This theater is currently closed and renovations are in progress; however, elements in the renovation plan may have to be scaled back as the costs are running ahead of the original estimates and available resources: View link
There are then-and-now pictures near the bottom of this webpage (scroll down to see them): View link The information there indicates that the theater at its opening had 450 seats.
One of the pictures on this theatre’s gallery page at Drive-ins.com shows a post that suggests that the theatre’s address was 4004 Albion Rd: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/xxtalad
This page has what appears to be an architectural drawing of what the theater was originally going to look like and a night photo of how it actually looks: http://www.paradisetheaterbelize.com/
This drive-in advertised itself as the place “Where Happiness Costs So Little”. There are two handbills on its page at Drive-ins.com; it was one of the ozoners that used creativity (or mindlessness) in pairing up its features: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/fltperr
The theatre may have been named to evoke the memory of downtown Rochester’s historic Chateau Theatre, which, though the building still exists, has been converted to a bookstore.
Just to clarify, I did not mean to suggest your original information was wrong, Chuck, just that there was some additional information out there that indicated that the theater had a longer history and another name, as Mike Rogers suspected.
Strange; it comes up that way when I searched for it again and works when I clicked on it – View link
If it still will not work, the relevant section reads: “In 1911 he [William Nimmons] had another landmark constructed, the Mount Royal Theatre, later called the Kinema, the first and only cinema ever constructed in Bankview. The theatre functioned as a silent picture house, before being converted into an automobile repair shop. During the "Great Depression,” it reverted back to a theatre, the Kinema, before being demolished during the 1950s."
I enjoy your site, Eric. Perhaps you could shed some light on an puzzle that has intrigued me and others such as Jon Lidolt for some time. It is known that this theater was born as the Madison, then became the Midtown, and then the Bloor Cinema (along with at least two other names at various points). Looking at the pictures of the theatre over the decades, we wonder when (if not how) the theatre’s façade changed so radically from its appearance as the Madison, with its stately lower facade, its arched cornice, and bay windows to the rather dull street face it has now and from at least the Midtown period. It is as if that grander original façade was ripped off and replaced with the dull brick front which it now sports. I have always wondered if this is what happened or if perhaps a new building housing the entrance was built, probably in the 1940’s. (See the comments above from June 26, 27, and July 2, 2009 and pictures that are linked to in a number of the comments).
A picture of the back of the screen tower from the archives of the University of Northern Florida: View link The woman pictured is a Mrs. Eartha White.
The number of screens needs to be changed to three. Comparing the two pictures, it is clear this theater has had a substantial makeover of its facade since 1986.
A picture of the church that currently occupies the former theatre building: View link
This theater is currently closed and renovations are in progress; however, elements in the renovation plan may have to be scaled back as the costs are running ahead of the original estimates and available resources: View link
There are then-and-now pictures near the bottom of this webpage (scroll down to see them): View link The information there indicates that the theater at its opening had 450 seats.
There is a possibility that this theater might reopen as a brew-and-view: View link
One of the pictures on this theatre’s gallery page at Drive-ins.com shows a post that suggests that the theatre’s address was 4004 Albion Rd: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/xxtalad
It is a bit easier to see the theater in one of the old photos on this webpage: View link
There are several pictures of this theatre on its page at CinemaTour: http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/25920.html and here is a link to a story about the installation of the IMAX screen: http://kezi.com/news/local/202975
An article about the theater; owners have plan to add a second screen: View link
A picture of the restaurant mentioned in the headnote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/perrygrl/2429032581/
This page has what appears to be an architectural drawing of what the theater was originally going to look like and a night photo of how it actually looks: http://www.paradisetheaterbelize.com/
Handbills and photos of the remains of this drive-in on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/fltsta3007.jpg
There are pictures of what remains of this theater on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/fltbeac
A picture from the late 1970’s: www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_buildings_g/0_buildings–new_palace_cinema_henniker.htm#picture
This drive-in advertised itself as the place “Where Happiness Costs So Little”. There are two handbills on its page at Drive-ins.com; it was one of the ozoners that used creativity (or mindlessness) in pairing up its features: http://www.drive-ins.com/gallery/fltperr
There are two pictures of this theatre towards the bottom of this webpage: View link
There is an article about the Charles with a video here: http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13896340 and there is a picture of the theater on its page at CinemaTour: http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/277.html
There is a picture here: View link
The theatre may have been named to evoke the memory of downtown Rochester’s historic Chateau Theatre, which, though the building still exists, has been converted to a bookstore.
Oops!
Just to clarify, I did not mean to suggest your original information was wrong, Chuck, just that there was some additional information out there that indicated that the theater had a longer history and another name, as Mike Rogers suspected.
Strange; it comes up that way when I searched for it again and works when I clicked on it – View link
If it still will not work, the relevant section reads: “In 1911 he [William Nimmons] had another landmark constructed, the Mount Royal Theatre, later called the Kinema, the first and only cinema ever constructed in Bankview. The theatre functioned as a silent picture house, before being converted into an automobile repair shop. During the "Great Depression,” it reverted back to a theatre, the Kinema, before being demolished during the 1950s."
I enjoy your site, Eric. Perhaps you could shed some light on an puzzle that has intrigued me and others such as Jon Lidolt for some time. It is known that this theater was born as the Madison, then became the Midtown, and then the Bloor Cinema (along with at least two other names at various points). Looking at the pictures of the theatre over the decades, we wonder when (if not how) the theatre’s façade changed so radically from its appearance as the Madison, with its stately lower facade, its arched cornice, and bay windows to the rather dull street face it has now and from at least the Midtown period. It is as if that grander original façade was ripped off and replaced with the dull brick front which it now sports. I have always wondered if this is what happened or if perhaps a new building housing the entrance was built, probably in the 1940’s. (See the comments above from June 26, 27, and July 2, 2009 and pictures that are linked to in a number of the comments).
According to this webpage: View link the theatre opened in 1911 as the Mount Royal, and was demolished in the 1950’s.
A picture of the back of the screen tower from the archives of the University of Northern Florida: View link The woman pictured is a Mrs. Eartha White.
The theater closed as a triplex in 200l; article here: View link It then became a church.
Here are two pictures of it as the Mission (both placed on pictures of its later development):
1) View link
2) View link
According to one of the captions, the theater presented children’s plays in the 1990’s.
The number of screens needs to be changed to three. Comparing the two pictures, it is clear this theater has had a substantial makeover of its facade since 1986.