The Montrose Theatre launched on April 1, 1954 with Robert Wagner “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” supported by the shorts, “ Finale from Symphony #4” and “Vesuvius Express,” all in CinemaScope - the first films and theater to project in that format in Montreal. Its 46' wide panoramic magic silver screen was a hit.
The Soo Theatre opened with Marie Dressler in “Politics” on August 28, 1931. Regular operation continued until the theatre closed for the summer on July 24, 1952 with a double feature of Dan Dailey in “I Can Get it For You Wholesale” and Robert Clark in “Casa Manana.” The theatre did not reopen that year though did have some sporadic special screenings thereafter.
Lyons Mall began construction in 1966 and, when it wasn’t completed, was to be razed in 1968 and started over. The Mini Cinema was announced in September of 1970 by the Ridge Cinema Corporation as a location of the Jerry Lewis Circuit of automated theaters. The Lyons Mall opened a month later with the cinema launching on January 27th, 1971 as the Jerry Lewis Cinema with “I Never Sang for My Father.” The Lewis Circuit’s parent company, Network Cinema Corp. filed for bankruptcy on June 14, 1973 with the circuit imploding a year later. However, the name plate stood here for years to come.
On March 2, 1978, the Lewis name was finally dropped and the theatre operated as the Ridge Cinema. The Ridge closed briefly in 1983 and became the Lyons Cinema until closing on October 13, 1983. It reopened for one final time as the Ridge Lyons Cinema on June 26, 1985 with “St. Elmo’s Fire.” It appears to have closed on September 12, 1985 with John Candy in “Summer Rental”.
The Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands closed along with the circuit’s other locations on March 16, 2020 due to COVID-19. It reopened on August 18, 2020 only to close again October 6, 2020. It reopened a little more than 10 months later on August 13, 2021.
It became the Biograph Theatre on December 4, 1974 with “Slaughterhouse Five.” It closed on November 24, 1976 with “The Gumball Rally” and “Death Race 2000.” It was razed in 1984.
The Bel-Air 1-2-3 Drive-In Theatre closed August 21, 1986 with “The Fly” and “Aliens” on Screen 1, “Armed and Dangerous” and “Jo Jo Dancer” on Screen 2, “Back to School” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” on Screen 3. That weekend’s Bel-Air flea market and all future dates were moved to the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In.
The new Muscoda Theatre launched September 14, 1947 with Esther Williams in “Fiesta.” It replaced the former Muscoda Theatre which had served as the town’s opera house decades earlier.
Claude & Starck designed the Fenway Theatre which launched with Richard Dix in “Moran of the Marines” on November 22, 1928. The theatre showed off its Reproducto pipe organ, as well.
The New Empire Theatre replaced a 15-year old Empire Theatre that had existed on the North Side of the city square.The New Empirelaunched November 4, 1925 with Charles Ray in “A Son of His Father” supported by a comedy short, “The Tourist” with Johnny Arthur.
The Binger Opera House was built by operators Frank Marvel and Reinhart Lossan. It launched in 1906 with live events. It experimented with movies and on February 3, 1920 its name was changed to the Binger Theatre going with full-time movies and Erich von Stroheim’s “Blind Husband.”
New operators took on the venue changing its name to Ranora Theatre on May 5, 1925 with Mrs. Wallace Reid in “Human Wreckage.” It appears to have ceased operations following the September 29, 1927 screenings of “Pigs.” R.C. Rosser then sold the Ranora to Mr. R.V. Meecham. He took over and changed the name to the Amusu Theatre beginning with the October 7, 1927 showings of Milton Sills in “Men of Steel.”
The Amusu made the transition to sound to remain viable when it installed Movietone sound to play “King of Kings” on December 9, 1929. Meecham sold the venue to Mr. and Mrs. H.D. Cox in the 1930s and they reverted back to the Binger Theater nameplate.
But in January of 1947, the theatre was destroyed by fire despite the news story that stated “all of Binger’s 800 citizens fought side-by-side with firemen to extinguish a recent blaze which razed two buildings on Main Street and threatened the entire town. The Binger Theater was destroyed in the fire.”
Operators Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Cox would build a new theatre that was going to be the New Binger Theatre at least in concept stages. However, when the new theatre launched, it was called the Caddo Theatre. The Caddo opened on October 6, 1946 with “The Big Sleep.”
The original Wigwam Theatre was opened by H.K. Smith on the North side of the square on December 13, 1913. Due to ventilation issues, Smith launched the Wigwam Airdome on North Main Street for the warm summer months. On January 9, 1921 the “new” Wigwam launched likely in the same location.
The original Thompson Theatre opened in an existing retail location in downtown Atoka on November 5, 1940. In 1953, this new Thompson Theatre was built in a prefabricated steel building was constructed. The “old” Thompson Theatre closed on January 14, 1954. The New Thompson Theatre opened the next day on January 15, 1954 with Lloyd Bridges in “The Tall Texan” projected on a radiant Astrolite curved screen ideally selected to play the many 3D films that were promised to come over the next decade… until they didn’t.
The New Thompson Theatre opened in an existing retail location in downtown Atoka on November 5, 1940 with Richard Dix in “Cherokee Strip” for the Glen Thompson Theatre Circuit. The theatre featured nu-wood paneling, a 25 foot stage and an RCA MagicScreen. In 1953, a new Thompson Theatre in a prefabricated steel building was constructed and opened January 15, 1954. The “old” Thompson Theatre closed on January 14, 1954 with the Weaver Brothers in “In Old Missouri” supported by “Bugs Bunny All Star Review.”
The Broncho Theatre opened March 20, 1946 for Raphen Cross replacing the town’s earlier theatre, the Bennington Theatre (Liberty Theatre in the silent era) that had closed in December of 1941. A year later, James E. Davis took on the Broncho changing its name to the Rialto Theatre. It appears to have gone out of business in 1950. Because the town’s population dropped a precipitous 30% that year to just about 360 citizens, the closure seems like a sound business decision.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy McAmis opened the Sa-Roy Theatre as the silent film house to complement their Princess Theatre that had converted to sound. The Sa-Roy launched in 1929 and closed in November of 1931 often advertised without the hypen as the Saroy Theatre. It did receive a second-hand sound system but the Depression mad two-theater operation a challenge and it closed in November,mber of 1931.
The Saroy remained closed from December of 1931 to Feb. 17, 1934 when it was relaunched by George Stovall as the Rio Theatre. The Rio would become part of the Griffith Bros. Amusement Circuit. The Rio closed June 24, 1950 to coincide with the opening of the new Stovall Theatre. Mrs. Stovall retired the night that the Rio closed. The building was repurposed that year for other purposes.
Opened on June 3, 1922 as the Princess Theatre with Priscilla Dean in “Conflict” supported by a two-reel comedy.It was located in the existing Dugger Building and was converted from a grocery store. Operators Mr. and Mrs. Roy McAmis installed Western Electric sound beginning June 8, 1930 with the film, “The Big Pond.”
George Stovall took on the venue which reopened August 12, 1936 with the announcement of the naming contest winner who chose “Ute.”A large neon sign followed and was installed within months. Griffith Amusement Circuit soon was the operator of the venue which later passed to Video Independent. The theatre closed in the 1950s and was briefly reopened on a sublease independently in the Summer of 1958 closing before Fall of 1958. The sale of the theater’s seating in January of 1959 signaled the end of the line.
According to the local paper, the original Arrow Theatre burned down on November 17, 1937.
1955
The Montrose Theatre launched on April 1, 1954 with Robert Wagner “Beneath the 12-Mile Reef” supported by the shorts, “ Finale from Symphony #4” and “Vesuvius Express,” all in CinemaScope - the first films and theater to project in that format in Montreal. Its 46' wide panoramic magic silver screen was a hit.
The State Theatre launched on October 20, 1937 with Alice Faye and Don Ameche in “You Can’t Have Everything.”
The Soo Theatre opened with Marie Dressler in “Politics” on August 28, 1931. Regular operation continued until the theatre closed for the summer on July 24, 1952 with a double feature of Dan Dailey in “I Can Get it For You Wholesale” and Robert Clark in “Casa Manana.” The theatre did not reopen that year though did have some sporadic special screenings thereafter.
Lyons Mall began construction in 1966 and, when it wasn’t completed, was to be razed in 1968 and started over. The Mini Cinema was announced in September of 1970 by the Ridge Cinema Corporation as a location of the Jerry Lewis Circuit of automated theaters. The Lyons Mall opened a month later with the cinema launching on January 27th, 1971 as the Jerry Lewis Cinema with “I Never Sang for My Father.” The Lewis Circuit’s parent company, Network Cinema Corp. filed for bankruptcy on June 14, 1973 with the circuit imploding a year later. However, the name plate stood here for years to come.
On March 2, 1978, the Lewis name was finally dropped and the theatre operated as the Ridge Cinema. The Ridge closed briefly in 1983 and became the Lyons Cinema until closing on October 13, 1983. It reopened for one final time as the Ridge Lyons Cinema on June 26, 1985 with “St. Elmo’s Fire.” It appears to have closed on September 12, 1985 with John Candy in “Summer Rental”.
The Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands closed along with the circuit’s other locations on March 16, 2020 due to COVID-19. It reopened on August 18, 2020 only to close again October 6, 2020. It reopened a little more than 10 months later on August 13, 2021.
It became the Biograph Theatre on December 4, 1974 with “Slaughterhouse Five.” It closed on November 24, 1976 with “The Gumball Rally” and “Death Race 2000.” It was razed in 1984.
The Bel-Air 1-2-3 Drive-In Theatre closed August 21, 1986 with “The Fly” and “Aliens” on Screen 1, “Armed and Dangerous” and “Jo Jo Dancer” on Screen 2, “Back to School” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” on Screen 3. That weekend’s Bel-Air flea market and all future dates were moved to the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In.
The New Victor Theatre opened May 26, 1945 with Faye Emerson in “Hotel Berlin."9 The Mesa Theatre was the local movie house that launched in 1936.)
Opened June 11, 1936 with Joan Blondell in “Sons o' Gun.”
The new Muscoda Theatre launched September 14, 1947 with Esther Williams in “Fiesta.” It replaced the former Muscoda Theatre which had served as the town’s opera house decades earlier.
Claude & Starck designed the Fenway Theatre which launched with Richard Dix in “Moran of the Marines” on November 22, 1928. The theatre showed off its Reproducto pipe organ, as well.
The New Empire Theatre replaced a 15-year old Empire Theatre that had existed on the North Side of the city square.The New Empirelaunched November 4, 1925 with Charles Ray in “A Son of His Father” supported by a comedy short, “The Tourist” with Johnny Arthur.
The Binger Opera House was built by operators Frank Marvel and Reinhart Lossan. It launched in 1906 with live events. It experimented with movies and on February 3, 1920 its name was changed to the Binger Theatre going with full-time movies and Erich von Stroheim’s “Blind Husband.”
New operators took on the venue changing its name to Ranora Theatre on May 5, 1925 with Mrs. Wallace Reid in “Human Wreckage.” It appears to have ceased operations following the September 29, 1927 screenings of “Pigs.” R.C. Rosser then sold the Ranora to Mr. R.V. Meecham. He took over and changed the name to the Amusu Theatre beginning with the October 7, 1927 showings of Milton Sills in “Men of Steel.”
The Amusu made the transition to sound to remain viable when it installed Movietone sound to play “King of Kings” on December 9, 1929. Meecham sold the venue to Mr. and Mrs. H.D. Cox in the 1930s and they reverted back to the Binger Theater nameplate.
But in January of 1947, the theatre was destroyed by fire despite the news story that stated “all of Binger’s 800 citizens fought side-by-side with firemen to extinguish a recent blaze which razed two buildings on Main Street and threatened the entire town. The Binger Theater was destroyed in the fire.”
Operators Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Cox would build a new theatre that was going to be the New Binger Theatre at least in concept stages. However, when the new theatre launched, it was called the Caddo Theatre. The Caddo opened on October 6, 1946 with “The Big Sleep.”
The original Wigwam Theatre was opened by H.K. Smith on the North side of the square on December 13, 1913. Due to ventilation issues, Smith launched the Wigwam Airdome on North Main Street for the warm summer months. On January 9, 1921 the “new” Wigwam launched likely in the same location.
The Kiamichi Drive-In launched July 31, 1953 with “Kansas Pacific.” 160 cars showed up the first night supporting Mrs. J.L. Cooper’s o-zoner.
Opened August 6, 1948 in the James A. Elliott Building with Gene Autry in “The Strawberry Roan.” That also ended the run of the Antlers Theatre.
The original Thompson Theatre opened in an existing retail location in downtown Atoka on November 5, 1940. In 1953, this new Thompson Theatre was built in a prefabricated steel building was constructed. The “old” Thompson Theatre closed on January 14, 1954. The New Thompson Theatre opened the next day on January 15, 1954 with Lloyd Bridges in “The Tall Texan” projected on a radiant Astrolite curved screen ideally selected to play the many 3D films that were promised to come over the next decade… until they didn’t.
The New Thompson Theatre opened in an existing retail location in downtown Atoka on November 5, 1940 with Richard Dix in “Cherokee Strip” for the Glen Thompson Theatre Circuit. The theatre featured nu-wood paneling, a 25 foot stage and an RCA MagicScreen. In 1953, a new Thompson Theatre in a prefabricated steel building was constructed and opened January 15, 1954. The “old” Thompson Theatre closed on January 14, 1954 with the Weaver Brothers in “In Old Missouri” supported by “Bugs Bunny All Star Review.”
The Pix Theatre launched for Glen D. Thompson Theatre Circuit on November 7, 1937 with “A Star is Born.”
The new Choctaw Drive-In launched September 23, 1951 with Jimmy Cagney in “White Heat.”
The Broncho Theatre opened March 20, 1946 for Raphen Cross replacing the town’s earlier theatre, the Bennington Theatre (Liberty Theatre in the silent era) that had closed in December of 1941. A year later, James E. Davis took on the Broncho changing its name to the Rialto Theatre. It appears to have gone out of business in 1950. Because the town’s population dropped a precipitous 30% that year to just about 360 citizens, the closure seems like a sound business decision.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy McAmis opened the Sa-Roy Theatre as the silent film house to complement their Princess Theatre that had converted to sound. The Sa-Roy launched in 1929 and closed in November of 1931 often advertised without the hypen as the Saroy Theatre. It did receive a second-hand sound system but the Depression mad two-theater operation a challenge and it closed in November,mber of 1931.
The Saroy remained closed from December of 1931 to Feb. 17, 1934 when it was relaunched by George Stovall as the Rio Theatre. The Rio would become part of the Griffith Bros. Amusement Circuit. The Rio closed June 24, 1950 to coincide with the opening of the new Stovall Theatre. Mrs. Stovall retired the night that the Rio closed. The building was repurposed that year for other purposes.
Opened on June 3, 1922 as the Princess Theatre with Priscilla Dean in “Conflict” supported by a two-reel comedy.It was located in the existing Dugger Building and was converted from a grocery store. Operators Mr. and Mrs. Roy McAmis installed Western Electric sound beginning June 8, 1930 with the film, “The Big Pond.”
George Stovall took on the venue which reopened August 12, 1936 with the announcement of the naming contest winner who chose “Ute.”A large neon sign followed and was installed within months. Griffith Amusement Circuit soon was the operator of the venue which later passed to Video Independent. The theatre closed in the 1950s and was briefly reopened on a sublease independently in the Summer of 1958 closing before Fall of 1958. The sale of the theater’s seating in January of 1959 signaled the end of the line.