Attended a few screenings there while a student at GA State back in the 80’s. At the time it was just a large room with a screen and a projector. Nothing ornate nor state of the art. It primarily screened second run and obscure works that never played commercially in the area. The best places at the time for fine art and foreign films were the Garden Hills, Rhodes and the Film Forum.
The building is now the Polaris Theatre. A massive project is underway to restore it back to it’s original configuration of a single screen venue which also can host live events.
Would be great to see some interior shots of the theatre. Did some just before it’s closure but even with the house lights up, the photos did not come out well.
Was by the theatre yesterday and a Sold sign was posted across the front. It appears that the building is not going to be razed but couldn’t locate any information as to what it’s purpose will be.
The original building was constructed in 1903 by C.I. Bellamy as the Bellamy Opera House, owned by William J. Garland. It was renovated into a theater in 1915-1916. In 1926 the building was acquired by Mr. Heaton and renamed the Boyne Theater. Another remodeling was completed in 1938, and featured a seating capacity of 578. The theatre reeled both mainstream and adult films up until it’s closure in 2003.
Have driven by this place numerous times and wondered, based on the style of the marquee, if there ever was either a theatre or a drive-in on the spot at some point in time. Has the space been converted into conference halls? Curious as to what they looked like.
There was a “For Sale” sign posted at the front of this former theater when I was in the area a couple of months ago. The interior appears to be salvageable and akin in its design to Roxy Theatre in Bremerton. Would love to have a cinema of this style to just show classic 35 & 70 mm films in.
The River Oaks was one of those rare cinemas, like the Garden Hills in Atlanta, which you would assume that as long as there was a market for art and foreign films that it would always be around. Regretfully such fare is no longer palatable for those prefer all major character’s don capes and that dialogue is kept to a minimum. Art cinemas were a class unto themselves, the perfect frame for a perfect picture. Felini, Bergman, Cohen brothers and Wes Anderson are served better in venues such as the River Oaks than at the mall with yet another Batman remake playing next door.
I was stunned when Lefont decided to close the Fine Art in that I erroneously believed there was a large enough market to sustain a single screen enterprise devoted to non mainstream fare. The closing of the Tara marks the end of an era. Even the screens in the split auditoriums of the Tara are larger than those in most of the IMAXs in multiplexes.
Sam, I think we have met. I applied for a post at the 12 Oaks back in the 1980s.
The street address is 2313 Commerce Boulevard, Mound, MN. The building has gone through extensive renovations since it ceased operations as a cinema theatre but still retains it’s quonset design.
Attended a few screenings there while a student at GA State back in the 80’s. At the time it was just a large room with a screen and a projector. Nothing ornate nor state of the art. It primarily screened second run and obscure works that never played commercially in the area. The best places at the time for fine art and foreign films were the Garden Hills, Rhodes and the Film Forum.
I haven’t seen or heard of anything action being take to reopen either property. Both buildings remain boarded up and covered in graffiti.
The theatre is currently for sale on LoopNet for $14,980,000.
The complete address on this is: One Lake Shore Dr, Mackinac Island, MI 49757
The building is now the Polaris Theatre. A massive project is underway to restore it back to it’s original configuration of a single screen venue which also can host live events.
The Tahqua Land Theatre opened in 1930 under the name of the State Theatre.
If my memory serves me right, this cinema featured tiered seating, a predecessor to the now ubiquitous stadium seating.
This venue is now the “Tracyton Movie House, a combo dine-in/pub cinema. It’s website is: https://tracytonmoviehouse.com/
Would be great to see some interior shots of the theatre. Did some just before it’s closure but even with the house lights up, the photos did not come out well.
Was by the theatre yesterday and a Sold sign was posted across the front. It appears that the building is not going to be razed but couldn’t locate any information as to what it’s purpose will be.
The original building was constructed in 1903 by C.I. Bellamy as the Bellamy Opera House, owned by William J. Garland. It was renovated into a theater in 1915-1916. In 1926 the building was acquired by Mr. Heaton and renamed the Boyne Theater. Another remodeling was completed in 1938, and featured a seating capacity of 578. The theatre reeled both mainstream and adult films up until it’s closure in 2003.
How much, of any, of the original interior still exist or was it entirely gutted when it was refitted as a multiplex?
The theatre is currently on the market for $650K. More details and pics at https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/3033-Hemphill-St-Fort-Worth-TX/14033737/
The Variety Theatre is currently on the market for $400,000. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/11815-11837-Lorain-Ave-Cleveland-OH/21362011/
Have driven by this place numerous times and wondered, based on the style of the marquee, if there ever was either a theatre or a drive-in on the spot at some point in time. Has the space been converted into conference halls? Curious as to what they looked like.
There was a “For Sale” sign posted at the front of this former theater when I was in the area a couple of months ago. The interior appears to be salvageable and akin in its design to Roxy Theatre in Bremerton. Would love to have a cinema of this style to just show classic 35 & 70 mm films in.
Any photos of the interior before it was split into two screens?
The River Oaks was one of those rare cinemas, like the Garden Hills in Atlanta, which you would assume that as long as there was a market for art and foreign films that it would always be around. Regretfully such fare is no longer palatable for those prefer all major character’s don capes and that dialogue is kept to a minimum. Art cinemas were a class unto themselves, the perfect frame for a perfect picture. Felini, Bergman, Cohen brothers and Wes Anderson are served better in venues such as the River Oaks than at the mall with yet another Batman remake playing next door.
Hereis a current photo of the former Joy.
The actual address is 711 Bridge Street. Judging from the exterior this is/was an opulent little venue for such a small, but quaint little town.
Liberty Theater open in 1915 with the auditorium on the main level and an Oddfellows Hall upstairs. In 1985 the theater was leased for a museum.
I was stunned when Lefont decided to close the Fine Art in that I erroneously believed there was a large enough market to sustain a single screen enterprise devoted to non mainstream fare. The closing of the Tara marks the end of an era. Even the screens in the split auditoriums of the Tara are larger than those in most of the IMAXs in multiplexes.
Sam, I think we have met. I applied for a post at the 12 Oaks back in the 1980s.
The street address is 2313 Commerce Boulevard, Mound, MN. The building has gone through extensive renovations since it ceased operations as a cinema theatre but still retains it’s quonset design.
The Cina Aliatar was designed by architect Francisco Prieto-Moreno and was inaugurated in 1942 .
Fantastic! Never had a chance to see a film in this auditorium either in its original state or after its alteration.