Today (6/20/23) is the 48th anniversary of the release of Jaws which, of course, is now considered the first of the summer blockbuster movies. Jaws played at the Midway, which I was fortunate to have seen there. I don’t remember if I was there on opening night in 1975, but if not, then it was soon after. I had read the book already so I was really excited about seeing the movie. The Midway was still in prime condition at the time, and the auditorium was absolutely packed the night I was there. There were few empty seats, if any. The movie was great, of course, and the audience really responded to it. It was a very exhilarating experience and remains a great memory. Hopefully the Midway can come alive again to entertain the masses.
This is a close up view of the marquee taken from the larger view of this photo as previously uploaded. The purpose is to show the double feature playing, which was “The Birds and the Bees” and “Inside Detroit”, both from 1956. Since the photo was taken just prior to the Paradise’s closing, it is quite possible that these were the last two films shown there. I would also point out the three school girls standing in front of the ticket booth. As they are all dressed alike, I suspect they are Catholic school students, quite possibly from Our Lady of the Angels, which suffered a devasting and tragic fire in 1958, after which the surrounding neighborhood was never quite the same.
What’s up with it is that the owner of the photo has the right to protect his or her image. It doesn’t matter if you or I understand it or agree with it. The age of the photo and the subject matter are also irrelevant. In many cases the owners of photos have taken on considerable effort and expense to find these images and then have them scanned. In this case we’re talking about a negative. As an example, where I live it costs about $30 to have a print made from a negative, which includes a digital image made from the print. I’ve done that for the images of the Paradise I’ve uploaded. One was from an 8x10 glass negative which was fairly costly to have done, and in addition to that the purchase price of the negative was well over $100. And this doesn’t take into account the effort involved in getting all this done.
I didn’t try to protect any of mine because I just wanted to make them available to viewers on Cinema Treasures. I would also note that the person who uploaded this image also uploaded three others of the Paradise recently. For two of those he cropped the image so the water mark would not be visible. Do you see a problem with that? If he wanted to upload these to Cinema Treasures he should have asked for permission from the owner.
Either the description of this theatre at the top is not completely accurate, or there were two Mascot theatres. There was a Mascot Theatre in the 200 block (one block south of the Mac Theatre), same side of the street. It was on the corner, next to the current Western Rancher boot store. I have posted a 1920s postcard view which proves this. Both the Western Rancher and old Mascot Theatre buildings are identifiable in the postcard, and both buildings still exist, or at least are in the Google street view. Perhaps at some point the Mascot Theatre moved to where the Mac Theatre currently sits, and was then remodeled into the Mac Theatre?
If you’re a fan of the Majestic and haven’t seen the color photos at the link below, they are worth checking out. Make sure to scroll down as there are photos at the bottom of the page as well.
What? I thought the financing for the $75M renovation was already earmarked? What happened to that? Last summer they announced that $75M had been granted from various sources to fund the renovation. What am I missing?
That is interesting Bobby. I wasn’t aware that a liquor license was involved. I walked by the Granada one Saturday afternoon in 1985 or 1986 and saw that one of the front doors was partially open, with a large hose running out of the building into the street. It was draining water out from somewhere in the theater. I tentatively went inside and looked around, expecting to get yelled at by someone for being in there. But I never saw anyone. I just walked around all over the first floor, not venturing up to the second level. It was spooky being in there, but it was really an amazing experience. The Granada was very much like the Marbro, and just as irreplaceable. I’m grateful this isn’t happening to the Uptown. I toured the Uptown in the late 80s with a THS group, and there was very little lighting once you got past the main lobby. That also got pretty spooky when we got to the upper levels.
The Marbro was incredible indeed. The demise of its near-twin, the Granada, was particularly tragic, because that theater could have succeeded. It was in a good location (I thought) and was in decent condition before they purposely let it fall into ruin. Very similar to what happened in St. Louis to the Ambassador. Fortunately, the Uptown survived, or has to this point at least. I’m sure that its relatively high demolition cost helped fend off development.
Yes Bobby, it should be exciting. Seems like a million years ago when I saw a movie there in the mid-60s. Only went there once when it was a movie theatre. At that time it was still in pretty good shape, still had most of its artwork and furnishings. I guess its history is similar to that of the Kings in Brooklyn, though I don’t believe the Kings had a run as a concern venue as did the Uptown. With respect to the North Side houses, as much as I love the Uptown, I was more taken with the Belmont. Went there once in the late 50s or early 60s. I thought that place was magical, and fun to roam around in. The North Side had some incredible venues.
David Zornig – you may be correct about the photo, but if that view is looking west, I don’t see how the Green Mill could be on the left. That would be where the auditorium currently sits. Perhaps the Green Mill is at the lower left, mostly out of camera view? Whatever is casting a shadow on the Uptown’s lobby wall in the 1925 photo is much closer to Broadway than is the chimney in the construction photo. Okay, maybe I’m over-analyzing this.
Thank goodness the “patronizing, objectifying and offensive” name of “Oriental” is being replaced. That has bothered me for decades. I recall that in the early years B&K called it the Oriental because they claimed that going to the theater was like taking a trip to the Orient. How insensitive they were. Really, I don’t care what they call it. I’m just glad it still exists.
Today (6/20/23) is the 48th anniversary of the release of Jaws which, of course, is now considered the first of the summer blockbuster movies. Jaws played at the Midway, which I was fortunate to have seen there. I don’t remember if I was there on opening night in 1975, but if not, then it was soon after. I had read the book already so I was really excited about seeing the movie. The Midway was still in prime condition at the time, and the auditorium was absolutely packed the night I was there. There were few empty seats, if any. The movie was great, of course, and the audience really responded to it. It was a very exhilarating experience and remains a great memory. Hopefully the Midway can come alive again to entertain the masses.
This is a close up view of the marquee taken from the larger view of this photo as previously uploaded. The purpose is to show the double feature playing, which was “The Birds and the Bees” and “Inside Detroit”, both from 1956. Since the photo was taken just prior to the Paradise’s closing, it is quite possible that these were the last two films shown there. I would also point out the three school girls standing in front of the ticket booth. As they are all dressed alike, I suspect they are Catholic school students, quite possibly from Our Lady of the Angels, which suffered a devasting and tragic fire in 1958, after which the surrounding neighborhood was never quite the same.
Photo of salvaged aisle sign.
This is obviously not a photo of the Avalon Regal on 79th Street. This is the original Regal Theatre (razed) that was in Bronzeville.
I believe this theatre was demolished in 1956 as part of an urban renewal project.
This is not the Keith’s in Flushing.
What’s up with it is that the owner of the photo has the right to protect his or her image. It doesn’t matter if you or I understand it or agree with it. The age of the photo and the subject matter are also irrelevant. In many cases the owners of photos have taken on considerable effort and expense to find these images and then have them scanned. In this case we’re talking about a negative. As an example, where I live it costs about $30 to have a print made from a negative, which includes a digital image made from the print. I’ve done that for the images of the Paradise I’ve uploaded. One was from an 8x10 glass negative which was fairly costly to have done, and in addition to that the purchase price of the negative was well over $100. And this doesn’t take into account the effort involved in getting all this done. I didn’t try to protect any of mine because I just wanted to make them available to viewers on Cinema Treasures. I would also note that the person who uploaded this image also uploaded three others of the Paradise recently. For two of those he cropped the image so the water mark would not be visible. Do you see a problem with that? If he wanted to upload these to Cinema Treasures he should have asked for permission from the owner.
So you’re uploading images from someone who has watermarked them? Presumably that person is trying to protect his images. Does that seem appropriate?
This shows the Majestic in Houston,TX, and not the Riviera in Detroit.
This shows the Majestic in Houston,TX, and not the Riviera in Detroit.
Apparently, at least for a brief time, this was known as the Moe Theatre. I have uploaded a postcard view from a card postmarked in 1916.
Either the description of this theatre at the top is not completely accurate, or there were two Mascot theatres. There was a Mascot Theatre in the 200 block (one block south of the Mac Theatre), same side of the street. It was on the corner, next to the current Western Rancher boot store. I have posted a 1920s postcard view which proves this. Both the Western Rancher and old Mascot Theatre buildings are identifiable in the postcard, and both buildings still exist, or at least are in the Google street view. Perhaps at some point the Mascot Theatre moved to where the Mac Theatre currently sits, and was then remodeled into the Mac Theatre?
If you’re a fan of the Majestic and haven’t seen the color photos at the link below, they are worth checking out. Make sure to scroll down as there are photos at the bottom of the page as well.
https://www.historictheatrephotos.com/Theatre/Majestic-San-Antonio.aspx
This doesn’t look like the lobby of the Memphis Orpheum to me.
It was an attractive building with cool signage, but that marquee is kind of boring, especially for the time (1927).
What? I thought the financing for the $75M renovation was already earmarked? What happened to that? Last summer they announced that $75M had been granted from various sources to fund the renovation. What am I missing?
In terms of beauty we’re not exactly talking murder’s row here.
Any idea why there was a parade on State Street during the 2nd week of May?
That is interesting Bobby. I wasn’t aware that a liquor license was involved. I walked by the Granada one Saturday afternoon in 1985 or 1986 and saw that one of the front doors was partially open, with a large hose running out of the building into the street. It was draining water out from somewhere in the theater. I tentatively went inside and looked around, expecting to get yelled at by someone for being in there. But I never saw anyone. I just walked around all over the first floor, not venturing up to the second level. It was spooky being in there, but it was really an amazing experience. The Granada was very much like the Marbro, and just as irreplaceable. I’m grateful this isn’t happening to the Uptown. I toured the Uptown in the late 80s with a THS group, and there was very little lighting once you got past the main lobby. That also got pretty spooky when we got to the upper levels.
The Marbro was incredible indeed. The demise of its near-twin, the Granada, was particularly tragic, because that theater could have succeeded. It was in a good location (I thought) and was in decent condition before they purposely let it fall into ruin. Very similar to what happened in St. Louis to the Ambassador. Fortunately, the Uptown survived, or has to this point at least. I’m sure that its relatively high demolition cost helped fend off development.
Yes Bobby, it should be exciting. Seems like a million years ago when I saw a movie there in the mid-60s. Only went there once when it was a movie theatre. At that time it was still in pretty good shape, still had most of its artwork and furnishings. I guess its history is similar to that of the Kings in Brooklyn, though I don’t believe the Kings had a run as a concern venue as did the Uptown. With respect to the North Side houses, as much as I love the Uptown, I was more taken with the Belmont. Went there once in the late 50s or early 60s. I thought that place was magical, and fun to roam around in. The North Side had some incredible venues.
It’s still a mystery to me. Nevertheless, an interesting photo.
David Zornig – you may be correct about the photo, but if that view is looking west, I don’t see how the Green Mill could be on the left. That would be where the auditorium currently sits. Perhaps the Green Mill is at the lower left, mostly out of camera view? Whatever is casting a shadow on the Uptown’s lobby wall in the 1925 photo is much closer to Broadway than is the chimney in the construction photo. Okay, maybe I’m over-analyzing this.
Is the view in the photo looking north from the Green Mill? Broadway would be to the right?
Thank goodness the “patronizing, objectifying and offensive” name of “Oriental” is being replaced. That has bothered me for decades. I recall that in the early years B&K called it the Oriental because they claimed that going to the theater was like taking a trip to the Orient. How insensitive they were. Really, I don’t care what they call it. I’m just glad it still exists.