I believe the closing date was in the late 1980s. At the end of its run it was a dollar house taking over from the Bellerose in the adjacent village which then closed. Subsequently the Bellerose reopened as the dollar house, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
Was 1987 the final closure? For a time it was closed and the Floral, in the next community was the local dollar house. Then reverted back to the Bellerose, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
According to the State of Iowa Historical Society Site Inventory the Scharf Building at 110-112 North 2nd Street West was constructed in 1892. The Strand was housed from the 1920s until 1939 when it reverted to retail. The building is still viable.
The overview says the theater was once operated by Century Theatres. I question that because I used to get the mailed Century Guide and never saw it listed there or in any of their ads. (I was a Century Theatres nerd.) Got all their guides; regular, Brooklyn, Northern Queens.
According to a posting on Memories of Roscoe the original owner of the Grand was Albert Farquhar. After the wooden structure burnt down in the 1920s it was replaced by a brick building. Presumably that’s when it became the Roscoe. The posting indicates Joe Caputo was the owner when it closed in 1953.
Were there two different Bijou’s and, perhaps another Imperial? I just uploaded a notice on the Garrick site that the Bijou was rebranded to Garrick by the owner of the Anderson and, in Cinema-Going Anderson, SC by Christian Thomas he says there was an Imperial Theater across from the Victor which was on Church.
Cinema-Going in Anderson, SC by Christian Thomas said that the Imperial was across the street from the Victor. The Imperial on CT is not on church. I have issues with a few items in Mr. Thomas piece.
I found a reference that after the Victor closed African-Americans had to attend segregated theaters until the Paramount opened at 111 E. Church Street in 1947. Church street was the center of the African-American community. Then, apparently, since there was a demand, a second African American theater, the Jordan, opened at 115 E. Church Street the following year. Neither of these are currently on CT. But so far all I have found, other than above information, is an ad for the Paramount.
Uploaded a notice that the owner of the Anderson was opening a second theatre, the Garrick. It was not really new but the Bijou renovated and rebranded.
According to the release I read the 400 seats are distributed through it’s SEVEN auditoriums.
In addition to upgrading the audio, projection and the seating the entire facade of the building has been changed. I have uploaded the before and after of same.
Bomber City was a massive temporary boomtown created to house many of the 42,000 workers at the Willow Run manufacturing complex during WWII.
Can’t believe they put a theatre in an airlines terminal building in the first place.
I believe the closing date was in the late 1980s. At the end of its run it was a dollar house taking over from the Bellerose in the adjacent village which then closed. Subsequently the Bellerose reopened as the dollar house, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
Was 1987 the final closure? For a time it was closed and the Floral, in the next community was the local dollar house. Then reverted back to the Bellerose, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
I have uploaded a photo from the State of Iowa Site Inventory.
According to the State of Iowa Historical Society Site Inventory the Scharf Building at 110-112 North 2nd Street West was constructed in 1892. The Strand was housed from the 1920s until 1939 when it reverted to retail. The building is still viable.
dallas- to quote from one of your photos “Over the top”.
More commonly referred to as the Sunset Cinema.
Uploaded an interior image by Jeffery Johnson.
The overview says the theater was once operated by Century Theatres. I question that because I used to get the mailed Century Guide and never saw it listed there or in any of their ads. (I was a Century Theatres nerd.) Got all their guides; regular, Brooklyn, Northern Queens.
I have uploaded a photo of the historical marker which has an image of the facade.
Mama Mia had a long run there. A revival also there 2025-2026.
BenPaz- Truly fascinating since many of the new builds don’t make it past twenty years.
Uploaded a photo as Hollywood.
Closed due to unpaid rent. Also happened previously.
According to a posting on Memories of Roscoe the original owner of the Grand was Albert Farquhar. After the wooden structure burnt down in the 1920s it was replaced by a brick building. Presumably that’s when it became the Roscoe. The posting indicates Joe Caputo was the owner when it closed in 1953.
I have uploaded a photo as the Grand.
I have uploaded an ad which Christian Thomas in his Cinema-Going in Anderson, SC purports to be about the Airdrome.
Were there two different Bijou’s and, perhaps another Imperial? I just uploaded a notice on the Garrick site that the Bijou was rebranded to Garrick by the owner of the Anderson and, in Cinema-Going Anderson, SC by Christian Thomas he says there was an Imperial Theater across from the Victor which was on Church.
Cinema-Going in Anderson, SC by Christian Thomas said that the Imperial was across the street from the Victor. The Imperial on CT is not on church. I have issues with a few items in Mr. Thomas piece.
Uploaded a photo of an ad for Birth of a Nation.
According to Cinema-Going in Anderson, SC by Christian Thomas in December 7, 2022 the 1000 seat State Theater was air conditioned prior to 1945.
I found a reference that after the Victor closed African-Americans had to attend segregated theaters until the Paramount opened at 111 E. Church Street in 1947. Church street was the center of the African-American community. Then, apparently, since there was a demand, a second African American theater, the Jordan, opened at 115 E. Church Street the following year. Neither of these are currently on CT. But so far all I have found, other than above information, is an ad for the Paramount.
Uploaded a notice that the owner of the Anderson was opening a second theatre, the Garrick. It was not really new but the Bijou renovated and rebranded.
This photo also appears on the Egyptian site. Which is correct?
This photo of the entrance also appears on the Criterion site. Where does it belong?
According to the release I read the 400 seats are distributed through it’s SEVEN auditoriums.
In addition to upgrading the audio, projection and the seating the entire facade of the building has been changed. I have uploaded the before and after of same.