This is an interesting lawsuit. It looks like Hollingshead shut down the drive-in in 1936 alleging that Paramount was trying to force him out of business. Perhaps the studios felt that outdoor theaters were a threat to their existing indoor business. Richardson Dilworth, plaintiff’s attorney, later became mayor of Philadelphia: http://tinyurl.com/25523v
On 1/6/73, the Odessa American was advertising the following films:
Scott: “Tales from the Crypt”, starring Peter Cushing and Joan Collins
Rio: “The Virgin Witch”
Ector: “Death Master” and “The Incredible Two Headed Transplant”, starring Ray Milland and Rosey Grier
Grandview: “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Holiday Drive-In: “Fillmore” (the sixties concert hall, not the president)
Twin Terrace: “The Other” and “Ben”
On a side note, there was also an ad for Burger Chef in the paper that day. We had one of those in South Jersey, but it sadly morphed into a Burger King when I was a teenager. The Super Chefs were tasty.
Here is an article dated 4/10/73 about the re-opening of the Brunswick:
Trenton’s RKO Brunswick Theater, which has been dark since October, will start showing movies again tomorrow night. Formerly known as an “art house” that specialized in foreign and avant-garde films, the new Brunswick will screen movies for all audience tastes, according to Marty Perlberg, the new owner. General audience films had become Brunswick fare by the time the theater closed on Oct. 24-two weeks after the RKO Trent and Lincoln Theaters had closed in downtown Trenton. “Fiddler on the Roof” was the closing movie.
The new opener will be “Class of "44,” a sequel to “Summer of ‘42.” which also stars Gary Grimes and Jerry Houser. The movie also will open tomorrow at the Fox Theater in Levittown.Other new policies will include weekend and holiday matinees, special rates for students and senior citizens, and a candy counter. Perlberg lives in New York. Bob Barker will move from Maplewood to Trenton to manage the theater, which is located at the end of Brunswick Ave. in north Trenton near the U.S. Route 1 circle.
This article describes the sale of a Princess theater in 1915. The location is in southern Iowa, but as my Iowa geography is subpar perhaps someone else can weigh on where this theater may have been:
Princess Theatre Sold
C. F. Schnee becomes owner and manager of the Princess Theatre, one of the best equipped and most attractive movie playhouses in southern Iowa, next week. A.L. Barker, owner and manager of the theatre, closed a deal Monday for the sale of the equipment of the house. The building, which was erected by L. M. Stanton, is owned by S. Varga of Leon. Mr. Schnee has owned a number of movies and is an experienced theatrical man. He expects to keep the house up to the high standard maintained by Mr. Barker.
Mr. Barker and J.L. Taylor started the first picture theatre in the town about seven years ago, and since that time the former has been actively engaged in the business. He thoroughly understands every detail of the show business and is a very popular manager. He has a wide acquaintance with theatrical people, and the Princess has prospered under his able management. Mr. Barker has not definitely decided as to his future business plans but will likely locate in a large town. He has two or three propositions under consideration at the present time.
This article shows the Crystal closing in 1956, but presumably it re-opened at a later date:
“Larceny” Faces Manning Resident
A charge of grand larceny was filed in justice court at Carroll on Monday against Roger V. Anderson, 34, Manning. The charge is in connection with alleged thefts of money from the Crystal Theater in Manning, which closed last week. Anderson has been a projectionist at the theater for several years. A preliminary hearing will be held later in the week. He is being held in custody pending the hearing. J. Fred Dethlefs, manager of the theater, closed the Crystal because of poor health.
This article dated ½/74 notes that Mann Theaters of Los Angeles renown was the last owner:
Council Bluffs' Strand Theater Closes Doors
(AP)â€"The western Iowa city of Council Bluffs now is without a standard movie house. The Strand Theater closed down after its last performance Monday night. The only other theaters in the city of 60.000 persons are the Crest Art Theater and a drive-in theater. Though the closing was news to most Bluffs moviegoers, Manager Shelby Doty of the Fox Theater in Omaha, Nebraska said it had been planned for six months. He said Mann Theaters of Los Angeles, which also operates the Fox Theater, gave six months notice last July it was dropping its lease of the Strand.
Doty said he had seen no revenue figures on the Strand, but he “would assume” the lease was dropped because the theater was not making money. The theater’s final program was a double feature, “Play It Again, Sam.” and “Paper Moonâ€.
Here is an article from the Chicago Daily Herald dated 3/18/80:
Curtain drops at the Meadows movie theater
Its last show was “Going in Style,” but the controversial Meadows Theatre closed its doors without any fanfare during the weekend and quietly ended its often stormy 14-year relationship with the community it served. The closing paves the way for a two story bank and office center proposed by Kimball Hill Inc., which has leased the property to the theater’s operators since 1965.
The closing surprised some moviegoers, who called the theater during the weekend only to learn its telephones had been disconnected. Theater owners Stanford and Jeffrey Kohlberg had the marquee cleared after Thursday’s final screening and said there are no plans for future shows. “It’s closed for good,“ Jeffrey Kohlberg said."We’re out of it now. The theater didn’t make any money and it was hard for us, particularly with so many other theaters in the area,” he said. “I think it’s best that we’re out of there.”
The Kohlbergs' enticement to vacate the property is a tentative agreement with the Hill family, which has offered to buy the remaining 11 years of a 25-year lease. David Hill said Monday he will ask the Rolling Meadows City Council March 25 for permission to raze the theater and begin construction. Hill plans to construct a two-story drivethrough bank facility for Arlington Federal Savings and Loan on one of the 3 6 acres at 3265 Kirchoff Rd. The other part of the development includes a one- and two-story office complex to be known as the Rolling Meadows Commerce Center. The project is a joint venture between the Hill family and the William L. Kunkel and Co. realty firm.
“We have a basic agreement (with Kohlberg) that is contingent on the approval of the development,” Hill said. Hill’s plans for the development came to the forefront last October when he called the theater a “constant source of embarrassment” for his family and the community. That embarrassment began when the theater began showing X- and R rated films in addition to family entertainment. When it opened on Nov. 19, 1965, featuring “Harum Scarum,” then the latest Elvis Presley movie, the Kohlbergs pledged to offer family entertainment and special children’s shows on weekends. By 1967 â€" before the movie industry began rating films â€"parents were complaining about the type of movies shown there.
Later that year, Rolling Meadows police confiscated a racy Swedish film, “I, a Woman,” which was being shown. But “adult entertainment” films were more profitable for the theater and it continued to show them. Citizens and clergy went on a campaign to “clean up” Rolling Meadows, and their efforts led to a local ordinance passed in July 1977, defining 25 sexual acts ranging from rape to sodomy as obscene. The theater’s owners challenged that ordinance in September 1977 by showing an adults' version of “Cinderella.” Police confiscated the film, and the theater’s owners and the city engaged in a lawsuit concerning the city’s censorship. A judge later ruled the city obtained the film illegally and would not allow it to be shown as evidence. The city currently is appealing that decision, but City Atty. Donald Rose as not available Monday to comment on whether the city would continue its suit.
In light of the suit, the theater had returned to its practice of showing family films at bargain prices â€" even double features for $1.75. “It’s too bad they hadn’t switched years ago,” said Ald. Lorraine Godawa, 3rd, who led the drive for the obscenity ordinance. “By the time they turned things around, people were going elsewhere.” Kohlberg said he doubted the city would continue its appeal. “I don’t see any reason why they would. I don’t see any benefit to it now,” he said. Hill said he had hoped to begin work at the site by May or June, but the “unstable” economic situation could delay those plans. “As soon as we’re able to get the financing, we can begin,” he said.
The Uptown closed for a while in 1988, after a showing of “Police Academy V”. The theater probably closed itself out of embarassment: http://tinyurl.com/2kdg6n
Here is an article from the Van Nuys News dated 4/7/49:
Reseda Drive-In Theatre To Stage Grand Opening Tonight
One of the largest silver screens in the world will light up for the first time tonight when the Reseda Drive-In Theatre stages its gala grand opening. Costing over $250,000 to build, the elaborate
10-acre showplace incorporates modern technical advances and latest refinement in show-going comfort. Located in the heart of Reseda at the intersection of Reseda Blvd. and Vanowen Street, the deluxe “theater on wheels†is designed to serve the recreational needs of the entire West Valley area, parking 500 cars on new style ramps.
Individual sound speakers with adjustable volume control are provided for every ear. The entire ten acre theater plant is completely paved. A central building houses sanitary lounges, and an ultramodern snack bar which will serve a variety of hot and cold refreshments during each show. The new “automobile movie palace” has been built by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, owner-operator concern, and which has several such theaters in the Southland.
This is an interesting lawsuit. It looks like Hollingshead shut down the drive-in in 1936 alleging that Paramount was trying to force him out of business. Perhaps the studios felt that outdoor theaters were a threat to their existing indoor business. Richardson Dilworth, plaintiff’s attorney, later became mayor of Philadelphia:
http://tinyurl.com/25523v
I am not the webmaster, but thanks for the plug. If you want to know how Screeno is played, read this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/2zqgzw
Rowley United Theatres owned the Jefferson and some other local drive-ins in the sixties, according to this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/2a8opb
The Seekonk opened in 1958 (and had some labor trouble as well) according to this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/2rffz3
The drive-in was built near a sewage plant. Apparently the smell didn’t jibe with popcorn and jujubes:
http://tinyurl.com/2g52nx
Here is a 1969 lawsuit regarding the adult films:
http://tinyurl.com/yvxn4l
Status should be closed/demolished.
On 1/6/73, the Odessa American was advertising the following films:
Scott: “Tales from the Crypt”, starring Peter Cushing and Joan Collins
Rio: “The Virgin Witch”
Ector: “Death Master” and “The Incredible Two Headed Transplant”, starring Ray Milland and Rosey Grier
Grandview: “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Holiday Drive-In: “Fillmore” (the sixties concert hall, not the president)
Twin Terrace: “The Other” and “Ben”
On a side note, there was also an ad for Burger Chef in the paper that day. We had one of those in South Jersey, but it sadly morphed into a Burger King when I was a teenager. The Super Chefs were tasty.
You’re right. I looked under Chester but not under Manor. This should be deleted as a duplicate entry.
Here is an article dated 4/10/73 about the re-opening of the Brunswick:
Trenton’s RKO Brunswick Theater, which has been dark since October, will start showing movies again tomorrow night. Formerly known as an “art house” that specialized in foreign and avant-garde films, the new Brunswick will screen movies for all audience tastes, according to Marty Perlberg, the new owner. General audience films had become Brunswick fare by the time the theater closed on Oct. 24-two weeks after the RKO Trent and Lincoln Theaters had closed in downtown Trenton. “Fiddler on the Roof” was the closing movie.
The new opener will be “Class of "44,” a sequel to “Summer of ‘42.” which also stars Gary Grimes and Jerry Houser. The movie also will open tomorrow at the Fox Theater in Levittown.Other new policies will include weekend and holiday matinees, special rates for students and senior citizens, and a candy counter. Perlberg lives in New York. Bob Barker will move from Maplewood to Trenton to manage the theater, which is located at the end of Brunswick Ave. in north Trenton near the U.S. Route 1 circle.
This article describes the sale of a Princess theater in 1915. The location is in southern Iowa, but as my Iowa geography is subpar perhaps someone else can weigh on where this theater may have been:
Princess Theatre Sold
C. F. Schnee becomes owner and manager of the Princess Theatre, one of the best equipped and most attractive movie playhouses in southern Iowa, next week. A.L. Barker, owner and manager of the theatre, closed a deal Monday for the sale of the equipment of the house. The building, which was erected by L. M. Stanton, is owned by S. Varga of Leon. Mr. Schnee has owned a number of movies and is an experienced theatrical man. He expects to keep the house up to the high standard maintained by Mr. Barker.
Mr. Barker and J.L. Taylor started the first picture theatre in the town about seven years ago, and since that time the former has been actively engaged in the business. He thoroughly understands every detail of the show business and is a very popular manager. He has a wide acquaintance with theatrical people, and the Princess has prospered under his able management. Mr. Barker has not definitely decided as to his future business plans but will likely locate in a large town. He has two or three propositions under consideration at the present time.
This article shows the Crystal closing in 1956, but presumably it re-opened at a later date:
“Larceny” Faces Manning Resident
A charge of grand larceny was filed in justice court at Carroll on Monday against Roger V. Anderson, 34, Manning. The charge is in connection with alleged thefts of money from the Crystal Theater in Manning, which closed last week. Anderson has been a projectionist at the theater for several years. A preliminary hearing will be held later in the week. He is being held in custody pending the hearing. J. Fred Dethlefs, manager of the theater, closed the Crystal because of poor health.
Here is the rest of LM’s article from March 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/2x9t8w
Atlantic City, NJ. There is a page on this site for the Tumbleweed, with some photos.
This article dated ½/74 notes that Mann Theaters of Los Angeles renown was the last owner:
Council Bluffs' Strand Theater Closes Doors
(AP)â€"The western Iowa city of Council Bluffs now is without a standard movie house. The Strand Theater closed down after its last performance Monday night. The only other theaters in the city of 60.000 persons are the Crest Art Theater and a drive-in theater. Though the closing was news to most Bluffs moviegoers, Manager Shelby Doty of the Fox Theater in Omaha, Nebraska said it had been planned for six months. He said Mann Theaters of Los Angeles, which also operates the Fox Theater, gave six months notice last July it was dropping its lease of the Strand.
Doty said he had seen no revenue figures on the Strand, but he “would assume” the lease was dropped because the theater was not making money. The theater’s final program was a double feature, “Play It Again, Sam.” and “Paper Moonâ€.
Is the Wometco a different theater?
http://tinyurl.com/2bokwn
Here is an article from the Chicago Daily Herald dated 3/18/80:
Curtain drops at the Meadows movie theater
Its last show was “Going in Style,” but the controversial Meadows Theatre closed its doors without any fanfare during the weekend and quietly ended its often stormy 14-year relationship with the community it served. The closing paves the way for a two story bank and office center proposed by Kimball Hill Inc., which has leased the property to the theater’s operators since 1965.
The closing surprised some moviegoers, who called the theater during the weekend only to learn its telephones had been disconnected. Theater owners Stanford and Jeffrey Kohlberg had the marquee cleared after Thursday’s final screening and said there are no plans for future shows. “It’s closed for good,“ Jeffrey Kohlberg said."We’re out of it now. The theater didn’t make any money and it was hard for us, particularly with so many other theaters in the area,” he said. “I think it’s best that we’re out of there.”
The Kohlbergs' enticement to vacate the property is a tentative agreement with the Hill family, which has offered to buy the remaining 11 years of a 25-year lease. David Hill said Monday he will ask the Rolling Meadows City Council March 25 for permission to raze the theater and begin construction. Hill plans to construct a two-story drivethrough bank facility for Arlington Federal Savings and Loan on one of the 3 6 acres at 3265 Kirchoff Rd. The other part of the development includes a one- and two-story office complex to be known as the Rolling Meadows Commerce Center. The project is a joint venture between the Hill family and the William L. Kunkel and Co. realty firm.
“We have a basic agreement (with Kohlberg) that is contingent on the approval of the development,” Hill said. Hill’s plans for the development came to the forefront last October when he called the theater a “constant source of embarrassment” for his family and the community. That embarrassment began when the theater began showing X- and R rated films in addition to family entertainment. When it opened on Nov. 19, 1965, featuring “Harum Scarum,” then the latest Elvis Presley movie, the Kohlbergs pledged to offer family entertainment and special children’s shows on weekends. By 1967 â€" before the movie industry began rating films â€"parents were complaining about the type of movies shown there.
Later that year, Rolling Meadows police confiscated a racy Swedish film, “I, a Woman,” which was being shown. But “adult entertainment” films were more profitable for the theater and it continued to show them. Citizens and clergy went on a campaign to “clean up” Rolling Meadows, and their efforts led to a local ordinance passed in July 1977, defining 25 sexual acts ranging from rape to sodomy as obscene. The theater’s owners challenged that ordinance in September 1977 by showing an adults' version of “Cinderella.” Police confiscated the film, and the theater’s owners and the city engaged in a lawsuit concerning the city’s censorship. A judge later ruled the city obtained the film illegally and would not allow it to be shown as evidence. The city currently is appealing that decision, but City Atty. Donald Rose as not available Monday to comment on whether the city would continue its suit.
In light of the suit, the theater had returned to its practice of showing family films at bargain prices â€" even double features for $1.75. “It’s too bad they hadn’t switched years ago,” said Ald. Lorraine Godawa, 3rd, who led the drive for the obscenity ordinance. “By the time they turned things around, people were going elsewhere.” Kohlberg said he doubted the city would continue its appeal. “I don’t see any reason why they would. I don’t see any benefit to it now,” he said. Hill said he had hoped to begin work at the site by May or June, but the “unstable” economic situation could delay those plans. “As soon as we’re able to get the financing, we can begin,” he said.
The Uptown closed for a while in 1988, after a showing of “Police Academy V”. The theater probably closed itself out of embarassment:
http://tinyurl.com/2kdg6n
The last show was 12/31/89:
http://tinyurl.com/2nk8l6
Here is a short article on some local theaters:
http://tinyurl.com/3yx3fq
The Beach burned in 1982, unless there was another fire later:
http://tinyurl.com/34qutk
If it’s rockin, don’t come knockin…
This is a short article from 1984:
http://tinyurl.com/3xkb77
Here is an article from the Van Nuys News dated 4/7/49:
Reseda Drive-In Theatre To Stage Grand Opening Tonight
One of the largest silver screens in the world will light up for the first time tonight when the Reseda Drive-In Theatre stages its gala grand opening. Costing over $250,000 to build, the elaborate
10-acre showplace incorporates modern technical advances and latest refinement in show-going comfort. Located in the heart of Reseda at the intersection of Reseda Blvd. and Vanowen Street, the deluxe “theater on wheels†is designed to serve the recreational needs of the entire West Valley area, parking 500 cars on new style ramps.
Individual sound speakers with adjustable volume control are provided for every ear. The entire ten acre theater plant is completely paved. A central building houses sanitary lounges, and an ultramodern snack bar which will serve a variety of hot and cold refreshments during each show. The new “automobile movie palace” has been built by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, owner-operator concern, and which has several such theaters in the Southland.
I took a hike down Spring Street today. Status should be closed/demolished. There’s no evidence of any turn of the century buildings on this block.