Here is an artice about the opening dated 8/12/37:
Departing from tradition, the lavish new Woodlawn theater at 63rd St. and Kenwood Ave., will include a “daylight picture effect” among its many up-to-date innovations when it opens Saturday. This announcement, was made recently by George N. Gollos, who with his brother Harold M. Gollos, manages and owns the string of South side theaters which consist of the Ray, Midway and the latest $100,000 Woodlawn theater. “As far as I know,” Mr.Gollos states, “we are the originators of this idea in Chicago. We began to brighten up our theaters when we considered the many advantages that a lighter room brings.”
In pointing out the advantages Mr. Gollos enumerated first the elimination of eye strain â€" no flicker or contrast between a dark room and a bright screen â€" and, second, the important factor of convenience. “The beauty of the decoration in the theater may be seen also,” Mr. Gollos asserted. “It will be so light in the building that a newspaper may almost be read. The latest and most superior scientific improvements will convey a pleasant and beautiful glow of brightness. This, with the newest and best projection and screen equipment, will make the Woodlawn theater the finest in the city.”
Some 30 years ago the “gay white way” of moviedom on the far South side was 55th St., with its three three-reel theaters. Authority for this statement is George N. Gollos, who, with his brother, Harold, will open the new luxurious $100,000 Woodlawn theater. 63rd St. and Kenwood Ave., Saturday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Among the first “reel” pioneers in the community, the Gollos brothers owned and operated a “nickel show” called the Jefferson theater on 55th St. and Harper Ave. at the birth of the then-struggling industry. Three decades ago there were no movie houses on 63rd St. A “western” and an exciting slapstick comedy usually comprised the evening program at the infant shows, and the piano player improvised between the features. A few years later the organ took the place of straight piano music. More than $100.000, the amount spent on the new Woodlawn theater, would have been considered a sum beyond comprehension in this early period of movie history. During that time, however, eight-reel talking features would not have been dreamed of either.
If you want to know why Mrs. Legler was awarded $254, you’re going to have to pony up the five bucks for the rest of the article: http://tinyurl.com/yhuvmv
I can’t figure out which Liberty was run by Warner Brothers in the 1930s. Any ideas? By the way, I thought people only slipped on banana peels in the movies: http://tinyurl.com/yexfu8
The poor widow with three kids was awarded $3500 – the theater argued this was excessive. Who do you think the court found more sympathetic? http://tinyurl.com/yfy784
Here are excerpts from an article in the Doylestown Intelligencer dated 3/2/97. I can’t reproduce the pictures here. There’s no right answer if the building was destroyed and rebuilt, obviously.
Film buffs still flock to County Theater
In 1928, the Strand opened its door to entertain area residents with silent films. A fire damaged the Strand, and it was remodeled and reopened as the County Theater, shown here in 1938 (Photos)
I remember that the late Doylestown Mayor Daniel D. Atkinson used to tell me that the first movies in Doylestown were shown early in the 1900s in a room in a pool or billiard parlor in a building on South Main Street where the County Linen Center now stands. Edward V. Hellyer snowed the first movies in Doylestown. The admission was a nickel.
Researching in the Bucks County Historical Society Mercer Museum Library, I learned that the Strand Theater (I prefer Strand to County) was opened in January 1925. Before the Strand, the movies were shown in a large auditorium on the second floor in Lenape Hall, the more than a century old brick building at State and Main streets. I can remember when the Strand had two stores, a gift shop and the Palace of Sweets off the entrance lobby. The Strand had two apartments on its second floor front. Doylestown Theater
Guild used to present its plays in the Strand until the talkies emerged in 1927. Because of its sensitive sound projection equipment backstage, the live performers moved to a high school auditorium stage. (A fire damaged the Strand and it was remodeled and reopened as the County Theater.)
Bucks County President Judge Hiram H Keller spoke at the opening of the County Theater in September of 1938. The County Theater was modernized and improved at a cost of $75,000. The seating capacity was increased to 700 persons. The first names on the marquee were Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy in “Test Pilot”. Doylestown got its first Sunday movies Nov. 17, 1940. Only the Catholic and Episcopal churches did not formally campaign against Sunday movies.
FORT WORTH—The shell of the historic 7th Street Theatre could be bulldozed as early as Monday if the nonprofit group that owns the property opts to reactivate its demolition permit. What’s left of the building, at 3128 W. Seventh St., has been protected from demolition for the past six months in hopes that an alternative use could be found. That stay expires at midnight tonight, clearing the way for the FPA Foundation to reinstitute its demolition certificate.
In 1937, Jefferson Amusements owned the Rio Theater in Beaumont. I’m not sure if this was a predecessor of the Jefferson or a separate theater.
Here are two photos without the marquee from the Library of Congress:
http://tinyurl.com/y6lyrc
http://tinyurl.com/y275e7
Here is an artice about the opening dated 8/12/37:
Departing from tradition, the lavish new Woodlawn theater at 63rd St. and Kenwood Ave., will include a “daylight picture effect” among its many up-to-date innovations when it opens Saturday. This announcement, was made recently by George N. Gollos, who with his brother Harold M. Gollos, manages and owns the string of South side theaters which consist of the Ray, Midway and the latest $100,000 Woodlawn theater. “As far as I know,” Mr.Gollos states, “we are the originators of this idea in Chicago. We began to brighten up our theaters when we considered the many advantages that a lighter room brings.”
In pointing out the advantages Mr. Gollos enumerated first the elimination of eye strain â€" no flicker or contrast between a dark room and a bright screen â€" and, second, the important factor of convenience. “The beauty of the decoration in the theater may be seen also,” Mr. Gollos asserted. “It will be so light in the building that a newspaper may almost be read. The latest and most superior scientific improvements will convey a pleasant and beautiful glow of brightness. This, with the newest and best projection and screen equipment, will make the Woodlawn theater the finest in the city.”
Some 30 years ago the “gay white way” of moviedom on the far South side was 55th St., with its three three-reel theaters. Authority for this statement is George N. Gollos, who, with his brother, Harold, will open the new luxurious $100,000 Woodlawn theater. 63rd St. and Kenwood Ave., Saturday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Among the first “reel” pioneers in the community, the Gollos brothers owned and operated a “nickel show” called the Jefferson theater on 55th St. and Harper Ave. at the birth of the then-struggling industry. Three decades ago there were no movie houses on 63rd St. A “western” and an exciting slapstick comedy usually comprised the evening program at the infant shows, and the piano player improvised between the features. A few years later the organ took the place of straight piano music. More than $100.000, the amount spent on the new Woodlawn theater, would have been considered a sum beyond comprehension in this early period of movie history. During that time, however, eight-reel talking features would not have been dreamed of either.
The Larchmont opened in 1922:
http://tinyurl.com/y6pfj2
Here is a 1950 article from Time magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/ujon4
That must have hurt:
http://tinyurl.com/sbajw
I like the little plea at the bottom of the photo. My gym used to be the Mann 9 at the Del Amo mall in Torrance CA. No trace of the theater now.
If you want to know why Mrs. Legler was awarded $254, you’re going to have to pony up the five bucks for the rest of the article:
http://tinyurl.com/yhuvmv
I can’t figure out which Liberty was run by Warner Brothers in the 1930s. Any ideas? By the way, I thought people only slipped on banana peels in the movies:
http://tinyurl.com/yexfu8
The poor widow with three kids was awarded $3500 – the theater argued this was excessive. Who do you think the court found more sympathetic?
http://tinyurl.com/yfy784
Vaudeville was still going strong at the Orpheum in 1934:
http://tinyurl.com/y73gx9
Here is some information on renovation, or proposed renovation, in the 1970s:
http://tinyurl.com/so2dy
Here is a 1953 lawsuit filed by the buyers of the Forest:
http://tinyurl.com/y7k53x
There was a fire in 1950 that caused substantial damage. Litigation ensued:
http://tinyurl.com/yxpxph
Unless there was another Colonial in Germantown, the theater was already closed by 1952:
http://tinyurl.com/ygul7p
Here are excerpts from an article in the Doylestown Intelligencer dated 3/2/97. I can’t reproduce the pictures here. There’s no right answer if the building was destroyed and rebuilt, obviously.
Film buffs still flock to County Theater
In 1928, the Strand opened its door to entertain area residents with silent films. A fire damaged the Strand, and it was remodeled and reopened as the County Theater, shown here in 1938 (Photos)
I remember that the late Doylestown Mayor Daniel D. Atkinson used to tell me that the first movies in Doylestown were shown early in the 1900s in a room in a pool or billiard parlor in a building on South Main Street where the County Linen Center now stands. Edward V. Hellyer snowed the first movies in Doylestown. The admission was a nickel.
Researching in the Bucks County Historical Society Mercer Museum Library, I learned that the Strand Theater (I prefer Strand to County) was opened in January 1925. Before the Strand, the movies were shown in a large auditorium on the second floor in Lenape Hall, the more than a century old brick building at State and Main streets. I can remember when the Strand had two stores, a gift shop and the Palace of Sweets off the entrance lobby. The Strand had two apartments on its second floor front. Doylestown Theater
Guild used to present its plays in the Strand until the talkies emerged in 1927. Because of its sensitive sound projection equipment backstage, the live performers moved to a high school auditorium stage. (A fire damaged the Strand and it was remodeled and reopened as the County Theater.)
Bucks County President Judge Hiram H Keller spoke at the opening of the County Theater in September of 1938. The County Theater was modernized and improved at a cost of $75,000. The seating capacity was increased to 700 persons. The first names on the marquee were Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy in “Test Pilot”. Doylestown got its first Sunday movies Nov. 17, 1940. Only the Catholic and Episcopal churches did not formally campaign against Sunday movies.
Here is a webpage with some additional information:
http://tinyurl.com/vgbes
If he kept driving into the marquee, why didn’t he figure out a different route?
http://tinyurl.com/yfq4pt
Where was the wet floor sign?
http://tinyurl.com/ykwzn6
Fix my marquee forthwith:
http://tinyurl.com/yfryss
This lawsuit shows a different address for the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/ymgy2q
Looks like status should be closed/demolished:
http://tinyurl.com/y2n262
Here is a July 2000 article about the possible demolition of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/y6xfwe
This news article is dated 10/12/02:
FORT WORTH—The shell of the historic 7th Street Theatre could be bulldozed as early as Monday if the nonprofit group that owns the property opts to reactivate its demolition permit. What’s left of the building, at 3128 W. Seventh St., has been protected from demolition for the past six months in hopes that an alternative use could be found. That stay expires at midnight tonight, clearing the way for the FPA Foundation to reinstitute its demolition certificate.
Here is a view of the Metropolitan marquee from the other end of Broadway in 1926:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics49/00059101.jpg