3 photos added courtesy James Alan George.
From: www.billyjackrights.com/
Billy Jack Day, Kansas City (part 3)
written on 12/07/10 by frank laughlin in history, pictures
Leading up to the premiere in each city, was the same Billy Jack circus: karate demonstrations, live bands, and the girls holding the cards that spelled B-I-L-L-Y-J-A-C-K. Below the circus is staged out front of the Glenwood Theaters outside Kansas City, Kansas. The picture on the bottom shows some of the incredible turnout.
The end result of the advertising and promotional blitz were crowds, massive, never ending crowds.
Remember, Billy Jack had already been the second-highest grossing film of 1971 behind Fiddler on the Roof, bringing in an earth-shattering $32,500,000. This was 1972-1973, about 12 months later. And Billy Jack is on its way to earning an additional $60,000,000, which will make it the highest grossing film in history by the end of 1973 with a grand total of $92,500,000. Beating out monster hits like The Godfather ($86M), The Exorcist($89M), and The Sting ($78M).
Picture 2: The recessed front of the Crescent Theatre in the old Hubbell Brothers building at Fourth and Main, as it appeared at the end of the horse and buggy era, 1915. Cliff and Willis Robinson sold out in 1919 to Ed C Allen, who sold it to G. E. Klock in 1926. Klock also bought the Princess Theatre which was built 1912. Mr. Klock closed the Crescent Theatre in 1926.
Image may contain: sky and outdoor
Picture 1: On the northwest corner of Fourth and Main in Neodesha, Kansas, 1916 was the Crescent Theatre owned by Cliff and Willis Robinson. It was the leading theatre in it’s time, down the street 1 ½ blocks on Main was the Princess Theatre, owned by Doc Pingrey and Fred Williams. Both movie houses packed in the crowds on Saturday afternoons.
Photos and additional history added credit W A Rankin Memorial Library – Neodesha, KS
“From the files of Joe Allen: Neodesha, Kansas.
Picture 1: On the northwest corner of Fourth and Main in Neodesha, Kansas, 1916 was the Crescent Theatre owned by Cliff and Willis Robinson. It was the leading theatre in it’s time, down the street 1 ½ blocks on Main was the Princess Theatre, owned by Doc Pingrey and Fred Williams. Both movie houses packed in the crowds on Saturday afternoons.
Picture 2: The recessed front of the Crescent Theatre in the old Hubbell Brothers building at Fourth and Main, as it appeared at the end of the horse and buggy era, 1915. Cliff and Willis Robinson sold out in 1919 to Ed C Allen, who sold it to G. E. Klock in 1926. Klock also bought the Princess Theatre which was built 1912. Mr. Klock closed the Crescent Theatre in 1926.”
Circa 1963 photo added and below history credit W A Rankin Memorial Library – Neodesha, KS.
The Klock Theatre ran its final show on April 7, 1963. The building (506 Main Street), owned by Glen Klock since 1926, was sold to Ellis Roberts. Closing of the Klock ended the 56 year old movie era in Neodesha. (Porter Drug Store occupies the building now.)
1919 newspaper ad added courtesy Jerry Merriweather.
So opened at least as early as then.
Also 1930 image and description added credit Garland County Historical Society.
Description credit Garland County Historical Society.
“The 1000-seat Paramount Theater opened at 616 Central in 1936. The first movie shown was Two for Tonight with Bing Crosby and Joan Bennett. The theater featured first run movies and special events. The building was razed in 1989, and the site is now a parking lot beside the downtown post office.”
Description credit Garland County Historical Society.
“The Sunset Drive-in Movie Theater
The Sunset was opened by Mrs. Jessie Howe in the 3300 block of Central Avenue in 1950, when Central Ave was a narrow two-lane road and the location was "out of town”
Chuck Cunning (former President of GCHS) described visiting the Sunset in the mid-1960’s: “The whole place breathed excitement: drivers scurrying for the perfect parking spot, quick testing of window speakers, laughing teenagers emerging from car trunks, trips to the concession stand, where several people sat in folding chairs—visiting more than watching, kids shouting as they flew through the night air on swings, young couples moving close. And the air was thick with the aroma of honeysuckle, hamburgers sizzling on the grill, buttered popcorn, citronella oil, Marlboros and contraband beer.”
By 1985 Central was four-lane; the Sunset property was valuable and drive-in theaters were not as popular as they once were. It was sold.
Who remembers the Sunset?
Did you arrive in the trunk of your friend’s car? Did you ever drive off with a speaker, apologize and turn it in at the concession? Shareable memories?
Photo added: 1955 Hot Springs High School Old Gold Book.
Garland County Historical Society archives"
Address is 1581 Dr Thomas Walker Rd.
There is a U.S. Post Office next door to the left at 1579.
Highway 58 is actually Wilderness Road and is behind it by a block.
Satellite view shows the Ewing Theatre has no roof remaining.
The print ad Mike Rogers posted in 2014 was for “The Patsy”, starring Jerry Lewis and Ina Balin pictured in it.
Here are direct links again to the 1983 and `84 photos, credit American Classic Images website.
Click on images in site to enlarge.
(Previous 2009 link is dead.)
3 photos added courtesy James Alan George. From: www.billyjackrights.com/ Billy Jack Day, Kansas City (part 3) written on 12/07/10 by frank laughlin in history, pictures
Leading up to the premiere in each city, was the same Billy Jack circus: karate demonstrations, live bands, and the girls holding the cards that spelled B-I-L-L-Y-J-A-C-K. Below the circus is staged out front of the Glenwood Theaters outside Kansas City, Kansas. The picture on the bottom shows some of the incredible turnout. The end result of the advertising and promotional blitz were crowds, massive, never ending crowds. Remember, Billy Jack had already been the second-highest grossing film of 1971 behind Fiddler on the Roof, bringing in an earth-shattering $32,500,000. This was 1972-1973, about 12 months later. And Billy Jack is on its way to earning an additional $60,000,000, which will make it the highest grossing film in history by the end of 1973 with a grand total of $92,500,000. Beating out monster hits like The Godfather ($86M), The Exorcist($89M), and The Sting ($78M).
Picture 2: The recessed front of the Crescent Theatre in the old Hubbell Brothers building at Fourth and Main, as it appeared at the end of the horse and buggy era, 1915. Cliff and Willis Robinson sold out in 1919 to Ed C Allen, who sold it to G. E. Klock in 1926. Klock also bought the Princess Theatre which was built 1912. Mr. Klock closed the Crescent Theatre in 1926. Image may contain: sky and outdoor
Picture 1: On the northwest corner of Fourth and Main in Neodesha, Kansas, 1916 was the Crescent Theatre owned by Cliff and Willis Robinson. It was the leading theatre in it’s time, down the street 1 ½ blocks on Main was the Princess Theatre, owned by Doc Pingrey and Fred Williams. Both movie houses packed in the crowds on Saturday afternoons.
Photos and additional history added credit W A Rankin Memorial Library – Neodesha, KS “From the files of Joe Allen: Neodesha, Kansas. Picture 1: On the northwest corner of Fourth and Main in Neodesha, Kansas, 1916 was the Crescent Theatre owned by Cliff and Willis Robinson. It was the leading theatre in it’s time, down the street 1 ½ blocks on Main was the Princess Theatre, owned by Doc Pingrey and Fred Williams. Both movie houses packed in the crowds on Saturday afternoons. Picture 2: The recessed front of the Crescent Theatre in the old Hubbell Brothers building at Fourth and Main, as it appeared at the end of the horse and buggy era, 1915. Cliff and Willis Robinson sold out in 1919 to Ed C Allen, who sold it to G. E. Klock in 1926. Klock also bought the Princess Theatre which was built 1912. Mr. Klock closed the Crescent Theatre in 1926.”
Circa 1963 photo added and below history credit W A Rankin Memorial Library – Neodesha, KS.
The Klock Theatre ran its final show on April 7, 1963. The building (506 Main Street), owned by Glen Klock since 1926, was sold to Ellis Roberts. Closing of the Klock ended the 56 year old movie era in Neodesha. (Porter Drug Store occupies the building now.)
Open 1952, Closed 1989, Demolished 1992. Additional history and 1978 photos in below link.
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/10935.html
Circa 1956 photo added courtesy Dennis Copp.
Website and Facebook page.
https://historicdunbartheatre.com/?fbclid=IwAR3VFkw_6aThrRn3WXPJqpetiEZXZywwS16CLkoSAxC67XZjdUyUSGOr9mQ
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricDunbarTheatre/
July 18, 1974.
July 18, 1974 print ad courtesy Peter Noorish, “Love in 3D”.
May 1957 photo credit Garland County Historical Society archives.
1919 newspaper ad added courtesy Jerry Merriweather. So opened at least as early as then. Also 1930 image and description added credit Garland County Historical Society.
1950 photo as Victory Theatre added courtesy Lanny Beavers.
January 15, 1944 photo credit Garland County Historical Society Archives.
A new facade and marquee was added between 1948 and 1950. Multiple images added.
Description credit Garland County Historical Society.
“The 1000-seat Paramount Theater opened at 616 Central in 1936. The first movie shown was Two for Tonight with Bing Crosby and Joan Bennett. The theater featured first run movies and special events. The building was razed in 1989, and the site is now a parking lot beside the downtown post office.”
1955 Hot Springs High School Old Gold Book. Garland County Historical Society archives.
Description credit Garland County Historical Society.
“The Sunset Drive-in Movie Theater The Sunset was opened by Mrs. Jessie Howe in the 3300 block of Central Avenue in 1950, when Central Ave was a narrow two-lane road and the location was "out of town”
Chuck Cunning (former President of GCHS) described visiting the Sunset in the mid-1960’s: “The whole place breathed excitement: drivers scurrying for the perfect parking spot, quick testing of window speakers, laughing teenagers emerging from car trunks, trips to the concession stand, where several people sat in folding chairs—visiting more than watching, kids shouting as they flew through the night air on swings, young couples moving close. And the air was thick with the aroma of honeysuckle, hamburgers sizzling on the grill, buttered popcorn, citronella oil, Marlboros and contraband beer.”
By 1985 Central was four-lane; the Sunset property was valuable and drive-in theaters were not as popular as they once were. It was sold. Who remembers the Sunset? Did you arrive in the trunk of your friend’s car? Did you ever drive off with a speaker, apologize and turn it in at the concession? Shareable memories?
Photo added: 1955 Hot Springs High School Old Gold Book. Garland County Historical Society archives"
Address is 1581 Dr Thomas Walker Rd. There is a U.S. Post Office next door to the left at 1579. Highway 58 is actually Wilderness Road and is behind it by a block. Satellite view shows the Ewing Theatre has no roof remaining. The print ad Mike Rogers posted in 2014 was for “The Patsy”, starring Jerry Lewis and Ina Balin pictured in it.
The film is “The Patsy”, starring Jerry Lewis and actress Ina Balin pictured. Released August 12, 1964.
Photo credit David Wilson via Flickr.
Closing permanently at the end of the month.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/6/16/21293236/mercury-theater-chicago-closing-permanently-due-to-fallout-from-covid-19-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR0vBUN63w0p49lEr4xfsOL8zlBwOnynpGHIU5dL3qHCjn6ExvFkVVcC8cI
Charlie Chaplin’s first fully sound film, The Great Dictator, premiered in Chicago at the Roosevelt and Apollo on Halloween night 1940.
Here are direct links again to the 1983 and `84 photos, credit American Classic Images website. Click on images in site to enlarge. (Previous 2009 link is dead.)
http://americanclassicimages.com/Search/IL849/txtSearch/Skokie
http://americanclassicimages.com/Search/IL850/txtSearch/Skokie
1979 photo added credit Michael Gaylord James.