1940s photo added via Bonnie Blythe.
Portland Theatre marquee on the far right down Preble Street.
Matches the structure in Joe Vogel’s link in the above comment from 2015.
This history courtesy of the Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page.
In correlation with some of the 1910 postcard images in the Photos Section.
BF Keith’s Theatre, postcard mailed 1910; the entrances still exist, but the theatre itself is now the parking lot behind the parking garage at Brown and Cumberland.
20 Preble St., also 477 Congress
Theater Name: B.F. Keith’s Theater
Alternate Theater Name(s): Keith’s Theater, Civic [1938]
Owners: Clifford S. Hamilton, mgr. (Julius Cahn-Gus Hill 1921)
Affliated with:
Maine Amusement Co., E.F. Albee, Pres.
as Civic: Zeitz Bros. Circuit, State Theater Bdg., New Bedford, Ma., pres. Harry Zeitz (1956 Yrbook of Motion Pictures and 1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM)
Date Opened: 1908
Date Closed: 1965
Sources: Annual Register of Maine, 1913, 1927
Building today: demolished 1965; Preble St. lobby extant, mosaic floor can be seen in store.
Photos:
QDB/NHF Coll. 4 cards: ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Me.’; also ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Maine’ interior (1910); also ‘Preble St. Entrance Keith’s New Theatre Portland, Me.’ b&w; also ‘Preble St. Looking towards Monument Sq., Portland, Me.’ shows Portland Theatre too.
NHF postcard, Keith’s Theatre with Gents Smoking Room. (1910)
Franklyn Lenthall and David Bowers both have interior image, ‘Boxes at Keith’s Theatre.’ Another Bowers postcard has exterior and two interior views, including ‘Main Entrance, Preble Street’ and Congress Street Entrance, Subway' which is a long hall with mirrors. Third Bowers card has four interiors including ‘Gents Smoking Room’ ‘Ladies Parlor.’ Copyrighted ‘08.
NHF postcard, Congress St. above Monument Square, Portland.
Bowers, exterior view of brick building with two story facade and hanging Keith’s sign and exterior kiosk with oval Keith’s sign over it. Postcard copyright 1908. Also postcard interior 'Ticket Office Keith’s New Theater.’
One Bowers exterior postcard has facade from across the street, hanging from awning is sign advertising the film ‘Brewsters Millions.’ Another Bowers postcard has Longfellow’s Home with Keith’s Theatre entrance adjacent, postmark 1912.
Northeast Historic Film visit date:
Theater Type: Cinema/Vaudeville
Notes:
Cap. 1,875. H.L. Watkins, booking manager. Belongs to B.F. Keith’s Circuit. Plays vaudeville and pictures. Stage 55 ft. wide, 37 ft. deep, 64 ft. high. Distance of throw 105 ft. size of screen 12 x 14 ft. Simplex Projecting Machine, Lauriet Dufor, operator. Albert E. Hopkins, Orchestra Leader. B.F. Keith’s vaudeville Exchange, NY Reps. per Julius Cahn-Gus Hill Directory 1921. Wids 1923, p. 449, listed in Important First Run Houses.
Pop. 69,272, cap. 1,899, tickets 50 cents and 75 cents, open every day except Sunday, mgr. A.I. Marinton, booker H.L. Watkins, purchasing agent H.L. Watkins, projectionist Harry Boynton, phone Forest 2742, per Motion Picture Trade Directory 1928, 1929.
‘Architect A.E. Westover and his local associates, F.H. and E.F. Fassett, made an auditorium 85 feet deep by 87 feet wide. The orchestra seated 700, the balcony 600, and the gallery 500, affording a capacity of 1,800. Two double boxes and four singles flanked the stage on the orchestra floor. There were eight more at the balcony level. Cherubic statues, illuminated from the rear, topped the boxes. The decor was rococo with a color scheme based on Nile green. Orchestra and balcony seats were upholstered with green leather. There was a large cartouche in the center of the proscenium picturing reclining figures with lyre and tambourine….The marble subway from Congress Street ran some 300 feet long. In later years when the Preble House was demolished and replaced by the Chapman Building, an arcade ran from Congress Street to B.F. Keith’s main lobby and thence out to Preble Street. It was lined with shops and restaurants. The new house played vaudeville, Kinetograph movies and had its own stock company.’ Theatres of Portland, Maine, pp. 13-14, Don King, 1987.
‘Keith’s Theatre closed in 1933…reopened for brief periods after RKO gave it up. It remained dark from mid-April through October first of 1934. It was reopened for the last time by a Boston based company which had been successful with a cut rate revival film policy called 'Proven Pictures.’ But even the combining of stage shows with the oldies and the installation of new soft seats did not attract sufficient patronage. Keith’s closed permanently in 1938 at 30 years of age. In 1939 Portland’s Chamber of Commerce, together with local businessmen, leased Keith’s and renamed it the Civic Theatre. It was completely refurbished. Its stage area was brought up to date. A new marquee was installed at the Congress Street entrance. The grand opening on November 20 featured the San Carlo Opera Company.‘ ibid, p. 25-26.Portland Maine History 1786 to Prese
'By 1941 the Civic’s cultural adventure was abandoned. The house was leased to an out of town motion picture chain. [Zeitz] Movies, vaudeville and stage shows were successful once again.’ ibid p. 27.
‘Harry Zeitz…[owns New Bedford, Mass. theaters] and the Portland (Me.) Civic…Zeitz was in the first world war and son Carl is in France. Son Robert is in school. He is a member of the American Legion, the Zionist Organization of America, Tifireth Israel and Variety Club. He makes it a point to see all his shows. (1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM, with photo)
Civic seats 1500
“Y DRIVE-IN east of Wellsboro took its name from the Y-shaped intersection of US 6 and PA Route 660 that it sat against. Route 660 was the original alignment of US 6 until the current road was built between Mansfield and Whitneyville in 1941. Larry Woodin opened the Y Drive opened at the intersection 11 years later. Woodin also owned the Acadia Theater in downtown Wellsboro. Movies lit up the night time sky at the Y until 1986.”
AIRWAY DRIVE-IN operated on the opposite side of the US 19 & US 6-322 intersection as the Port Meadville Airport just west of Meadville. Opened in 1946, it was the first drive-in theater on Pennsylvania’s section of US 6, and survived until 1985. The Airway was the main outdoor movie screen for Crawford County set close to county seat and population center at Meadville. There was, however, another drive-in to the west that was better located to serve summer vacationers at Conneaut Lake. The Lakeside Drive-in on PA Route 18 about a mile north of US 6 opened in 1949, and closed the same year as the Airway.
1909 photo postcard as the Star Theatre added, credit J.E. Gover, courtesy of Old Depot Museum. Building still stands today, though the roof line ornamentation has been removed and the entryway drastically changed. A medical office was the tenant as of May 2018
The theatre building was originally built as the Post Office. It still says Post Office at the top. The other Post Office in Ottawa was built in 1913, so it likely replaced the one that the Pastime Theatre took over in 1912. Today that one is a private events venue. Below is the original.
Possibly mocked up as the Regent for a film, given the modern bus in the background.
Awaiting confirmation, then I will repost with the correct information.
I just added a photo of the Orange Theatre as the Regent Theatre, with a film from 1964 on the marquee.
It is clearly the same building.
Was it mocked up as the Regent for one of the above films or another?
There is a more modern bus in the background, and a police officer possibly blocking traffic with the exception of the period correct cars.
June 25, 1926 image added credit New Port Richey Press, description courtesy of the West Pasco Historical Society.
Full-page advertisement in the June 25, 1926, New Port Richey Press announcing the naming and the opening of the new Thomas Meighan Theatre. An article in the same newspaper said: “New Port Richey’s beautiful new motion picture theatre has been named the ‘Thomas Meighan Theatre’ in tribute to the famous film star who has adopted New Port Richey as his favorite Florida city and who has been largely instrumental in interesting here some of the brightest stars of the screen and stage. … It was hoped that Mr. Meighan would be on hand to crack a bottle of champagne over the corner-stone of the theatre. It was found to be impossible for the famous screen star to be present in person, but the next best happening is announced with the statement that the picture house’s first attraction will be Thomas Meighan in ‘The New Klondike,’ a picture of Florida during the boom.”
1977 photo credit John Margolies.
2012 LoopNet link with photo.
https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17057701/254-W-Voorhis-Ave-Deland-FL/?fbclid=IwAR3XBLZeoTXLuzqz0Zjy9pyjGZD6O9zvWMISD15-KQHpsGSLyztQI_Dbeqw
Address is 371 State Route 296 Hensonville, NY 12439, present day Town Hall-Town of Windham NY.
The end of Gayety’s last shop.
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/10/23/gayetys-set-to-close/
Opened 1951, 1 screen, 300 car capacity, closed 2001. CinemaTour link with 9 photos below.
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/7059.html
Was still the Colonial Theatre in 1927.
Two images added.
1940s photo added via Bonnie Blythe. Portland Theatre marquee on the far right down Preble Street. Matches the structure in Joe Vogel’s link in the above comment from 2015.
This history courtesy of the Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page. In correlation with some of the 1910 postcard images in the Photos Section.
BF Keith’s Theatre, postcard mailed 1910; the entrances still exist, but the theatre itself is now the parking lot behind the parking garage at Brown and Cumberland.
20 Preble St., also 477 Congress Theater Name: B.F. Keith’s Theater Alternate Theater Name(s): Keith’s Theater, Civic [1938] Owners: Clifford S. Hamilton, mgr. (Julius Cahn-Gus Hill 1921) Affliated with: Maine Amusement Co., E.F. Albee, Pres. as Civic: Zeitz Bros. Circuit, State Theater Bdg., New Bedford, Ma., pres. Harry Zeitz (1956 Yrbook of Motion Pictures and 1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM) Date Opened: 1908 Date Closed: 1965 Sources: Annual Register of Maine, 1913, 1927 Building today: demolished 1965; Preble St. lobby extant, mosaic floor can be seen in store. Photos: QDB/NHF Coll. 4 cards: ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Me.’; also ‘Keith’s Theatre, Portland, Maine’ interior (1910); also ‘Preble St. Entrance Keith’s New Theatre Portland, Me.’ b&w; also ‘Preble St. Looking towards Monument Sq., Portland, Me.’ shows Portland Theatre too. NHF postcard, Keith’s Theatre with Gents Smoking Room. (1910) Franklyn Lenthall and David Bowers both have interior image, ‘Boxes at Keith’s Theatre.’ Another Bowers postcard has exterior and two interior views, including ‘Main Entrance, Preble Street’ and Congress Street Entrance, Subway' which is a long hall with mirrors. Third Bowers card has four interiors including ‘Gents Smoking Room’ ‘Ladies Parlor.’ Copyrighted ‘08. NHF postcard, Congress St. above Monument Square, Portland. Bowers, exterior view of brick building with two story facade and hanging Keith’s sign and exterior kiosk with oval Keith’s sign over it. Postcard copyright 1908. Also postcard interior 'Ticket Office Keith’s New Theater.’ One Bowers exterior postcard has facade from across the street, hanging from awning is sign advertising the film ‘Brewsters Millions.’ Another Bowers postcard has Longfellow’s Home with Keith’s Theatre entrance adjacent, postmark 1912. Northeast Historic Film visit date: Theater Type: Cinema/Vaudeville Notes: Cap. 1,875. H.L. Watkins, booking manager. Belongs to B.F. Keith’s Circuit. Plays vaudeville and pictures. Stage 55 ft. wide, 37 ft. deep, 64 ft. high. Distance of throw 105 ft. size of screen 12 x 14 ft. Simplex Projecting Machine, Lauriet Dufor, operator. Albert E. Hopkins, Orchestra Leader. B.F. Keith’s vaudeville Exchange, NY Reps. per Julius Cahn-Gus Hill Directory 1921. Wids 1923, p. 449, listed in Important First Run Houses. Pop. 69,272, cap. 1,899, tickets 50 cents and 75 cents, open every day except Sunday, mgr. A.I. Marinton, booker H.L. Watkins, purchasing agent H.L. Watkins, projectionist Harry Boynton, phone Forest 2742, per Motion Picture Trade Directory 1928, 1929. ‘Architect A.E. Westover and his local associates, F.H. and E.F. Fassett, made an auditorium 85 feet deep by 87 feet wide. The orchestra seated 700, the balcony 600, and the gallery 500, affording a capacity of 1,800. Two double boxes and four singles flanked the stage on the orchestra floor. There were eight more at the balcony level. Cherubic statues, illuminated from the rear, topped the boxes. The decor was rococo with a color scheme based on Nile green. Orchestra and balcony seats were upholstered with green leather. There was a large cartouche in the center of the proscenium picturing reclining figures with lyre and tambourine….The marble subway from Congress Street ran some 300 feet long. In later years when the Preble House was demolished and replaced by the Chapman Building, an arcade ran from Congress Street to B.F. Keith’s main lobby and thence out to Preble Street. It was lined with shops and restaurants. The new house played vaudeville, Kinetograph movies and had its own stock company.’ Theatres of Portland, Maine, pp. 13-14, Don King, 1987. ‘Keith’s Theatre closed in 1933…reopened for brief periods after RKO gave it up. It remained dark from mid-April through October first of 1934. It was reopened for the last time by a Boston based company which had been successful with a cut rate revival film policy called 'Proven Pictures.’ But even the combining of stage shows with the oldies and the installation of new soft seats did not attract sufficient patronage. Keith’s closed permanently in 1938 at 30 years of age. In 1939 Portland’s Chamber of Commerce, together with local businessmen, leased Keith’s and renamed it the Civic Theatre. It was completely refurbished. Its stage area was brought up to date. A new marquee was installed at the Congress Street entrance. The grand opening on November 20 featured the San Carlo Opera Company.‘ ibid, p. 25-26.Portland Maine History 1786 to Prese 'By 1941 the Civic’s cultural adventure was abandoned. The house was leased to an out of town motion picture chain. [Zeitz] Movies, vaudeville and stage shows were successful once again.’ ibid p. 27. ‘Harry Zeitz…[owns New Bedford, Mass. theaters] and the Portland (Me.) Civic…Zeitz was in the first world war and son Carl is in France. Son Robert is in school. He is a member of the American Legion, the Zionist Organization of America, Tifireth Israel and Variety Club. He makes it a point to see all his shows. (1945 Motion Picture Showmen, MGM, with photo) Civic seats 1500
1910 postcard.
Image & description added credit Kevin Patrick.
“Y DRIVE-IN east of Wellsboro took its name from the Y-shaped intersection of US 6 and PA Route 660 that it sat against. Route 660 was the original alignment of US 6 until the current road was built between Mansfield and Whitneyville in 1941. Larry Woodin opened the Y Drive opened at the intersection 11 years later. Woodin also owned the Acadia Theater in downtown Wellsboro. Movies lit up the night time sky at the Y until 1986.”
Full description per Kevin Patrick:
AIRWAY DRIVE-IN operated on the opposite side of the US 19 & US 6-322 intersection as the Port Meadville Airport just west of Meadville. Opened in 1946, it was the first drive-in theater on Pennsylvania’s section of US 6, and survived until 1985. The Airway was the main outdoor movie screen for Crawford County set close to county seat and population center at Meadville. There was, however, another drive-in to the west that was better located to serve summer vacationers at Conneaut Lake. The Lakeside Drive-in on PA Route 18 about a mile north of US 6 opened in 1949, and closed the same year as the Airway.
1999 image and description added credit Kevin Patrick.
Address is 133 Broadway. Here is their Facebook page which has a few current photos of the exterior & interior that I will add to the Photos section.
https://www.facebook.com/timestheatre/
1950 postcard added via John Michael Wilkinson. Tonka can be seen on the marquee overhang when enlarged.
1956 postcard added via Mase Mason.
1909 photo postcard as the Star Theatre added, credit J.E. Gover, courtesy of Old Depot Museum. Building still stands today, though the roof line ornamentation has been removed and the entryway drastically changed. A medical office was the tenant as of May 2018
May 1956 program added credit Anchor Litho Co.-Tampa Florida, courtesy of the Historic Boynton Beach Facebook page.
Name is spelled “Theatre” on all 3 examples of print ads.
The theatre building was originally built as the Post Office. It still says Post Office at the top. The other Post Office in Ottawa was built in 1913, so it likely replaced the one that the Pastime Theatre took over in 1912. Today that one is a private events venue. Below is the original.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMF7AV_227_S_Main_Street_Historic_Ottawa_Central_Business_District_Ottawa_Ks
Former owner Lou Wolf has died.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/news/lou-wolf-notorious-landlord-dies-94?fbclid=IwAR34om984habHYeXi5kBIyif3f0QMC85lU1Yh50IijKxyBIEbvsAnSx7N_A
Possibly mocked up as the Regent for a film, given the modern bus in the background. Awaiting confirmation, then I will repost with the correct information.
I just added a photo of the Orange Theatre as the Regent Theatre, with a film from 1964 on the marquee. It is clearly the same building. Was it mocked up as the Regent for one of the above films or another? There is a more modern bus in the background, and a police officer possibly blocking traffic with the exception of the period correct cars.
The name change from Cameo Theatre to Country Cinema took place in 1972.
State Theatre behind truck turning onto Lake George. Carrying a section 4 of the M.V. Ticonderoga. Undated photo credit Ticonderoga Heritage Museum.
June 25, 1926 image added credit New Port Richey Press, description courtesy of the West Pasco Historical Society.
Full-page advertisement in the June 25, 1926, New Port Richey Press announcing the naming and the opening of the new Thomas Meighan Theatre. An article in the same newspaper said: “New Port Richey’s beautiful new motion picture theatre has been named the ‘Thomas Meighan Theatre’ in tribute to the famous film star who has adopted New Port Richey as his favorite Florida city and who has been largely instrumental in interesting here some of the brightest stars of the screen and stage. … It was hoped that Mr. Meighan would be on hand to crack a bottle of champagne over the corner-stone of the theatre. It was found to be impossible for the famous screen star to be present in person, but the next best happening is announced with the statement that the picture house’s first attraction will be Thomas Meighan in ‘The New Klondike,’ a picture of Florida during the boom.”
This building is now the Richey Suncoast Theatre.
Thank you for the clarification.