Although I was a Fox employee working at the Plaza and a friend of the manager, Jack Scharfenburg, he still had a hard time getting me by the watch dog that Paramount had hired to make sure everybody had a ticket to see “The 10 Commandments “.
Mike G. I have a good one for you. Last Friday, I was watching TCM and the were running a 1953 movie from 20th Century Fox, Named “Inferno”, staring Robert Ryan, Rhonda Fleming and William Lundigan. The host, Ben Mankowitz, says that although the film was shot in 3D, it was only shown in 3D in L. A. New York, Chicago and London. I was nuts about 3D movies, especially color ones, and made a trip down to the Esquire to see 1st run, because it was advertised in 3D. I’m 99% sure if it hadn’t be 3D, I would have been agitated to say the least. Mankowitz also said most theaters weren’t equipped to show 3D. I’m sure most of the Fox theaters were because when I worked at the Plaza in 1955, they still had their 3D equipment in a storage room in the projection booth. What do you recall?
When I was working in the theater business, in the 1950’s, the ISIS was a 28 day sub-run house, meaning that like the Plaza, the Oak Park and the Waldo, the played a double feature of films 28 days after the left the 1st run, mainly downtown theaters. And it was part of the Fox Midwest chain.
Not much on who operated this Drive-in. But in 1960-61 era, I was living in Topeka. I think this Drive-in was taken over by Fox Midwest. At about that time, the got some relief from the consent decree they were living under since the mid-1940’s and were allowed to add some drive-ins. They had one in Johnson county Kansas and I think this one. I work there briefly as assistant concession stand mgr.
Although we no longer lived in the neighborhood, my folks would take us to the movies at the ISIS. I remember in the 1940’s winter time, that that corner of 31st & Troost was the coldest place in all KC.
KCB3. I don’t remember it being called anything but the “Bagdad”. We livv3d in a apartment at 27th and Forrest in the early 1940’s and my folks used to go there.
aeast. They had a fountain in the middle of the lobby. It was removed when the expanded the concession stand. The wishing well/drinking fountain you are thinking of was in the lounge, downstairs. I don’t recall it being removed was the building was still a theatre.
A friend of mine, Jack S. Who at one time was the assistant mgr of the Uptown and was mgr of the Apollo before it closed for the last time, told me the last time he was in the Uptown was during that 50 cent era. He said it was in bad shape. The floors were sticky from spilled drinks and just wasn’t clean. It upset him to see it like that and he never went back.
I remember going to the Oak Park on many occasions as a child in the the late 40’s and early 50’s. It typically showed a double feature. My brother and my folks went on one Saturday and came in during one of the features. We stayed until we came to the place in the movie where we came in. I remember the seats in the theatre being the old wooden seats probably made during WWII or earlier. They weren’t the spring loaded type that come up when you stand up. My dad was leading the way out and still looking at the screen instead or where he was going. The seat on the aisle was down, and my dad stumbled and fell over it and broke a rib.
I can remember seeing one of the worst movies ever made at the Panorama. I think the name of it was “Candy”. That movie looked like they had swept up the cutting room floor, spliced it together and sent it out and called it a movie. There was no plot, no story, no nothing. You kept thinking that something was going to happen that would make all make sense. But nothing ever did. I talked to friend whoa had seen it, too. And he had the same impression.
Th Carrollton operated as a revival house in the 1970’s. I can remember taking my wife to see “the Harvey Girls”, and “The Toast of New Orleans” with Mario Lanza back then. This was before the advent of cable tv.
Although I was a Fox employee working at the Plaza and a friend of the manager, Jack Scharfenburg, he still had a hard time getting me by the watch dog that Paramount had hired to make sure everybody had a ticket to see “The 10 Commandments “.
That’s my old boss when worked at the Plaza in the mid to late 1950’s.
I quite agree with you, Sunflower.
I thought when they carved up the theatre, there were 3 screens. One in the balcony and two on the first floor. Can anyone comment on that?
Sherrie.
Don H
JAlex. I quite agree. Thanks for the info.
Mike G. I have a good one for you. Last Friday, I was watching TCM and the were running a 1953 movie from 20th Century Fox, Named “Inferno”, staring Robert Ryan, Rhonda Fleming and William Lundigan. The host, Ben Mankowitz, says that although the film was shot in 3D, it was only shown in 3D in L. A. New York, Chicago and London. I was nuts about 3D movies, especially color ones, and made a trip down to the Esquire to see 1st run, because it was advertised in 3D. I’m 99% sure if it hadn’t be 3D, I would have been agitated to say the least. Mankowitz also said most theaters weren’t equipped to show 3D. I’m sure most of the Fox theaters were because when I worked at the Plaza in 1955, they still had their 3D equipment in a storage room in the projection booth. What do you recall?
The Linwood was also operated as a Fox Midwest theater in the 1940’s and 1950’s
Unfortunately, This theatre has close again as of 11/14/17. Shows scheduled thru next February have been canceled.
When I was working in the theater business, in the 1950’s, the ISIS was a 28 day sub-run house, meaning that like the Plaza, the Oak Park and the Waldo, the played a double feature of films 28 days after the left the 1st run, mainly downtown theaters. And it was part of the Fox Midwest chain.
The Apollo was part of the FOX Midwest chain until it closed. I remember going to see “The 10 Commandments” there when it was a roadshow engagement.
Not much on who operated this Drive-in. But in 1960-61 era, I was living in Topeka. I think this Drive-in was taken over by Fox Midwest. At about that time, the got some relief from the consent decree they were living under since the mid-1940’s and were allowed to add some drive-ins. They had one in Johnson county Kansas and I think this one. I work there briefly as assistant concession stand mgr.
Although we no longer lived in the neighborhood, my folks would take us to the movies at the ISIS. I remember in the 1940’s winter time, that that corner of 31st & Troost was the coldest place in all KC.
KCB3. I don’t remember it being called anything but the “Bagdad”. We livv3d in a apartment at 27th and Forrest in the early 1940’s and my folks used to go there.
This theater was also operated by Fox Midwest for Black patrons in 1940’s and 50’s
Hey Frank G, Great story!
Hey KCB3. I hope that that comes to fruition.
aeast. They had a fountain in the middle of the lobby. It was removed when the expanded the concession stand. The wishing well/drinking fountain you are thinking of was in the lounge, downstairs. I don’t recall it being removed was the building was still a theatre.
A friend of mine, Jack S. Who at one time was the assistant mgr of the Uptown and was mgr of the Apollo before it closed for the last time, told me the last time he was in the Uptown was during that 50 cent era. He said it was in bad shape. The floors were sticky from spilled drinks and just wasn’t clean. It upset him to see it like that and he never went back.
Yes. The Orpheum is now open. Thanks to the folks at Tipitina’s
I remember when I was working for Fox Midwest in the mid to late 1950’s, the manager of the Vista and the Gladstone was Jess Spain.
I remember going to the Oak Park on many occasions as a child in the the late 40’s and early 50’s. It typically showed a double feature. My brother and my folks went on one Saturday and came in during one of the features. We stayed until we came to the place in the movie where we came in. I remember the seats in the theatre being the old wooden seats probably made during WWII or earlier. They weren’t the spring loaded type that come up when you stand up. My dad was leading the way out and still looking at the screen instead or where he was going. The seat on the aisle was down, and my dad stumbled and fell over it and broke a rib.
I can remember seeing one of the worst movies ever made at the Panorama. I think the name of it was “Candy”. That movie looked like they had swept up the cutting room floor, spliced it together and sent it out and called it a movie. There was no plot, no story, no nothing. You kept thinking that something was going to happen that would make all make sense. But nothing ever did. I talked to friend whoa had seen it, too. And he had the same impression.
Wow! What a gorgeous theater!
Th Carrollton operated as a revival house in the 1970’s. I can remember taking my wife to see “the Harvey Girls”, and “The Toast of New Orleans” with Mario Lanza back then. This was before the advent of cable tv.