Here is a summary of a 1958 case in which the Carmel Museum theater won an appeal after its business license was denied:
Appellant theater owner sought review of a decision by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (California), which denied his petition directing the county board of supervisors to renew the theater owner’s license to operate a motion picture theater.
The theater owner operated a theater in a district frequented by homosexuals. On several occasions, the sheriff arrested individuals for engaging in homosexual activity in the theater. The sheriff closed the theater on the ground that it was a public nuisance. The theater owner applied to the board for the renewal of his license to operate. The board denied the petition and the tax collector refused to issue a license. The theater owner filed a petition for a writ of mandamus directing the board and tax collector to issue the license. The trial court denied the petition and the theater owner sought review. The court reversed, holding that the operation of a movie theater was a lawful business of beneficial character that was not inherently dangerous to the public. The court noted that the theater was not operated in a manner different from that of other movie theaters, it did not show lewd or lascivious pictures, and the theater owner had tried to stop the conduct complained of by the police. Further, the court said, the property was zoned and the building designed for use as a theater. The court held that the evidence was insufficient to support the denial of the license.
There was another theater in Hawarden that was destroyed by fire in January 1944. The theater was unoccupied at the time. I did some research but there doesn’t seem to be any record of the destroyed theater’s identity. I only know that the theater was owned by a Mr. Harry Lankhorst, Jr.
KEARNY, N. J. Aug. 30â€" A two-alarm fire collapsed the roof of the Regent theater tonight some 10 minutes after a crowd of more than 300 movie-goers had been calmly and quickly evacuated. Police said alertness of an unidentified usher in spotting the smoke and advising the projectionist to stop the movie prevented a possible panic. Fire Chief William Wanders said the flames may have been started by a short circuit in a fan at the rear of the stage.
I note both Mansfield indoor theaters on Park Avenue West. There are newspaper articles from 1938 describing the opening of the Park Theater on South Park and Diamond Streets. This is most likely a separate theater, absent any information to the contrary.
The State sued the nearby Colonial and the Majestic in 1937 as those theaters were offering “screeno”, which was kind of an onscreen lottery. The State lost the case: http://tinyurl.com/ymoyx4
There are some photos of the Marlow’s demolition on this page:
http://www.lifelikecharm.com/theaters.htm
Here is a photo of the theater collapse in 1998:
http://tinyurl.com/twbln
The Galaxy was also called the Rankin. Here is a photo of the fire in 1985:
http://tinyurl.com/y55kh4
The theater was closed for a while in the early thirties, according to this lawsuit brought in 1937:
http://tinyurl.com/yad6yl
Here is a summary of a 1958 case in which the Carmel Museum theater won an appeal after its business license was denied:
Appellant theater owner sought review of a decision by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (California), which denied his petition directing the county board of supervisors to renew the theater owner’s license to operate a motion picture theater.
The theater owner operated a theater in a district frequented by homosexuals. On several occasions, the sheriff arrested individuals for engaging in homosexual activity in the theater. The sheriff closed the theater on the ground that it was a public nuisance. The theater owner applied to the board for the renewal of his license to operate. The board denied the petition and the tax collector refused to issue a license. The theater owner filed a petition for a writ of mandamus directing the board and tax collector to issue the license. The trial court denied the petition and the theater owner sought review. The court reversed, holding that the operation of a movie theater was a lawful business of beneficial character that was not inherently dangerous to the public. The court noted that the theater was not operated in a manner different from that of other movie theaters, it did not show lewd or lascivious pictures, and the theater owner had tried to stop the conduct complained of by the police. Further, the court said, the property was zoned and the building designed for use as a theater. The court held that the evidence was insufficient to support the denial of the license.
No, just the two in Tacoma. I will add this one. Thanks for the info.
There was another Blue Mouse in Seattle, according to this suit. How many mice were there anyway?
http://tinyurl.com/y5rptt
Here is an interesting lawsuit from 1985 concerning preservation of the Warner:
http://tinyurl.com/yxfal5
Here is a lawsuit concerning demolition of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/y226sd
Here is a short article from Time about the opening, dated 9/20/48:
http://tinyurl.com/yk92mu
Don’t they always tell you it’s against the law to yell “fire!” in a crowded theater?
http://tinyurl.com/yglx77
Here is an interesting webpage:
http://tinyurl.com/ubtmo
Fire escape hits little boy in 1920. Little boy wins:
http://tinyurl.com/yx6bu4
There was another theater in Hawarden that was destroyed by fire in January 1944. The theater was unoccupied at the time. I did some research but there doesn’t seem to be any record of the destroyed theater’s identity. I only know that the theater was owned by a Mr. Harry Lankhorst, Jr.
There was a fire in the theater in 1932, according to this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/smymb
I spent the night in Kingman on my LA to Chicago Route 66 trip this summer. I wasn’t aware of the theater, though.
Here is a short article about the demolition from Time magazine dated 11/2/53:
http://tinyurl.com/yarhm7
There was a fire in the theater on 8/31/52:
N.J. Movie Roof Falls, 300 Escape
KEARNY, N. J. Aug. 30â€" A two-alarm fire collapsed the roof of the Regent theater tonight some 10 minutes after a crowd of more than 300 movie-goers had been calmly and quickly evacuated. Police said alertness of an unidentified usher in spotting the smoke and advising the projectionist to stop the movie prevented a possible panic. Fire Chief William Wanders said the flames may have been started by a short circuit in a fan at the rear of the stage.
I note both Mansfield indoor theaters on Park Avenue West. There are newspaper articles from 1938 describing the opening of the Park Theater on South Park and Diamond Streets. This is most likely a separate theater, absent any information to the contrary.
This theater was around as early as 1940, according to this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/yf765z
The State sued the nearby Colonial and the Majestic in 1937 as those theaters were offering “screeno”, which was kind of an onscreen lottery. The State lost the case:
http://tinyurl.com/ymoyx4
Here is an interesting set of facts about the purchase of the Hollywood in 1935:
http://tinyurl.com/vh8fd
We love repeat customers, but please leave the knives at home:
http://tinyurl.com/wx7yc
Here is a summary of the antitrust suit:
http://tinyurl.com/yx88zh
Fae Robison and her husband owned and operated the Seville in the early thirties, according to this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/yholpc