If anyone is an expert on Paterson theaters, I have some information on a building at 47-49 Albion Avenue that was a theater in the 30s, then a poolroom and warehouse in the 40s. The building was destroyed in a fire on 3/19/48. I have no clue as to the identity of this former theater.
On 4/27/55, the Suburbanite Economist was advertising these theaters: Southtown, Avalon, Capitol, Highland, Rhodes, Ogden and Shore. There was also a listing for the Twin Open Air Drive-In at 87th and Cicero. In the same issue, Vic Short mentions the Boulevard in his “Through the Keyhole” column:
NOW IT CAN BE SAID that the recent rumors about the Ogden being converted from a movie theater into a ballroom are quite without foundation. As a Stanley Warner showhouse, it is doing right well… . The Boulevard theater about a mile away is, however, being transformed and should be ready in maybe a month, maybe more, for a gala grand opening as a terpery, but of course I’ll have all the details on that matter in due time… . Stan Kenton has given up his old band and right now is breaking in his all-new ork of 20 pieces… . Remember when Joe Maize and his 4 Cordsmen played Kentucky lounge? They’re clicking this week in a big way at the Palace in New York.
In 1945, a handicapped patron bought a ticket and was told that “cripples are not admitted to the theater on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays”. He sued and was awarded $250: http://tinyurl.com/yknbch
The 10/22/49 edition of the Fort Dodge Messenger and Chronicle lists the Park, Rialto, Strand, Dodge and Iowa theaters. It may be that the Varsity didn’t want to advertise, but that wouldn’t make much sense.
According to this 1959 suit, the owner of the Glen and the Cove sued the owner of the Glen Cove alleging that the new theater would cause confusion amongst the theater going populace. Plaintiff lost: http://tinyurl.com/y6p5b4
It looks like the plaintiff in this suit was headed to the outhouse one night when she was accidentally shot by the projectionist at the adjacent drive-in: http://tinyurl.com/yan43b
There was a Roxie Theater in Miami that was damaged by a fire in 1945. The Roxy listed here was built in the sixties, according to the caption, so there may be some confusion between the two theaters. Note that Al Alvarez mentions a 1934 listing in the Motion Picture Year Book.
After some improvements, the Malek re-opened on 1/11/66 with a showing of “Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion”, which incidentally was my favorite movie as a child:
Grand opening of the Malek Theater in Independence will be held Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 11 with the showing of a free movie, “Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion.” This was the
announcement made this week by Jerry Reiter, manager, and Don Yoerger and Charles Houston, new owners. Three movies are planned for families in the area on Tuesday: 5:15, 7:15 and 9:15 p.m. Adults and youngsters will be guests of the new management which took over operation of the Malek on Sept. 1, 1965 from the former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Malek. During the past several months the theater has had a number of improvements made. A new concession stand and cold drink dispenser have been added. This week a colorful mural was installed. Also last year the Maleks put in new carpeting. The theater today is the largest new theater built in Iowa since World War II.
Yoerger and Houston and their wives and families are both residents of LeMars and own the Palace Theater at Alton, Iowa. Reiter was named manager of the Malek last September and he and his wife
and two children moved here from LeMars. The three men and their wives will be hosts and hostesses at the grand opening event on Tuesday afternoon and evening. The local theater was sold to Yoerger and Houston by Mr. and Mrs. Malek who last year ended 25 years in the motion picture business. They formerly owned and operated the Grand and Iowa theaters and built the Malek Theater in 1946. The theater can accommodate 820 persons.
There is an article in the Council Bluffs Nonpareil dated 7/13/50 which discusses the opening of a new drive-in in the city. I’m not sure if it’s the same as the one listed as they just call it “The Drive-In”. Here is an excerpt from the article:
The new Drive-in theater here â€" one of the most modern in the middle west â€" will celebrate its grand opening at 7 p.m. Friday, William Miskell, Omaha district manager of Tri-States Theatres announced. It is located on a 12-acre tract on Highway 275 at Eleventh Street, immediately west of the closed Stork club. B.J. Dudgeon of Omaha will manage the enterprise. He also manages another Tri-States Drive-in at Omaha. Opening feature, which will begin at dusk Friday, is “The Big Wheel.” It’s a midget auto racing story starring Mickey Rooney. Free souvenirs will be distributed at the opening.
This is my gym now. No trace of the theater remains. I saw JFK there (the Oliver Stone film) as well as the Sixth Sense.
If anyone is an expert on Paterson theaters, I have some information on a building at 47-49 Albion Avenue that was a theater in the 30s, then a poolroom and warehouse in the 40s. The building was destroyed in a fire on 3/19/48. I have no clue as to the identity of this former theater.
On 4/27/55, the Suburbanite Economist was advertising these theaters: Southtown, Avalon, Capitol, Highland, Rhodes, Ogden and Shore. There was also a listing for the Twin Open Air Drive-In at 87th and Cicero. In the same issue, Vic Short mentions the Boulevard in his “Through the Keyhole” column:
NOW IT CAN BE SAID that the recent rumors about the Ogden being converted from a movie theater into a ballroom are quite without foundation. As a Stanley Warner showhouse, it is doing right well… . The Boulevard theater about a mile away is, however, being transformed and should be ready in maybe a month, maybe more, for a gala grand opening as a terpery, but of course I’ll have all the details on that matter in due time… . Stan Kenton has given up his old band and right now is breaking in his all-new ork of 20 pieces… . Remember when Joe Maize and his 4 Cordsmen played Kentucky lounge? They’re clicking this week in a big way at the Palace in New York.
In 1945, a handicapped patron bought a ticket and was told that “cripples are not admitted to the theater on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays”. He sued and was awarded $250:
http://tinyurl.com/yknbch
The 10/22/49 edition of the Fort Dodge Messenger and Chronicle lists the Park, Rialto, Strand, Dodge and Iowa theaters. It may be that the Varsity didn’t want to advertise, but that wouldn’t make much sense.
Stella and James Yiannias in 1942:
http://tinyurl.com/y4vvc5
Here is a 1953 lawsuit against the Lenox:
http://tinyurl.com/yx3smu
According to this 1959 suit, the owner of the Glen and the Cove sued the owner of the Glen Cove alleging that the new theater would cause confusion amongst the theater going populace. Plaintiff lost:
http://tinyurl.com/y6p5b4
It looks like the plaintiff in this suit was headed to the outhouse one night when she was accidentally shot by the projectionist at the adjacent drive-in:
http://tinyurl.com/yan43b
This lawsuit states that the drive-in had space for 1500 cars:
http://tinyurl.com/yktja5
Here is a 2005 article about the demolition:
http://tinyurl.com/yyczc8
Here is a June 2006 article about the fire:
http://tinyurl.com/y44fee
Closed in August 2000.
Here is an article about the Stage 4:
http://tinyurl.com/y5ama4
There was a Roxie Theater in Miami that was damaged by a fire in 1945. The Roxy listed here was built in the sixties, according to the caption, so there may be some confusion between the two theaters. Note that Al Alvarez mentions a 1934 listing in the Motion Picture Year Book.
This patron went to a premiere and ended up with a broken leg:
http://tinyurl.com/yheo9j
On 6/17/73, the Paramount was showing an x-rated film called “Sex and the Office Girl”.
After some improvements, the Malek re-opened on 1/11/66 with a showing of “Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion”, which incidentally was my favorite movie as a child:
Grand opening of the Malek Theater in Independence will be held Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 11 with the showing of a free movie, “Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion.” This was the
announcement made this week by Jerry Reiter, manager, and Don Yoerger and Charles Houston, new owners. Three movies are planned for families in the area on Tuesday: 5:15, 7:15 and 9:15 p.m. Adults and youngsters will be guests of the new management which took over operation of the Malek on Sept. 1, 1965 from the former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Malek. During the past several months the theater has had a number of improvements made. A new concession stand and cold drink dispenser have been added. This week a colorful mural was installed. Also last year the Maleks put in new carpeting. The theater today is the largest new theater built in Iowa since World War II.
Yoerger and Houston and their wives and families are both residents of LeMars and own the Palace Theater at Alton, Iowa. Reiter was named manager of the Malek last September and he and his wife
and two children moved here from LeMars. The three men and their wives will be hosts and hostesses at the grand opening event on Tuesday afternoon and evening. The local theater was sold to Yoerger and Houston by Mr. and Mrs. Malek who last year ended 25 years in the motion picture business. They formerly owned and operated the Grand and Iowa theaters and built the Malek Theater in 1946. The theater can accommodate 820 persons.
There is an article in the Council Bluffs Nonpareil dated 7/13/50 which discusses the opening of a new drive-in in the city. I’m not sure if it’s the same as the one listed as they just call it “The Drive-In”. Here is an excerpt from the article:
The new Drive-in theater here â€" one of the most modern in the middle west â€" will celebrate its grand opening at 7 p.m. Friday, William Miskell, Omaha district manager of Tri-States Theatres announced. It is located on a 12-acre tract on Highway 275 at Eleventh Street, immediately west of the closed Stork club. B.J. Dudgeon of Omaha will manage the enterprise. He also manages another Tri-States Drive-in at Omaha. Opening feature, which will begin at dusk Friday, is “The Big Wheel.” It’s a midget auto racing story starring Mickey Rooney. Free souvenirs will be distributed at the opening.
Here is a Time article about the opening in 1946. As Warren pointed out, the subscription idea was a failure:
http://tinyurl.com/y93c7k
Here is a 1945 newspaper ad:
http://tinyurl.com/yb5ukh
Here is an ad for the grand opening:
http://tinyurl.com/yyuuh5
There is a photo of the Joy on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/yfcor5
Here are photos taken after the fire in April 2005:
http://tinyurl.com/ynxdlq
There is a photo of the Blue Mouse and the Music Box on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/ykno6a