Update courtesy Ted Okuda. “June 14, 1956: A circus parade heads south on State Street, past the Shangri-La restaurant (222 N. State), on its way to the United Artists Theater (45 W. Randolph) to promote the opening of the movie TRAPEZE (starring Burt Lancaster, Gina Lollobrigida and Tony Curtis)”
In the book “Ripon” By Amanda Gesiorski, Naomi Jahn, Christian Krueger; Edited by Andrew Prellwitz and David Sakrison, on page 87 it says the Grand Opera House burned down in 1906.
Additional history courtesy If you grew up on the southside of Monroe, La Facebook page.
“Ronald Siegle opened a movie theater in this building in 1930, but closed the theater in 1932 and went bankrupt the following year. The 450-seat reopened in 1934 as the Rialto and later became part of a small chain of movie theaters operated my West Monroe resident Joseph M. Heard. Like other movie theaters in Louisiana the Rialto was racially segregated until the mid-1960’s. Only whites were permitted to enter through the main lobby and sit in seats on the main floor of the theater. African-Americans were required to enter through the side door that led directly to the balcony. The ticket booth that remains inside the building, has separate windows for the main lobby and the aide stairs to the balcony.”
FROM THE …
NATIONAL REGISTER
OF HISTORIC PLACES
~ NOMINATION FORM ~
~
The Ramona Theater in Buhl is one of Idaho’s last survivors of the “movie palace” decade of 1920’s. Its style combines Spanish Mission and Islamic elements, suggesting something from the movie sets of the day perhaps those in Douglas Fairbank’s “Thief of Bagdad,” produced in 1924.
~
Its pink stucco mass is accented with a four story corner tower 41 feet tall, topped by a mosque-like dome. Tall, graceful finials rise from four corners of the tower and the top of the dome. Crenellated battlements finish the tower. Window openings are framed with Moorish arches or Spanish Baroque quatrefoils. A Baroque false gable balances the tower, and other facade walls are capped with red roof-tiles.
~
Few changes have been made to the exterior, aside from general deterioration of paint and some lost windows. The color was originally light beige,accented with red, green, and pink. On the interior, mural decorations have been painted over and a decorative chandelier removed. There is local interest in preservation and restoration of this unique community landmark.
~
In January 1928, plans were drawn up by architect Burton Morse for a new theater for the Harris-Voeller Company. The new building was to be on the site of the old Wade building, and parts of the old building built about 1917 were to be incorporated into the new. The wrecking began early in February with the removal of the rear wall, partitions and floors. A new floor was built on an incline. With the partitions gone, the roof and ceiling were supported by a system of four immense steel trusses, leaving no posts in the building.
~
The Ramona was thought to be very modern in every way, right down to the ladies room off the lobby. The electrical work was done by L. G. Nelson at a cost of $3500. In the operator’s room there were two Motiograph projectors, a spotlight with six different colors and a complete signal system connecting the operator’s room with the stage. On the exterior were colored lights and floodlights to light the dome. Steam heating and air cooling were installed by C. M. McQueary for $3800. Fans brought in fresh air and a complete change of air was made every few minutes. The general contractor was George Stitchter of Buhl whose bid was $22,000. The total cost was expected to run $40,000.
~
While the new theater was being built, Manager Voeller sponsored a contest to name the theater. The name had to be of Spanish or Moorish character and not more than five or six letters. M. C. McQuivey, a pharmacist at the Buhl Pharmacy, won the contest with the name taken from the novel by Helen Hunt Jackson. The lucky winner won a Lifetime Pass to the theater.
~
The new Ramona Theater opened on Friday, June 29, 1928 and played to a capacity crowd. The town of Buhl was excited about its new theater and the building was highly praised. (An editorial in the Buhl Herald ended with the statement, “There is little enough of art in this work-a-day world and the beauties of the new theater are thrice welcome. ” June 28, 1928, p. 1). The Ramona is now used only part of the year, and in the summer is often used for live productions by the Antique Festival Theater, with the late Aldrich Bowler.
~
RECIEVED IT’S ‘ STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ’ BY OFFICER CERTIFICATION OF ‘ MERLE WELLS. ’ DECEMBER 22, 1976 A.D.
Evening Star, Washington, D.C.
Update courtesy Ted Okuda. “June 14, 1956: A circus parade heads south on State Street, past the Shangri-La restaurant (222 N. State), on its way to the United Artists Theater (45 W. Randolph) to promote the opening of the movie TRAPEZE (starring Burt Lancaster, Gina Lollobrigida and Tony Curtis)”
In the book “Ripon” By Amanda Gesiorski, Naomi Jahn, Christian Krueger; Edited by Andrew Prellwitz and David Sakrison, on page 87 it says the Grand Opera House burned down in 1906.
8/9/1967 Loews Theatre fire, courtesy of The Tennessean.
May `63 fire newspaper image added credit Denver Public Library North Denver Collection.
Here is what appears to be the official website.
https://www.dolby.com/us/en/professionals/content-creation/screening-rooms/vine-screening-room.html
1957 photo added.
November 1981 (3rd from top) and 1961 (bottom row left) photos in this link.
http://gabrielamericanrealty.com/vintageoleanpage.html
1954 photo added source unknown.
Golffanatc, your photo has been added crediting Sangamon Valley Archives.
Golffanatc, your photo has been added crediting Sangamon Valley Archives.
Additional history courtesy If you grew up on the southside of Monroe, La Facebook page.
“Ronald Siegle opened a movie theater in this building in 1930, but closed the theater in 1932 and went bankrupt the following year. The 450-seat reopened in 1934 as the Rialto and later became part of a small chain of movie theaters operated my West Monroe resident Joseph M. Heard. Like other movie theaters in Louisiana the Rialto was racially segregated until the mid-1960’s. Only whites were permitted to enter through the main lobby and sit in seats on the main floor of the theater. African-Americans were required to enter through the side door that led directly to the balcony. The ticket booth that remains inside the building, has separate windows for the main lobby and the aide stairs to the balcony.”
February 21, 1969 photo added credit Walter Leporati. Courtesy 70s/80s New York City Facebook page.
Late `50s photo added courtesy Old Canada Series Facebook page.
1974 photo added credit Chris Protopapas. Courtesy 70s/80s New York City Facebook page.
Nearby theatre histories . I added a page for the Dime Theatre on Main Avenue.
https://magicvalley.com/news/local/hidden-history-the-rise-of-moving-pictures-and-opera-in/article_e4acfa2d-3844-5d9e-9b90-ac58c1efcfdb.html
Brief history and that of other theatres.
https://magicvalley.com/news/local/hidden-history-the-rise-of-moving-pictures-and-opera-in/article_e4acfa2d-3844-5d9e-9b90-ac58c1efcfdb.html
Photo credit M.B. Martin.
Crisper version of a previously posted photo.
http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8c14489/
Crisper version.
http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8c14489/
1935 photo added credit Southwest Florida Historical Society.
Photo of screen being built added via Larry Quigley. Managed by Don Shaver, projection by Dennis Jones who also projected at the Ramona.
Also owned by Bruce & Nancy Duffy in the late `80s.
Via Jeff Fehrenbacher.
FROM THE … NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ~ NOMINATION FORM ~
~
The Ramona Theater in Buhl is one of Idaho’s last survivors of the “movie palace” decade of 1920’s. Its style combines Spanish Mission and Islamic elements, suggesting something from the movie sets of the day perhaps those in Douglas Fairbank’s “Thief of Bagdad,” produced in 1924.
~
Its pink stucco mass is accented with a four story corner tower 41 feet tall, topped by a mosque-like dome. Tall, graceful finials rise from four corners of the tower and the top of the dome. Crenellated battlements finish the tower. Window openings are framed with Moorish arches or Spanish Baroque quatrefoils. A Baroque false gable balances the tower, and other facade walls are capped with red roof-tiles.
~
Few changes have been made to the exterior, aside from general deterioration of paint and some lost windows. The color was originally light beige,accented with red, green, and pink. On the interior, mural decorations have been painted over and a decorative chandelier removed. There is local interest in preservation and restoration of this unique community landmark.
~
In January 1928, plans were drawn up by architect Burton Morse for a new theater for the Harris-Voeller Company. The new building was to be on the site of the old Wade building, and parts of the old building built about 1917 were to be incorporated into the new. The wrecking began early in February with the removal of the rear wall, partitions and floors. A new floor was built on an incline. With the partitions gone, the roof and ceiling were supported by a system of four immense steel trusses, leaving no posts in the building.
~
The Ramona was thought to be very modern in every way, right down to the ladies room off the lobby. The electrical work was done by L. G. Nelson at a cost of $3500. In the operator’s room there were two Motiograph projectors, a spotlight with six different colors and a complete signal system connecting the operator’s room with the stage. On the exterior were colored lights and floodlights to light the dome. Steam heating and air cooling were installed by C. M. McQueary for $3800. Fans brought in fresh air and a complete change of air was made every few minutes. The general contractor was George Stitchter of Buhl whose bid was $22,000. The total cost was expected to run $40,000.
~
While the new theater was being built, Manager Voeller sponsored a contest to name the theater. The name had to be of Spanish or Moorish character and not more than five or six letters. M. C. McQuivey, a pharmacist at the Buhl Pharmacy, won the contest with the name taken from the novel by Helen Hunt Jackson. The lucky winner won a Lifetime Pass to the theater.
~
The new Ramona Theater opened on Friday, June 29, 1928 and played to a capacity crowd. The town of Buhl was excited about its new theater and the building was highly praised. (An editorial in the Buhl Herald ended with the statement, “There is little enough of art in this work-a-day world and the beauties of the new theater are thrice welcome. ” June 28, 1928, p. 1). The Ramona is now used only part of the year, and in the summer is often used for live productions by the Antique Festival Theater, with the late Aldrich Bowler.
~
RECIEVED IT’S ‘ STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ’
BY OFFICER CERTIFICATION OF ‘ MERLE WELLS. ’
DECEMBER 22, 1976 A.D.
~
Closed during influenza outbreak.
http://www.influenzaarchive.org/cities/city-stpaul.html?fbclid=IwAR0Q7dOJQa8U67uGrRqCtpOs_PvcGzZYI1JwrfD9WVfiMFTXkOpPHpN_Fqo