Perhaps the Falls was opened in 1927 as the Ritz? The street matches.
Variety, Dec. 14, 1927: “The new Ritz, Marlin, Tex., was opened by Lee Oakes.”
Film Daily, Dec. 20, 1927: “Marlin. Tex. — Dean & Oakes have opened the Ritz on Live Oak St. This gives the town three houses.”
Then maybe it changed to the Rex? The 1930 Film Daily Year Book listed the Rex and the Palace as the only two Marlin theaters that were wired for sound.
Motion Picture News, Jan. 11, 1930: “Kipp sound equipment has been installed at the … Rex, Marlin, Tex.”
The 1933 Film Daily Year Book listed three theaters in Marlin: the Palace, the Strand, and the Lyric (capacity 350). Was that yet another renaming? I don’t know, but at least I have a place to dump most of my Marlin notes. :)
Harper Herald, April 15, 1949: “The El Rancho Theatre of Harper has been sold by the former owner, B. O. McDonald of Kerrville, to Walter R. Dills, also of Kerrville. Mr. Dills announced that he has changed the name of the theatre to the "Hartex” theatre and plans are to have a show each night of the week."
The Herald noted on Oct. 15, 1954 that “Roger Harper is the proprietor of the Hartex Theatre now”.
As the watermarks indicate, those aerial photos are copyrighted by HistoricAerials.com’s company. If you find the original aerials, typically USGS, those would be public domain, but this isn’t.
The Exhibitor, June 21, 1950: “ H. C. Stadele is building a new 300-car capacity drive-in at Marlin, Tex… . The Royal Drive-In has been opened at Marlin by E. L. Williamson and Associates.”
Several newspapers reported on a false-alarm panic that originated at the Royal in early May 1951. About 9 pm, a patron told owner/manager John Lawrence (J. L.) Compere that he heard on his car radio that a twister was headed from Waco towards Marlin. Compere got on the drive-in PA and warned patrons to take cover. “An estimated 600 cars, four abreast, streamed out of the drive-in and headed for town,” spreading the word as they drove. There was no tornado, and no one could figure what the patron, “a man of good reputation,” had heard.
The Exhibitor, Nov. 14, 1951: “J. L. Compere, manager, Royal Drive-In, Marlin, Tex., announced that he will continue the operation of the drive-in on a year-round basis.”
The Exhibitor, May 7, 1952: “The Royal Drive-In has been reopened at Marlin, Tex., by J. C. Chatmas, Sr., and Johnny Chatmas. It was purchased by the Chatmas Amusement Company last November.”
Moving Picture News, Feb. 10, 1912: “Marlin, Tex, — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad street.”
Moving Picture World, March 16, 1912: “Marlin, Tex. — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad Street.”
Film Daily, June 14, 1925: “Marlin, Tex.— J. C. Chatman has opened the Palace.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, Dec. 21, 1929, included the Palace among theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound-on-film equipment.
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1945: “If open-air theatres ever become the rage again, J. C. Chatmas will be the man to go to for advice. In 1912 his first theatre, the Majestic Airdome, in Marlin, Tex., boasted a partially open roof at night, but it was closed all day. His admission price was five cents. In 1916 Jimmy purchased the old Opera House in Marlin, renaming it the Orpheum. Fire destroyed the Orpheum in 1922. He then opened the Majestic. With the coming of sound the Majestic was renovated. The improved house is now known as the Palace Theatre.”
Same theater? Moving Picture World, Sept. 18, 1915: “Nathan & Naman have purchased the Arlington opera house, at Marlin, Tex. The building was damaged in the storm which recently swept the southwest, but the new owners plan to expend $6,000 this fall in remodeling it into a modern photoplay and theatrical house.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, April 26, 1930, included the Strand in a list of theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound equipment. It listed the Strand’s capacity as 382 seats.
The Marlin Democrat included a short history of the Majestic/Palace in a March 11, 2020 article on its 95th anniversary. Highlights:
“In 1912, the “Majestic” Theater was born in Marlin, built by a “Mr. Christian.” It sat on Railroad Street, now Heritage Row, and showed Birth of a Nation as it’s first film. The building was later purchased by film connoisseur J.C. Chatmas … When another of his similar entrepreneurial ventures, the Orpheum Opera House, burned down in 1921, he decided that the Majestic was in need of renovation to avoid a similar fate.
He bought the building in 1924 and because of the condition of disarray, Chatmas decided it would be in best interest to tear the whole thing down and start from scratch.
Construction on The Palace Theatre was completed in 1925 … J.C. Chatmus ran the place with the help of his right-hand man, Casey, until his death in 1966, but it was operated by family members for another nine years after such time. The Chatmus Family held onto the theater until 1980, when it was donated to the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin."
The non-profit Marlin Palace Theater Center, Inc., was then formed to restore the Palace.
Boxoffice, April 1, 1939: “The San-Val Drive-In, in Burbank, has reopened after being dark for a month while damages, caused by Southern California’s windstorm of a month or so ago, were repaired”
Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1939: “First giveaway ever booked in a drive-in theatre is being given a tryout at Seth Perkins' San-Val. Perkins is handing out free crockery to every woman patron once weekly.”
Today, the Taos News ran a nice little interview with Margo Beutler Gins, daughter of the guy who owned the Kit Carson from 1962 to 1970. The only new detail I could find was the big wind, a dust devil or tornado, that blew down the screen on April 22, 1969.
The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952: “William Shiell, Algiers, La., and E. Jenner, Ellisville, Miss., assumed full ownership of the Marrero Drive-In, Marrero, La. In turn, they sold their interest in the Algiers Drive-In, Algiers, La., and the Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., to their former associates, Fred T. McLendon, McLendon Theatres, Union Springs, Ala., and M. A. “Max” Connett, Max Connett Theatres. Shiell will continue to hold the reins of the Marrero Drive-In. In addition, he will have charge of the buying and booking heretofore handled by Sammy Wright, M. A. “Max” Connett Booking Service.”
The Exhibitor, Sept. 2, 1953: “E. R. Sellers and his brother and Bob Conrad purchased Fred T. McLendon’s and M. A. Connett’s interest in the Hub Drive-In and Twin Hub Drive-In, Lafayete, La., along with Milton Guidry, who already shared in ownership operations.”
The Exhibitor, Sept. 23, 1953: “E. R. and R. A. Sellers, Milton Guidry, and R. J. “Bob” Conrad formed the Evangeline Drive-In Corporation to operate the Hub and Twin Hub Drive-Ins, Lafayette, La. The four have taken over M. A. Connett’s and Fred T. McLendon’s interest, Milton Guidry already had a hand in the projects as partners of the latter two. All but R. A. Sellers are experienced in theatre and drive-in operations. E. R. Sellers and Guidry own and operate the Yam Drive-In, Opelousas, La. The latter is also interested in the Nona, Lafayette, La., and Conrad owns the Bruce, Jennings, La., and Sunset, Sunset, La.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Nov. 21, 1956: “The Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., still is closed for rebuilding of the screen tower which was flattened during a severe wind storm.”
In a 1958 aerial photo, a drive-in that was still in pretty good shape was visible about 3 miles east of Lafayette on then-US 90. (I’d call it south-southeast of town, but you get the idea.) Hints of the ramps were still there in 1998, and the land was still vacant in 2013. By April 2015, it was occupied by an office products store. The address today is 3045 W Pinhook Road, Lafayette LA 70508.
The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952: “William Shiell, Algiers, La., and E. Jenner, Ellisville, Miss., assumed full ownership of the Marrero Drive-In, Marrero, La. In turn, they sold their interest in the Algiers Drive-In, Algiers, La., and the Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., to their former associates, Fred T. McLendon, McLendon Theatres, Union Springs, Ala., and M. A. “Max” Connett, Max Connett Theatres.”
The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952: “William Shiell, Algiers, La., and E. Jenner, Ellisville, Miss., assumed full ownership of the Marrero Drive-In, Marrero, La. In turn, they sold their interest in the Algiers Drive-In, Algiers, La., and the Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., to their former associates, Fred T. McLendon, McLendon Theatres, Union Springs, Ala., and M. A. “Max” Connett, Max Connett Theatres. Shiell will continue to hold the reins of the Marrero Drive-In. In addition, he will have charge of the buying and booking heretofore handled by Sammy Wright, M. A. “Max” Connett Booking Service.”
The Exhibitor, Feb. 16, 1955: “R. A. Sellers one of the four owners interested in Hub Drive-In Theatres, Inc., reported that they shut down operations at the Lafayette Drive-In, Lafayette, La.”
The Exhibitor, March 9, 1955: “The Lafayette Drive-In, Lafayette, La., will close for good advised E. R. Sellers, one of the owners. Hub Drive- In Theatres, Inc., operators of two other drive-ins in that city, the Hub and Twin.”
The Exhibitor, Nov. 18, 1953: “The Pat, Lafayette, La., will observe its fifth anniversary on Dec. 8. Mathews Guidry and Percy Duplissey, owners, have plans for a celebration.”
The Tampa Bay Times ran an article about Ted Freiwald, who owns the Ruskin Family Drive-In with his wife Karen. According to the Times, the drive-in opened on April 16, 1952, Freiwald’s 19th birthday.
Looking at the 1951 newspaper ads for the drive-in, I was reminded of the regional usage of “Twin” - it’s a way of including the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. (For example, the name of the baseball team there.) That would explain the name that would otherwise be misleading until 1958, when the drive-in switched to a two-sided screen.
Boxoffice, April 28, 1980: “Don Dorsey, owner of the Dorseyland Drive-In in Caribou, Me., has purchased the Polaris Drive-In in that city from Reginald Bernard. Stan Davis' Cinema Booking Service will serve the new owner.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1940: “Mora - N. Cornett is opening a new house, the first in this town, which has a population of 1,500.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 31, 1949: (under Theatre Construction) “Marlin, Tex. - 400-car drive-in started on Route 6 for E. L. Williams.”
Boxoffice, March 4, 1950: (under Theatre Openings) “Marlin, Tex. - Royal Drive-In opened by E. L. Williamson & Associates.”
Boxoffice, March 18, 1950: (under Theatre Openings) “Marlin, Tex. - 300-car drive-in to open immediately for H. C. Stadele on Highway 7.”
Perhaps the Falls was opened in 1927 as the Ritz? The street matches.
Variety, Dec. 14, 1927: “The new Ritz, Marlin, Tex., was opened by Lee Oakes.”
Film Daily, Dec. 20, 1927: “Marlin. Tex. — Dean & Oakes have opened the Ritz on Live Oak St. This gives the town three houses.”
Then maybe it changed to the Rex? The 1930 Film Daily Year Book listed the Rex and the Palace as the only two Marlin theaters that were wired for sound.
Motion Picture News, Jan. 11, 1930: “Kipp sound equipment has been installed at the … Rex, Marlin, Tex.”
The 1933 Film Daily Year Book listed three theaters in Marlin: the Palace, the Strand, and the Lyric (capacity 350). Was that yet another renaming? I don’t know, but at least I have a place to dump most of my Marlin notes. :)
Harper Herald, April 15, 1949: “The El Rancho Theatre of Harper has been sold by the former owner, B. O. McDonald of Kerrville, to Walter R. Dills, also of Kerrville. Mr. Dills announced that he has changed the name of the theatre to the "Hartex” theatre and plans are to have a show each night of the week."
The Herald noted on Oct. 15, 1954 that “Roger Harper is the proprietor of the Hartex Theatre now”.
As the watermarks indicate, those aerial photos are copyrighted by HistoricAerials.com’s company. If you find the original aerials, typically USGS, those would be public domain, but this isn’t.
The Exhibitor, June 21, 1950: “ H. C. Stadele is building a new 300-car capacity drive-in at Marlin, Tex… . The Royal Drive-In has been opened at Marlin by E. L. Williamson and Associates.”
Several newspapers reported on a false-alarm panic that originated at the Royal in early May 1951. About 9 pm, a patron told owner/manager John Lawrence (J. L.) Compere that he heard on his car radio that a twister was headed from Waco towards Marlin. Compere got on the drive-in PA and warned patrons to take cover. “An estimated 600 cars, four abreast, streamed out of the drive-in and headed for town,” spreading the word as they drove. There was no tornado, and no one could figure what the patron, “a man of good reputation,” had heard.
The Exhibitor, Nov. 14, 1951: “J. L. Compere, manager, Royal Drive-In, Marlin, Tex., announced that he will continue the operation of the drive-in on a year-round basis.”
The Exhibitor, May 7, 1952: “The Royal Drive-In has been reopened at Marlin, Tex., by J. C. Chatmas, Sr., and Johnny Chatmas. It was purchased by the Chatmas Amusement Company last November.”
Moving Picture News, Feb. 10, 1912: “Marlin, Tex, — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad street.”
Moving Picture World, March 16, 1912: “Marlin, Tex. — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad Street.”
Film Daily, June 14, 1925: “Marlin, Tex.— J. C. Chatman has opened the Palace.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, Dec. 21, 1929, included the Palace among theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound-on-film equipment.
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1945: “If open-air theatres ever become the rage again, J. C. Chatmas will be the man to go to for advice. In 1912 his first theatre, the Majestic Airdome, in Marlin, Tex., boasted a partially open roof at night, but it was closed all day. His admission price was five cents. In 1916 Jimmy purchased the old Opera House in Marlin, renaming it the Orpheum. Fire destroyed the Orpheum in 1922. He then opened the Majestic. With the coming of sound the Majestic was renovated. The improved house is now known as the Palace Theatre.”
Same theater? Moving Picture World, Sept. 18, 1915: “Nathan & Naman have purchased the Arlington opera house, at Marlin, Tex. The building was damaged in the storm which recently swept the southwest, but the new owners plan to expend $6,000 this fall in remodeling it into a modern photoplay and theatrical house.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, April 26, 1930, included the Strand in a list of theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound equipment. It listed the Strand’s capacity as 382 seats.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, May 27, 1955: “Homer Walters has announced that CinemaScope has been installed in his Falls, Marlin, Tex.”
The Marlin Democrat included a short history of the Majestic/Palace in a March 11, 2020 article on its 95th anniversary. Highlights:
“In 1912, the “Majestic” Theater was born in Marlin, built by a “Mr. Christian.” It sat on Railroad Street, now Heritage Row, and showed Birth of a Nation as it’s first film. The building was later purchased by film connoisseur J.C. Chatmas … When another of his similar entrepreneurial ventures, the Orpheum Opera House, burned down in 1921, he decided that the Majestic was in need of renovation to avoid a similar fate.
He bought the building in 1924 and because of the condition of disarray, Chatmas decided it would be in best interest to tear the whole thing down and start from scratch.
Construction on The Palace Theatre was completed in 1925 … J.C. Chatmus ran the place with the help of his right-hand man, Casey, until his death in 1966, but it was operated by family members for another nine years after such time. The Chatmus Family held onto the theater until 1980, when it was donated to the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin."
The non-profit Marlin Palace Theater Center, Inc., was then formed to restore the Palace.
The American Dream’s latest (?) web site has listings through June 2020: http://americandreamdrivein.com/
But its Facebook page had posts with movies through September 2022: https://www.facebook.com/americandreamdrivein I guess the place is still active.
Boxoffice, April 1, 1939: “The San-Val Drive-In, in Burbank, has reopened after being dark for a month while damages, caused by Southern California’s windstorm of a month or so ago, were repaired”
Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1939: “First giveaway ever booked in a drive-in theatre is being given a tryout at Seth Perkins' San-Val. Perkins is handing out free crockery to every woman patron once weekly.”
Today, the Taos News ran a nice little interview with Margo Beutler Gins, daughter of the guy who owned the Kit Carson from 1962 to 1970. The only new detail I could find was the big wind, a dust devil or tornado, that blew down the screen on April 22, 1969.
The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952: “William Shiell, Algiers, La., and E. Jenner, Ellisville, Miss., assumed full ownership of the Marrero Drive-In, Marrero, La. In turn, they sold their interest in the Algiers Drive-In, Algiers, La., and the Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., to their former associates, Fred T. McLendon, McLendon Theatres, Union Springs, Ala., and M. A. “Max” Connett, Max Connett Theatres. Shiell will continue to hold the reins of the Marrero Drive-In. In addition, he will have charge of the buying and booking heretofore handled by Sammy Wright, M. A. “Max” Connett Booking Service.”
The Exhibitor, Sept. 2, 1953: “E. R. Sellers and his brother and Bob Conrad purchased Fred T. McLendon’s and M. A. Connett’s interest in the Hub Drive-In and Twin Hub Drive-In, Lafayete, La., along with Milton Guidry, who already shared in ownership operations.”
The Exhibitor, Sept. 23, 1953: “E. R. and R. A. Sellers, Milton Guidry, and R. J. “Bob” Conrad formed the Evangeline Drive-In Corporation to operate the Hub and Twin Hub Drive-Ins, Lafayette, La. The four have taken over M. A. Connett’s and Fred T. McLendon’s interest, Milton Guidry already had a hand in the projects as partners of the latter two. All but R. A. Sellers are experienced in theatre and drive-in operations. E. R. Sellers and Guidry own and operate the Yam Drive-In, Opelousas, La. The latter is also interested in the Nona, Lafayette, La., and Conrad owns the Bruce, Jennings, La., and Sunset, Sunset, La.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Nov. 21, 1956: “The Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., still is closed for rebuilding of the screen tower which was flattened during a severe wind storm.”
In a 1958 aerial photo, a drive-in that was still in pretty good shape was visible about 3 miles east of Lafayette on then-US 90. (I’d call it south-southeast of town, but you get the idea.) Hints of the ramps were still there in 1998, and the land was still vacant in 2013. By April 2015, it was occupied by an office products store. The address today is 3045 W Pinhook Road, Lafayette LA 70508.
The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952: “William Shiell, Algiers, La., and E. Jenner, Ellisville, Miss., assumed full ownership of the Marrero Drive-In, Marrero, La. In turn, they sold their interest in the Algiers Drive-In, Algiers, La., and the Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., to their former associates, Fred T. McLendon, McLendon Theatres, Union Springs, Ala., and M. A. “Max” Connett, Max Connett Theatres.”
The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952: “William Shiell, Algiers, La., and E. Jenner, Ellisville, Miss., assumed full ownership of the Marrero Drive-In, Marrero, La. In turn, they sold their interest in the Algiers Drive-In, Algiers, La., and the Hub Drive-In, Lafayette, La., to their former associates, Fred T. McLendon, McLendon Theatres, Union Springs, Ala., and M. A. “Max” Connett, Max Connett Theatres. Shiell will continue to hold the reins of the Marrero Drive-In. In addition, he will have charge of the buying and booking heretofore handled by Sammy Wright, M. A. “Max” Connett Booking Service.”
The Exhibitor, Feb. 16, 1955: “R. A. Sellers one of the four owners interested in Hub Drive-In Theatres, Inc., reported that they shut down operations at the Lafayette Drive-In, Lafayette, La.”
The Exhibitor, March 9, 1955: “The Lafayette Drive-In, Lafayette, La., will close for good advised E. R. Sellers, one of the owners. Hub Drive- In Theatres, Inc., operators of two other drive-ins in that city, the Hub and Twin.”
The Exhibitor, Nov. 18, 1953: “The Pat, Lafayette, La., will observe its fifth anniversary on Dec. 8. Mathews Guidry and Percy Duplissey, owners, have plans for a celebration.”
The Exhibitor, Feb. 13, 1952: “Milton Guidry advised that his Loit, Lafayette, La., has been converted to a clothing establishment.”
The Tampa Bay Times ran an article about Ted Freiwald, who owns the Ruskin Family Drive-In with his wife Karen. According to the Times, the drive-in opened on April 16, 1952, Freiwald’s 19th birthday.
Looking at the 1951 newspaper ads for the drive-in, I was reminded of the regional usage of “Twin” - it’s a way of including the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. (For example, the name of the baseball team there.) That would explain the name that would otherwise be misleading until 1958, when the drive-in switched to a two-sided screen.
Boxoffice, April 28, 1980: “Don Dorsey, owner of the Dorseyland Drive-In in Caribou, Me., has purchased the Polaris Drive-In in that city from Reginald Bernard. Stan Davis' Cinema Booking Service will serve the new owner.”