Oh, that just makes me sick. I worked in Houston from 88-90, and lived one block from the River Oaks. Being new in town and loving old theatres, I was at home in the River Oaks Theatre in seconds. The thought of that theatre and and that beautiful shopping center (how often can you call a shopping center beautiful?) being razed for “improvements” is nauseating. Can someone start an online petition locally? I’d sign in a heartbeat.
I was born in Springfield in 1960 and worked for several of the chains there in the 70’s (Commonwealth,Dickinson) and don’t think Dubinsky had any theatres there. But I may be wrong.
I’ve never been inside your theatre, of course, but the pictures of the outside look just beautiful. Good Luck with the project.
You said you were interested in some advice, so here goes;
I’m a semi-professional actor who became involved periphally with the restoration of an 80 year old theatre a few years ago. When they thought they were done, it was gorgeous. It was to be used as an even split house between live shows and a variety of movies. The only real problem was that although it had been originally designed for both purposes, the restoration focused on movies (which was great) but they only did bare-bones work on the actor’s dressing rooms and Green Room. Now, touring show members and local amatuer groups are, by their very nature, not that picky. But after a year or so, groups were refusing to book the place because of the conditions of the facilities backstage. I won’t describe them, but they were abysmal. New, but abysmal. The theatre revenue was very low until they called on a few people to make some suggestions (that is the little I helped) After some afterthought changes, word got around and now it is doing the business it should have done 3 years ago.
What I’m saying is, make sure you accommodate the live performers with some basic tools to do their job,too and your revenues should stay even when you get rolling.
Just a trivia note. The Fremont opened in 1977 and the first movies it showed were “Telefon”, “The Gauntlet”, and “The Good-bye Girl”.
I worked for a rival theatre chain and got free “crossover passes” so I saw all three on opening day for free!
When I worked for Commonwealth in the ‘70s, I was sometimes asked to help out at another manager’s theater in an emergency. My most vivid memory of the Sunset (and this was my childhood theater)was a second run showing of “Smokey and the Bandit”. I was asked to rush over to help on opening night. When I arrived, I was stunned to see a line of cars on Chestnut Expressway stretching(I found out later)over three miles! It must have been timing, but the entire run of the show,all summer, was mostly like that. For once in its life, The Sunset had broken attendence and concession sales for the entire chain. I’ve never seen a sight like that again, even opening day of “Star Wars” at my theater, The Queen City Twin.
Again, a small correction. The Fox was still showing movies when I worked for Dickinson Theatres, the last theatre owners before it became a church, up til about 1982. It was last operated as a “Dollar” house by Dickinson. The last movie I went to there was “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at a midnite show in 1981.
I managed the Tower in the mid ‘80s, and it was then “The Jewel In The Crown” of Dickinson Theatres,after a million plus dollars were spent on an upgrade of equipment (platters and Dolby).and an attempt to retro some of the art deco touches.
To have a radio station literally gut the whole building and make an attempt to say they were “saving” it by dolling up the remaining facade sickened me.
Like many a theatre, she was a beautiful old girl in her day,and her days ended much too soon. All for the sake of a buck.
I just got an e-mail from Denzil. Here is a story. One day I was working on the road lights at the Springfield Drive-In. It was about October, just before we shut down for the winter, but wanted a month or two. I was repairing one of the many roadlights, when one of the pole lights(one of four,like a diamond)having been eroded by the same heavy rain,fell like tree behind me. For about an hour, I was trapped between the live road light and the live pole light. If my city manager hadn’t showen up to check on the theatre, I guess I might have been there forever.(he turned off the breaker) Denzil, if you want more detailed stories, tell me what kind you wan to hear.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Although I was a little sad to learn of Commonwealth’s fate (it was generally a class act company to work) I’m not surprised. They always tried,but not always successfully, to adhere to the old-fashioned doctrine of consistant quality in theatre and product. I discount the losing battle of the late 70’s drive-in desparation attempt, Like mild R films and chop-suey marathon.(but, what the people want…)
I’m especially interested in their booker,Richard, or Dick. He was always a dream to work with and would actually work with you. I once talked him into okaying a weekend of midnite showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 1977 or 78, reasonably long before it bacame a cult classic. (at least in Springfield,MO) If anyone knows what happened to him, I would also appreciate the info.
Start with the Missouri Arts Council. They should be able to guide you to statewide sources, especially if your place has any historical arts background.
I just joined this site recently and am catching up on what, for most of you, is old news and comments. Without rehashing all of the above comments(although most, while sometimes differing, were cogent and interesting)I would like to boil some of it down to this; almost everyone in the motion picture business forgets at one time or another that they are involved in both a product industry as well as a service industry. Ideally, a perfect balance between the two would result in an equally ejoyable experience everytime you went to a movie. Unfortunately, this is the real, human-run world and quality varies as much in theatre experiences as it does anywhere else in life. That is not to say we should settle for our disappointing experiences as “That’s to expected sometimes”. We should always keep a keen and diligent eye on individual movies and theatres that are shoddy in any sense of the word and do our utmost to correct it and protest it through forums such as this, as well as to the individuals responsible,whether they be producers,chain owners,distributors,theatre owners, or simply the manager. If a manager (and I was one for years) is diligent, most often the problem lies with the quality of the film, which is usually beyond his or her control. If he is made aware of problems, he will do his best to correct them, unless his hands are tied by his employers. Then it is up to the individual to go ever higher in establishing just who is responsible and dealing with them. Some of this is obvious, but it has always bothered me when I was not made aware of a problem so I could attempt to fix it. Training is usually the key, but one of you was right when you said low pay can reflect lower service standards. It was one of the reasons I left a job I loved for a job I could live on. Anyway, I look forward to any responses there might be.
Also, I forgot. The Queen did not open in 1978, as Mr Bibber states, but in 1970. I’ll have to dig out my dedication photos with Frank Jones, the District Manager, at the time. Sorry.
I managed the Queen from 1978, when I closed the Springfield Drive-In, until 1979 when I left to go to college. The style was modeled on the Holiday Drive-In,which had been rebuilt a few years before, except it was much more expensively done, as it also was the office for the City Manager,at that time Russell Cox.The outside was brown brick with turquoise and white trim, the bathrooms were bright white tile with red formica counters,the concession was dual laned with white tile on the walls and turqoise and white counters with black formica tops. The offices, Russell’s and mine, were expensively paneled in dark brown wood and modern wooden office furniture. A unique feature was the projection booth, actually on the second floor above the concession stand, unlike the Holiday, where it was at the rear. We showed first releases often, but the mainstays were second runs and theme marathons,especially after the Springfield closed and we show the occassional “R” rated marathon on the screen facing away from Sunshine Street!
I worked in Manhattan for a few months, a few years ago. I remember going to a “dollar house” to see Howard Stern’s bizarre bio-pic. It was right on the edge of the university campus. Was this the Wareham, or is there another very old theatre in that part of town?
I would like some clarification. I worked for Commonwealth Amusement Corp as a manager (1976-1979)in Springfield,MO. I was still very young and memories blur,butI didn’t know the Holiday had been demolished,as it was still there two years ago, It was my understanding from my employers then, that the original Holiday, built in the 50’s, had been totally torn down to make way for the new one, opened in 1970 on the same spot. As a matter of fact, I was told that it had been planned as a twin screen,but the Queen City Twin, which I managed, was built instead. If anyone has information to clear up my confusion, I would really appreciate it.
By saying it “was one of six theatres in or around the mall” you seem to giving the impression of lots of theatres in that area. As the above comment says accurately, Century 21 was the only theatre in the mall for years, until the AMC 6-plex went in. The surrounding area had the Dickinson Fremont 3-plex at Battlefield & Fremont,The Petite 3 across the street, and the Tower Theatre single screen many blocks to the north.
You might also consider calling individual theatre companies booking agents. They are usually pretty informative and, if it doesn’t affect their particular theatre chain,unusally wily. Take it from an old theatre manager. If they can’t help you, they know who can. Just a warning though; in many cases,you might not like a lot of what you will hear. Good luck.
I worked for Commonwealth Amusement Corporation, who owned all the drive-ins in Springfield,MO, my home town. In fact, I am the last actual manager of the Springfield Drive-In, which was the oldest drive-in Springfield had until we lost the lease in 1977 and it was torn down to make room on the prime real estate spot for an office monstrosity called “Corporate Square”. I also managed the Queen City Twin, which was torn down to build a “Sam’s Club”. I am responding to a small blog I saw about the Hi-M Theatre, which in fact was demolished for a sub-division. They are called “Hi-M Estates”, I believe. If anyone wants more stories about Springfield drive-ins, let me know.
Oh, that just makes me sick. I worked in Houston from 88-90, and lived one block from the River Oaks. Being new in town and loving old theatres, I was at home in the River Oaks Theatre in seconds. The thought of that theatre and and that beautiful shopping center (how often can you call a shopping center beautiful?) being razed for “improvements” is nauseating. Can someone start an online petition locally? I’d sign in a heartbeat.
An added note; I was talking about the Tower, not Century 21.
You missed Ghandi (a loooong run, because it won best picture that year) and Something Wicked This Way Comes, both in 1981. I was the manager then.
I was born in Springfield in 1960 and worked for several of the chains there in the 70’s (Commonwealth,Dickinson) and don’t think Dubinsky had any theatres there. But I may be wrong.
I’ve never been inside your theatre, of course, but the pictures of the outside look just beautiful. Good Luck with the project.
You said you were interested in some advice, so here goes;
I’m a semi-professional actor who became involved periphally with the restoration of an 80 year old theatre a few years ago. When they thought they were done, it was gorgeous. It was to be used as an even split house between live shows and a variety of movies. The only real problem was that although it had been originally designed for both purposes, the restoration focused on movies (which was great) but they only did bare-bones work on the actor’s dressing rooms and Green Room. Now, touring show members and local amatuer groups are, by their very nature, not that picky. But after a year or so, groups were refusing to book the place because of the conditions of the facilities backstage. I won’t describe them, but they were abysmal. New, but abysmal. The theatre revenue was very low until they called on a few people to make some suggestions (that is the little I helped) After some afterthought changes, word got around and now it is doing the business it should have done 3 years ago.
What I’m saying is, make sure you accommodate the live performers with some basic tools to do their job,too and your revenues should stay even when you get rolling.
Again, best of luck and break a leg!
Just a trivia note. The Fremont opened in 1977 and the first movies it showed were “Telefon”, “The Gauntlet”, and “The Good-bye Girl”.
I worked for a rival theatre chain and got free “crossover passes” so I saw all three on opening day for free!
When I worked for Commonwealth in the ‘70s, I was sometimes asked to help out at another manager’s theater in an emergency. My most vivid memory of the Sunset (and this was my childhood theater)was a second run showing of “Smokey and the Bandit”. I was asked to rush over to help on opening night. When I arrived, I was stunned to see a line of cars on Chestnut Expressway stretching(I found out later)over three miles! It must have been timing, but the entire run of the show,all summer, was mostly like that. For once in its life, The Sunset had broken attendence and concession sales for the entire chain. I’ve never seen a sight like that again, even opening day of “Star Wars” at my theater, The Queen City Twin.
Again, a small correction. The Fox was still showing movies when I worked for Dickinson Theatres, the last theatre owners before it became a church, up til about 1982. It was last operated as a “Dollar” house by Dickinson. The last movie I went to there was “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at a midnite show in 1981.
I managed the Tower in the mid ‘80s, and it was then “The Jewel In The Crown” of Dickinson Theatres,after a million plus dollars were spent on an upgrade of equipment (platters and Dolby).and an attempt to retro some of the art deco touches.
To have a radio station literally gut the whole building and make an attempt to say they were “saving” it by dolling up the remaining facade sickened me.
Like many a theatre, she was a beautiful old girl in her day,and her days ended much too soon. All for the sake of a buck.
Now, let’s be cautious. Too much publicity could turn our little guilty pleasure, secret site into a mainstream,going concern.
Seriously, congrats on a well done piece of newspaper coverage.
I just got an e-mail from Denzil. Here is a story. One day I was working on the road lights at the Springfield Drive-In. It was about October, just before we shut down for the winter, but wanted a month or two. I was repairing one of the many roadlights, when one of the pole lights(one of four,like a diamond)having been eroded by the same heavy rain,fell like tree behind me. For about an hour, I was trapped between the live road light and the live pole light. If my city manager hadn’t showen up to check on the theatre, I guess I might have been there forever.(he turned off the breaker) Denzil, if you want more detailed stories, tell me what kind you wan to hear.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Although I was a little sad to learn of Commonwealth’s fate (it was generally a class act company to work) I’m not surprised. They always tried,but not always successfully, to adhere to the old-fashioned doctrine of consistant quality in theatre and product. I discount the losing battle of the late 70’s drive-in desparation attempt, Like mild R films and chop-suey marathon.(but, what the people want…)
I’m especially interested in their booker,Richard, or Dick. He was always a dream to work with and would actually work with you. I once talked him into okaying a weekend of midnite showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 1977 or 78, reasonably long before it bacame a cult classic. (at least in Springfield,MO) If anyone knows what happened to him, I would also appreciate the info.
Start with the Missouri Arts Council. They should be able to guide you to statewide sources, especially if your place has any historical arts background.
I just joined this site recently and am catching up on what, for most of you, is old news and comments. Without rehashing all of the above comments(although most, while sometimes differing, were cogent and interesting)I would like to boil some of it down to this; almost everyone in the motion picture business forgets at one time or another that they are involved in both a product industry as well as a service industry. Ideally, a perfect balance between the two would result in an equally ejoyable experience everytime you went to a movie. Unfortunately, this is the real, human-run world and quality varies as much in theatre experiences as it does anywhere else in life. That is not to say we should settle for our disappointing experiences as “That’s to expected sometimes”. We should always keep a keen and diligent eye on individual movies and theatres that are shoddy in any sense of the word and do our utmost to correct it and protest it through forums such as this, as well as to the individuals responsible,whether they be producers,chain owners,distributors,theatre owners, or simply the manager. If a manager (and I was one for years) is diligent, most often the problem lies with the quality of the film, which is usually beyond his or her control. If he is made aware of problems, he will do his best to correct them, unless his hands are tied by his employers. Then it is up to the individual to go ever higher in establishing just who is responsible and dealing with them. Some of this is obvious, but it has always bothered me when I was not made aware of a problem so I could attempt to fix it. Training is usually the key, but one of you was right when you said low pay can reflect lower service standards. It was one of the reasons I left a job I loved for a job I could live on. Anyway, I look forward to any responses there might be.
Also, I forgot. The Queen did not open in 1978, as Mr Bibber states, but in 1970. I’ll have to dig out my dedication photos with Frank Jones, the District Manager, at the time. Sorry.
I managed the Queen from 1978, when I closed the Springfield Drive-In, until 1979 when I left to go to college. The style was modeled on the Holiday Drive-In,which had been rebuilt a few years before, except it was much more expensively done, as it also was the office for the City Manager,at that time Russell Cox.The outside was brown brick with turquoise and white trim, the bathrooms were bright white tile with red formica counters,the concession was dual laned with white tile on the walls and turqoise and white counters with black formica tops. The offices, Russell’s and mine, were expensively paneled in dark brown wood and modern wooden office furniture. A unique feature was the projection booth, actually on the second floor above the concession stand, unlike the Holiday, where it was at the rear. We showed first releases often, but the mainstays were second runs and theme marathons,especially after the Springfield closed and we show the occassional “R” rated marathon on the screen facing away from Sunshine Street!
I worked in Manhattan for a few months, a few years ago. I remember going to a “dollar house” to see Howard Stern’s bizarre bio-pic. It was right on the edge of the university campus. Was this the Wareham, or is there another very old theatre in that part of town?
I would like some clarification. I worked for Commonwealth Amusement Corp as a manager (1976-1979)in Springfield,MO. I was still very young and memories blur,butI didn’t know the Holiday had been demolished,as it was still there two years ago, It was my understanding from my employers then, that the original Holiday, built in the 50’s, had been totally torn down to make way for the new one, opened in 1970 on the same spot. As a matter of fact, I was told that it had been planned as a twin screen,but the Queen City Twin, which I managed, was built instead. If anyone has information to clear up my confusion, I would really appreciate it.
By saying it “was one of six theatres in or around the mall” you seem to giving the impression of lots of theatres in that area. As the above comment says accurately, Century 21 was the only theatre in the mall for years, until the AMC 6-plex went in. The surrounding area had the Dickinson Fremont 3-plex at Battlefield & Fremont,The Petite 3 across the street, and the Tower Theatre single screen many blocks to the north.
You might also consider calling individual theatre companies booking agents. They are usually pretty informative and, if it doesn’t affect their particular theatre chain,unusally wily. Take it from an old theatre manager. If they can’t help you, they know who can. Just a warning though; in many cases,you might not like a lot of what you will hear. Good luck.
I worked for Commonwealth Amusement Corporation, who owned all the drive-ins in Springfield,MO, my home town. In fact, I am the last actual manager of the Springfield Drive-In, which was the oldest drive-in Springfield had until we lost the lease in 1977 and it was torn down to make room on the prime real estate spot for an office monstrosity called “Corporate Square”. I also managed the Queen City Twin, which was torn down to build a “Sam’s Club”. I am responding to a small blog I saw about the Hi-M Theatre, which in fact was demolished for a sub-division. They are called “Hi-M Estates”, I believe. If anyone wants more stories about Springfield drive-ins, let me know.