Comments from Mike Richardson

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Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Midget Theatre on Jul 20, 2010 at 5:46 pm

From:

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Midget – 1019 West Third Street (1913-28): The Midget Theater was erected by Harry Morey for the express purpose of leasing it out as a theater to Sherman W. and Benjamin F. Potterf. Built at a cost of $33,000 the 300 seat theater was named in honor of Sherman, who was a “midget” and in the show game, before taking over the managership of the theater. “Home of the quality photo plays”, the theater took advantage of Sherman’s height by advertising that there was “Nothing small about the Midget – Only the manager”. Just as many people went to the Midget’s grand opening on September 6, 1913, in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Sherman, as there were ones to watch the movie being offered.

The theater was quite successful. Patrons of the two story building sat in comfortable opera chairs. A rest room was provided for the ladies (when rest rooms actually meant a place to rest), and toilet facilities were provided for both sexes.

The Midget was equipped with its own electric generator that provided power to both the lights and the projector. The stage area where the screen stood had beautiful green velvet drapes and drop curtain. The curtain that hid the screen was in itself unique. On it was a painting of the original Third Street bridge which had been razed around the turn of the century. It was surrounded by advertisements from other West Side businesses.

Music for the silent films was provided by a Wurlitzer orchestra piano. This also came in handy for when the occasional singer would be employed for a change of pace.

Business really boomed when the brothers began showing Renfax Musical Talking Motion Pictures in 1915. The Renfax pictures were synchronized with a record disc that could be played so that the movie actors could be heard to “talk”. The only problem with this was that the film projectors might show the film just a little slower or faster than it was filmed, which would cause the film to be out of sync with the sounds being played.

The brothers sold their interest in the theater to William E. Riceanson in 1917, who almost immediately resold it to Julius Leopold, owner of the Mecca Theater at 1217 West Third Street. Leopold sold out his interests in both the Midget and Mecca theaters in 1927 and became a ticket seller for a steamship company. The Midget’s last owner was John Lahm. Lahm’s term as owner lasted less than a year before the theater closed its doors for good, probably due to the stiff competition from two new neighborhood theaters, the Classic and the Palace, both of which were built in 1928. The building that housed the Midget still stands on West Third, one of the few remnants left of the days of the nickelodeon theaters.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Portsmouth Little Theatre on Jul 20, 2010 at 5:23 pm

Related Website:

http://www.pltlive.com/

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Wesda Theatre on Jul 20, 2010 at 2:19 pm

We got some shots of it from May 2010 on Cinematour.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Regent Theatre on Jul 20, 2010 at 2:14 pm

We did too in mid-May 2010. Cool mural on the rear wall. Heartbraking level of disrepair. Pictures on Cinematour.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Wyoming Theater on Jul 20, 2010 at 2:02 pm

Did this years convention too. Got a picture this time. Looks like somebody painted the joint. Picture on Cinematour.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Chakeres Theatres Kettering Cinemas I & II on Jul 20, 2010 at 1:58 pm

Even more recent photos are on Cinematour.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Showcase Cinemas Cross Pointe on Jul 20, 2010 at 1:55 pm

Updated pictures on Cinematour.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Midget Theatre on Jul 20, 2010 at 1:52 pm

A little more recent photos can be found on Cinematour.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Cinema North 1-5 on Jul 20, 2010 at 1:09 pm

We got some shots of this while up attending the Dayton Amateur Radio Convention. They’re on Cinematour.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Dayton Mall Cinemas on Jul 20, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Went up to the Dayton Amateur Radio Convention in May and I walked through the mall. Based on the descriptions provided here, I have what I believe to be a photo of #1 posted on Cinematour. It appears CJ Banks is Suite 700 and the remains of cinema 1 are labelled as suite 738. Cinema 1 is at Mall exit #2.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Dale Theater on Jul 20, 2010 at 12:41 pm

I would’ve gotten some when I went up to the Amateur Radio Convention this May, but the place at this adress doesn’t look to have ever been a theatre. We drove around back and it’s too shallow for anything other than retail or a deli.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Little Creek 99 Cents Cinemas on Jul 20, 2010 at 10:00 am

I may have taken my brother (a Marine at the time) to see Silence of the Lambs here while I was stationed in the area ‘88-'92.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about AMC Circle 6 on Jul 20, 2010 at 9:57 am

While stationed in the area ‘88-'92, I was a member of the AMC Movie Watcher Club. I still have the card. According to the points statements and ticket stubs I still have, I watched the following at the Circle 6;

Tango and Cash 8pm on Thurs. 4/19/90 ($5)
Hard to Kill at 7:30 on Wed. 4/25/90 ($5)
Miami Blues at 8pm on Tues. 5/15/90 ($5.50)
Q&A at 7pm on Thurs. 5/17/90 ($5.50)
Another 48 HRS at 1pm on Sat. 8/18/90 ($4)
and 2 hours 46 minutes later I bought a ticket for…
Ghost at 4pm on Sat 8/18/90 ($3.5)
Pump Up The Volume at 8pm on Fri. 8/31/90 ($5.50)
Pretty Woman at 8:45 on Wed. 9/5/90 ($5.50)
Good Fellas at 7pm on Sun. 9/23/90
Rocky V at 8pm on Tues. 12/11/90 ($5.50)
Nothing But Trouble at 6:15 on Tues. 2/26/91 ($3.50 [$3.24 admission, $0.26 Tax, 8%, ouch!])
True Colors on 2/26/91
Point Break at 4:45 on Mon. 7/15/91 ($3.50 [$3.24 admission, $0.26 Tax, 8%, ouch!])
and maybe Prince of Tides at 8pm on Wed. 2/5/92 ($3.50 [$3.24 admission, $0.26 Tax, 8%, ouch!])

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about AMC Circle 4 on Jul 20, 2010 at 9:55 am

While stationed in the area ‘88-'92, I was a member of the AMC Movie Watcher Club. I still have the card. According to the points statements and ticket stubs I still have, I watched the following at the Circle 4;

Cook, Thief, Wife and Lover at 1:45 on Sat. 4/28/90 ($4)
Presumed Innocent at 4:15 on Fri. 9/7/90 ($3.50)
Postcards From the Edge at 7:15 on Sun. 9/16/09 ($5.50)
Cadence at 8:15 on Tues. 2/26/91 ($5.50)
Silence of the Lambs at 5:45 on Mon. ¾/91 ($3.50 [$3.24 admission, $0.26 Tax, 8%, ouch!])
and maybe Prince of Tides at 8pm on Wed. 2/5/92 ($3.50 [$3.24 admission, $0.26 Tax, 8%, ouch!])

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Southtown Cinemas I & II on May 18, 2010 at 6:07 am

Site is now home to a Target.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Princess Theater on Apr 18, 2010 at 1:44 pm

on facebook

Jane Forshee-Brown’s Photos – Old pictures of Bowling Green

has an old shot with the Princess in the background and comments.

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Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about State Theatre on Mar 28, 2010 at 6:02 pm

There’s a page on facebook “Bowling Green Since 1950, Kentucky”. One of the wall photos is of the State with the commenters saying the first movies they saw there or date memories.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Uptown Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 4:38 am

continued…

“It remained in storage until acquired for the Strand project in 2004.”

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Uptown Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 4:37 am

From Strand Newsletter 3/12/10

“The Strand Theatre Pipe Organ, endowed by the Shelby County Historical Society, has taken another step closer to rebuilding. The Strand’s organ was manufactured by the Louisville Pipe Organ Company (LPO) in 1928. It was one of a handful of instruments the firm made specifically for theatre use.

Our organ (Strand Theatre, Shelbyville, IN), Opus 531, was built in Terre Haute Indiana after LPO moved from Louisville. It was originally built for the Sipe Theatre in Kokomo, Indiana. The theatre never took the instrument, so it was installed in the Uptown Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky. This organ was removed from the theatre and installed in a church in Tell City Indiana. In 1977 it was removed from the church and placed in storage."

http://www.strand-theatre-shelbyville.org/

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Sipe Theatre on Mar 12, 2010 at 4:33 am

From Strand Newsletter 3/12/10

“The Strand Theatre Pipe Organ, endowed by the Shelby County Historical Society, has taken another step closer to rebuilding. The Strand’s organ was manufactured by the Louisville Pipe Organ Company (LPO) in 1928. It was one of a handful of instruments the firm made specifically for theatre use.

Our organ (Strand Theatre, Shelbyville, IN), Opus 531, was built in Terre Haute Indiana after LPO moved from Louisville. It was originally built for the Sipe Theatre in Kokomo, Indiana. The theatre never took the instrument, so it was installed in the Uptown Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky."

http://www.strand-theatre-shelbyville.org/

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Delmar Drive-In on Jan 28, 2010 at 12:34 pm

NOT Demolished. Only the screen is gone. It’s pad and mounting flanges are still there. The marquee, double winged ticket booth and booth/concession stand are all intact and Lavender! Ticket booth and concession stand are surprisingly sound, with just a little roof leakage into concessions (to be expected). Within the projection booth still mounted on the wall, a National Theatre Supply Transverter, part # D-100-3. Googles addresses are jacked up. Best I can figure address for this place is 36922 Bi State BLVD, Delmar, DE 19940. If you wanna see it on Google maps, put in the address 37884

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Movie Magic Cinema on Jan 25, 2010 at 3:10 am

Completely found this one by mistake. Might make it as a summer only theatre.

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Signs in door:

For Info on gift certificate redemption, please call (410) 420-2888 or (410) 416-8157.

Space Available, 800-733-5444, www.cordish.com The Cordish Company

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Village Playhouse on Nov 21, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Building still there. Address is 25 S. Green ST, Brownsburg, IN, 46112-1239. The house next to it in the IN Memory Collection pic is still there too, it’s 29 S. Green (power poles are in the same spots too). Markings on door of the old Browny are: Schindler Electric, Inc., 858-8215, Heat Treating Equipment. The Now Showing posters in the old pic are actually windows with cement flower boxes integral with their sills. The eye bolts that held up the old marquee are still there up in the front wall. It looks like the inside of the lobby is somewhat still there. There are multiple narrow framed (doors/windows?) along the back wall of the lobby. Back wall of structure is dominated by two newer looking garage doors. Looking in, I could see steel roof supports and insulation. I couldn’t see the floor. Plain drywall separates front office space with back part.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Skyline Drive-In on Nov 6, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Capacity: 450 cars.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson commented about Artcraft Theatre on Sep 26, 2009 at 3:15 pm

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