It’s great to see how the Mahoning is hanging in there with film as Hollywood’s supplies of 35mm prints dry up. Prior to these young guys running it, there was a brief episode with a not-so-nice fellow that needed to be posted, while an original article was still available.
Excitement Turns to Concern for Drive-In Trying to Stay Open
POSTED 8:55 PM, MAY 10, 2013, BY DAVE BOHMAN WNEP-TV 16 ABC
MAHONING TOWNSHIP — Earlier this spring, volunteers in Carbon County gave up their weekends to save a connection with their past. They helped fix up the Mahoning Drive-In movie theater near Lehighton. They hoped their hard work would keep it open for summers to come. But the theater just off Route 443 also needs $60,000 for a digital projector. Hollywood will soon stop printing films that run on older projectors like the one at the Mahoning Drive-in.
Projectionist Mike Danchak restored the Angela Theater in Coaldale, and he also manages the Mahoning Drive-in. He was contacted this winter by Glen Brannon of Florida. He said Brannon claimed he had a record of saving other old theaters.
“He wanted to lease it, and then buy the (Mahoning) Drive-in,” said Danchak. “My only hope was that he would save the drive-in.”
An Action 16 Investigation found that since 2007, Brannon was involved in efforts to renovate drive-ins and theaters in three states. He also worked under the names Russell Brannan or Russel Glen, and his part in and the efforts ended abruptly. Last spring Brannan arranged to lease, then own the Tee Pee Drive-in on historic US Route 66 near Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Just like in Carbon County, volunteers in Oklahoma worked hard to fix up the Drive in. A TV station in Tulsa reported that Brannan set an opening date, delayed it twice, and the Tee Pee never did re-open.
Owners of the Sky-View drive-in in Kentucky, and the historic Lawford Theater in Illinois, claim Brannon operated their theaters for a short time, and left after disputes over money.
“People don`t want to sit there and listen to what I have to say in order to make things work out,” said Brannan by phone from his home in Florida. Brannan claims he was pointing the Mahoning Drive-in toward profitability, but said he had disagreements with manager Mike Danchak over ticket prices, fund-raising plans, and promotions.
Danchak said Brannan almost cost the Mahoning Drive-in dearly, by selling 250 season passes for $59 a car load. “If we accepted them, we would go bankrupt,” said Danchak, “because we would have nothing but passes all summer.” Danchak said Brannan’s money-losing offer forced the theater to buy the tickets back, leaving the Mahoning Drive-in with just $5,000, and time is running out to get the $60,000 projector. Brannan calls his actions, smart marketing, claiming he brought buzz to a dying drive-in. “I`m sore because here this theater was going to close,” said Brannan, “and I got people that had never known that the theater was still open excited about it.”
As a result of the actions, Mike Danchak said he has scaled back expectations of keeping the Mahoning Drive-in open after this year. He said he hopes to find a used digital projector for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
How ‘bout those Boyertown Bears?! Oh, sorry, I digress: I hope the committee being organized can succeed in a timely fashion. This theatre appears to have been closed for nearly a year and troubles (unknown and /or unmanaged) quickly develop and explode in older buildings that sit unattended. I hope they are able to save this local landmark.
The Opera House appears to be closed at this time, unable to obtain 35mm prints for showings. Also, a correction to the caption under the photo atop this listing: the Opera House was not used as a bed & breakfast nor as a bar or library. The owners of the Opera House also own the county’s former jail in Aledo. They renamed it “The Slammer” and had a restaurant/bar as well as a B&B (where guests could room in one of the jail cells).
It appears that the Ford dealership may have demolished the old Matex and surrounding buildings to construct it’s newer larger facility. Time marches on.
Unfortunately, the Garden has just closed, due to lack of 35mm prints:
Venerable Canton theater shuttered By Steve Tarter OF THE JOURNAL STAR Posted Jan. 25, 2015
CANTON — The Garden Theatre, 62 Main St., has closed. Owner Vern Reynolds said attendance suffered since the theater was unable to get new releases in 35 mm, the film format that Hollywood had used for more than 100 years.
Reynolds added the Canton movie house to his regional chain in 1999, but the Garden has operated as a theater for more than 60 years in downtown Canton, he said.
“I used to have 22 screens, but now I’m down to one,” said Reynolds, referring to the Palace Theatre in Elmwood, where a digital projector was installed last year.
“I’ll keep Elmwood going for a couple of more years and then sell the theater,” he said. Reynolds, who turns 68 this year, said he was planning to retire. Theaters that didn’t acquire digital projectors have seen the number of films available in the 35 mm format dwindle to a trickle, said Reynolds.
“Some studios continue to make 35 mm copies on some films, but in one case made only three prints for the entire state of Illinois,” he said.
Reynolds said nondigital theaters are a dying breed. “There are only a few hundred theaters across the country still operating with 35 mm. I know several hundred have closed,” he said. Reynolds said the Canton theater is for sale and hopes that a new operator can give it “new life.”
In case OCRon’s link eventually goes bad, here is the meat and potatoes of what may soon be happening to the Esquire…from the State Journal-Register & reporter, Jamie Munks (as edited by me): The owners of the former Esquire Theatre property have told city officials they intend to raze the long-vacant building, which could make way for more development along MacArthur Boulevard. With the former Esquire — a large, nondescript gray building that sits just south of MacArthur Boulevard and South Grand Avenue — being demolished will fall in line with hopes for changes along the corridor.
“There are always people looking at that property,” MacArthur Association President Ken Dillman said. “But there’s the expense of infrastructure upgrades, demolishing the building and then developing the property, so there are other places in town where it’s less expensive.” The former Esquire is a registered vacant building with the city, and the registration will come due after three years on Feb. 16. At that point, in order to comply with city code, the owners, AMC Theatres Inc., must either bring the building up to code or demolish it. AMC has indicated verbally that they plan to demolish.
AMC acquired the property when they bought much of the Kerasotes Theatres circuit several years ago, and it’s been on the market since then. The listing price has been as high as $1.2 million for the AMC-owned properties on MacArthur Boulevard, though the price may be negotiable. AMC, incidentally, was bought out (over a year ago) by Beijing-based Dalian Wanda Group for $2.6 billion.
Springfield area officials believe that historic restoration of the building is not a viable economic option. The former Esquire, which is the largest undeveloped property along MacArthur, has been vacant for about a decade.
Yes, thank you, Michael for all you had done (and may continue to do) on this site. Cinematreasures is a regular stop on all my surfing sessions and it is especially because of your tireless updates!
Located west of town off of Rt 105, the site is now a residence and winery, the Bel-Air Winery. At its peak, the theatre held over 100 cars and could accommodate small planes that would taxi over from an adjacent runway strip. The screen blew down in the mid-1970s.
Steve and Lorraine Beland purchased the 13 acre property in 1988. Years later, the Belands (along with business partner, Adam Strouf) proceeded to convert the buildings into uses for a new winery operation…which opened in 2007. In 2008, the Belands set up a 16' x 16' screen and showed free movies (off DVDs) to the public…sort of reopening the drive-in for the locals to enjoy. The Belands have since retired and their son has taken over the winery…but, it appears the drive-in has closed for good. [Much of this info from an article out of the Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette and writer, Warren Haacke]
I grew up near the Crest, although it was closed and sat vacant for much of my childhood. Reset your Google Satellite map image to approx. 4419 No. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights. It currently shows a parking lot with a set of greenhouses…THAT is where the Crest was located. Perhaps the numerical address you have on file for the Crest is what this location was listed as, back when the Crest was open? In the early 1970s, Peoria Heights renumbered it’s streets to correspond with neighboring Peoria.
As for what the site became, after the Crest was demolished either in the late ‘60s or early '70s, some failed franchise restaurants were built thereon. The first attempt was a Minnie Pearl’s Fried Chicken, that was built with signage included…but I do not recall that it ever opened. Later it became a Famous Recipe Fried Chicken…also a Hardee’s…all since demolished…and now a parking lot for a florist/greenhouse: Height’s Flowers.
According to a blurb from NWA Media, the Apollo was recently declared unsafe by the Building Department of the City of Springdale and Springdale firefighters will not go inside the building in the event of a fire because of safety concerns.
Concerns growing over Sapulpa drive-in developer
Concerns raised over drive-in developer
by: Ian Silver Published: 6/21 5:52 pm
Last month FOX23 News reported on a Florida businessman’s plans to restore Sapulpa’s TeePee Drive-In Theater to its old Route 66 glory days, but now that businessman’s plans and motives have come into question.
During the month since the announcement the drive-in site has gone through some major changes, thanks to more than 50 volunteers. Those changes include significant clearing of overgrown brush and general cleaning up of the site.
But a lot of questions and concerns over the legitimacy of the developer, Russell Glen, who also uses the last name Brannan, have also popped up over the past month.
Volunteers say the clean-up project has been great for the community, but they say it’s been hard to see through all the smoke and mirrors Brannan has put up.
“He has sworn three or four different times he’s going to show up, and he hasn’t,” volunteer Keith Holder said. “That was my first flag right there.”
Holder has spent countless hours working at the site and leading a small army of volunteers. He was also one of two local volunteers who set up a bank account for the drive-in on Glen/Brannan’s request. The other volunteer even put $2,000 in the account. Glen/Brannan claimed he put $10,000 in the account.
“There is no record at the bank whatsoever of anything of any nature like that,” Holder said. “He did not put one red cent in there.”
Fortunately, Glen/Brannan was not a signer on the account, so the other volunteer was able to get most of his money back before closing out the account.
But Holder said Glen/Brannan continued to push him to collect more donations.
“Until he proves to me that he is upright, that he is straight and honest, I’m not going to ask anybody for money. I’m not going to do it.”
FOX23 News tried four times to reach Glen/Brannan by phone Thursday to ask why he hasn’t spent a cent on the site and why he’s now trying to lease the property, despite claiming he was going to buy it a few weeks ago. None of the calls were answered or returned.
“Somebody don’t tell the truth, I don’t trust them very far,” Holder said. “And that’s what this boils down to.”
On the TeePee Drive-In’s Facebook page Thursday, Glen/Brannan said all of the proper paperwork for a lease had been filled out, and that work on the theater would continue next week. FOX23 stopped by the Creek County records department to see the lease agreement, but found no records mentioning Glen/Brannan or any lease agreements on the property.
Creek County District Attorney Max Cook told FOX23 that no formal investigation into Russell Glen/Brannan had been launched. But he did say that he was informally looking into the situation.
Holder and other volunteers have kept detailed records of everyone who has donated time, money or materials to the effort. He said if Brannan’s plans fall apart he will return everything that was donated.
I understand this theatre has been successfully operated as a discount house but was closed in 2008 due to some management matters as well as some air conditioning problems. Those have been worked on and the owners plan to reopen the Sterling in early 2009. In the meantime, they are still offering the theatre FOR SALE. Contact Mark at 217-549-3000
Bad news, the deal fell through…the buyer apparently pulled out after the auction…so the Heart IS STILL FOR SALE! If interested, contact Mark at 217-549-3000
Sunday, June 29, 2008 9:06 PM CDT
Effingham resident saves Heart Theater
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
Journal-Gazette/Times-Courier
EFFINGHAM â€" Over the years, the Heart Theater gave customers many happy endings.
The same was true Saturday afternoon through a drama played outside the theater. But there was still some nail-biting suspense.
Mark McSparin could not get the right price for the 68-year-old movie theater during an auction under the marquee Saturday. So he planned to sell pieces of the art deco exterior and other fixtures to turn the structure into a storage building in a few weeks.
But McSparin had no intention of being labeled the villain in this drama. He said he was willing to accept any final bids to keep from breaking the heart of the theaterâ€\s fans.
Effingham resident Lonnie Waymoth came to the rescue for the idled entertainment venue a few hours later when he brokered a deal with McSparin. Waymoth was the high bidder at $80,000 during the sale conducted by auctioneer Art Schackmann of Jasper County.
McSparin was asking for a bottom-dollar offer of $110,000 when the auction ended before the over-the-phone dickering by the owner and high bidder, who faced limited opposition during the bidding.
“We were real close to each other on price. I guess weâ€\re both satisfied,†said Waymoth, whose family, including his daughter, Angela Waymoth Lappin, plans to re-open the theater in a matter of months. “We were close enough so we pushed a little more.â€
“Iâ€\m not satisfied with the final price, but I accomplished what I set out to do by selling the theater. The people of Effingham will be happy to see this,†said McSparin, whose new drive-in theater opened this weekend at Charleston.
The Heart has been inactive as a movie theater for about 18 months. But it reaches back many decades in Effingham social history. It opened in 1940 as a state-of-the-art motion picture theater and a notable architectural addition to the Effingham Courthouse Square.
“This is where I had my first job when I was 11,†said Effingham resident Don Eden prior to the auction that drew about 40 people near the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Third Street. “I swept up the place and blew out the popcorn from under the seats. And I got to see all those wonderful movies, too.â€
Many auction spectators walked through the theater prior to Schackmannâ€\s call for bidders outside. They had a chance to see the interior of the projection room, the office and a storage room where marquee letters and other pieces of equipment were stacked on shelves.
Effingham resident Marion Burford was thrilled to see old popcorn bags saved in one room. She wondered if one could be saved for inclusion in a local history museum.
The ticket booth has not changed over the years, or the colorful marquee with its rows of flashing lights. This sense of nostalgia for the Heart was what drew Waymoth, a semi-retired businessman, to Saturdayâ€\s transaction.
“It goes back to my beginning of time,â€he said. “One of the movies I remember seeing when I was younger was ‘The Ten Commandments.â€\â€
The Waymoth clan seemed to be drawn to the idea of showbiz before the deal was sealed Saturday. Waymothâ€\s granddaughter was placing her tiny hands in the handprints from a 1960 commemoration near the curb in front of the theater. She seemed starstruck.
“I guess this will be a family endeavor,†Waymoth said. “You just hate to let go of this.â€
Regarding the Heart Theatre, it needs someone who can commit his full attention to operating it, marketing it, etc. A classic small-town single-screen hardtop with the neon marquee just shouting for attention. Hopefully, someone looking for such a gem will come upon it!
I am thinking this was not for the Edgemere…this was for a different drive-in, called the Shrewsbury Drive-In.
It’s great to see how the Mahoning is hanging in there with film as Hollywood’s supplies of 35mm prints dry up. Prior to these young guys running it, there was a brief episode with a not-so-nice fellow that needed to be posted, while an original article was still available.
Excitement Turns to Concern for Drive-In Trying to Stay Open POSTED 8:55 PM, MAY 10, 2013, BY DAVE BOHMAN WNEP-TV 16 ABC
MAHONING TOWNSHIP — Earlier this spring, volunteers in Carbon County gave up their weekends to save a connection with their past. They helped fix up the Mahoning Drive-In movie theater near Lehighton. They hoped their hard work would keep it open for summers to come. But the theater just off Route 443 also needs $60,000 for a digital projector. Hollywood will soon stop printing films that run on older projectors like the one at the Mahoning Drive-in.
Projectionist Mike Danchak restored the Angela Theater in Coaldale, and he also manages the Mahoning Drive-in. He was contacted this winter by Glen Brannon of Florida. He said Brannon claimed he had a record of saving other old theaters. “He wanted to lease it, and then buy the (Mahoning) Drive-in,” said Danchak. “My only hope was that he would save the drive-in.”
An Action 16 Investigation found that since 2007, Brannon was involved in efforts to renovate drive-ins and theaters in three states. He also worked under the names Russell Brannan or Russel Glen, and his part in and the efforts ended abruptly. Last spring Brannan arranged to lease, then own the Tee Pee Drive-in on historic US Route 66 near Tulsa, Oklahoma. Just like in Carbon County, volunteers in Oklahoma worked hard to fix up the Drive in. A TV station in Tulsa reported that Brannan set an opening date, delayed it twice, and the Tee Pee never did re-open.
Owners of the Sky-View drive-in in Kentucky, and the historic Lawford Theater in Illinois, claim Brannon operated their theaters for a short time, and left after disputes over money. “People don`t want to sit there and listen to what I have to say in order to make things work out,” said Brannan by phone from his home in Florida. Brannan claims he was pointing the Mahoning Drive-in toward profitability, but said he had disagreements with manager Mike Danchak over ticket prices, fund-raising plans, and promotions.
Danchak said Brannan almost cost the Mahoning Drive-in dearly, by selling 250 season passes for $59 a car load. “If we accepted them, we would go bankrupt,” said Danchak, “because we would have nothing but passes all summer.” Danchak said Brannan’s money-losing offer forced the theater to buy the tickets back, leaving the Mahoning Drive-in with just $5,000, and time is running out to get the $60,000 projector. Brannan calls his actions, smart marketing, claiming he brought buzz to a dying drive-in. “I`m sore because here this theater was going to close,” said Brannan, “and I got people that had never known that the theater was still open excited about it.”
As a result of the actions, Mike Danchak said he has scaled back expectations of keeping the Mahoning Drive-in open after this year. He said he hopes to find a used digital projector for a fraction of the cost of a new one.
Closed in 2012, the building is slated for demolition (2016)
http://www.kait8.com/story/31640142/trumann-maxie-theater-to-be-torn-down
How ‘bout those Boyertown Bears?! Oh, sorry, I digress: I hope the committee being organized can succeed in a timely fashion. This theatre appears to have been closed for nearly a year and troubles (unknown and /or unmanaged) quickly develop and explode in older buildings that sit unattended. I hope they are able to save this local landmark.
The Opera House appears to be closed at this time, unable to obtain 35mm prints for showings. Also, a correction to the caption under the photo atop this listing: the Opera House was not used as a bed & breakfast nor as a bar or library. The owners of the Opera House also own the county’s former jail in Aledo. They renamed it “The Slammer” and had a restaurant/bar as well as a B&B (where guests could room in one of the jail cells).
It appears that the Ford dealership may have demolished the old Matex and surrounding buildings to construct it’s newer larger facility. Time marches on.
Unfortunately, the Garden has just closed, due to lack of 35mm prints:
Venerable Canton theater shuttered
By Steve Tarter OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Jan. 25, 2015
CANTON — The Garden Theatre, 62 Main St., has closed. Owner Vern Reynolds said attendance suffered since the theater was unable to get new releases in 35 mm, the film format that Hollywood had used for more than 100 years. Reynolds added the Canton movie house to his regional chain in 1999, but the Garden has operated as a theater for more than 60 years in downtown Canton, he said. “I used to have 22 screens, but now I’m down to one,” said Reynolds, referring to the Palace Theatre in Elmwood, where a digital projector was installed last year. “I’ll keep Elmwood going for a couple of more years and then sell the theater,” he said. Reynolds, who turns 68 this year, said he was planning to retire. Theaters that didn’t acquire digital projectors have seen the number of films available in the 35 mm format dwindle to a trickle, said Reynolds. “Some studios continue to make 35 mm copies on some films, but in one case made only three prints for the entire state of Illinois,” he said. Reynolds said nondigital theaters are a dying breed. “There are only a few hundred theaters across the country still operating with 35 mm. I know several hundred have closed,” he said. Reynolds said the Canton theater is for sale and hopes that a new operator can give it “new life.”
Read more: http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150125/News/150129404#ixzz3PwLOF2Xg
In case OCRon’s link eventually goes bad, here is the meat and potatoes of what may soon be happening to the Esquire…from the State Journal-Register & reporter, Jamie Munks (as edited by me): The owners of the former Esquire Theatre property have told city officials they intend to raze the long-vacant building, which could make way for more development along MacArthur Boulevard. With the former Esquire — a large, nondescript gray building that sits just south of MacArthur Boulevard and South Grand Avenue — being demolished will fall in line with hopes for changes along the corridor. “There are always people looking at that property,” MacArthur Association President Ken Dillman said. “But there’s the expense of infrastructure upgrades, demolishing the building and then developing the property, so there are other places in town where it’s less expensive.” The former Esquire is a registered vacant building with the city, and the registration will come due after three years on Feb. 16. At that point, in order to comply with city code, the owners, AMC Theatres Inc., must either bring the building up to code or demolish it. AMC has indicated verbally that they plan to demolish. AMC acquired the property when they bought much of the Kerasotes Theatres circuit several years ago, and it’s been on the market since then. The listing price has been as high as $1.2 million for the AMC-owned properties on MacArthur Boulevard, though the price may be negotiable. AMC, incidentally, was bought out (over a year ago) by Beijing-based Dalian Wanda Group for $2.6 billion. Springfield area officials believe that historic restoration of the building is not a viable economic option. The former Esquire, which is the largest undeveloped property along MacArthur, has been vacant for about a decade.
Yes, thank you, Michael for all you had done (and may continue to do) on this site. Cinematreasures is a regular stop on all my surfing sessions and it is especially because of your tireless updates!
Located west of town off of Rt 105, the site is now a residence and winery, the Bel-Air Winery. At its peak, the theatre held over 100 cars and could accommodate small planes that would taxi over from an adjacent runway strip. The screen blew down in the mid-1970s.
Steve and Lorraine Beland purchased the 13 acre property in 1988. Years later, the Belands (along with business partner, Adam Strouf) proceeded to convert the buildings into uses for a new winery operation…which opened in 2007. In 2008, the Belands set up a 16' x 16' screen and showed free movies (off DVDs) to the public…sort of reopening the drive-in for the locals to enjoy. The Belands have since retired and their son has taken over the winery…but, it appears the drive-in has closed for good. [Much of this info from an article out of the Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette and writer, Warren Haacke]
By the Google Map image, looks like a church has taken over the facility
The Tower did not reopen for the 2013 season and has been closed since.
I grew up near the Crest, although it was closed and sat vacant for much of my childhood. Reset your Google Satellite map image to approx. 4419 No. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights. It currently shows a parking lot with a set of greenhouses…THAT is where the Crest was located. Perhaps the numerical address you have on file for the Crest is what this location was listed as, back when the Crest was open? In the early 1970s, Peoria Heights renumbered it’s streets to correspond with neighboring Peoria.
As for what the site became, after the Crest was demolished either in the late ‘60s or early '70s, some failed franchise restaurants were built thereon. The first attempt was a Minnie Pearl’s Fried Chicken, that was built with signage included…but I do not recall that it ever opened. Later it became a Famous Recipe Fried Chicken…also a Hardee’s…all since demolished…and now a parking lot for a florist/greenhouse: Height’s Flowers.
According to a blurb from NWA Media, the Apollo was recently declared unsafe by the Building Department of the City of Springdale and Springdale firefighters will not go inside the building in the event of a fire because of safety concerns.
Concerns growing over Sapulpa drive-in developer Concerns raised over drive-in developer by: Ian Silver Published: 6/21 5:52 pm
Last month FOX23 News reported on a Florida businessman’s plans to restore Sapulpa’s TeePee Drive-In Theater to its old Route 66 glory days, but now that businessman’s plans and motives have come into question.
During the month since the announcement the drive-in site has gone through some major changes, thanks to more than 50 volunteers. Those changes include significant clearing of overgrown brush and general cleaning up of the site.
But a lot of questions and concerns over the legitimacy of the developer, Russell Glen, who also uses the last name Brannan, have also popped up over the past month.
Volunteers say the clean-up project has been great for the community, but they say it’s been hard to see through all the smoke and mirrors Brannan has put up.
“He has sworn three or four different times he’s going to show up, and he hasn’t,” volunteer Keith Holder said. “That was my first flag right there.”
Holder has spent countless hours working at the site and leading a small army of volunteers. He was also one of two local volunteers who set up a bank account for the drive-in on Glen/Brannan’s request. The other volunteer even put $2,000 in the account. Glen/Brannan claimed he put $10,000 in the account.
“There is no record at the bank whatsoever of anything of any nature like that,” Holder said. “He did not put one red cent in there.”
Fortunately, Glen/Brannan was not a signer on the account, so the other volunteer was able to get most of his money back before closing out the account.
But Holder said Glen/Brannan continued to push him to collect more donations.
“Until he proves to me that he is upright, that he is straight and honest, I’m not going to ask anybody for money. I’m not going to do it.”
FOX23 News tried four times to reach Glen/Brannan by phone Thursday to ask why he hasn’t spent a cent on the site and why he’s now trying to lease the property, despite claiming he was going to buy it a few weeks ago. None of the calls were answered or returned.
“Somebody don’t tell the truth, I don’t trust them very far,” Holder said. “And that’s what this boils down to.”
On the TeePee Drive-In’s Facebook page Thursday, Glen/Brannan said all of the proper paperwork for a lease had been filled out, and that work on the theater would continue next week. FOX23 stopped by the Creek County records department to see the lease agreement, but found no records mentioning Glen/Brannan or any lease agreements on the property.
Creek County District Attorney Max Cook told FOX23 that no formal investigation into Russell Glen/Brannan had been launched. But he did say that he was informally looking into the situation.
Holder and other volunteers have kept detailed records of everyone who has donated time, money or materials to the effort. He said if Brannan’s plans fall apart he will return everything that was donated.
Now site of a Super Wal-Mart. :(
Still open today!
I understand this theatre has been successfully operated as a discount house but was closed in 2008 due to some management matters as well as some air conditioning problems. Those have been worked on and the owners plan to reopen the Sterling in early 2009. In the meantime, they are still offering the theatre FOR SALE. Contact Mark at 217-549-3000
Bad news, the deal fell through…the buyer apparently pulled out after the auction…so the Heart IS STILL FOR SALE! If interested, contact Mark at 217-549-3000
Pioneer still closed?
Yes, it still stands, untouched today.
Yes, this stylish venue IS for sale! Check out: http://www.21stcinemas.com/sterling.htm
I will post a contact number for the owners, shortly!
It appears to have sold at auction!
Sunday, June 29, 2008 9:06 PM CDT
Effingham resident saves Heart Theater
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
Journal-Gazette/Times-Courier
EFFINGHAM â€" Over the years, the Heart Theater gave customers many happy endings.
The same was true Saturday afternoon through a drama played outside the theater. But there was still some nail-biting suspense.
Mark McSparin could not get the right price for the 68-year-old movie theater during an auction under the marquee Saturday. So he planned to sell pieces of the art deco exterior and other fixtures to turn the structure into a storage building in a few weeks.
But McSparin had no intention of being labeled the villain in this drama. He said he was willing to accept any final bids to keep from breaking the heart of the theaterâ€\s fans.
Effingham resident Lonnie Waymoth came to the rescue for the idled entertainment venue a few hours later when he brokered a deal with McSparin. Waymoth was the high bidder at $80,000 during the sale conducted by auctioneer Art Schackmann of Jasper County.
McSparin was asking for a bottom-dollar offer of $110,000 when the auction ended before the over-the-phone dickering by the owner and high bidder, who faced limited opposition during the bidding.
“We were real close to each other on price. I guess weâ€\re both satisfied,†said Waymoth, whose family, including his daughter, Angela Waymoth Lappin, plans to re-open the theater in a matter of months. “We were close enough so we pushed a little more.â€
“Iâ€\m not satisfied with the final price, but I accomplished what I set out to do by selling the theater. The people of Effingham will be happy to see this,†said McSparin, whose new drive-in theater opened this weekend at Charleston.
The Heart has been inactive as a movie theater for about 18 months. But it reaches back many decades in Effingham social history. It opened in 1940 as a state-of-the-art motion picture theater and a notable architectural addition to the Effingham Courthouse Square.
“This is where I had my first job when I was 11,†said Effingham resident Don Eden prior to the auction that drew about 40 people near the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Third Street. “I swept up the place and blew out the popcorn from under the seats. And I got to see all those wonderful movies, too.â€
Many auction spectators walked through the theater prior to Schackmannâ€\s call for bidders outside. They had a chance to see the interior of the projection room, the office and a storage room where marquee letters and other pieces of equipment were stacked on shelves.
Effingham resident Marion Burford was thrilled to see old popcorn bags saved in one room. She wondered if one could be saved for inclusion in a local history museum.
The ticket booth has not changed over the years, or the colorful marquee with its rows of flashing lights. This sense of nostalgia for the Heart was what drew Waymoth, a semi-retired businessman, to Saturdayâ€\s transaction.
“It goes back to my beginning of time,â€he said. “One of the movies I remember seeing when I was younger was ‘The Ten Commandments.â€\â€
The Waymoth clan seemed to be drawn to the idea of showbiz before the deal was sealed Saturday. Waymothâ€\s granddaughter was placing her tiny hands in the handprints from a 1960 commemoration near the curb in front of the theater. She seemed starstruck.
“I guess this will be a family endeavor,†Waymoth said. “You just hate to let go of this.â€
Contact Herb Meeker at or 238-6869
Is there a Clinton Chamber of Commerce? Maybe an office on state history at the University of Illinois?
Regarding the Heart Theatre, it needs someone who can commit his full attention to operating it, marketing it, etc. A classic small-town single-screen hardtop with the neon marquee just shouting for attention. Hopefully, someone looking for such a gem will come upon it!