Advertisements that appeared in various issues of The Reel Journal in 1924 feature the letterhead of the Best Theatre, which gives its address as 1819-1821 Main Street. The house was operated by brothers Otto and Fred Feess, who billed it as “The Theatre for the Whole Family.”
The correct address of this house, now called the Elkhorn Valley Community Theatre, is 101 E. Gardiner Street. This is their web site, though it doesn’t have information about the theater building, only the theater group. Here is a Google street view. The building appears to be in very good condition.
A house called the Jewel Theatre was listed at Valentine in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory. The Jewell (two L’s) Theatre was mentioned in the April 15, 1916 issue of The Moving Picture World. Another mention appeared in the July 7, 1917 issue of the same journal, noting the management’s replacement of their Saturday children’s matinee with something called the “family program.” The January 9, 1932 issue of Motion Picture Herald said that the Jewel had been remodeled, and new sound equipment had been installed.
Marcus Loew acquired the Stillman in 1917, according to the September 1 issue of The Moving Picture World that year. The chain acquired to Valentine Theatre in Toledo at the same time. The pair were the first Loew’s houses in Ohio.
The June 19, 1954 issue of Boxoffice said that Gus Barbalis and an unnamed partner expected to open the New Salem Theatre in Dayton by July 1. The house, which had been closed since December, 1953, had been extensively remodeled and CinemaScope equipment had been installed.
The Grand was Newark’s oldest operating theater at the time it closed, as noted in the June 19, 1954 issue of Boxoffice. The recently closed house had been purchased by Charles Price in 1919, and had been operated by his family until closing.
Here is part of an item from the May 3, 1924 issue of Moving Picture World:
“Page Organ Draws Crowds
“Standing room only was to be had when Messrs. Scholl, Gallagher and Gleason recently dedicated the new $15,000 Page pipe organ in their Gem Theatre, a 350-seat house in Newark, Ohio. William Dalton, the wellknown organist of the Grand Theatre, Columbus, motored to Newark to give a special midnight concert on the beautiful instrument, and the following day Prof. Berton Burkett, assisted by Frank Reynolds, the Gem organist, officially dedicated the organ with a series of recitals.
“The occasion testified to the value of music in a picture theatre. The Gem has been crowded since the installation of the Page instrument and many compliments have been paid the proprietors for installing so expensive an organ in such a comparatively small theatre.”
The Gem Theatre was still in operation in November, 1931, though the November 14 edition of The Newark Advocate said that the house was continuing its policy of opening only one day a week, Saturday.
Newark’s original Arcade Building was built in 1908, and the Annex, including the theater, was built sometime later. I haven’t found the opening date, but the Orpheum Theatre at Newark is mentioned in newspaper items as early as 1911. The Orpheum is listed as a ground floor house with 516 seats, playing Gus Sun vaudeville exclusively, in the 1913-1914 Cahn guide. Some remodeling of the theater was done in 1914, with plans by the original architects of the Arcade Building, Howell & Thomas.
I’ve found references to the Alhambra Theatre at Newark in trade publications as early as July, 1919. The opening of the New Arcade Theatre on November 22, 1934 was noted in the previous day’s issue of The Newark Advocate.
Confirmation of some of the information in my previous comment plus additional information about the Star Theatre comes from the Hopkins Historical Society. Their web site has a photo of the Star from around 1920-21 on this page, and the caption reads:
“The theater pictured here was opened on the 800 block of Mainstreet in 1914 by Jack Shonka. It was variously known as the Hopkins Theater, Royal Theater (after the original Royal Theater went out of business) and finally as the Star Theater until the building burned down in 1954.”
Warner’s had an interest in the Griswold Theatre, according to this item from Motion Picture Herald of March 6, 1943:
“Shift Warner Theatre Policy in Troy
“C. J. Latta, zone manager, announced changes in the Warner theatre policy in Troy, N. Y., coincident with the opening of the Griswold theatre there last week. The Griswold had been dark for about 10 years until its renovation recently.
“With the Griswold in operation as a second run house, the Lincoln, previously first run, was put into a move-over policy, to take pictures directly from first run Proctor’s and Warner’s on completion of run in those houses. The Griswold’s prices represent an increase over those of the American, previously second run. The American moved up from second to first run with an increase in prices of 10 cents both matinees and evenings. The Lincoln’s price increase amounts to 15 cents for matinees and 20 cents at night.
“The Griswold, like the Troy, Lincoln and American, will be operated in a pool with Fabian’s Proctor theatre. Named as manager for the Griswold was Jack Swartout, who moves over from the American. Al Newhall, of the Regent, Elmira, is the new manager of the American.”
The December 3, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review carried this brief item in its “Openings” column: “Engler Bros.‘ Star (formerly Royal), Hopkins, Minn., after remodeling.” The Englers were operating the Royal at least as early as 1943, when the house was mentioned in the March 20 issue of Motion Picture Herald. They also operated the Hopkins Theatre.
Due to some shifting of street names in Hopkins, the site of the Royal/Star Theatre is no longer on Excelsior Avenue, but on Mainstreet (spelled as one word.) The building currently at 805 Mainstreet is only one story, and it’s impossible to tell if it is what remains of the theater building or was new construction on the theater’s site. I haven’t been able to discover the year the fire took place.
The 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory lists two theaters at Hopkins: The Harrison Theatre on Excelsior Avenue and the Hopkins Theatre, no location given. I’ve been unable to discover if either house later became the Royal/Star.
The Parkway Theatre was listed at 40th and Poplar Street in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory.
Judging from the old signage, Barb’s Beauty Salon, Bob’s Deli, and the coin operated laundromat were all in operation at the same time. Very convenient. The ladies could get their hair done while their laundry was washing, then pick up some cold cuts and a pickle for lunch on their way out.
This CinemaTour Facebook post from Ty Nelson has a photo of the AMC Woodridge 18 being demolished. It’s undated, but I would assume recent or current, though I can’t find the event noted on any news web sites.
JRHagan: Cinema Treasures has a page for the Grand Stafford Theater. There’s a link to it in the “Nearby Theaters” field on the right side of this page.
The Arc Theatre was mentioned in the August 5, 1922 issue of Moving Picture World. The Arc and the Sourwine Theatre had been operated by the Brazil Theater Company, which had just sold its interest in the houses to Dr. T. A. Walsh.
Could this item from Motion Picture Daily of January 11, 1935 be about this theater?
“New House for Brazil
“Brazil, Ind., Jan. 10. — A new downtown theatre is being completed here from a remodeled business building by a company headed by H. V. Neese. It will seat 500.”
The 1947 Film Daily Yearbook lists only four theaters at Brazil: The 400-seat Beverly, the 300-seat Fox, the 800-seat Lark, and the 800-seat Sourwine. As the locations of the Beverly, Lark and Sourwine are accounted for, by process of elimination 112 W. National must have been the Fox. The 1935 storefront remodeling might have been either the Fox or the Beverly, but the item’s claim of 500 seats might make the Beverly the more likely candidate, unless the 500 was a typo.
The March 6, 1956 issue of Boxoffice said that the Lark Theatre in Brazil, Indiana had been reopened with a policy of excluding children of elementary school age and younger. Owner Stanley Cooper told Boxoffice that “[s]o far, the idea has been received with enthusiasm. We are getting out adults who haven’t been in a theater for years.” The house was not running adult or art films, just regular movies. I haven’t discovered how long the policy lasted. The house had been closed for two years when the experiment began.
Ashland Theatre is an aka for Ingram’s Theatre. A biography of E. A. Ingram says that he entered the theater business in Ashland when he was 19, which would have been 1920 or 1921, and that “[t]he theater was named ‘Ingram’s’ in the early years and later became the Ashland Theater.”
A biography of E. F. Ingram, operator of Ingram’s Theatre in Ashland says that “[i]n July of 1939, he also opened a second theater in Lineville, the ‘Lineville Theater.’” The 2014 obituary of E. F.’s son, Earnest Allen Ingram, says that “[a]fter military service he returned to Clay County to run the family theaters in Ashland and Lineville for another 30 years.” The military service referred to was during WWII, so at least one of the family theaters must have been open into the mid-1970s.
The December 15, 1934 issue of Motion Picture Herald published this comment on Cecil B. DeMille’s Cleopatra from the operator of Ashland’s Paramount Theatre:
“This drew the best Monday night crowd in several months. Did extra advertising and it paid. You can’t go wrong booking this. Had many good comments.”
Advertisements that appeared in various issues of The Reel Journal in 1924 feature the letterhead of the Best Theatre, which gives its address as 1819-1821 Main Street. The house was operated by brothers Otto and Fred Feess, who billed it as “The Theatre for the Whole Family.”
The correct address of this house, now called the Elkhorn Valley Community Theatre, is 101 E. Gardiner Street. This is their web site, though it doesn’t have information about the theater building, only the theater group. Here is a Google street view. The building appears to be in very good condition.
The link in my previous comment is not opening on the proper page. The photo is on digital page 72.
The caption of a photo of the Valley Theatre in Boxoffice of June 4, 1949 gives the original seating capacity as 420.
A house called the Jewel Theatre was listed at Valentine in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory. The Jewell (two L’s) Theatre was mentioned in the April 15, 1916 issue of The Moving Picture World. Another mention appeared in the July 7, 1917 issue of the same journal, noting the management’s replacement of their Saturday children’s matinee with something called the “family program.” The January 9, 1932 issue of Motion Picture Herald said that the Jewel had been remodeled, and new sound equipment had been installed.
Marcus Loew acquired the Stillman in 1917, according to the September 1 issue of The Moving Picture World that year. The chain acquired to Valentine Theatre in Toledo at the same time. The pair were the first Loew’s houses in Ohio.
The June 19, 1954 issue of Boxoffice said that Gus Barbalis and an unnamed partner expected to open the New Salem Theatre in Dayton by July 1. The house, which had been closed since December, 1953, had been extensively remodeled and CinemaScope equipment had been installed.
The Grand was Newark’s oldest operating theater at the time it closed, as noted in the June 19, 1954 issue of Boxoffice. The recently closed house had been purchased by Charles Price in 1919, and had been operated by his family until closing.
Here is part of an item from the May 3, 1924 issue of Moving Picture World:
The Gem Theatre was still in operation in November, 1931, though the November 14 edition of The Newark Advocate said that the house was continuing its policy of opening only one day a week, Saturday.Newark’s original Arcade Building was built in 1908, and the Annex, including the theater, was built sometime later. I haven’t found the opening date, but the Orpheum Theatre at Newark is mentioned in newspaper items as early as 1911. The Orpheum is listed as a ground floor house with 516 seats, playing Gus Sun vaudeville exclusively, in the 1913-1914 Cahn guide. Some remodeling of the theater was done in 1914, with plans by the original architects of the Arcade Building, Howell & Thomas.
I’ve found references to the Alhambra Theatre at Newark in trade publications as early as July, 1919. The opening of the New Arcade Theatre on November 22, 1934 was noted in the previous day’s issue of The Newark Advocate.
Confirmation of some of the information in my previous comment plus additional information about the Star Theatre comes from the Hopkins Historical Society. Their web site has a photo of the Star from around 1920-21 on this page, and the caption reads:
Warner’s had an interest in the Griswold Theatre, according to this item from Motion Picture Herald of March 6, 1943:
The December 3, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review carried this brief item in its “Openings” column: “Engler Bros.‘ Star (formerly Royal), Hopkins, Minn., after remodeling.” The Englers were operating the Royal at least as early as 1943, when the house was mentioned in the March 20 issue of Motion Picture Herald. They also operated the Hopkins Theatre.
Due to some shifting of street names in Hopkins, the site of the Royal/Star Theatre is no longer on Excelsior Avenue, but on Mainstreet (spelled as one word.) The building currently at 805 Mainstreet is only one story, and it’s impossible to tell if it is what remains of the theater building or was new construction on the theater’s site. I haven’t been able to discover the year the fire took place.
The 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory lists two theaters at Hopkins: The Harrison Theatre on Excelsior Avenue and the Hopkins Theatre, no location given. I’ve been unable to discover if either house later became the Royal/Star.
The October 8, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review said that the house had been opened by owner Tom Baker on October 6.
The October 8, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review said that the new State Theatre in Nashville, Illinois had opened on September 29.
Several videos about the Tower Apple store have been uploaded to YouTube. Here is one of them. I don’t know if it’s the same one Rob found.
The Parkway Theatre was listed at 40th and Poplar Street in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory.
Judging from the old signage, Barb’s Beauty Salon, Bob’s Deli, and the coin operated laundromat were all in operation at the same time. Very convenient. The ladies could get their hair done while their laundry was washing, then pick up some cold cuts and a pickle for lunch on their way out.
This CinemaTour Facebook post from Ty Nelson has a photo of the AMC Woodridge 18 being demolished. It’s undated, but I would assume recent or current, though I can’t find the event noted on any news web sites.
JRHagan: Cinema Treasures has a page for the Grand Stafford Theater. There’s a link to it in the “Nearby Theaters” field on the right side of this page.
The Arc Theatre was mentioned in the August 5, 1922 issue of Moving Picture World. The Arc and the Sourwine Theatre had been operated by the Brazil Theater Company, which had just sold its interest in the houses to Dr. T. A. Walsh.
Could this item from Motion Picture Daily of January 11, 1935 be about this theater?
The 1947 Film Daily Yearbook lists only four theaters at Brazil: The 400-seat Beverly, the 300-seat Fox, the 800-seat Lark, and the 800-seat Sourwine. As the locations of the Beverly, Lark and Sourwine are accounted for, by process of elimination 112 W. National must have been the Fox. The 1935 storefront remodeling might have been either the Fox or the Beverly, but the item’s claim of 500 seats might make the Beverly the more likely candidate, unless the 500 was a typo.The March 6, 1956 issue of Boxoffice said that the Lark Theatre in Brazil, Indiana had been reopened with a policy of excluding children of elementary school age and younger. Owner Stanley Cooper told Boxoffice that “[s]o far, the idea has been received with enthusiasm. We are getting out adults who haven’t been in a theater for years.” The house was not running adult or art films, just regular movies. I haven’t discovered how long the policy lasted. The house had been closed for two years when the experiment began.
Ashland Theatre is an aka for Ingram’s Theatre. A biography of E. A. Ingram says that he entered the theater business in Ashland when he was 19, which would have been 1920 or 1921, and that “[t]he theater was named ‘Ingram’s’ in the early years and later became the Ashland Theater.”
A biography of E. F. Ingram, operator of Ingram’s Theatre in Ashland says that “[i]n July of 1939, he also opened a second theater in Lineville, the ‘Lineville Theater.’” The 2014 obituary of E. F.’s son, Earnest Allen Ingram, says that “[a]fter military service he returned to Clay County to run the family theaters in Ashland and Lineville for another 30 years.” The military service referred to was during WWII, so at least one of the family theaters must have been open into the mid-1970s.
The December 15, 1934 issue of Motion Picture Herald published this comment on Cecil B. DeMille’s Cleopatra from the operator of Ashland’s Paramount Theatre: