Originally a four-screen annex to the Eastland Twin, this house was opened in late 1985 by Rory Dunkel, who operated the two properties as the Eastland Cinemas, with the original twin’s screens numbered 1 and 2 and the quad’s screens numbered as 3, 4, 5, and 6. The original seating capacity of the quad was 1,224, and the architect was Louis Wiltse.
In 1989, Dunkel sold the quad to Goodrich Quality Theatres, but closed the twins. Goodrich originally announced that an additional four screens would be added to the quad, but apparently decided on the lesser expansion to six screens. The house was renamed the Hampton 6 at that time. The expansion and later alterations to the house for Goodrich were designed by the Grand Rapids firm Paradigm Design.
Goodrich closed the operation on January 14, 2009, citing a persistent, long-term decline in ticket sales. The company offered to donate the building to any charity organization that might have a use for it. If there were any takers, they didn’t stick around. As of June, 2021, the building stood vacant with a “For Sale” sign in the window, and on August 31 it was reportedly sold, for $92,000.
The Eastland Twin Cinemas, also known as the Eastland Cinemas 1 and 2, were opened in June, 1971 by Art Narlock, owner of the adjacent bowling alley. Each of the two auditoriums seated 550. In 1974, Narlock lost control of the businesses in a bankruptcy and the theaters came under the control of Rory Dunkel. In 1985, Dunkel built the Eastland Quad at 888 N. Pine Road, and for a few years the two properties were operated as the Eastland Cinemas, with the quad screens numbered as 3,4,5, and 6. When Dunkel sold the quad to Goodrich Quality Theatres in 1989, the original twins were not included in the deal and were closed.
Remodeling of this multiplex following its acquisition by Goodrich Quality Theatres was handled by the Grand Rapids architectural firm Paradigm Design.
The web site of architects Paradigm Design features this web page with a description and a dozen photos of Sperry’s Moviehouse Holland (be patient– the thumbnails, and the photos themselves, can take quite a while to load.)
The renovation of the Wealthy Theatre was designed by Paradigm Design, a Grand Rapids architectural firm. Quinn Evans Architects of Ann Arbor served as preservation consultant and oversaw the restoration of the period features of the building.
BIG Cinema, Golf Glen IL, is listed among the company’s projects on the web site of architectural firm Paradigm Design. As it is listed under that name, I suspect it was only a remodeling job done when the operation was taken over by Phoenix AdLabs.
MSC77: Goodrich Savoy 10 held its formal grand opening on December 19 and 20, 1990. Four more screens were added in 1993, and two more opened in February, 1998. A major renovation began in 2012, with one existing auditorium converted for use as additional restrooms and a party room, plus the addition of a new IMAX auditorium that was opened on May 3, 2013.
The Ezella Theatre was listed in the 1911 Cleveland City Directory. The Cleveland Landmarks Commission confirms Matzinger & Grosel as the architects of the extensive rebuilding of the Ezella done in 1941-42.
A house called the Grand Theatre is listed at East Palestine in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory. The Grand Theatre, East Palestine Theatre, and Midway Drive-In shared a courtesy ad in the local high school’s 1954 yearbook.
The photo Nessa found (clickable link) definitely show the same building in the photos at the web site I linked to earlier, but the movie poster in front of the theater features Florence Vidor, a star of the silent era. The cars in the photo also date from the 1920s, so it’s clear the Rialto was in operation earlier than we’d thought.
Other photos of the America Theatre show a Mission or Spanish Colonial Revival style parapet reminiscent of the Alamo at San Antonio. Movie posters dating from the mid-1920s are on display in these photos. The building certainly dates from that period at the latest, and possibly from the later 1910s.
The November 26, 1938 issue of Boxoffice had news about the Liberty Theatre:
“Hamrick’s Liberty Theatre closing for a complete renovation from December 8 to 22 with B. Marcus Priteca of Seattle as consulting architect. Electrical Research products installing the new marquee.”
The Princess was remodeled in 1938, according to this item from the November 19 issue of Boxoffice:
“Lawrenceburg, Tenn. — The remodeled Princess Theatre reopened the night of November 16. The building has been completely modernized and redecorated, with new sound installed. Louis Ruhlander is manager.”
An item in the November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice noted renovation projects at several Detroit area neighborhood houses, all planned by the architectural firm of Wright & Rogvoy. This house was one of them: “Max Mantueffel’s Martha Washington will have a new front.”
According to an item in Boxoffice of November 19, 1938, “Edward S. Pasco’s White Star is undergoing a lobby change….” The project was one of several then being carried out at Detroit area neighborhood houses with plans by the firm of Wright & Rogvoy.
“Wisper & Wetsman’s Fenkell will boast a new front,” said an item in Boxoffice of November 19, 1938. The Fenkell was one of several neighborhood houses in Detroit then being updated with plans by the firm of Wright & Rogvoy.
“Wade Allen’s Arcade is having its face lifted,” noted the November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice. It was one of several Detroit neighborhood theater renovations then being carried out by the architectural firm of Wright & Rogvoy.
The November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice had news about the remodeling project at the Stratford Theatre: “Detroit— The Stratford Theatre here will complete an extensive remodeling program in about ten days. Wright & Rogvoy, Detroit, are the architects.”
According to this item from Boxoffice of November 12, 1938, a Toronto house called the Liberty Theatre was then being remodeled to be reopened as the La Salle Theatre:
“Toronto — Under the direction of Kaplan and Sprachman, Toronto architects, the Liberty Theatre, which is being renamed the La Salle, is being remodeled. It will seat 700 persons.
“The reconstruction work, costing $30,000, includes in addition to general modernizing, new seats, indirect Neon lighting, a new air-conditioning system, and new Mirrophonic sound and projection equipment being installed by Dominion Sound Equipments, Ltd.”
This web page confirms the 1938 remodeling and renaming, but says that the architect for the project was Harry Dobson. It also notes that the Liberty Theatre opened in 1928, and the house last operated as the Pagoda Theatre in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
The February 10, 1940 issue of Boxoffice noted that the new Mimosa Theatre at Morganton, North Carolina, had recently opened.
Originally a four-screen annex to the Eastland Twin, this house was opened in late 1985 by Rory Dunkel, who operated the two properties as the Eastland Cinemas, with the original twin’s screens numbered 1 and 2 and the quad’s screens numbered as 3, 4, 5, and 6. The original seating capacity of the quad was 1,224, and the architect was Louis Wiltse.
In 1989, Dunkel sold the quad to Goodrich Quality Theatres, but closed the twins. Goodrich originally announced that an additional four screens would be added to the quad, but apparently decided on the lesser expansion to six screens. The house was renamed the Hampton 6 at that time. The expansion and later alterations to the house for Goodrich were designed by the Grand Rapids firm Paradigm Design.
Goodrich closed the operation on January 14, 2009, citing a persistent, long-term decline in ticket sales. The company offered to donate the building to any charity organization that might have a use for it. If there were any takers, they didn’t stick around. As of June, 2021, the building stood vacant with a “For Sale” sign in the window, and on August 31 it was reportedly sold, for $92,000.
The Eastland Twin Cinemas, also known as the Eastland Cinemas 1 and 2, were opened in June, 1971 by Art Narlock, owner of the adjacent bowling alley. Each of the two auditoriums seated 550. In 1974, Narlock lost control of the businesses in a bankruptcy and the theaters came under the control of Rory Dunkel. In 1985, Dunkel built the Eastland Quad at 888 N. Pine Road, and for a few years the two properties were operated as the Eastland Cinemas, with the quad screens numbered as 3,4,5, and 6. When Dunkel sold the quad to Goodrich Quality Theatres in 1989, the original twins were not included in the deal and were closed.
Plans for the remodeling of this multiplex following its acquisition by Goodrich Quality Theatres were done by Grand Rapids firm Paradigm Design.
Remodeling of this multiplex following its acquisition by Goodrich Quality Theatres was handled by the Grand Rapids architectural firm Paradigm Design.
Like other Goodrich multiplexes, this house was designed by Grand Rapids-based firm Paradigm Design.
The Randall 10 originally opened in 1994. The architects were Paradigm Design, based, like Goodrich Theatres, in Grand Rapids.
The web site of architects Paradigm Design features this web page with a description and a dozen photos of Sperry’s Moviehouse Holland (be patient– the thumbnails, and the photos themselves, can take quite a while to load.)
The renovation of the Wealthy Theatre was designed by Paradigm Design, a Grand Rapids architectural firm. Quinn Evans Architects of Ann Arbor served as preservation consultant and oversaw the restoration of the period features of the building.
BIG Cinema, Golf Glen IL, is listed among the company’s projects on the web site of architectural firm Paradigm Design. As it is listed under that name, I suspect it was only a remodeling job done when the operation was taken over by Phoenix AdLabs.
MSC77: Goodrich Savoy 10 held its formal grand opening on December 19 and 20, 1990. Four more screens were added in 1993, and two more opened in February, 1998. A major renovation began in 2012, with one existing auditorium converted for use as additional restrooms and a party room, plus the addition of a new IMAX auditorium that was opened on May 3, 2013.
A more detailed history is found on this web page.
The Ezella Theatre was listed in the 1911 Cleveland City Directory. The Cleveland Landmarks Commission confirms Matzinger & Grosel as the architects of the extensive rebuilding of the Ezella done in 1941-42.
The Cleveland Landmarks Commission attributes the design of the Parma Theatre to architect Paul Matzinger of Matzinger & Grosel.
A house called the Grand Theatre is listed at East Palestine in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory. The Grand Theatre, East Palestine Theatre, and Midway Drive-In shared a courtesy ad in the local high school’s 1954 yearbook.
The photo Nessa found (clickable link) definitely show the same building in the photos at the web site I linked to earlier, but the movie poster in front of the theater features Florence Vidor, a star of the silent era. The cars in the photo also date from the 1920s, so it’s clear the Rialto was in operation earlier than we’d thought.
Other photos of the America Theatre show a Mission or Spanish Colonial Revival style parapet reminiscent of the Alamo at San Antonio. Movie posters dating from the mid-1920s are on display in these photos. The building certainly dates from that period at the latest, and possibly from the later 1910s.
The November 26, 1938 issue of Boxoffice had news about the Liberty Theatre:
Wometco’s recent acquisition of the Ace Theatre at Coconut Grove was noted in the November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice.
The Princess was remodeled in 1938, according to this item from the November 19 issue of Boxoffice:
An item in the November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice noted renovation projects at several Detroit area neighborhood houses, all planned by the architectural firm of Wright & Rogvoy. This house was one of them: “Max Mantueffel’s Martha Washington will have a new front.”
According to an item in Boxoffice of November 19, 1938, “Edward S. Pasco’s White Star is undergoing a lobby change….” The project was one of several then being carried out at Detroit area neighborhood houses with plans by the firm of Wright & Rogvoy.
“Wisper & Wetsman’s Fenkell will boast a new front,” said an item in Boxoffice of November 19, 1938. The Fenkell was one of several neighborhood houses in Detroit then being updated with plans by the firm of Wright & Rogvoy.
“Wade Allen’s Arcade is having its face lifted,” noted the November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice. It was one of several Detroit neighborhood theater renovations then being carried out by the architectural firm of Wright & Rogvoy.
The November 19, 1938 issue of Boxoffice had news about the remodeling project at the Stratford Theatre: “Detroit— The Stratford Theatre here will complete an extensive remodeling program in about ten days. Wright & Rogvoy, Detroit, are the architects.”
According to this item from Boxoffice of November 12, 1938, a Toronto house called the Liberty Theatre was then being remodeled to be reopened as the La Salle Theatre:
This web page confirms the 1938 remodeling and renaming, but says that the architect for the project was Harry Dobson. It also notes that the Liberty Theatre opened in 1928, and the house last operated as the Pagoda Theatre in the late 1960s or early 1970s.