See photo of a theatre gutted by fire 27 December 1927. The photo lists location as 100 block of N Broadway, which is not the location of the early Dixie/Liberty as given above. Two theatre fires within a matter of days in Hugo or is the photo the Liberty? Adjoining buildings in pic do not match W Duke St in height, but very well could match structures on N Broadway.
Lindy
commented about
V Theateron
May 20, 2024 at 12:19 am
Really frustrating how photos and information about the V are almost totally non existent. I do know for certain that the building was serving as the office for the local cable tv provider for a time until that entity, Communications Services, Inc, moved to a new location in 1986. The CATV operator previously was United Artists, so I suspect United Artists operated the theater years prior until they entered the cable tv business.
Two previous locations of the early years ERIE in Hugo: 116 E Jackson St (ca.1911 and current location of HR Block) and 114 W Jackson St (ca.1914), which is directly across the street from the final location at 117 W. Jackson St. As of April, 2021, the ERIE’s abandoned structure still exists, though demolition is said to be imminent.
Burn scars are still visible from the arson attempt in 1933: behind the screen area and under the alternate stairway access to the upper levels, east side of building.
An interesting legal document re: William Weaver and his accomplices overturning their conviction for the attempted arson of the Erie in 1933. Of course they were guilty as sin! https://law.justia.com/cases/oklahoma/court-of-appeals-criminal/1936/52094.html
Storm damage 5/9/2016 to uppermost façade, installed in 1969.
Lindy
commented about
V Theateron
Aug 10, 2013 at 2:39 pm
The Snack Bar sign from the V. I found it stored in the balcony of the theater in 1986 and just recently had it restored. To my knowledge it had not been illuminated since the theater closed in the mid 1960s.
The Erie actually moved from east Jackson St (the Kirkpatrick bldg) to its permanent location on west Jackson street sometime around 1913/1914. Mr. O. Gill acquired the theatre in 1914 and continued as its owner/operator until the Griffith Amusement Co lease commenced in March of 1933.
The open dates I previously listed were a little inaccurate. The Erie actually opened in 1919 and closed the first time in 1965. During most of those years it was owned by the Griffith Amusement Co., later known as Griffith Consolidated Theatres and also Video Independent Theatres. The dates listed on the Erie’s second incarnation, 1969-1982, are correct.
Correction: fire in pic 23 December 1927.
See photo of a theatre gutted by fire 27 December 1927. The photo lists location as 100 block of N Broadway, which is not the location of the early Dixie/Liberty as given above. Two theatre fires within a matter of days in Hugo or is the photo the Liberty? Adjoining buildings in pic do not match W Duke St in height, but very well could match structures on N Broadway.
Really frustrating how photos and information about the V are almost totally non existent. I do know for certain that the building was serving as the office for the local cable tv provider for a time until that entity, Communications Services, Inc, moved to a new location in 1986. The CATV operator previously was United Artists, so I suspect United Artists operated the theater years prior until they entered the cable tv business.
The ERIE has been demolished. See latest photo 27 February 2024.
Thank you, dallasmovietheaters!
Messy? The history of the Dixie was not well documented down through the years. Please provide needed information if you can alleviate the mess.
Two previous locations of the early years ERIE in Hugo: 116 E Jackson St (ca.1911 and current location of HR Block) and 114 W Jackson St (ca.1914), which is directly across the street from the final location at 117 W. Jackson St. As of April, 2021, the ERIE’s abandoned structure still exists, though demolition is said to be imminent.
Should be shown as 640 seats.
Status is “Demolished” and has been for 30+ years.
40 years later Ralph is still trying to clean all of those dirty dishes that Joe Buck left with him at Miller’s Restaurant.
Burn scars are still visible from the arson attempt in 1933: behind the screen area and under the alternate stairway access to the upper levels, east side of building.
Note that the outline of the original brick work from 1914 has been exposed at the very top.
An interesting legal document re: William Weaver and his accomplices overturning their conviction for the attempted arson of the Erie in 1933. Of course they were guilty as sin! https://law.justia.com/cases/oklahoma/court-of-appeals-criminal/1936/52094.html
Alternate stairway to upper levels.
Storm damage 5/9/2016 to uppermost façade, installed in 1969.
The Snack Bar sign from the V. I found it stored in the balcony of the theater in 1986 and just recently had it restored. To my knowledge it had not been illuminated since the theater closed in the mid 1960s.
The Erie actually moved from east Jackson St (the Kirkpatrick bldg) to its permanent location on west Jackson street sometime around 1913/1914. Mr. O. Gill acquired the theatre in 1914 and continued as its owner/operator until the Griffith Amusement Co lease commenced in March of 1933.
Bad news: The Grand Theater’s roof has collapsed. http://theparisnews.com/news/front_page/article_34ab81d6-15ed-11e1-ad2e-001cc4c03286.html
Balcony perhaps? The Grand did have a large balcony before the twinning. Biggest balcony west of the Mississippi in 1937?!
The open dates I previously listed were a little inaccurate. The Erie actually opened in 1919 and closed the first time in 1965. During most of those years it was owned by the Griffith Amusement Co., later known as Griffith Consolidated Theatres and also Video Independent Theatres. The dates listed on the Erie’s second incarnation, 1969-1982, are correct.