The summary information above is incorrect. True the drive-in did close in 1967, but it was not dormant for 20 years. The Riverdale Shops are to the north of the theatre property in any event.
The drive-in was replaced by E.M. Loew’s Palace, a 1,000 seat single screen, which became the Palace 1 & 2, which became the Palace 1,2,3 & 4 and eventually Showcase Theatres 16,17, 18 and 19 with its big brother across the street being Showcase 1-15 (which started out as Showcase 1 & 2 but that is another story.
In any event, Cinema Treasures lists this theatre as Showcase 16-19.
As someone who lived in the area as a youth, E.M. Loew’s Riverdale Drive-In closed in 1967 to make way for E.M Loew’s Palace Theater (see separate entry). All mention of the Riverdale Shop’s etc. are to the North of the E.M. Loews property. Originally the location housed a Topp’s department store. Today there is a Costco and the aforementioned Riverdale Shops.
As someone who spent their youth at this theater complex, most of the detail in this article is spot on. However there was no “Glass covered walkway” between Cinemas 1-2 and Cinema 3 (I use the original screen numbers) – there was a concrete walkway, but it was outdoors, with an awning covering the walkway from the west parking lot (between the two buildings) but stopping once Cinema 3 was entered. The last eighty feet were entirely unprotected as you made your way to the Cinema 1-2 entrance.
One thing which has not been mentioned is the sheer scale of the parking lots to the west of all three buildings required for over 5,000 seats. During the peak Christmas weeks, the traffic on Riverdale Road southbound (which was two lanes in each direction) could back up over one mile onto the Interstate 91 exit ramps. End up with a movie at the wrong time and you could end up in the far west lot, on a bitter cold evening, and a trudge that made you think of Dr. Zhivago.
even in Seattle operating a single screen is largely an act of love unless it is a cinema pub like the Big Picture or the Tin Cinema in Burien, Washington or McMinnamins in Bothell. Alcohol and digital projection keep costs in line.
The ultimate single screen theatre in America, if not the world, is the Cinerama in Seattle which is one of Paul Allen’s gifts to the city.
As or the Egyptian it is owned by Seattle Central College and operated by SIFF, the parent organization of the Seattle International Film Festival and two other theatres, including the Uptown Triplex on Queen Anne. As for the Egyptian were it not owned and operated by two non-profits, it would no longer exist.
Photo reset, the theatre was down this alley – officially named “old Nugget Alley” in city records – since the “New”, built in 1951 Nugget, is two blocks to the south
The photo and address for the original Nugget is off just a tad. All four corners at Main and East Wheelock contain buildings or land that has been controlled by the college or its affiliates since the 18th century.
The original Nugget was behind the house show in the photo (you can barely see the Alley you entered in the background to get to the theatre. The Alley is named “Old Nugget Alley”
it is always Dartmouth College, not Dartmouth University. This is as a result of an attempt in the early 1800’s by the state of New Hampshire to seize control of the college, which they physically did. New Hampshire re-named it Dartmouth University. Alumnus Daniel Webster argued on behalf of the original owners, the Trustees of Dartmouth College, at the US Supreme Court, and won on behalf of the private institution. The name was changed back to Dartmouth College – and hence even though Dartmouth confers graduate degrees (the definition of a university) it will always be a College and not a University.
My favorite memories of the Eastfield Mall Cinemas was that as a kid it had all the Disney live releases “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes”, etc. Final memory, getting to attend the World Premier of “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud” (1975) which was filmed in and around Springfield – I was probably the youngest person in attendance as a 17 year old – the film was rated R – the mayor along with other politicians were present, and the film was loaded with nudity, violence and some amazing dialogue that would be described as highly politically incorrect today. The politicians were clearly at a loss when asked about the film by the local TV stations after the film!
My memories of Cinema X. It was eclectic programming to say the least. During the early 1970’s it was playing hardcore porn – had the area run of “Deep Throat” among others. Switched to art films – I remember seeing the Chaplin re-releases in the mid-1970’s along with first runs of the “Groove Tube” and “Monty Python & The Holy Grail” – never recall any major studio releases which were pretty well locked up by Showcase Cinemas in West Springfield.
you seem to know this theater very well. Clarification, you talk about the theater going from three screens, to five screens, to eight screens. Were the final three screens an addition to the building, or did they simply twin the original three screens?
The summary information above is incorrect. True the drive-in did close in 1967, but it was not dormant for 20 years. The Riverdale Shops are to the north of the theatre property in any event.
The drive-in was replaced by E.M. Loew’s Palace, a 1,000 seat single screen, which became the Palace 1 & 2, which became the Palace 1,2,3 & 4 and eventually Showcase Theatres 16,17, 18 and 19 with its big brother across the street being Showcase 1-15 (which started out as Showcase 1 & 2 but that is another story.
In any event, Cinema Treasures lists this theatre as Showcase 16-19.
I saw Back to the Future at this theatre, and it is the only movie I ever saw there! Amazing that the photo is from EXACTLY that time period
According to my mother’s diary she viewed “Riffi” and “Les Diaboliques” on July 4, 1958 at the Ridgemont
As someone who lived in the area as a youth, E.M. Loew’s Riverdale Drive-In closed in 1967 to make way for E.M Loew’s Palace Theater (see separate entry). All mention of the Riverdale Shop’s etc. are to the North of the E.M. Loews property. Originally the location housed a Topp’s department store. Today there is a Costco and the aforementioned Riverdale Shops.
As someone who spent their youth at this theater complex, most of the detail in this article is spot on. However there was no “Glass covered walkway” between Cinemas 1-2 and Cinema 3 (I use the original screen numbers) – there was a concrete walkway, but it was outdoors, with an awning covering the walkway from the west parking lot (between the two buildings) but stopping once Cinema 3 was entered. The last eighty feet were entirely unprotected as you made your way to the Cinema 1-2 entrance.
One thing which has not been mentioned is the sheer scale of the parking lots to the west of all three buildings required for over 5,000 seats. During the peak Christmas weeks, the traffic on Riverdale Road southbound (which was two lanes in each direction) could back up over one mile onto the Interstate 91 exit ramps. End up with a movie at the wrong time and you could end up in the far west lot, on a bitter cold evening, and a trudge that made you think of Dr. Zhivago.
pnelson,
even in Seattle operating a single screen is largely an act of love unless it is a cinema pub like the Big Picture or the Tin Cinema in Burien, Washington or McMinnamins in Bothell. Alcohol and digital projection keep costs in line.
The ultimate single screen theatre in America, if not the world, is the Cinerama in Seattle which is one of Paul Allen’s gifts to the city.
As or the Egyptian it is owned by Seattle Central College and operated by SIFF, the parent organization of the Seattle International Film Festival and two other theatres, including the Uptown Triplex on Queen Anne. As for the Egyptian were it not owned and operated by two non-profits, it would no longer exist.
Photo reset, the theatre was down this alley – officially named “old Nugget Alley” in city records – since the “New”, built in 1951 Nugget, is two blocks to the south
The photo and address for the original Nugget is off just a tad. All four corners at Main and East Wheelock contain buildings or land that has been controlled by the college or its affiliates since the 18th century.
The original Nugget was behind the house show in the photo (you can barely see the Alley you entered in the background to get to the theatre. The Alley is named “Old Nugget Alley”
Joe,
it is always Dartmouth College, not Dartmouth University. This is as a result of an attempt in the early 1800’s by the state of New Hampshire to seize control of the college, which they physically did. New Hampshire re-named it Dartmouth University. Alumnus Daniel Webster argued on behalf of the original owners, the Trustees of Dartmouth College, at the US Supreme Court, and won on behalf of the private institution. The name was changed back to Dartmouth College – and hence even though Dartmouth confers graduate degrees (the definition of a university) it will always be a College and not a University.
My favorite memories of the Eastfield Mall Cinemas was that as a kid it had all the Disney live releases “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes”, etc. Final memory, getting to attend the World Premier of “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud” (1975) which was filmed in and around Springfield – I was probably the youngest person in attendance as a 17 year old – the film was rated R – the mayor along with other politicians were present, and the film was loaded with nudity, violence and some amazing dialogue that would be described as highly politically incorrect today. The politicians were clearly at a loss when asked about the film by the local TV stations after the film!
My memories of Cinema X. It was eclectic programming to say the least. During the early 1970’s it was playing hardcore porn – had the area run of “Deep Throat” among others. Switched to art films – I remember seeing the Chaplin re-releases in the mid-1970’s along with first runs of the “Groove Tube” and “Monty Python & The Holy Grail” – never recall any major studio releases which were pretty well locked up by Showcase Cinemas in West Springfield.
TSilver729,
you seem to know this theater very well. Clarification, you talk about the theater going from three screens, to five screens, to eight screens. Were the final three screens an addition to the building, or did they simply twin the original three screens?