I just had a flashback rush when I saw that pic. Truly one of the filthiest theatres I have ever been in, in every sense of the word. Made the Variety Photoplays seem like a day at the Cloisters.
There is a picture of this theater in Entertainment Weekly issue 833, as the first movie palace. (This issue also has a lot of other theater info that would interest members of this site)
I watched the end of Blazing Saddles last night to get a good look at the Chinese, and I could see the shallow lobby and that the concession stand (“Raisinettes, please.”) was just a few feet away from the front door. I guess it has been moved after the booth went back upstairs. Also, in the auditorium scenes I could see some black structure in the rear, which I guess was the booth. The most amazing thing was that Gene Wilder was holding a popcorn bucket that said 35 cents on it; you couldn’t get the same size for $3.50 now!
I saw a movie here as a kid in the mid-1960’s, something with dinosaurs around the bend in a river, but we had to leave before it was over when my cousin got a nosebleed.
RobertR — the idea of widescreen is appealing, but as you may recall at this theatre the widescreen has actually less square footage than flat screening, (today’s flat, not Academy ratio) because here they lower the masking for widescreen, rather than expanding the sides.
I just discovered that this theater has come down and I can’t fucking believe it. It is impossible that a perfectly fine theater, especially one this old, can just be destroyed for student housing. I know I’m preaching to the converted here but it is truly monstrous. I’ve been to this theater several times, both as a movie house and as a play house, and I am in shock.
Reading that ad I noticed a funny coincidence—It says No One Seated During Final Reel, which is a precursor or foreshadowing of the policy at this same theater for Psycho 30 years later, when no one was seated after the feature began.
Warren, PA = Prince Albert? Then the tour should include the Cameo, no doubt.
I live near this theater and I am going to check out what it’s currently used as. I know when it closed it became a video store, o bitter irony.
Two big bombs in 1969 ad…Goodbye Mr Chips and Paint Your Wagon. There must have been lots of echoes in the empty halls of the Palace and the State.
Is this theater (and the Midway Park) open to the general public? I love how they change movies every day.
Essentially the same marquee in 1950’s and 1977, but I wonder if all the neon was still working in the latter days.
Meredith, you are a sentimental sap, but then again so am I!
I just had a flashback rush when I saw that pic. Truly one of the filthiest theatres I have ever been in, in every sense of the word. Made the Variety Photoplays seem like a day at the Cloisters.
There is a picture of this theater in Entertainment Weekly issue 833, as the first movie palace. (This issue also has a lot of other theater info that would interest members of this site)
I watched the end of Blazing Saddles last night to get a good look at the Chinese, and I could see the shallow lobby and that the concession stand (“Raisinettes, please.”) was just a few feet away from the front door. I guess it has been moved after the booth went back upstairs. Also, in the auditorium scenes I could see some black structure in the rear, which I guess was the booth. The most amazing thing was that Gene Wilder was holding a popcorn bucket that said 35 cents on it; you couldn’t get the same size for $3.50 now!
Is the ticket booth still on the street?
Meredith, all is well.
I saw a movie here as a kid in the mid-1960’s, something with dinosaurs around the bend in a river, but we had to leave before it was over when my cousin got a nosebleed.
This movie house had degenerated into a pervert’s paradise before it closed, and I mean that in a nice way.
The sizes may vary but the rooms all seem pretty big, with large screens, stadium seating, high ceilings and great sound.
Ah, more innocent times.
>>That summer my friends cheated on me by sneaking out to see “The Nun’s Story†at RCMH while I was at work.
BoxOfficeBill, you are the gayest thing out there, and I mean that in a nice way!
No orchestra, just a string quartet. And a jazz combo that plays on Saturday nights. Not.
Is the booth back upstairs now? When did the Carthay Lounge exist; was it during the time the booth was downstairs?
Bruce, picking double features is nice work if you can get it, eh?
Thanks, Ken. Have you completed your recent cinema tour of the USA?
RobertR — the idea of widescreen is appealing, but as you may recall at this theatre the widescreen has actually less square footage than flat screening, (today’s flat, not Academy ratio) because here they lower the masking for widescreen, rather than expanding the sides.
Nice photo, Chrles. Really red! But I am surprised there is no usual balcony. What is up there on the second level?
I just discovered that this theater has come down and I can’t fucking believe it. It is impossible that a perfectly fine theater, especially one this old, can just be destroyed for student housing. I know I’m preaching to the converted here but it is truly monstrous. I’ve been to this theater several times, both as a movie house and as a play house, and I am in shock.
Um, sarcasm is sometimes lost in translation.
He was/is a beauty!
Reading that ad I noticed a funny coincidence—It says No One Seated During Final Reel, which is a precursor or foreshadowing of the policy at this same theater for Psycho 30 years later, when no one was seated after the feature began.
That, plus the sign above the marquee that said the name of the picture.