New Criterion Theatre

Aaron_DeClue on June 15, 2017 at 11:50 pm

Sometime in the late 90’s I discovered this theater while driving and it did in fact have a huge gaping hole in the side wall and the front pretty much still looked then, like the above picture.

I had decided I wanted one of the seats I could see from the hole so I got a buddy to come back with me to help me get one. Unfortunately, the seats were beyond saving due to age and weather getting in through the hole in the wall and all the holes in the roof but me and him explored other areas.

The screen was still there, but ruined, as was the sound system. Wall and ceiling collapse rubble was everywhere.

We went in to the projection room to see what was up there but all the equipment was gone and the ceiling had collapsed.

I went out a trap door onto the top of the marquee but didn’t stay long because the police station is right across the street.

I dug around the projection room rubble and found several feet of film and some empty film cans. I also found a boiler maintenance book from 1953 and a paper label Vess Root Beer bottle in mint condition. I took all that with me and some Art Deco glass tile that fell off the front onto the marquee top. The film that I could see had some nice big church in it but when I tried to gently clean the other frames, it started to fall apart and the film was coming off so I stopped.

I always wanted to go back and check out more, but my friend was spooked and wouldn’t go with me again. And I couldn’t get anyone else to go with me.

I had wanted to salvage more out of there but never got the chance. Which is a shame because I think when they finally tore it down, everything that was left got destroyed and hauled to the dump.

JAlex on March 18, 2016 at 8:40 am

Structure is demolished.

Pnogar on September 26, 2011 at 7:35 pm

I remember going to the Marquette Theatre in the 50’s and 60’s. It was located on Franklin Avenue near Carr Square Village. We spent many a Sunday afternoon there after church and supper. In those days movies ran continuously so we would arrive at any point during the movie then stay through the next run. I can still hear my sister saying “okay, this is where we came in – are you ready to go?” I don’t know when the Marquette closed. On rare occasions, we went to the Criterion but it was a longer walk and in those days, we stayed close to home.

patrickgenna on June 20, 2011 at 4:41 pm

Thank u Chuck1231
Chuck, I am not sure that the Comet was at Sarah and Vandeventer? Patrick

patrickgenna on June 17, 2011 at 7:57 pm

The Criterion at Jefferson(?) reminds me of the now-demolished Regal Theatre up the street near Grand when the city had it knocked down sometime in 2006-7. I took pictures of it; inside and out..though it would have been dangerous to step inside it. It had this huge gaping hole in the side wall. It was horrible to see this bit of history lesson that nothing last forever. I am also asking if anyone know where the Comet Theatre is in location to the Criterion. I am confused about these two theatres. Patrick