The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists both the American Theatre and the Sigmond Opera House. Unfortunately, an exact street number is not given for either theatre. It could be that this was the period of time when the building was re-named, hence both being listed.
Before becoming the Regent Theatre (a name it has had since at least 1941), this was known as the National Theatre. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that in the early years, this was one of William Fox’s theatres.
The American Theatre is listed in the 1941 & 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 300. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity is given as 390 and the address is as listed above.
I believe this current Tivoli Theatre replaced an earlier 350 seat Tivoli Theatre (at a different address) 20 Menominee Street, Stephenson, MI. That Tivoli Theatre is listed in Film Daily Yearbooks from at least 1941 until the 1950 edition.
It looks like a former shop unit and maybe part of the foyer area is being used by the DebRA charity shop.
The Directory of Cinemas 1980 lists the Vale Centre, as a 3-screen operation. Screen 1;98 seats, Screen 2;96 seats and Screen 3;500 seats (opening in 1980). I wonder if the 500 seat screen (possibly in the former stalls area actually opened?
This theatre opened as ‘Tally’s Phonograph and Vitascope Parlour’, 311 S. Spring Street in 1896. The room at the rear allowed the audience to ‘Hear New York Stage Song Hits’ and ‘See Living Pictures’ projected on a screen. Adverts proclaimed it as America’s first ‘All Picture Theatre’.
It was such a success that in 1900 it moved to larger quarters at 338 S. Spring Street. One of these locations (311 or 388, I don’t know which?) was the Ramona Hotel and Tally’s Phonograph and Bioscope Parlour was located on the ground floor, to the left hand side of the hotel entrance.
In April 1902 Thomas L. Tally built his Electric Theatre (the first purpose-built for movies theatre in America) which was located at 262 S. Main Street. Tally renamed this the Lyric Theatre in 1904 and by 1910 it was known as Glockner’s Automatic Theatre. I have added it under that name here…. /theaters/19875/
There were two Liberty Theatre’s, one located at 266 S. Main Street which operated from the early part of the 20th Century until pre-1930 (which is the photograph incorrectly placed on the the ‘other’ Liberty Theatre-its final name (aka Novelty Theatre & Chinese Theatre), 136 S. Main Street which operated from at least the 1930’s until the 1950’s.
I have a listing for a Liberty Theatre, 266 S. Main Street which operated from early in the 20th Century until pre 1930. There is another Liberty Theatre, 136 S. Main Street operating from the 1930’s which was aka the Novelty theatre and the Chinese Theatre
Built on the site of the the two screen Cine Scala/Coral, which closed around 2005, finally screening gay adult movies.
The new Cine Unibanco Arteplex opened in May 2007. Screen six is THX certified, the first auditorium in Rio de Janeiro to be given this honour. The policy is to screen Brazilian movies and European movies which won’t get an airing at other multiplexes.
Lost Memory;Thanks for the additional information.
The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists the Esquire Theatre with 834 seats (the Columbia Theatre is listed as ‘Closed’ with 1,800 seats). It seems like the re-model into a movie theatre gave a reduced seating capacity. However in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook the address of the Esquire is 408 W. 3rd Street and seating is given as 300 (which I would say must be a mis-print)
Plans have been passed for the ‘opening up’ of the balcony above the entrance doors. This will be used as a ‘platform’ for stars to greet fans when premiers are held at the cinema (similar to the one at the Odeon, Leicester Square.
Just got back from Santo Domingo yesterday. The Olimpia is now a TV production center. The facade looks good, well taken care of.
Another great cinema of the same era, the Elite, in the residential section of Gazcue, is also a TV production center. The city is full of multiplexes owned by Caribbean Cinemas, a Puerto Rican company who are the biggest movie chain in Puerto Rico. They also have cinemas in Trinidad and other Caribbean islands.
Ian;Thanks for trusting me! As I state in the opening text, ‘seating was provided for 2,117 in a stadium plan’. The 1,755 seating figure was at the end of its life.
A recent 2007 photograph of the Cinema Mac Mahon:
View link
The Belasco Theatre (later Republic/Follies) was located at 337 S. Main Street. This Republic Theatre is a different building.
An interesting vintage postcard view of the Compton Cinema:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/496197385/
Part of the building is listed as currently being the Rumboat Carribar.
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists both the American Theatre and the Sigmond Opera House. Unfortunately, an exact street number is not given for either theatre. It could be that this was the period of time when the building was re-named, hence both being listed.
Before becoming the Regent Theatre (a name it has had since at least 1941), this was known as the National Theatre. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that in the early years, this was one of William Fox’s theatres.
What a great (but very sad) video. I wonder if the original Thomas Lamb designed facade & lobby part of the building survived (again)?
Yes, the marquee has an LED display.
The American Theatre is listed in the 1941 & 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 300. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the seating capacity is given as 390 and the address is as listed above.
I believe this current Tivoli Theatre replaced an earlier 350 seat Tivoli Theatre (at a different address) 20 Menominee Street, Stephenson, MI. That Tivoli Theatre is listed in Film Daily Yearbooks from at least 1941 until the 1950 edition.
It looks like a former shop unit and maybe part of the foyer area is being used by the DebRA charity shop.
The Directory of Cinemas 1980 lists the Vale Centre, as a 3-screen operation. Screen 1;98 seats, Screen 2;96 seats and Screen 3;500 seats (opening in 1980). I wonder if the 500 seat screen (possibly in the former stalls area actually opened?
Thanks for the correction Ian.
This theatre opened as ‘Tally’s Phonograph and Vitascope Parlour’, 311 S. Spring Street in 1896. The room at the rear allowed the audience to ‘Hear New York Stage Song Hits’ and ‘See Living Pictures’ projected on a screen. Adverts proclaimed it as America’s first ‘All Picture Theatre’.
It was such a success that in 1900 it moved to larger quarters at 338 S. Spring Street. One of these locations (311 or 388, I don’t know which?) was the Ramona Hotel and Tally’s Phonograph and Bioscope Parlour was located on the ground floor, to the left hand side of the hotel entrance.
In April 1902 Thomas L. Tally built his Electric Theatre (the first purpose-built for movies theatre in America) which was located at 262 S. Main Street. Tally renamed this the Lyric Theatre in 1904 and by 1910 it was known as Glockner’s Automatic Theatre. I have added it under that name here….
/theaters/19875/
Here are some vintage postcard views of the Moulin Rouge over the years:
The original building in 1889:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/489041668/
Eleven years later in 1900:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/489069379/
As a music hall in 1925:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/489070119/
As a cinema & cabaret theatre in the early 1930’s:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/489070753/
A closer view of the cinema & cabaret theatre in the mid-1930’s:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/489043854/
A photograph I took in April 2007:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/489073097/
There were two Liberty Theatre’s, one located at 266 S. Main Street which operated from the early part of the 20th Century until pre-1930 (which is the photograph incorrectly placed on the the ‘other’ Liberty Theatre-its final name (aka Novelty Theatre & Chinese Theatre), 136 S. Main Street which operated from at least the 1930’s until the 1950’s.
I have a listing for a Liberty Theatre, 266 S. Main Street which operated from early in the 20th Century until pre 1930. There is another Liberty Theatre, 136 S. Main Street operating from the 1930’s which was aka the Novelty theatre and the Chinese Theatre
The Odeon Theatre is listed in the 1941 & 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook. It has gone from listings by the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.
Correction to the above…The Cine Unibanco Arteplex is a re-habitiation of the former Cine Scala/Coral and not a new multplex built on the site.
Built on the site of the the two screen Cine Scala/Coral, which closed around 2005, finally screening gay adult movies.
The new Cine Unibanco Arteplex opened in May 2007. Screen six is THX certified, the first auditorium in Rio de Janeiro to be given this honour. The policy is to screen Brazilian movies and European movies which won’t get an airing at other multiplexes.
Lost Memory;Thanks for the additional information.
The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists the Esquire Theatre with 834 seats (the Columbia Theatre is listed as ‘Closed’ with 1,800 seats). It seems like the re-model into a movie theatre gave a reduced seating capacity. However in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook the address of the Esquire is 408 W. 3rd Street and seating is given as 300 (which I would say must be a mis-print)
Plans have been passed for the ‘opening up’ of the balcony above the entrance doors. This will be used as a ‘platform’ for stars to greet fans when premiers are held at the cinema (similar to the one at the Odeon, Leicester Square.
It was still listed as the Cecile Theatre in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it is the Cokato Theatre.
Plenty of photographs and images of the Apollo Theatre (text in German) here:
View link
Another message sent to me by Andres G. Roura;
Just got back from Santo Domingo yesterday. The Olimpia is now a TV production center. The facade looks good, well taken care of.
Another great cinema of the same era, the Elite, in the residential section of Gazcue, is also a TV production center. The city is full of multiplexes owned by Caribbean Cinemas, a Puerto Rican company who are the biggest movie chain in Puerto Rico. They also have cinemas in Trinidad and other Caribbean islands.
Ian;Thanks for trusting me! As I state in the opening text, ‘seating was provided for 2,117 in a stadium plan’. The 1,755 seating figure was at the end of its life.