“I lived near this drive in and as a youngster got to see a lot movies there with my parents. The Sunset was huge, had the familiar playground under the screen and the snack bar had good food. I saw my first 3-D movie here which was "Arena”, about a rodeo rider. As a teenager sneaking friends into the theater in the trunk was done a time or two"….Billy Smith
“In the 1960s I used to stand under the marquee of the boarded up Lake Theater waiting for my dad to pick me up after movies at the nearby Venus Theater.”…Billy Smith
“In 1953 or 1954 there was a bank on Texas Avenue, just past Linwood Avenue about 2 blocks past the West End Theater. I was either 8 or 9 when my mother and I happened upon the aftermath of a bank robber having been shot and killed. A large crowd had gathered around, blood was running down the street and the robber had been covered over with newspapers.” ….Billy Smith
I suspect some of us that have a warm spot in our hearts for the old theaters would agree that they sometimes took on a life of their own because they were so much a part of our lives. Naturally after life comes death and I believe at times a resident spirit would remain. However I am not convinced by the small photo on the above mentioned website that a spirit image has been captured. I would love to see a large scan of it.
A genuine “cinema treasure” and success story due to the hard work and dedication of the current owner Craig Spencer. With special thanks to him for a tour and permission to post the 1949 photo of the Heights. Three views of the theater here, here and here. Two auditorium views here and here. And the 1949 photo here.
A September 2008 view of the Park Theater in Avon. Another view here and here. Although a “Platinum Classic Motorcars” banner is displayed in the window, to the owner’s credit the outward appearance of the theater has been maintained and it has not been turned into a parking lot (yet).
Not that I am happy about the Tower Theater (see my March 14, 2007 comment above), but it will take having a benefactor such as the Garza Theater does for the Tower to survive. That benefactor is in Post, but unfortunately the the desire is not.
“I lived near this drive in and as a youngster got to see a lot movies there with my parents. The Sunset was huge, had the familiar playground under the screen and the snack bar had good food. I saw my first 3-D movie here which was "Arena”, about a rodeo rider. As a teenager sneaking friends into the theater in the trunk was done a time or two"….Billy Smith
“As with many drive in theaters the Don became a skin flick before finally closing.”…Billy Smith
“The Ritz was a segregated theater.”…Billy Smith
“In the 1960s I used to stand under the marquee of the boarded up Lake Theater waiting for my dad to pick me up after movies at the nearby Venus Theater.”…Billy Smith
A 1940s view of the Majestic Theatre in Fort Worth. It was either on or near the location of the old Trailways Bus station.
A 1980s view of the Golden Horseshoe being torn to make way for a K-Mart discount store.
Don…
“In 1953 or 1954 there was a bank on Texas Avenue, just past Linwood Avenue about 2 blocks past the West End Theater. I was either 8 or 9 when my mother and I happened upon the aftermath of a bank robber having been shot and killed. A large crowd had gathered around, blood was running down the street and the robber had been covered over with newspapers.” ….Billy Smith
I remember the Rex for westerns and especially a lot of Randolph Scott movies, but also recall seeing other movies there such as “The Little Hut”.
Billy S.
A 1996 view of the Sidney Theatre in Sidney here and here.
A 1996 view of the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield.
A 1983 view of the Pioneer Theatre in Nebraska City.
A 1983 view of the Rivoli Theater in Falls City.
Paul Smith’s photo of the Houston Granada here and its twin the Capitan in Pasadena.
2008 views of the Little Theater in Rochester here, here and here.
I suspect some of us that have a warm spot in our hearts for the old theaters would agree that they sometimes took on a life of their own because they were so much a part of our lives. Naturally after life comes death and I believe at times a resident spirit would remain. However I am not convinced by the small photo on the above mentioned website that a spirit image has been captured. I would love to see a large scan of it.
Without a doubt….“the truth is out there”
Don…
2008 views of another “cinema treasure”, the State in Ithaca. Here, here, here and here. Two enlarged views here and here.
A genuine “cinema treasure” and success story due to the hard work and dedication of the current owner Craig Spencer. With special thanks to him for a tour and permission to post the 1949 photo of the Heights. Three views of the theater here, here and here. Two auditorium views here and here. And the 1949 photo here.
2008 views of the Elmira Drive-In here, here and here. The drive in is open and doing well despite the way it looks in the photo.
Four 2008 views of the Star Theatre in Dansville. View #1, #2, #3 and #4.
A September 2008 view of the Park Theater in Avon. Another view here and here. Although a “Platinum Classic Motorcars” banner is displayed in the window, to the owner’s credit the outward appearance of the theater has been maintained and it has not been turned into a parking lot (yet).
A 2008 view of the former Batavia Theater building in Batavia and a close up of the outstanding building detail and marquee here.
A 1996 view of the Palace Theater in Lockport here and a 2008 view here. Enlarged views here and here.
Not that I am happy about the Tower Theater (see my March 14, 2007 comment above), but it will take having a benefactor such as the Garza Theater does for the Tower to survive. That benefactor is in Post, but unfortunately the the desire is not.
Don…
A 1986 view of the Stanley Theatre in Utica here and here.
A 1996 view of Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady and a close up view here.