The next bout with fire in the community was not nearly as costly. However, it claimed a sizable amount of merchandise Feb. 16, 1913.
About $8,000 in merchandise and fixtures burned at Rolfe’s Drug store after flames shot out of a furnace in the rear of the store about 10 a.m. The loss was not total.
A 2:30 a.m. discovery of smoke brought firemen to the R. L. Brown Hardware Store March 1, 1916. However, before the fire fighters could quell the blaze $12,000 in stock and the building were gone. Tile structure was one of the early ones in Flandreau and was a landmark. The Bidne-Brown Building in the main business district stands on the site now.
Another early morning blaze engulfed tile Bland Meat Market May 22, 1921. Defective wiring was listed as the probable cause for $9,000 in damage beginning about 3:30 a.m.
The interior furnishings and equipment at the Crystal Theatre received damage to the tune of $6,000 in Nov. No cause was ever established for the fire, which was noticed about 6 O'clock in the evening but it was believed to have been the result of a furnace.
One website alleges that the Gem Theater is haunted:
Athena – Old Gem Theater – Second story of theater is now used as a home and the first floor is the abandoned theater. Reports of hearing foot steps in the hallways, doorknobs turning when there is no one on the other side. A whitish figure wonders about the theater seats.
It looks like time is running out for this theater. Greg Laemmle was interviewed in the LA Times today and said the theater was on a month to month lease. There are plans to open a megaplex by the Staples Center in the next few years as part of a large scale entertainment complex. This theater will be long gone by then.
McAdoo had its first theatre in 1908. This could not well be called a theatre as it consisted of only one room. It was located at South Tamaqua St. where the Hasslers have their business place at the present time. Movies were not shown here for very long because a fire occurred not far from there and much damage was done to the machinery. The next theatre was on North Tamaqua St. where the First National Bank is now. The owner of this theatre was Mr. Burnard and it was called “The Star.” The next theatre was “The Lion.” This was located where the “Palace” is now. It was not long after this that another theatre was built. This was the “Blaine”, located on Blaine St. across from St. Mary’s Catholic Greek Church. Both of these theatres were destroyed by fire within a month of each other. After they burned down a temporary theatre was set up in a little house in back of the St. Patrick’s School. This was used until the “Lion” was rebuilt. When it was rebuilt it was also renamed. It was now called the “Palace” and this name remains to the present time. About three years ago the “Roxy” theatre and the “Strand” theatre were established. The “Roxy” was in business about two years and a half and then went out of business. At the present time there remain only two theatres, the “Palace” and the “Strand”.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Good Things in Small Towns
It’s always good to hear of a small town or community doing positive things to bring the arts to their citizens, and I’m particularly inspired by what’s going on in Winfield, Alabama right now. Not that I’m partial since I grew up in the area, but the Winfield Main Street program has done quite a bit for the town in a short time. The old Pastime Theater, built in the 1930s had fallen into disrepair, but a few forward thinking citizens got together in an effort to preserve it, and have done a remarkable job! While I have as yet to see the renovated theater, I’m planning on going up to do so, and I plan on attending at least one of the events in their concert series. The type of events they have there varies widely, so there’s something there for almost everyone! Tuscaloosa’s Lamb Family will be performing there in March, and there will be other musical and dramatic events there in coming weeks and months.
Here is a link with some additional information:
http://tinyurl.com/zqggk
And some more recollections from the locals:
http://tinyurl.com/kxkf9
Here is a photo:
http://tinyurl.com/fjbh2
Further research finds the theater on the right is the “Laff Chance”. A comedy club, perhaps?
I should have said left instead of right. I don’t know what the theater is on the right side of the picture.
Here is a photo from 1924. The Garrick is the smaller building on the right:
http://tinyurl.com/n7rcr
I have looked for any evidence of the tunnel around Pine and Ocean, with no success. Any hints?
Not to worry, Joe.
Here is a 1978 photo showing an old ad for the Newsreel painted on an alley wall:
http://tinyurl.com/mnvnt
Fire in 1921:
The next bout with fire in the community was not nearly as costly. However, it claimed a sizable amount of merchandise Feb. 16, 1913.
About $8,000 in merchandise and fixtures burned at Rolfe’s Drug store after flames shot out of a furnace in the rear of the store about 10 a.m. The loss was not total.
A 2:30 a.m. discovery of smoke brought firemen to the R. L. Brown Hardware Store March 1, 1916. However, before the fire fighters could quell the blaze $12,000 in stock and the building were gone. Tile structure was one of the early ones in Flandreau and was a landmark. The Bidne-Brown Building in the main business district stands on the site now.
Another early morning blaze engulfed tile Bland Meat Market May 22, 1921. Defective wiring was listed as the probable cause for $9,000 in damage beginning about 3:30 a.m.
The interior furnishings and equipment at the Crystal Theatre received damage to the tune of $6,000 in Nov. No cause was ever established for the fire, which was noticed about 6 O'clock in the evening but it was believed to have been the result of a furnace.
Here is a current photo:
http://tinyurl.com/my7bn
One website alleges that the Gem Theater is haunted:
Athena – Old Gem Theater – Second story of theater is now used as a home and the first floor is the abandoned theater. Reports of hearing foot steps in the hallways, doorknobs turning when there is no one on the other side. A whitish figure wonders about the theater seats.
Do they still have a Shop Rite supermarket and Woolworths department store at that location? I haven’t been there in a while.
Here are some vintage photos:
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
Here are links with additional information for this theater:
http://tinyurl.com/oe6vl
http://tinyurl.com/qcy8h
1953 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/g4j4l
1955:
http://tinyurl.com/k7hf5
The Electric Theater was mentioned in yesterday’s LA Times article about the decline of theaters in downtown Los Angeles.
It looks like time is running out for this theater. Greg Laemmle was interviewed in the LA Times today and said the theater was on a month to month lease. There are plans to open a megaplex by the Staples Center in the next few years as part of a large scale entertainment complex. This theater will be long gone by then.
Here is a recent photo:
http://tinyurl.com/9xoka
Here are some photos:
http://tinyurl.com/8yqhb
and some local history:
The Theatres
McAdoo had its first theatre in 1908. This could not well be called a theatre as it consisted of only one room. It was located at South Tamaqua St. where the Hasslers have their business place at the present time. Movies were not shown here for very long because a fire occurred not far from there and much damage was done to the machinery. The next theatre was on North Tamaqua St. where the First National Bank is now. The owner of this theatre was Mr. Burnard and it was called “The Star.” The next theatre was “The Lion.” This was located where the “Palace” is now. It was not long after this that another theatre was built. This was the “Blaine”, located on Blaine St. across from St. Mary’s Catholic Greek Church. Both of these theatres were destroyed by fire within a month of each other. After they burned down a temporary theatre was set up in a little house in back of the St. Patrick’s School. This was used until the “Lion” was rebuilt. When it was rebuilt it was also renamed. It was now called the “Palace” and this name remains to the present time. About three years ago the “Roxy” theatre and the “Strand” theatre were established. The “Roxy” was in business about two years and a half and then went out of business. At the present time there remain only two theatres, the “Palace” and the “Strand”.
Here is a 1937 photo of the Roosevelt:
http://tinyurl.com/8mu6t
Here is a picture of the Admiral dated 1/22/42:
http://tinyurl.com/bno4y
This map dates around 1950 – the Republic is already gone:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
Here is a map, circa 1950, that shows the Star on Main between the Gayety and the Optic:
http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/subwayarea.htm
Thanks for the website, Joe. I will work on that.
This is from a blog:
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Good Things in Small Towns
It’s always good to hear of a small town or community doing positive things to bring the arts to their citizens, and I’m particularly inspired by what’s going on in Winfield, Alabama right now. Not that I’m partial since I grew up in the area, but the Winfield Main Street program has done quite a bit for the town in a short time. The old Pastime Theater, built in the 1930s had fallen into disrepair, but a few forward thinking citizens got together in an effort to preserve it, and have done a remarkable job! While I have as yet to see the renovated theater, I’m planning on going up to do so, and I plan on attending at least one of the events in their concert series. The type of events they have there varies widely, so there’s something there for almost everyone! Tuscaloosa’s Lamb Family will be performing there in March, and there will be other musical and dramatic events there in coming weeks and months.