom, the others in the lobby as Escobedo ran through it. Spectators finally subdued Escobedo, threw him to the floor and held him until the police arrived.
Here is a 1958 article which mentions the Liberty and many other local theaters:
Movie attendance is picking up in the Mon Valley. But not nearly enough to reopen any of the theatres darkened several years ago by the advent of television. That seems to be the opinion of district theatre men. According to a survey by The Daily Independent, there was pretty general agreement that movie attendance is “considerably better” than a year ago. However movie crowds are still much smaller than in the Hollywood heyday during the forties. Frank Bugala, of the Manos Theatre chain, said he attributes the recent increase in attendance to two factors, better films and a tendency on the part of the public to tire of television.
“We are booking some excellent movies into our Manos Theatre in Monessen and State Theatre in Charleroi,” Bugala points but. He added that both “Old Yeller” and “Sayonara†played to good houses. Bugala said district movie-goers can expect these highly touted films in the weeks ahead: Peyton Dlace, Farewell to Arms, Raintree
County, and Witness for the Prosecution. Despite improving attendance, Bugala said the Manos company had no immediate plans to reopen he darkened Star Theatre.
In Donora, Mrs. Mary Davis, manager of the Harris Theatre, agreed that attendance is picking up. However the theatre, operated by Warner Brothers, is open only four days a week. On both Thursday and Friday, the Harris is open in the evening only. Two other Donora theatres â€"Liberty and Princess â€" have been closed for about eight years. There are no plans at present to open either, it was learned.
The only valley community which still has more than one movie house is Charleroi. Three theatres are still operating daily, the Coyle, Palace and State. All three reported “improved” attendance. Only one Charleroi theatre â€"the Menlo â€" has closed in recent years. In North Belle Vernon, the Verdi Theatre operates four days a
week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In Belle Vernon, the Flitz Theatre has been closed for good and is now a school for bricklayers. The Bell Theatre in Fayette City is open on weekends. Attendance is about “50 per cent of what it used to be,” according to the manager.
Tough times for theaters in 1958:
Mon Valley Theatres Fighting TV; Attendance Is Picking Up
Movie attendance is picking up in the Mon Valley. But not nearly enough to reopen any of the theatres darkened several years ago by the advent of television. That seems to be the opinion of district theatre men. According to a survey by The Daily Independent, there was pretty general agreement that movie attendance is “considerably better” than a year ago. However movie crowds are still much smaller than in the Hollywood heyday during the forties. Frank Bugala, of the Manos Theatre chain, said he attributes the recent increase in attendance to two factors, better films and a tendency on the part of the public to tire of television.
“We are booking some excellent movies into our Manos Theatre in Monessen and State Theatre in Charleroi,” Bugala points but. He added that both “Old Yeller” and “Sayonara†played to good houses. Bugala said district movie-goers can expect these highly touted films in the weeks ahead: Peyton Dlace, Farewell to Arms,
Raintree County, and Witness for the Prosecution. Despite improving attendance, Bugala said the Manos company had no immediate plans to reopen he darkened Star Theatre.
In Donora, Mrs. Mary Davis, manager of the Harris Theatre, agreed that attendance is picking up. However the theatre, operated by Warner Brothers, is open only four days a week. On both Thursday and Friday, the Harris is open in the evening only. Two other Donora theatres â€"Liberty and Princess â€" have been closed for about eight years. There are no plans at present to open either, it was learned.
The only valley community which still has more than one movie house is Charleroi. Three theatres are still operating daily, the Coyle, Palace and State. All three reported “improved” attendance. Only one Charleroi theatre â€"the Menlo â€" has closed in recent years. In North Belle Vernon, the Verdi Theatre operates four days a week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. In Belle Vernon, the Flitz Theatre has been closed for good and is now a school for bricklayers. The Bell Theatre in Fayette City is open on weekends. Attendance is about “50 per cent of what it used to be,” according to the manager.
The Panorama opened on 12/22/49. The telephone number was EM 2-1167.