By the way, not to be rude or go off topic but this whole “looks closed”/“appears to have closed” business that plagues Cinema Treasures (and too often, erroneously gets statuses changed) is getting old. This is a VERY important website used for dozens of different purposes by thousand of different people so accuracy really is of paramount importance-please research things before making statements. Remember, many of these theaters in sleepy little towns, especially ones with elderly owners/operators/staff/volunteers (which is often the case) appear quite stagnate while continuing to operate as usual. Additionally, these little theaters will often randomly close temporarily due to lack of pictures to show, competing school athletic events, town events, needed repairs, etc without being gone for good. Not only can these misleading comments cause problems for historians but a good deal of the general public uses this site to find theaters for various reasons-do you really want to steer potential customers/interested visitors from these struggling little venues because they falsely believe it’s closed? Be careful,please!
Please do NOT replace you’re current projectors…especially the Motiograph, which in my opinion is the finest machine ever made. The Motiograph tends to be very forgiving, even when one neglects to maintain them, although this is never acceptable. I have an old Motiograph AAA in one of my theaters that still runs like a charm, every night, and has never given us any trouble. In fact, all but two of my theaters have 50-70 year old projectors and the only two theaters I have consistent booth problems with are the two with 10 year old equipment.
Your equipment can be as good as new with a little work by a tech experienced with such equipment. So long as you have upgraded to red readers for the sound, your equipment is far from obsolete and will most likely outlive the newborn babies born yesterday!
With the exception of Century (who was still making quality equipment into the early 1980s), the projectors of the past 35 years are mostly junk. Especially when you start dealing with the belt-driven and inexpensively made Christie, Kinoton and Horizon projectors which are what are widely used in modern movie theaters.
I’m not sold on the fact that digital will be taking over any time soon however assuming it does, your best bet still would be to simply take care of what you presently have until you can convert.
By the way, I’m not speaking as an “old timer” set in my ways…I am actually in my 20s and quite progressive regarding the operation of my theaters. I grew up in the business and currently run 8 theaters. I know what works and what does not…especially in the booth.
KEEP YOUR OLD MACHINES! You are very fortunate to have them!
Yes, I have seen that image and that is indeed the marquee. The theater sat a little ways back behind it. The Arrow was the other Drive-In in town (not listed on CT but I have mentioned it a couple times on The Lamar Drive-In page) and the Kar-Vu was in Springfield, a town about 50 miles south of Lamar on the Oklahoma border. It closed recently and has a page on here. I visited it recently and added a comment about what I saw.
It appears that what little remains of the Unique is yet again in peril. The current owner seems to be having trouble coming up with the funds to complete the renovation and would sooner just bulldoze the entire thing than mess with it anymore and the city is demanding that the owner clean up what he started or else they will demolish it and repossess the land. You can read about it all at the Salida Mountain Mail (newspaper) website…simply search “Unique Theater”.
This theater is a beautiful, well-maintained gem in Western Nebraska. I visited in February of 2010 for a screening of “The Tooth Fairy”…the presentation was excellent. The seating and soundsystem are brand new but the rest of the theater retains a 1940s, red and white decor. The theater features a boxoffice that sits out on the street, a very large lobby and two small balconies that flank the projection booth. Admission to the balcony is higher than general admission. The corner of the lobby near the concession stand features many historic pictures and artifacts from the theater’s history. There is also a beautiful, vertically raising curtain that is still used for every show. Certainly a must see when in the area.
Certainly a charming, vintage theater that still graces the small, Western Nebraska town of Kimball. Still features a functioning curtain that is opened before each movie and closed afterward. There is no balcony. Seats, carpet and paint are newer and very nice. That said, the theater still retains its vintage charm. Attended a screening of “St. Patrick’s Day” here in February of 2010 and the presentation was excellent. Be sure to visit when in the area!
It was most likely not built yet. The other drive in I mentioned was called the Arrow (I believe) and I believe that the Lamar was built to replace it (in a new location) due to a fire or some other undesired closure.
Unused original remnant of carpet installed in Windsor Theater in 1954
Front view of carpet installed in the Windsor Theater in 1954
This exact same carpet was also installed in the home of Mickey and Ola Stanger, former owners.
Not closed-as of now, at least. Just googling the name and city pulls up a very active Facebook page and Google says they’re currently playing “Lucy”.
Seated 500 according to the Film Daily Yearbook of 1942. Also listed as closed that same year.
Seated 1,200 according to the Film Daily Yearbook of 1942
Seated 810 according to the Film Daily Yearbook of 1942
Seated 1,363 according to the Film Daily Yearbook of 1942
Listed as The Emerson and seating 362 in the 1942 Film Daily Yearbook
Listed and as seating 250 in the 1942 Film Daily Yearbook
Seated 712 according to the Film Daily Yearbook of 1942
Seated 360 according to Film Daily Yearbook of 1942. Also listed as closed that year.
Seated 572 according to Film Daily Yearbook of 1942
By the way, not to be rude or go off topic but this whole “looks closed”/“appears to have closed” business that plagues Cinema Treasures (and too often, erroneously gets statuses changed) is getting old. This is a VERY important website used for dozens of different purposes by thousand of different people so accuracy really is of paramount importance-please research things before making statements. Remember, many of these theaters in sleepy little towns, especially ones with elderly owners/operators/staff/volunteers (which is often the case) appear quite stagnate while continuing to operate as usual. Additionally, these little theaters will often randomly close temporarily due to lack of pictures to show, competing school athletic events, town events, needed repairs, etc without being gone for good. Not only can these misleading comments cause problems for historians but a good deal of the general public uses this site to find theaters for various reasons-do you really want to steer potential customers/interested visitors from these struggling little venues because they falsely believe it’s closed? Be careful,please!
Says “Twin Cities” as opposed to “Twin City” but this speaker positively was harvested from this theater.
Needs to be changed to open-the theater is alive and well. Already made the digital conversion as well so I’d say they aren’t going anywhere either…
One film I forgot to mention in the Honorable Mentions is:
“They Live” (1988, Color & B&W, 2.35, 35mm, 93min)
Sunday, April 17th at 7:00pm ONLY
One film I forgot to mention in the Honorable Mentions is:
“They Live” (1988, Color & B&W, 2.35, 35mm, 93min)
Sunday, April 17th at 7:00pm ONLY
Please do NOT replace you’re current projectors…especially the Motiograph, which in my opinion is the finest machine ever made. The Motiograph tends to be very forgiving, even when one neglects to maintain them, although this is never acceptable. I have an old Motiograph AAA in one of my theaters that still runs like a charm, every night, and has never given us any trouble. In fact, all but two of my theaters have 50-70 year old projectors and the only two theaters I have consistent booth problems with are the two with 10 year old equipment.
Your equipment can be as good as new with a little work by a tech experienced with such equipment. So long as you have upgraded to red readers for the sound, your equipment is far from obsolete and will most likely outlive the newborn babies born yesterday!
With the exception of Century (who was still making quality equipment into the early 1980s), the projectors of the past 35 years are mostly junk. Especially when you start dealing with the belt-driven and inexpensively made Christie, Kinoton and Horizon projectors which are what are widely used in modern movie theaters.
I’m not sold on the fact that digital will be taking over any time soon however assuming it does, your best bet still would be to simply take care of what you presently have until you can convert.
By the way, I’m not speaking as an “old timer” set in my ways…I am actually in my 20s and quite progressive regarding the operation of my theaters. I grew up in the business and currently run 8 theaters. I know what works and what does not…especially in the booth.
KEEP YOUR OLD MACHINES! You are very fortunate to have them!
Yes, I have seen that image and that is indeed the marquee. The theater sat a little ways back behind it. The Arrow was the other Drive-In in town (not listed on CT but I have mentioned it a couple times on The Lamar Drive-In page) and the Kar-Vu was in Springfield, a town about 50 miles south of Lamar on the Oklahoma border. It closed recently and has a page on here. I visited it recently and added a comment about what I saw.
It appears that what little remains of the Unique is yet again in peril. The current owner seems to be having trouble coming up with the funds to complete the renovation and would sooner just bulldoze the entire thing than mess with it anymore and the city is demanding that the owner clean up what he started or else they will demolish it and repossess the land. You can read about it all at the Salida Mountain Mail (newspaper) website…simply search “Unique Theater”.
This theater is a beautiful, well-maintained gem in Western Nebraska. I visited in February of 2010 for a screening of “The Tooth Fairy”…the presentation was excellent. The seating and soundsystem are brand new but the rest of the theater retains a 1940s, red and white decor. The theater features a boxoffice that sits out on the street, a very large lobby and two small balconies that flank the projection booth. Admission to the balcony is higher than general admission. The corner of the lobby near the concession stand features many historic pictures and artifacts from the theater’s history. There is also a beautiful, vertically raising curtain that is still used for every show. Certainly a must see when in the area.
Certainly a charming, vintage theater that still graces the small, Western Nebraska town of Kimball. Still features a functioning curtain that is opened before each movie and closed afterward. There is no balcony. Seats, carpet and paint are newer and very nice. That said, the theater still retains its vintage charm. Attended a screening of “St. Patrick’s Day” here in February of 2010 and the presentation was excellent. Be sure to visit when in the area!
It was owned and operated by a man named Don Trujillo as of 1984 (this information came from Bob Tankersley’s theater directory that year)
It was most likely not built yet. The other drive in I mentioned was called the Arrow (I believe) and I believe that the Lamar was built to replace it (in a new location) due to a fire or some other undesired closure.