This is from the Harlan News-Advertiser in June 1959:
Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Hacker of Hankinson, North Dakota, are the new owners of the Harlan theatre. The new operators will take over June 1. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Brown, former owners, have operated the theatre since 1926 and are widely known in theatre circles as pioneers in the business.
The Backer family, which will move to Harlan June 15, consists of a married daughter, a son who has just graduated from high school and is leaving soon for the Air Force, and a 13 year old daughter. Backer has been on the Hankinson city council for 17 years and is currently mayor of the city. He is a veteran theatre operator, having leased his present theater and sold another one preparing for his move to Harlan. The sale did not include the building.
Here is an excerpt from the North Adams Transcript on 3/24/42:
An early morning, two-alarm fire today caused damage estimated at $75,000 to the Capitol theater in Pittsfield, located in the heart of the business district on North street and leased by the Western Massachusetts theaters, Inc., which operates the Paramount and Richmond theaters in North Adams. The fire, which was confined entirely to the interior of the theater by Pittsfield firemen who played five lines of hose on the flames, was discovered at 12:55 o'clock by Raymond Jackson, one of two men employed at night there.
Jackson had a narrow escape from being trapped by the flames in a dressing room off the stage. He was forced to make his way to safety down a spiral metal stairway to the stage. When Jackson discovered the fire, four plush velvet curtains in the stage were burning. He was in the dressing room changing his clothes at the time. After reaching the stage, he put in the call for the fire department and 10 minutes later at 1:05 o'clock a second alarm was sounded bringing more men and apparatus.
According to Fire Chief Thomas F. Burke, the velvet curtains served as a good base for the flames which spread into the auditorium where they destroyed 20 rows of seats and also mushroomed along the ceiling to the balcony where 20 more rows of seats were destroyed. The stage, a large pipe organ and the stage end of the theater, including the back stage, screen and drapes, were entirely burned out.
Edward Dowllng is manager of the theater. He is a former district manager for the Western Massachusetts company and the two theaters in this city operated by the company were in his area. The Capitol is owned by the Berkshire County Savings Bank.
CHICAGO-G&E Theatre Corp. has acquired the Lincoln Theatre and the City Theatre, 3031 N. Lincoln. The latter will be managed by S. J. Angelos. The theatres were previously owned and operated by the CVN circuit.
This is excerpted from the Annapolis Capital in October 1979:
The final reels may soon be rolling at the remaining two movie theaters in downtown Annapolis. The Playhouse Theatre on Main Street and the Circle Theatre on State Circle are both reportedly up for sale and the Playhouse has two prospective buyers who want to convert it from a movie house to a showcase for live theatre productions. David O. Colburn, who manages both theaters for F. H. Durkee Enterprises Inc. of Baltimore, said the Circle, which dates at least to the early 20s is for sale.
The old ornate theater, with red velvet curtains and a majestic high ceiling, is now losing $500 a week, according to Colburn. There are some nights when the theater has been entirely without customers. As for the Playhouse, which used to be known as the Republic Theater, two Annapolis developers, Theodore C. Samaras and Douglas Cosgrove, who own other downtown properties, say that once they finalize the contract to buy the building, it definitely will not be used as a movie house. Samaras said an agreement was made with Durkee not to operate it as a movie theater, “We have no interest whatsover in movie theaters,” he ‘said. Instead, Samaras and Cosgrove hope the Playhouse will become a place where producers can show live theater, on off-Broadway tryout circuit. Now, Samaras said, he and his partner are analyzing the conversions of other downtown movie theaters in order to get an idea what might be suitable here. “We have a lot of options open to us,” Cosgrove said.
A spokesman for Durkee, which operates the Playhouse, maintains that neither the Playhouse nor the Circle have been sold. August Nolte, who identified himself as vice president, maintained that neither theater is for sale now, although he said the Circle was for sale two years ago. He refused to discuss the financial condition of either movie house.
Downtown movie theaters generally have run into hard times in the last two decades, in stark contrast to their glory years in the 1930s and 40s. Robert K. Campbell, a former alderman and longtime Annapolis resident, recalls that a former Maryland Governor would take children to the Circle Theatre the day after Christmas as part of the holiday celebration. And he recalls going to the Playhouse on Saturdays and paying 10 cents to see movies in the 1930s.
This is from the Monessen Valley Independent in 2002:
The Valley had plenty of active movie theaters, but it was still a sad day Sept. 17, 1964, when the Star Theater was torn down to make room for a parking lot. Famous headliners such as Bob Hope. Buster Keaton and Bert Lahr were among the many stars who had played at the Star.
This is from the Uniontown Evening Standard in February 1978:
The sale of the 56-year-old State Theater is now as concrete as the building in question with yesterday’s processing of the official deed of transfer. Located on East Main Street in the downtown section of Uniontown, the State Theater building was purchased last month by local auto dealer Clyde Tewell from Manos Enterprises, Inc.
The price tag on the old movie theater, which opened Oct. 30, 1922 and closed its doors June 19, 1973 was in the $75,000 neighborhood. Franklin A. John Real Estate Agency of Uniontown handled the transaction between the buying and selling parties. Stale Dept. of Labor and Industry granted its approval late last year, providing certain adjustments would be made prior to the theater’s actual opening and operations. A few of the renovations included the addition of steel doors in the corridors, outside frontal repairs and a new inside curtain along with lighting fixtures and closing off some interior portions of the building. Tewell said he would meet with Dept. of Labor and Industry officials Friday to determine exactly what has to be done to the theater.
He estimated that the necessary repairs would range anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000, bringing the entire cost to roughly $150,000. Tewell said his plans for the theater, speculating opening anywhere within three to four months, would be to import and promote the top Country and Western acts from Nashville. His plan is already into effect, as Bill Anderson, one of the top acts from Nashville has been booked to appear at the theater in July. Having shown his hand, Tewell said, “I have to get ready. The money has already been committed and I really don’t have any choice now.” He added that he had “three or four” other acts almost in the booked hopper so to speak, but declined to comment as to their respective identities. Tewell said that ticket prices for scheduled live performances would range anywhere from $5 to $10.
With renovations and repairs completed, Tewell said the seating capacity would in all likelihood be reduced from the current 1,800 to 1,500 seats, probably restricting the appearance of some performers due to financial considerations. Hypothetically speaking, an example of this would be with a popular performer such as Dolly Parton. Although a guaranteed draw, the initial investment could not possible justify the actual gate receipts.
However, not expecting to compete with the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tewell did say he hoped to promote something similar to the shows held in Wheeling, W. Va. Country and Western music buffs certainly hope this experiment doesn’t go the way of the dinosaur by failing to clear financial hurdles â€" the same hurdles which necessitated the closing of the State Theater five years ago
because of today’s dwindling film-going audiences.
What if they had a sale and no one came to it? That, was the case Friday morning when Titusville’s venerable Penn Theater went up for sheriff’s sale in the Crawford County Courthouse. No bids were offered to buy the financially beleaguered movie house, which has stood dark for nearly two years.
Friday’s absence of interest in the Penn means that a sheriff’s deed will be prepared and sent to the Hollidaysburg Trust Company in Hollidaysburg, the leading bank in a series of six financial institutions which have a share in the theater chain of Richard Neff of Altoona. Neff owned six theaters: the Penn in Titusville, the Auto Drive-In in Cherrytree Township, a theater in Brookville, Playhouse One and Two in Altoona and the 220 Drive-In on Route 220 near Altoona.
The Hollidaysburg Trust Company is the lead bank in a participation loan arrangement with five other banks. The Hollidaysburg bank wrote the original mortgage for the chain, then other banks in the areas where the theaters are located also provided a percentage of the money. Pennbank was involved locally with the Penn Theater. Friday morning, Milton McCracken of Pennbank was present in Meadville for the sale that never was.
Representing the interests of the Hollidaysburg Trust Company was Peter Blystone, a Meadville attorney. One of the reasons bidders may have been discouraged, according to McCracken, is the fact that the buyer must also satisfy all prior liens against the property. Now, the filing of the sheriff’s deed returns the Penn’s ownership to the Hollidaysburg bank. When the bank finds a buyer for the theater, the deed will be transferred to that purchaser. A check with the Venango County Sheriff’s Office Friday revealed that no date has been set for a sale of the Auto Drive-In.
MONTESANO, WASH.-Peter J. Koppinger has sold the New Montesano Theatre to Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Cressler of Seaside, Ore. As part of the deal, the Cresslers have sold the Beacon hotel in Seaside to the Koppingers, who came to Montesano in February 1948, when they bought the Montesano from Irvin Westenkow.
BOISE-The Granada Theatre has reopened with a new policy and Roger Mendenhall, owner of the Granada and Pinney theatres, announced the appointment of Jack Rhodes as manager. He will be assisted by Bob Wilson. Rhodes managed the Natatorium last summer with the assistance of Wilson. The Granada was closed during the summer for renovation but is now operating daily.
CORVALLIS, ORE.-John W. Buck has been named full-time manager of the Whiteside Theatre, it was announced by Charles Whiteside for the owners. Whiteside indicated that he would still be active in theatre operations but would devote more time to hunting, fishing and other recreational activities.
COLORADO SPRINGS-Sid Cox, assistant manager of the Chief for the past year, has been named manager of the 8th Street Drive-In, succeeding Ed Kelly, who has been transferred to Pueblo by Westland Theaters Co. Cos started his career as an usher at the Chief.
The opening of the Plaza was advertised in the Port Arthur News on June 19, 1968. Opening features were “Bandolero” and “The One, the Only, Genuine, Original Family Band”.
I guess I have to retract that. A May 1970 article in the Abilene Reporter-News mentioned that “Midnight Cowboy” was playing at the Bowie in Brownwood earlier in 1970. The story concerned the arrest of the manager at the Bluffview Drive-in in Brownwood for showing the X-rated film.
This article was in the Brownwood Bulletin in March 1960:
The Bowie Theater will begin observance of its 19th anniversary Friday with the opening of “Solomon and Sheba,” theater manager Jim Tharp announced today. The observance will continue through Monday with the Biblical film shown throughout that time. The Bowie Theater was opened Friday, March 28, 1941.
Tharp said a special program is being planned for Friday. Dr. Mollie Armstrong spoke for the formal opening in 1941 and special guest was Maj. Gen. Walter Krueger, commander of Camp Bowie. He was introduced to the audience by Dr. Armstrong. Interstate circuit officials were present.
H. E. Reed has been projectionist with the Bowie Theater since its opening date and has served under each of the Bowie’s managers. He has been with Interstate circuit 38 years and in Brownwood 30 years. Another projectionist, M.L. Townsend, also at the opening, has been with the circuit 30 years.
Reed said opening ceremonies began at 7 p.m. and that an hour and 10 minutes later the theater was full and theater officials closed the box office. “Our big problem was handling the crowd,“ he said. He added that during Camp Bowie days the theater was run all night to take care of the crowds. A theater party was held after the opening at Hotel Brownwood for company officials, press, and civic leaders, he said. Reed said the theater opened with "about half the needed equipment but experienced no difficulties.” More equipment was added later.
Since its opening, Reed has seen a number of changes in the Bowie â€" including cinemascope, stereophonic sound, and large screen. First Bowie screen was 18 feet high by 20 feet wide. Present screen surface is 22 feet high by 35 feet wide. Other changes include what Tharp calls “a redecoration and beautification campaign.” Redecorating has taken place during the last two months, Tharp said, and include painting the lobby, auditorium, and rest rooms, and the addition of 125 new seats In the auditorium.
Five persons have managed the Bowie since its beginning in 1941, according to Reed. First manager was Lee Bray who served four years. He was followed by Oscar Dooley who came to Brownwood from Dallas. The late J.T. Hughes was manager of the theater after Dooley. Hughes was succeeded by Jack Hendrix who managed the theater until about two months ago when Tharp became manager. Hendrix came to Brownwood from Big Spring. Tharp, in his 20th year with Interstate Theaters, came here from Abilene.
Here is an August 1976 article from the El Paso Herald-Post:
A hearing on the eviction notice filed against operators of the Plaza Theater has been set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday before Justice of the Peace Jesus Hernandez. Ted Cottle, realtor representing Mike Dipp, theater owner, said the notice was filed for failure to pay rent for several months. Tim Cassias, former employee of the Plaza, who has filed claim for back wages with the Texas Department of Labor and Standards, told The Herald-Post he plans to notify film distributors of irregularities in the theater’s bookkeeping. He showed documents which he said support his contention that the distributors were paid less than they were entitled to on certain films shown at the Plaza in 1975.
LANE ROBERTSON, who has headed the Plaza operation since 1973, has denied the accusations and said the documents were stolen from his desk. Cassias admitted yesterday that the papers were stolen but said he did not steal them. He said they were given to him. Both Robertson and Andy Simson said that bookkeeping errors were audit and are being worked out with the the distributors affected.
CASSIAS WORKED for the theater 14 months. He resigned June 29 after being unable to collect pay he said was due him. Mrs. Julia Breck, chairman of the theater’s board, said today, “We’re in the process of handling the situation. We are doing the best we can to pull things together.” She is among prominent local persons who Cassias said made substantial investments in the theater operation. A “Save the Plaza” campaign was held, enlisting financial support with the alternative of having the theater razed so the land could be used for other purposes.
Cottle, however, denies that Dipp ever intended to raze the Plaza after buying it in 1973. Cassias said he learned soon, after going to work at the Plaza that the owner did not really intend to raze it. He said the appeal to save the building was a deception to increase the urgency of the appeal for money.
Here is another Chronicle-Telegram article dated 1/20/89:
FAIRVIEW PARK â€" Less than three weeks after the Fairview Theater closed its doors, it will re-open today under new management. The 1,400-seat, twin-screened theater in the Fairview Shopping Center, was closed Jan. 2 by former owner Morrie Zryl, who acquired the theater in 1985 after it was closed by National Theater Corp.
At the time, Zryl hoped to be able to offer quality film fare, including acclaimed art and foreign movies, to discerning western Cuyahoga County, and Lorain County moviegoers “For a while, it worked, and then they just stopped coming,” said Zryl “I just don’t understand it.” Despite that, the theater reopens today under the management of Al Saluan, owner of the tri-screen Lake Theater in Euclid, according to Zryl, owner of the Colony Theater in Shaker Heights.
Saluan, who spent the week cleaning and installing new fixtures in the theater, the largest on the west side, said the need for a movie house offering family fare is still very real Assuming his operation as a second-run house is successful, Saluan hopes to eventually offer first-run fare “I wish him all the luck in the world because it’s real tough as an independent,” said Zryl “I know ”. Over-saturation, lack of available product, and fierce competition from major chains all combined to sound the death knell for Zryl.
This is from the Harlan News-Advertiser in June 1959:
Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Hacker of Hankinson, North Dakota, are the new owners of the Harlan theatre. The new operators will take over June 1. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Brown, former owners, have operated the theatre since 1926 and are widely known in theatre circles as pioneers in the business.
The Backer family, which will move to Harlan June 15, consists of a married daughter, a son who has just graduated from high school and is leaving soon for the Air Force, and a 13 year old daughter. Backer has been on the Hankinson city council for 17 years and is currently mayor of the city. He is a veteran theatre operator, having leased his present theater and sold another one preparing for his move to Harlan. The sale did not include the building.
There are some photos of the Capitol on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/m7m5fa
Here is an excerpt from the North Adams Transcript on 3/24/42:
An early morning, two-alarm fire today caused damage estimated at $75,000 to the Capitol theater in Pittsfield, located in the heart of the business district on North street and leased by the Western Massachusetts theaters, Inc., which operates the Paramount and Richmond theaters in North Adams. The fire, which was confined entirely to the interior of the theater by Pittsfield firemen who played five lines of hose on the flames, was discovered at 12:55 o'clock by Raymond Jackson, one of two men employed at night there.
Jackson had a narrow escape from being trapped by the flames in a dressing room off the stage. He was forced to make his way to safety down a spiral metal stairway to the stage. When Jackson discovered the fire, four plush velvet curtains in the stage were burning. He was in the dressing room changing his clothes at the time. After reaching the stage, he put in the call for the fire department and 10 minutes later at 1:05 o'clock a second alarm was sounded bringing more men and apparatus.
According to Fire Chief Thomas F. Burke, the velvet curtains served as a good base for the flames which spread into the auditorium where they destroyed 20 rows of seats and also mushroomed along the ceiling to the balcony where 20 more rows of seats were destroyed. The stage, a large pipe organ and the stage end of the theater, including the back stage, screen and drapes, were entirely burned out.
Edward Dowllng is manager of the theater. He is a former district manager for the Western Massachusetts company and the two theaters in this city operated by the company were in his area. The Capitol is owned by the Berkshire County Savings Bank.
Here is the 11/21/05 government link:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/3809.htm
This is from Boxoffice magazine in November 1946:
CHICAGO-G&E Theatre Corp. has acquired the Lincoln Theatre and the City Theatre, 3031 N. Lincoln. The latter will be managed by S. J. Angelos. The theatres were previously owned and operated by the CVN circuit.
This may have been the Pioneer at one time. This item was in Boxoffice magazine in November 1946, when the Lamar opened:
LAMAR, COLO.-C.U. Yeager and Dave Davis, officials of the Atlas Theatre Corp., have completed the refurbishing of their Pioneer Theater here.
From Boxoffice magazine, November 1946:
Louis Torres' Lux Theatre has a new face and a new name, for, shining with fresh paint, it has been reopened as the Anita.
This is excerpted from the Annapolis Capital in October 1979:
The final reels may soon be rolling at the remaining two movie theaters in downtown Annapolis. The Playhouse Theatre on Main Street and the Circle Theatre on State Circle are both reportedly up for sale and the Playhouse has two prospective buyers who want to convert it from a movie house to a showcase for live theatre productions. David O. Colburn, who manages both theaters for F. H. Durkee Enterprises Inc. of Baltimore, said the Circle, which dates at least to the early 20s is for sale.
The old ornate theater, with red velvet curtains and a majestic high ceiling, is now losing $500 a week, according to Colburn. There are some nights when the theater has been entirely without customers. As for the Playhouse, which used to be known as the Republic Theater, two Annapolis developers, Theodore C. Samaras and Douglas Cosgrove, who own other downtown properties, say that once they finalize the contract to buy the building, it definitely will not be used as a movie house. Samaras said an agreement was made with Durkee not to operate it as a movie theater, “We have no interest whatsover in movie theaters,” he ‘said. Instead, Samaras and Cosgrove hope the Playhouse will become a place where producers can show live theater, on off-Broadway tryout circuit. Now, Samaras said, he and his partner are analyzing the conversions of other downtown movie theaters in order to get an idea what might be suitable here. “We have a lot of options open to us,” Cosgrove said.
A spokesman for Durkee, which operates the Playhouse, maintains that neither the Playhouse nor the Circle have been sold. August Nolte, who identified himself as vice president, maintained that neither theater is for sale now, although he said the Circle was for sale two years ago. He refused to discuss the financial condition of either movie house.
Downtown movie theaters generally have run into hard times in the last two decades, in stark contrast to their glory years in the 1930s and 40s. Robert K. Campbell, a former alderman and longtime Annapolis resident, recalls that a former Maryland Governor would take children to the Circle Theatre the day after Christmas as part of the holiday celebration. And he recalls going to the Playhouse on Saturdays and paying 10 cents to see movies in the 1930s.
This is from the Monessen Valley Independent in 2002:
The Valley had plenty of active movie theaters, but it was still a sad day Sept. 17, 1964, when the Star Theater was torn down to make room for a parking lot. Famous headliners such as Bob Hope. Buster Keaton and Bert Lahr were among the many stars who had played at the Star.
This is from the Uniontown Evening Standard in February 1978:
The sale of the 56-year-old State Theater is now as concrete as the building in question with yesterday’s processing of the official deed of transfer. Located on East Main Street in the downtown section of Uniontown, the State Theater building was purchased last month by local auto dealer Clyde Tewell from Manos Enterprises, Inc.
The price tag on the old movie theater, which opened Oct. 30, 1922 and closed its doors June 19, 1973 was in the $75,000 neighborhood. Franklin A. John Real Estate Agency of Uniontown handled the transaction between the buying and selling parties. Stale Dept. of Labor and Industry granted its approval late last year, providing certain adjustments would be made prior to the theater’s actual opening and operations. A few of the renovations included the addition of steel doors in the corridors, outside frontal repairs and a new inside curtain along with lighting fixtures and closing off some interior portions of the building. Tewell said he would meet with Dept. of Labor and Industry officials Friday to determine exactly what has to be done to the theater.
He estimated that the necessary repairs would range anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000, bringing the entire cost to roughly $150,000. Tewell said his plans for the theater, speculating opening anywhere within three to four months, would be to import and promote the top Country and Western acts from Nashville. His plan is already into effect, as Bill Anderson, one of the top acts from Nashville has been booked to appear at the theater in July. Having shown his hand, Tewell said, “I have to get ready. The money has already been committed and I really don’t have any choice now.” He added that he had “three or four” other acts almost in the booked hopper so to speak, but declined to comment as to their respective identities. Tewell said that ticket prices for scheduled live performances would range anywhere from $5 to $10.
With renovations and repairs completed, Tewell said the seating capacity would in all likelihood be reduced from the current 1,800 to 1,500 seats, probably restricting the appearance of some performers due to financial considerations. Hypothetically speaking, an example of this would be with a popular performer such as Dolly Parton. Although a guaranteed draw, the initial investment could not possible justify the actual gate receipts.
However, not expecting to compete with the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tewell did say he hoped to promote something similar to the shows held in Wheeling, W. Va. Country and Western music buffs certainly hope this experiment doesn’t go the way of the dinosaur by failing to clear financial hurdles â€" the same hurdles which necessitated the closing of the State Theater five years ago
because of today’s dwindling film-going audiences.
This is from the Titusville Herald in May 1984:
What if they had a sale and no one came to it? That, was the case Friday morning when Titusville’s venerable Penn Theater went up for sheriff’s sale in the Crawford County Courthouse. No bids were offered to buy the financially beleaguered movie house, which has stood dark for nearly two years.
Friday’s absence of interest in the Penn means that a sheriff’s deed will be prepared and sent to the Hollidaysburg Trust Company in Hollidaysburg, the leading bank in a series of six financial institutions which have a share in the theater chain of Richard Neff of Altoona. Neff owned six theaters: the Penn in Titusville, the Auto Drive-In in Cherrytree Township, a theater in Brookville, Playhouse One and Two in Altoona and the 220 Drive-In on Route 220 near Altoona.
The Hollidaysburg Trust Company is the lead bank in a participation loan arrangement with five other banks. The Hollidaysburg bank wrote the original mortgage for the chain, then other banks in the areas where the theaters are located also provided a percentage of the money. Pennbank was involved locally with the Penn Theater. Friday morning, Milton McCracken of Pennbank was present in Meadville for the sale that never was.
Representing the interests of the Hollidaysburg Trust Company was Peter Blystone, a Meadville attorney. One of the reasons bidders may have been discouraged, according to McCracken, is the fact that the buyer must also satisfy all prior liens against the property. Now, the filing of the sheriff’s deed returns the Penn’s ownership to the Hollidaysburg bank. When the bank finds a buyer for the theater, the deed will be transferred to that purchaser. A check with the Venango County Sheriff’s Office Friday revealed that no date has been set for a sale of the Auto Drive-In.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in December 1951:
MONTESANO, WASH.-Peter J. Koppinger has sold the New Montesano Theatre to Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Cressler of Seaside, Ore. As part of the deal, the Cresslers have sold the Beacon hotel in Seaside to the Koppingers, who came to Montesano in February 1948, when they bought the Montesano from Irvin Westenkow.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in December 1951:
BOISE-The Granada Theatre has reopened with a new policy and Roger Mendenhall, owner of the Granada and Pinney theatres, announced the appointment of Jack Rhodes as manager. He will be assisted by Bob Wilson. Rhodes managed the Natatorium last summer with the assistance of Wilson. The Granada was closed during the summer for renovation but is now operating daily.
From Boxoffice magazine in December 1951:
CORVALLIS, ORE.-John W. Buck has been named full-time manager of the Whiteside Theatre, it was announced by Charles Whiteside for the owners. Whiteside indicated that he would still be active in theatre operations but would devote more time to hunting, fishing and other recreational activities.
This was in Boxoffice magazine, December 1951:
COLORADO SPRINGS-Sid Cox, assistant manager of the Chief for the past year, has been named manager of the 8th Street Drive-In, succeeding Ed Kelly, who has been transferred to Pueblo by Westland Theaters Co. Cos started his career as an usher at the Chief.
Here is a 1995 aerial view:
http://tinyurl.com/lgsfr6
The Lobo was on Stockton Highway, so the second photo should be this theater. It opened in 1952.
The opening of the Plaza was advertised in the Port Arthur News on June 19, 1968. Opening features were “Bandolero” and “The One, the Only, Genuine, Original Family Band”.
I guess I have to retract that. A May 1970 article in the Abilene Reporter-News mentioned that “Midnight Cowboy” was playing at the Bowie in Brownwood earlier in 1970. The story concerned the arrest of the manager at the Bluffview Drive-in in Brownwood for showing the X-rated film.
Advertisements for the Bowie Theater continued through the November 1966, but none in 1967 or past that date. 1966 is most likely the closing year.
This article was in the Brownwood Bulletin in March 1960:
The Bowie Theater will begin observance of its 19th anniversary Friday with the opening of “Solomon and Sheba,” theater manager Jim Tharp announced today. The observance will continue through Monday with the Biblical film shown throughout that time. The Bowie Theater was opened Friday, March 28, 1941.
Tharp said a special program is being planned for Friday. Dr. Mollie Armstrong spoke for the formal opening in 1941 and special guest was Maj. Gen. Walter Krueger, commander of Camp Bowie. He was introduced to the audience by Dr. Armstrong. Interstate circuit officials were present.
H. E. Reed has been projectionist with the Bowie Theater since its opening date and has served under each of the Bowie’s managers. He has been with Interstate circuit 38 years and in Brownwood 30 years. Another projectionist, M.L. Townsend, also at the opening, has been with the circuit 30 years.
Reed said opening ceremonies began at 7 p.m. and that an hour and 10 minutes later the theater was full and theater officials closed the box office. “Our big problem was handling the crowd,“ he said. He added that during Camp Bowie days the theater was run all night to take care of the crowds. A theater party was held after the opening at Hotel Brownwood for company officials, press, and civic leaders, he said. Reed said the theater opened with "about half the needed equipment but experienced no difficulties.” More equipment was added later.
Since its opening, Reed has seen a number of changes in the Bowie â€" including cinemascope, stereophonic sound, and large screen. First Bowie screen was 18 feet high by 20 feet wide. Present screen surface is 22 feet high by 35 feet wide. Other changes include what Tharp calls “a redecoration and beautification campaign.” Redecorating has taken place during the last two months, Tharp said, and include painting the lobby, auditorium, and rest rooms, and the addition of 125 new seats In the auditorium.
Five persons have managed the Bowie since its beginning in 1941, according to Reed. First manager was Lee Bray who served four years. He was followed by Oscar Dooley who came to Brownwood from Dallas. The late J.T. Hughes was manager of the theater after Dooley. Hughes was succeeded by Jack Hendrix who managed the theater until about two months ago when Tharp became manager. Hendrix came to Brownwood from Big Spring. Tharp, in his 20th year with Interstate Theaters, came here from Abilene.
Here is an August 1976 article from the El Paso Herald-Post:
A hearing on the eviction notice filed against operators of the Plaza Theater has been set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday before Justice of the Peace Jesus Hernandez. Ted Cottle, realtor representing Mike Dipp, theater owner, said the notice was filed for failure to pay rent for several months. Tim Cassias, former employee of the Plaza, who has filed claim for back wages with the Texas Department of Labor and Standards, told The Herald-Post he plans to notify film distributors of irregularities in the theater’s bookkeeping. He showed documents which he said support his contention that the distributors were paid less than they were entitled to on certain films shown at the Plaza in 1975.
LANE ROBERTSON, who has headed the Plaza operation since 1973, has denied the accusations and said the documents were stolen from his desk. Cassias admitted yesterday that the papers were stolen but said he did not steal them. He said they were given to him. Both Robertson and Andy Simson said that bookkeeping errors were audit and are being worked out with the the distributors affected.
CASSIAS WORKED for the theater 14 months. He resigned June 29 after being unable to collect pay he said was due him. Mrs. Julia Breck, chairman of the theater’s board, said today, “We’re in the process of handling the situation. We are doing the best we can to pull things together.” She is among prominent local persons who Cassias said made substantial investments in the theater operation. A “Save the Plaza” campaign was held, enlisting financial support with the alternative of having the theater razed so the land could be used for other purposes.
Cottle, however, denies that Dipp ever intended to raze the Plaza after buying it in 1973. Cassias said he learned soon, after going to work at the Plaza that the owner did not really intend to raze it. He said the appeal to save the building was a deception to increase the urgency of the appeal for money.
With a different letter.
Here is another Chronicle-Telegram article dated 1/20/89:
FAIRVIEW PARK â€" Less than three weeks after the Fairview Theater closed its doors, it will re-open today under new management. The 1,400-seat, twin-screened theater in the Fairview Shopping Center, was closed Jan. 2 by former owner Morrie Zryl, who acquired the theater in 1985 after it was closed by National Theater Corp.
At the time, Zryl hoped to be able to offer quality film fare, including acclaimed art and foreign movies, to discerning western Cuyahoga County, and Lorain County moviegoers “For a while, it worked, and then they just stopped coming,” said Zryl “I just don’t understand it.” Despite that, the theater reopens today under the management of Al Saluan, owner of the tri-screen Lake Theater in Euclid, according to Zryl, owner of the Colony Theater in Shaker Heights.
Saluan, who spent the week cleaning and installing new fixtures in the theater, the largest on the west side, said the need for a movie house offering family fare is still very real Assuming his operation as a second-run house is successful, Saluan hopes to eventually offer first-run fare “I wish him all the luck in the world because it’s real tough as an independent,” said Zryl “I know ”. Over-saturation, lack of available product, and fierce competition from major chains all combined to sound the death knell for Zryl.
There was an F-Bar Drive-In in Tahoka listed in the 1963 IMPA.