In May 1976, the Palace was showing a revival of Gone with the Wind. Most of the theaters in the area appear to have been owned by a company called Cinema National. A local newspaper ad also shows a few independent theaters, including two adult venues, the Franklin on 237 South Avenue and the Studio on Wescott Street.
On 5/18/76, the Salina was showing “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Torso” starring Suzy Kendall (or at least parts of her, given the title). Family fun for all.
Other theaters in Panama City as of 8/56 were the Bud Davis Drive-In, Gulf Drive-in, Isle of View Drive-In, Wayside Drive-In, Panama Theater and Bay Theater.
You can’t see the Hollywood Hotel in the 1954 picture. The hotel was on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Highland and was torn down in 1959. The Kodak theater is there now. I believe the taller building is still standing.
The address is 1348 Lincoln. A few years ago, the building was being used as a banquet hall. It’s currently being renovated, with the future occupants unknown.
On 4/29/77, the Airport was showing a double feature – “A Star is Born” (1976 version) and “Carrie”. The phone number was 892-1181. Tickets were $1.50 until 7 p.m. Mon-Thurs and until 3 p.m. Sat-Sun.
By 1956, the price of a ticket had climbed to 35 cents. Kids under 12 got in for 9 cents. The vaudeville acts were gone, though. The theater was open from 1 p.m. to midnight.
On 8/22/56, the Arcata was showing “Doctor at Sea”, along with “The Divided Heart”. The theater’s phone number was VA 2-1727. Other theaters advertised in the Eureka Humboldt Standard that day were the Fortuna (playing the same double bill as the Arcata), the Eureka, the Liberty, the Rialto and the Midway Drive-In.
Here is an article from the 4/4/51 edition of the Long Beach Press Telegram:
Circle Drive-in Opens Tonight
HAILED as the most modern of its type in the nation, the new Circle Drive-In theater will be opened to the public tonight. The theater, located on 15 acres at Pacific Coast Hwy. at the Traffic Circle, will hold a benefit premiere tonight and those who saw a test last night were strong in praise for the huge screen and near-perfect sound offered. Two good films, “Stage to Tucson” and “Raton Pass”
plus news and comics, are offered on the opening bill.
Tonight’s opening culminates more than a year of planning and work. Owned and operated by Eagle Theaters Corp., headed by Thornton Howell, with his brother, James Howell, as secretary-treasurer, the Circle Drive-in is the fourth such theater opened by them. The Long Beach theater imbodies not only all of the main points of their other driveins but many new features. Barnie Warrick, manager, says
the new theater has the largest screen of any in the country. The
picture itself will be 70 feet by 46 feet.
The projector is the latest in equipment from RCA. Each aisle is equipped with ramp lights and each speaker post has a pilot light. In addition the posts are covered with luminous paint. There is parking-viewing space for 1000 motor cars. The snack bar has 85 feet of counter space and is designed for speed in serving. There are two
16-foot windows from the snack bar overlooking the screen and the interior is wired for sound so that visitors in there will not
miss any of the film. It is planned to install playground equipment of all kinds shortly for the entertainment of tots either before or during the shows. The show will start each evening at dusk and the gates will be opened an hour before. Music will be provided on the speakers until the picture starts. Pets are welcomed but must be kept in the cars.
Warren, I would be curious to know if you are scanning these ads to get them onto photobucket. I have access to a newspaper archive website, but the pages are only in pdf format, which means I can’t upload them onto photobucket. I tried posting the pages directly on CT, but the links fail after an hour or so.
Not so mysterious, I don’t think. The Los Angeles is the Lyceum, which is listed on CT. I imagine the Empress would also be an aka for the Los Angeles/Orpheum/Lyceum.
On September 20, 1920, the Isis was showing “Food for Scandal” with Wanda Hawley and Harrison Ford (that’s what it says). Wanda received top billing, of course, which most likely left Harrison pretty ticked.
That link is long gone. The theaters in Fort Wayne on 11/5/22 were the Lyric, Jefferson, Orpheum, Strand, Palace, Hippodrome, Creighton, Transfer and Grand.
Seymour, do you still have a copy of your study? I would like to read it if at all possible.
In May 1976, the Palace was showing a revival of Gone with the Wind. Most of the theaters in the area appear to have been owned by a company called Cinema National. A local newspaper ad also shows a few independent theaters, including two adult venues, the Franklin on 237 South Avenue and the Studio on Wescott Street.
On 5/18/76, the Salina was showing “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Torso” starring Suzy Kendall (or at least parts of her, given the title). Family fun for all.
Here are two 1950s era ads from www.drive-inthruwisconsin.com:
http://tinyurl.com/yj7l9f
Here is a 1974 ad from drive-inthruwisconsin.com:
http://tinyurl.com/yc7ye5
Here is a 1971 ad from Shawano Outdoor’s predecessor:
http://tinyurl.com/yblqkp
Here are some ads from drive-inthruwisconsin.com:
http://tinyurl.com/st744
Here are some ads from drive-inthruwisconsin.com:
http://tinyurl.com/y4dyrq
Here are some newspaper ads from drive-inthruwisconsin.com:
http://tinyurl.com/y43xs4
Other theaters in Panama City as of 8/56 were the Bud Davis Drive-In, Gulf Drive-in, Isle of View Drive-In, Wayside Drive-In, Panama Theater and Bay Theater.
You can’t see the Hollywood Hotel in the 1954 picture. The hotel was on the northwest corner of Hollywood and Highland and was torn down in 1959. The Kodak theater is there now. I believe the taller building is still standing.
The address is 1348 Lincoln. A few years ago, the building was being used as a banquet hall. It’s currently being renovated, with the future occupants unknown.
On 4/29/77, the Airport was showing a double feature – “A Star is Born” (1976 version) and “Carrie”. The phone number was 892-1181. Tickets were $1.50 until 7 p.m. Mon-Thurs and until 3 p.m. Sat-Sun.
By 1956, the price of a ticket had climbed to 35 cents. Kids under 12 got in for 9 cents. The vaudeville acts were gone, though. The theater was open from 1 p.m. to midnight.
On 8/22/56, the Arcata was showing “Doctor at Sea”, along with “The Divided Heart”. The theater’s phone number was VA 2-1727. Other theaters advertised in the Eureka Humboldt Standard that day were the Fortuna (playing the same double bill as the Arcata), the Eureka, the Liberty, the Rialto and the Midway Drive-In.
Duly noted.
Here is an article from the 4/4/51 edition of the Long Beach Press Telegram:
Circle Drive-in Opens Tonight
HAILED as the most modern of its type in the nation, the new Circle Drive-In theater will be opened to the public tonight. The theater, located on 15 acres at Pacific Coast Hwy. at the Traffic Circle, will hold a benefit premiere tonight and those who saw a test last night were strong in praise for the huge screen and near-perfect sound offered. Two good films, “Stage to Tucson” and “Raton Pass”
plus news and comics, are offered on the opening bill.
Tonight’s opening culminates more than a year of planning and work. Owned and operated by Eagle Theaters Corp., headed by Thornton Howell, with his brother, James Howell, as secretary-treasurer, the Circle Drive-in is the fourth such theater opened by them. The Long Beach theater imbodies not only all of the main points of their other driveins but many new features. Barnie Warrick, manager, says
the new theater has the largest screen of any in the country. The
picture itself will be 70 feet by 46 feet.
The projector is the latest in equipment from RCA. Each aisle is equipped with ramp lights and each speaker post has a pilot light. In addition the posts are covered with luminous paint. There is parking-viewing space for 1000 motor cars. The snack bar has 85 feet of counter space and is designed for speed in serving. There are two
16-foot windows from the snack bar overlooking the screen and the interior is wired for sound so that visitors in there will not
miss any of the film. It is planned to install playground equipment of all kinds shortly for the entertainment of tots either before or during the shows. The show will start each evening at dusk and the gates will be opened an hour before. Music will be provided on the speakers until the picture starts. Pets are welcomed but must be kept in the cars.
I thought the “Big Texan” steakhouse was great! Highly recommended.
It looks better with the sign and without all the trees.
Warren, I would be curious to know if you are scanning these ads to get them onto photobucket. I have access to a newspaper archive website, but the pages are only in pdf format, which means I can’t upload them onto photobucket. I tried posting the pages directly on CT, but the links fail after an hour or so.
Not so mysterious, I don’t think. The Los Angeles is the Lyceum, which is listed on CT. I imagine the Empress would also be an aka for the Los Angeles/Orpheum/Lyceum.
The IMDB says that Wanda Hawley later became a call girl in San Francisco. Sic transit gloria mundi.
On September 20, 1920, the Isis was showing “Food for Scandal” with Wanda Hawley and Harrison Ford (that’s what it says). Wanda received top billing, of course, which most likely left Harrison pretty ticked.
Here is the lineup on 9/20/20:
MAJESTIC
Matinee Daily, 2:30
Vaudeville Night 8:15
A Tuneful Girly Farce
“A Brazilian Heiress"
With Frankie Kelly and Nine Others
LARRY COMER in Song and Jest
MAY and HILL Clever Couple
DANCING KENNEDYS Original Creation
EXTRA! EXTRA! FIRST MOVING PICTURES
Wall Street Blown Up!
That link is long gone. The theaters in Fort Wayne on 11/5/22 were the Lyric, Jefferson, Orpheum, Strand, Palace, Hippodrome, Creighton, Transfer and Grand.