Opened as the Gaumont Palace Theatre on 11th July 1932 with Renate Muller in “Sunshine Susie”. It is considered possibly one of the best designed cinemas by architect William T. Benslyn. Seating was arranged in a semi-stadium plan with no overhanging balcony, but had a seperate raised section at the rear.
In 1937 it was re-named Gaumont Theatre and was re-named Odeon from 1969 until closing on 5th September 1981. Conversion into a Top Rank Bingo Club was completed and opened in November 1981.
The retail store that was based in the former foyer of the building was closed in summer 2006. The foyer and auditorium are now in use as Camden Indoor Market. Unfortunately, all plasterwork has been removed from the auditorium, leaving bare walls and the metal roof trusses exposed inside the roof. The terrazo mozaic floor at the entrance with the word ‘Plaza’ has also been removed or cemented over.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 & 1943 editions as the Merlu Theatre Clarendon, AR with 300 seats. In the 1950 edition it is listed as the Merlu Theatre, 219 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029 with a seating capacity given as 501.
dlm7551..to confirm what you mention above, none of these editions of F.D.Y. have a listing for a Merlu Theatre in Waverly, TN
Listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook as being part of the Schine Circuit, Inc. with the name Colonial Theatre. In the 1943 and 1950 editions it is the Colonia Theatre, still operated by the Schine Circuit, Inc.
In the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook the seating capacity of the 1929 built Curtis Theater is given as 250. In the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook the newly built Curtis Theater is given as 600.
Listed in the 1941 & 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 203. The 1950 edition gives a seating capacity of 330 with the address Main Street.
Originally opened in 1893 as a hall for balls and theatre performances, in an already existing building. In January 1924 it was re-modeled by architect Percy A. Faber into a 484 seat theatre for live performances and was known as the Comedy Theatre. This continued for many years. It was damaged by a falling bomb in 1945 which led to a brief closure.
From the 25th December 1951 it was opened as the Metro Kino with Stewart Granger in “King Solomons Mines” and it now had a seating capacity of 417.
The Sun Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Cowper, Murphy & Appleford. It was built for and operated by the Yeomans family who operated several Melbourne suburban cinemas, including the Westgarth Theatre in the district of Northcote.
It is accredited with being the first stadium design cinema in Australia with a parabolic floor (that is a floor which slopes down towards the screen, then reverses the slope upwards at the screen end).
In 1963 it was taken over by Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures and dropped normal release films in favour of Greek language films. It closed in 1977 and lay empty and boarded up for 18 years during which time the ceiling collapsed and most of the Art Deco decoration was destroyed.
In 1965 Michael Smith was looking for a building in which to base his company which manufactures cinema screens and curtains. Instead of turning it into a factory he brought in volunteers from the Sun Film Society who helped clean the place up and installed second-hand seats and in 1996 they began to screen classic and cult movies.
After a huge AU$1.5Million investment it was converted into a 4-screen cinema which opened on 23rd May 2003. Much of the decorative plasterwork has been re-created on the side walls, but the ceiling has still not been replaced.
The screens are named after former theatres in the area, the Grand, the Barkly, the Trocadero and the Lyric and have seating for 200, 170, 95 and 40.
Originally this was to be known as the Delphine Cinema, it was built and operated as an independent cinema by John Thomas Halliman and remained an independent throughout its life. It opened as the Splendid Super Cinema with Marion Davies in “Not So Dumb”.
Although designed by Major W.J. King, the Italianate/Swiss Atmospheric interior was designed by artist F.L. Philie. He created a scene that depicted Chalets, villas, mansions and a castle which were set among trees and flowering shrubs. Winding lanes climbed through wooded slopesto distant mountains. The blue of the sky met and extended across the ceiling in which was set a large central lights fitting which could be set to reproduce the changes of colour from sunrise to sunset.
Unfortunately, the Splendid Cinema became a victim of falling audiences due to the impact of television and rowdy youths in the audience and it closed with the film “My Man Godfrey” starring David Niven. Proposals to use the building as a Roman Catholic church or a rag store both fell through and it was demolished in the summer of 1958.
Flats named Crystal View Court were built on the site, together with a petrol station.
The building was still closed up and unused when I visited Amsterdam in September 2005. It was demolished in January/February 2006 and when seen on a recent November 2006 visit to the city a new constructuion was being built.
The Fox Theatre possibly opened in around 1949/1950. It is listed in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook without a seating capacity being given (usually an indication of a newly built theatre which hasn’t had details submitted to the editors)
The Malco Theatre is listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 500. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. is has a seating capacity given as 756 and is operated by Paramount Pictures Inc through their subsidiary M.A. Lightman.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook has the Malco Theatre, 418 Frederica Street with a seating capacity of 720. Also listed in this edition of F.D.Y. is a New Malco Theatre, 118 W. 3rd Street that has a seating capacity of 552.
The Dreamland Theater is listed as an African-American vaudeville theatre, owned and managed in 1921 by Mrs. Lola T. Williams (an African American). It probably had a limited life screening movies.
Opened as the Gaumont Palace Theatre on 11th July 1932 with Renate Muller in “Sunshine Susie”. It is considered possibly one of the best designed cinemas by architect William T. Benslyn. Seating was arranged in a semi-stadium plan with no overhanging balcony, but had a seperate raised section at the rear.
In 1937 it was re-named Gaumont Theatre and was re-named Odeon from 1969 until closing on 5th September 1981. Conversion into a Top Rank Bingo Club was completed and opened in November 1981.
It is a Listed Grade II building.
Two views of the Odeon here:
As seen in 1968 (note the retail shop units are still empty)
View link
As seen in 1971
View link
The retail store that was based in the former foyer of the building was closed in summer 2006. The foyer and auditorium are now in use as Camden Indoor Market. Unfortunately, all plasterwork has been removed from the auditorium, leaving bare walls and the metal roof trusses exposed inside the roof. The terrazo mozaic floor at the entrance with the word ‘Plaza’ has also been removed or cemented over.
Still listed as open in the 1952 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 496.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 & 1943 editions as the Merlu Theatre Clarendon, AR with 300 seats. In the 1950 edition it is listed as the Merlu Theatre, 219 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029 with a seating capacity given as 501.
dlm7551..to confirm what you mention above, none of these editions of F.D.Y. have a listing for a Merlu Theatre in Waverly, TN
Four photographs of the Hollywood Cinema which I took in 2003:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/319658353/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/319658739/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/319659095/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/319659528/
Listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook as being part of the Schine Circuit, Inc. with the name Colonial Theatre. In the 1943 and 1950 editions it is the Colonia Theatre, still operated by the Schine Circuit, Inc.
A set of photographs that I took of the Windmill Theatre in 2003:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/318447309/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/318448151/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/318448782/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/318448974/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/318449315/
Another view of the building that I took in 2003:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/318443058/
A set of photographs that I took of the Empire in 2003:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317861036/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317861352/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317861861/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317862701/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317863068/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317863474/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317863949/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kencta/317864964/
In the 1943 edition of Film Daily Yearbook the seating capacity of the 1929 built Curtis Theater is given as 250. In the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook the newly built Curtis Theater is given as 600.
Listed in the 1941 & 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 203. The 1950 edition gives a seating capacity of 330 with the address Main Street.
Here are 3 photo’s I took of the Sun Theatre in February 2006:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/317279369/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/317279782/
One of the auditoriums:-
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/317280194/
Originally opened in 1893 as a hall for balls and theatre performances, in an already existing building. In January 1924 it was re-modeled by architect Percy A. Faber into a 484 seat theatre for live performances and was known as the Comedy Theatre. This continued for many years. It was damaged by a falling bomb in 1945 which led to a brief closure.
From the 25th December 1951 it was opened as the Metro Kino with Stewart Granger in “King Solomons Mines” and it now had a seating capacity of 417.
The Pex Theatre is listed in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 850.
The Sun Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Cowper, Murphy & Appleford. It was built for and operated by the Yeomans family who operated several Melbourne suburban cinemas, including the Westgarth Theatre in the district of Northcote.
It is accredited with being the first stadium design cinema in Australia with a parabolic floor (that is a floor which slopes down towards the screen, then reverses the slope upwards at the screen end).
In 1963 it was taken over by Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures and dropped normal release films in favour of Greek language films. It closed in 1977 and lay empty and boarded up for 18 years during which time the ceiling collapsed and most of the Art Deco decoration was destroyed.
In 1965 Michael Smith was looking for a building in which to base his company which manufactures cinema screens and curtains. Instead of turning it into a factory he brought in volunteers from the Sun Film Society who helped clean the place up and installed second-hand seats and in 1996 they began to screen classic and cult movies.
After a huge AU$1.5Million investment it was converted into a 4-screen cinema which opened on 23rd May 2003. Much of the decorative plasterwork has been re-created on the side walls, but the ceiling has still not been replaced.
The screens are named after former theatres in the area, the Grand, the Barkly, the Trocadero and the Lyric and have seating for 200, 170, 95 and 40.
The Andria Theatre has been operating since at least 1941 as it is listed with 750 seats in Film Daily Yearbook of that year.
Opened by the legendary music hall star Harry Lauder, the first flim to be screened was Ruby Keeler & Al Jolson in “Casino de Paris”.
After demolition in May 1965, the site was redeveloped as a Shoprite supermarket.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook has a Center Theatre listed at 910 Canal Street with 600 seats…..same theatre?
Originally this was to be known as the Delphine Cinema, it was built and operated as an independent cinema by John Thomas Halliman and remained an independent throughout its life. It opened as the Splendid Super Cinema with Marion Davies in “Not So Dumb”.
Although designed by Major W.J. King, the Italianate/Swiss Atmospheric interior was designed by artist F.L. Philie. He created a scene that depicted Chalets, villas, mansions and a castle which were set among trees and flowering shrubs. Winding lanes climbed through wooded slopesto distant mountains. The blue of the sky met and extended across the ceiling in which was set a large central lights fitting which could be set to reproduce the changes of colour from sunrise to sunset.
Unfortunately, the Splendid Cinema became a victim of falling audiences due to the impact of television and rowdy youths in the audience and it closed with the film “My Man Godfrey” starring David Niven. Proposals to use the building as a Roman Catholic church or a rag store both fell through and it was demolished in the summer of 1958.
Flats named Crystal View Court were built on the site, together with a petrol station.
The building was still closed up and unused when I visited Amsterdam in September 2005. It was demolished in January/February 2006 and when seen on a recent November 2006 visit to the city a new constructuion was being built.
The Fox Theatre possibly opened in around 1949/1950. It is listed in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook without a seating capacity being given (usually an indication of a newly built theatre which hasn’t had details submitted to the editors)
Opened in 1926, it is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook (1941 edition) with a seating capacity of 587.
The Malco Theatre is listed in the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 500. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. is has a seating capacity given as 756 and is operated by Paramount Pictures Inc through their subsidiary M.A. Lightman.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook has the Malco Theatre, 418 Frederica Street with a seating capacity of 720. Also listed in this edition of F.D.Y. is a New Malco Theatre, 118 W. 3rd Street that has a seating capacity of 552.
The Dreamland Theater is listed as an African-American vaudeville theatre, owned and managed in 1921 by Mrs. Lola T. Williams (an African American). It probably had a limited life screening movies.