Comments from drumrboy36

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drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Strand Theatre on Aug 14, 2009 at 2:10 pm

I watched this theatre as it was being torn down. What a waste. I went into the rubble and salvaged a piece of decorative plaster that I still have in a showcase. I lived accross the streat from this theater. Allentown is a ghost of its former self and never appreciated its movie palaces.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Paramount Theatre on Jun 13, 2008 at 8:33 am

today the news showed downtown cedar rapids flooded, with the waters nearly up to the marquee on the paramount theatre.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Garden Theatre runs first film in 45 years on Feb 1, 2008 at 1:17 pm

The drop ceiling really destroys the historic look of the theatre. Still, the rest looks great!! Best of luck.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Garden Theatre runs first film in 45 years on Feb 1, 2008 at 7:24 am

A drop ceiling? You have got to be joking. Is that the “ before” picture?

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Rialto Theatre on Sep 9, 2007 at 10:31 am

Looks like they want to put in a private club.
View link

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Seminole Theatre on Aug 9, 2007 at 7:18 am

Does anyone know anything about this theatre? Interior? etc.? I can’t find a thing with research. The building is still there but appears abandoned.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Fifth Avenue Cinema I & II on Aug 9, 2007 at 7:15 am

This theatre is not torn down. I just attended church services there last week. The building is intact and meticulously maintained. Though it is a church, the exterior is restored and perfectly maintained.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Tampa Theatre on Apr 25, 2007 at 4:14 am

I just went last week to the Tampa Theatre and saw the original silent version of Phantom of The Opera. It was accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer….as well as the entire Florida Orchestra. It was like time travel back to the twenties. The orchestra and organ played an incredible scort………fantastick!!!

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about State Theatre on Aug 23, 2006 at 4:09 am

I was in possession of the celing medallion from the State Theatre ticket booth…..removed in the early 1980’s when theatre was in danger of demolition. Someone gave it to me years later. I just mailed it back to the director of the theatre and hope that they install it back where it belongs.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Embassy Theatre on Aug 22, 2006 at 12:37 pm

The Embassy Theatre, at 342-350 Northampton St. in Easton, was the site of the former Abel Opera House. The opera house presented many dramatic and operatic companies in the late 19th century and early 20th century. A large lodge room and two stores also comprised the historic building. In an Easton Express article written by John Bonnell in 1957, Bonnell said the building’s site was one of the most historic in the city.Admission was 25 cents in June 1913 for those patrons who wished to see Thomas Edison’s talking pictures during Old Home Week. Two fires struck the theater in a little more than two years. One fire was started by a discarded cigarette on June 12, 1924. The second occurred March 26, 1926, due to defective wiring. Around that time, the operators decided to turn the place of “live” theater into a movie house. The last movies played at The Embassy in May 1966. “When Gangland Strikes” and “Doctor at Sea” brought an end to an era in Easton. The property was sold to Arthur P. Siegal to be transformed into a ladies apparel store.
From the Easton Express Times, Nov 5, 2005. online edition.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Strand Theatre on Mar 2, 2006 at 8:51 am

The Strand was located near the Tampa Theatre. It was incorporated into the old Maas Brothers Dept Store…..so who knows if any of the interior survived the conversion. Anyway….its gone now.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Alcazar Theatre on Mar 2, 2006 at 7:15 am

The entire block is now demolished.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Strand Theatre on Mar 2, 2006 at 7:11 am

Just went downtown and the Strand is now a pile of rubble. The entire block is being torn down for a condo tower. At the time of demolition, The Strand building still retained 90% of its original Spanish character. Pathetic that at least the facade was not kept intact and developed into the new building.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Rialto Theatre on Sep 27, 2005 at 10:47 am

I lived in Allentown during the mid-1980’s. I remember watching the wrecking ball smash into the side walls of the Rialto’s auditorium. I remember the box seats and balcony being exposed as I watched from accross the street. The wrecking ball kept slamming into all that decorative plaster…..I remember feeling sick as I watched this theatre get torn to the ground. I lived on 8th Street at the time……and shortly after they tore this movie palace down…they tore one down that was on 8th street accross from my townhouse. I watched that one get demolished also ( can’t remember the name of it)…but I did sneak into the rubble and took a piece of decorative plaster that I still have saved in a showcase. Allentown does not treasure its historic downtown…..and downtown was in pretty sorry shape last time I visited ( about 2003).

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Empire Theatre on Sep 26, 2005 at 9:51 am

The theatre was demolished. Its gone.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about La Plaza Theatre on Aug 23, 2005 at 4:51 am

I went to the City of St Petersburg Web site and looked at the City Maps……it appears 504 Central Ave is now a parking lot.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about La Plaza Theatre on Aug 22, 2005 at 11:36 am

Here is a link to a post-card photo:
http://www.stpete.org/images/020601.jpg
It appears to be a larger theatre.

drumrboy36
drumrboy36 commented about Photos Of Colonial Theater Demolition on May 27, 2005 at 11:16 am

Typical, Typical Allentown!!!!
I lived there during the late 1980’s and watched the wrecking balls crash into the gilded balconies and side boxes of 2 historic theatres further up on Hamilton Blvd. I see they did it again! It is unreal that a decaying city doesn’t have the vision to see the treasures in their own back yard. These theatres could have turned around the urban blight that swallowed up Allentown.