Comments from rsalters (Ron Salters)

Showing 26 - 50 of 3,098 comments

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Paramount Center on Oct 24, 2020 at 10:58 am

Yes, Direspaul is correct. Some people today are under the impression that the Paramount they see is the original building. The only parts of the building today which are original are the facade, including the marquee and vertical sign, plus several feet of the sidewalls and roof leading from the facade wall. All of the remainder was removed. The interior was in very poor condition after many years closed and not maintained.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Opera House Theatre on Oct 17, 2020 at 10:31 am

There is a Grand Opera House in Anthony KS listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. This guide does not list street addresses. Jennison & Rice were managers of the Grand OH. It had 900 seats and was upstairs on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 25 feet deep. There were 2 hotels for show folk, and 2 weekly newspapers. The population of Anthony as of 1897 was 2,500.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Patriot Cinemas The Hanover Mall on Oct 12, 2020 at 10:50 am

As of Oct 10 the cinema’s sign out on Route 53 was still standing, with no movies posted on it. I was unable to see if the building was still intact, but probably not, because there has been so much demo in that area during the past few months.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Opera House Theatre on Aug 2, 2020 at 10:40 am

The “Norway Opera House” is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. C. L. Hathaway was Mgr. There were 900 seats and the theatre was upstairs on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide X 18 feet high, and the stage was 24 feet deep. There were 2 weekly newspapers and 3 hotels for show folk. Town served by Grand Trunk Railway. The 1897 population of Norway was 2,800.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Blue Hills Drive-In on Jul 21, 2020 at 10:55 am

There was a feature story on local drive-ins in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Sat. July 18, written by Fred Hanson. He says that the Blue Hills DI opened 1959, closed 1983, now site of an office park. He mentions mosquito problems there, and also an unruly crowd at Led Zeppelin/ “Song Remains the Same”.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Neponset Drive-In on Jul 21, 2020 at 10:44 am

In the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Sat. July 18 there is a feature about local drive-ins by Fred Hanson. He mentions that the comic actor Jerry Lewis once made a personal appearance at the Neponset Drive-in (no date listed). Jerry Lewis made many appearances at indoor movie theatres so it’s certainly possible.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Abington Drive-In on Jul 21, 2020 at 10:38 am

A nostalgic feature about local drive-ins appeared in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Sat. July 18, by Fred Hanson. He states that there were once live wrestling shows at the Abington Drive-in, but with no dates or details.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Hollywood Theater on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:54 am

The Hollywood reopened in late-May and was the only indoor cinema open in the Pittsburgh metro area (A drive-in was also open at that time.) They have been operating for almost 2 months now.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Shubert Theatre on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:45 am

The Colonial Theatre showed movies occasionally during the 1910s and 1920s. There were many movies at the Majestic Theatre, especially in the 1940s when some of them ran for months at a time.(I saw “The Red Shoes” there, circa-1948 or so. ) But the Shubert ?? – I would have to see movie ads from the Boston newspapers.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Shubert Theatre on Jul 16, 2020 at 11:05 am

We need proof that the Boston Shubert was showing movies as of the mid-1930s. I have never seen any, such as newspaper ads. It was operating as a live theatre all through the 1940s and 1950s. I know this because I went there then to see stage shows as a child and a teen.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Alexandria Opera House on Jul 16, 2020 at 10:58 am

The Alexandria Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. H.V. Otto was Mgr. The house, which was on the ground floor, had 754 seats. The proscenium opening was 22 feet high X 24 feet wide, and the stage was 27 feet deep. There was both gas and electric illumination. 8 musicians in the house orchestra. There were 3 hotels for show folk, and the 1897 population was 8,000.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Narrow Gauge Drive-In on Jul 13, 2020 at 11:35 am

davidcoppock -No, all scrapped many years ago. But some of the engines and cars are still around. And at one of the stations, in Phillips ME, the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad museum has relaid some track in town and operates it. Two hobbies which go together: Old Theatres, and Old Railroads !!

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Narrow Gauge Drive-In on Jul 12, 2020 at 10:41 am

The odd name is derived from the fact that there was a famous narrow-gauge (2 feet between the rails) rail system there, the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes RR, which lasted into the 1930s.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Grand Opera House on Apr 29, 2020 at 11:12 am

The Grand Opera House in Lebanon is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Theatrical Guide. J.C. Brown was Mgr. No seating capacity given. Tickets 25 cents to 75 cents. Theatre on second floor. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide X 30 feet high; the stage was 38 feet deep. There were 8 musicians in the house orchestra. The population of Lebanon was 6,000.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Coury's Drive-In on Mar 31, 2020 at 10:18 am

It was named “Coury’s” because it was run by Al Coury.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Hoosac Drive-In on Mar 30, 2020 at 10:33 am

“Hoosac” is a geographical name in that area of MA. Near Adams is the Hoosac Tunnel, a rail tunnel built in the 19th Century.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about We're switching to Apple Maps on Mar 5, 2020 at 10:46 am

Cool – Yes, the THSA still owns and operates the Hollywood Th. in Dormont, just a short trolley car ride south of downtown Pittsburgh. They show current movie product on its single screen, and they installed some new seats in mid-2018. If you go to the Hollywood’s page here in CT there are some comments made very recently.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Hollywood Theater on Feb 27, 2020 at 10:42 am

Yes, the Hollywood is still a single-screener showing current releases, and operated by the Theatre Historical Society. The seating capacity today is greater than 285 – I think that there are now 400 seats on the main floor and about 200 in the balcony.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Metropolitan Opera House on Feb 20, 2020 at 8:39 am

The website for this theatre is www.themetphilly.com In the March issue of Opera News Magazine there is an ad for a concert here next month.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about State Theatre on Feb 18, 2020 at 11:23 am

Katz – I have seen the floor plan from when the Trans Lux first opened in the late-1930s and it definitely looks like it had a rear projection booth at the rear of the stage. But at some point they must have got rid of it in favor of a regular balcony projection booth. The Park was a live theatre for many years, then in the 1910s it became a movie house; in the 1930s it reverted to stage use as the Boston outlet for Minsky Burlesque. Then a total remodel as the Trans Lux.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about State Theatre on Feb 12, 2020 at 12:39 pm

Katz- It did not have rear projection in its later days, at least. I knew someone who worked there in the 1970s and I’m 99% sure that he was in the booth at the rear of the balcony.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Echo Theatre on Feb 1, 2020 at 10:56 am

The Associated Press had a long feature article today about this theatre. There is a new movie “Burden” which will be released soon and which is about the theatre and the curious bond between its former owner (white) and the church pastor (black) who purchased it. The church hopes to open a civil rights museum there. Website: rehabhate.com

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about We're switching to Apple Maps on Jan 9, 2020 at 11:22 am

At least one person on this thread has asked what has happened to the theatre news. The news was gathered and edited by a staff member of the Theatre Historical Society in Pittsburgh. At least once or twice per week she posted news on the THS website, the THS Readerboard e-mail newsletter, and here on Cinema Treasures. This worked well for a long time. But in the fall of 2018 the THS suffered a financial collapse. The last Readerboard appeared over 12 months ago and the publication of the THS"Marquee" Magazine has been suspended. There has been no one gathering theatre news since late-2018.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Grand Opera House on Dec 27, 2019 at 10:53 am

The Grand Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Theatrical Guide. Managed by Hudson & Judah, it was on the ground floor and had 1,800 seats. Ticket prices 25 cents to $1. It had the “Edison system” of electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 40 feet wide X 39 feet high, and the stage was 34 feet deep. Unfortunately, there are almost no street addresses in this Guide.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) commented about Auditorium Theatre on Dec 27, 2019 at 10:45 am

The Auditorium in Kansas City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Managed by Paxton & Burgess. The theatre was on the ground floor, and had both gas and electric illumination. Seats: Orchestra 300, Loges 64, Dress Circle 314, 1st Balcony 495, 2nd Balcony 458, Gallery 500. The proscenium opening was 47.5 feet square, and the stage was 40 feet deep. Other theatres in Kansas City at the time were the Coates Opera House, Grand Opera House, New Gillis Theatre and Ninth Street Opera House. The 1897 population was 200,000.