I have now discovered that the original Carlton Theatre opened in early January 1911. It had a seating capacity of 450. The airdome opened in 1913. Both closed on 10th May 1925 to be demolished and the new Carlton Theatre was built on the site, opening on 8th February 1926. It looks like the facade was retained, possibly because it contained a couple of retail units that would continue to provide revenue in rent.
Of course this may date the 1914 photograph (that lostmemory posted earlier today) to late 1910, just prior to opening?
lostmemory; Harrison G. Wiseman is one architect, that we can establish as fact. I note that the two films listed as playing on the 1926 photograph are dated 1925 on the Internet Movie Database, so if they were released early in 1926, they could be opening programmes or soon after the 8th Feb 1926 opening.
The marquee in the ‘earlier’ photograph is certainly different. I believe that the marquee was added too underneath to allow for the attractions letters in 1926. The poster cases on each side of the entrance are empty. Could this be a pre-opening 1914 photo taken a few weeks prior to opening? Regarding the missing stairs to the roof garden theatre and no sign of the auditorium block beyond the facade on the photo, I believe the original 1914 Carlton theatre was a much smaller building, lower in height than the later auditorium that was built on the site.
lostmemory;I agree with you, looking at the two photographs side by side the two facades are the same. This either means the 1914 photo is wrongly dated (which is what I would go for) or the earlier building’s facade was retained when the theatre was re-built in 1926.
A quote from the Theatre Historical Society magazine Marquee Vol 1 No.3:‘Theatres of Brooklyn’s Park Slope’ by Cezar Del Valle
‘Pioneer film director D.W. Griffith made a guest appearance at the opening night of the Carlton on February 8, 1926. The theatre had been built on the site of an earlier movie house and airdome at 292 Flatbush Avenue. Patrons of the new Carlton entered a foyer 100 by 37 feet, with rose and black carpet, a statue in the centre and French mirrors along the walls of travertine marble. A fireplace help keep out the winter chill. The 1,383-seat oval auditorium boasted a 16-foot-high chandelier surrounded by 16 others, each 5.5 feet high. On warm summer nights audiences could enjoy a film in the Italianate roof garden with a capacity of 1,124.’
The 1914 photograph is of a different building to the 1926 one. Obviously an earlier theatre that was replaced in 1926. lostmemory;Thanks for finding the photo of the 1914 building.
Jack;There was another cinema on Chelsea Avenue but it was some distance away East along the Avenue. It’s not listed here on C.T. at the moment, here are the details that I have:
Hollywood Theatre, 2469 Chelsea Avenue, Memphis, TN. 38108 in the district of Hollywood. Seating capacity varies from 400 (in 1941 and 1943) to 725 seats in 1950.
I agree, we need someone with local knowledge to sort out the Avon Theatre……
Due to the relaxation of the Licensing Laws in England and Wales which are due to come into force in November 2005, the Cornerhouse Cinemas have become the first cinema in England to be granted a 24 hours Drinking Licence to serve alcoholic drinks 24/7.
Of course making it legal doesn’t mean it will happen and the managment have stated that drinks will be normally only be served during regular cinema operating hours. It’s nice to think you can get a drink at 3am after a late night movie has finished and chat to friends in the cinema bar. Most civilised….and about time too.
The Cine Metropolitan was aquired and operated by the Rank Organisation of the UK in December 1957. It was a great success for the company as they were the distributers of Walt Disney releases throughout Latin America at that period of time.
The Bailey Theatre is not listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition, but it is listed in the 1943 edition and was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary H.F. Kincey.
The architect of the Grand Theatre and Opera House was local architect Thomas Taylor with ‘a leading London architect’? It was built and opened in 1908.
The building was errected in 1907 and since 1916 has housed the Strand Theatre. In 1946 it was modernised and re-furbished to the design of architect Michael J. DeAngelis. The Streamline Moderne style facade with black Carrara glass comes from this period of time.
This is great news and will cover a subject that has been woefully neglected by the movie industry. Best Wishes to all concerned in this project.
I can’t wait to see it (will it get a distributor in the UK and Worldwide?) Will it be released on DVD at a later stage? Will there be a book of the movie?
The first full production at the North Park Theatre begins tonight with the Lyric Opera San Diego production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”. The newly refurbished theatre is now also the new home to the San Diego Mens Chorus.
I have now discovered that the original Carlton Theatre opened in early January 1911. It had a seating capacity of 450. The airdome opened in 1913. Both closed on 10th May 1925 to be demolished and the new Carlton Theatre was built on the site, opening on 8th February 1926. It looks like the facade was retained, possibly because it contained a couple of retail units that would continue to provide revenue in rent.
Of course this may date the 1914 photograph (that lostmemory posted earlier today) to late 1910, just prior to opening?
lostmemory; Harrison G. Wiseman is one architect, that we can establish as fact. I note that the two films listed as playing on the 1926 photograph are dated 1925 on the Internet Movie Database, so if they were released early in 1926, they could be opening programmes or soon after the 8th Feb 1926 opening.
The marquee in the ‘earlier’ photograph is certainly different. I believe that the marquee was added too underneath to allow for the attractions letters in 1926. The poster cases on each side of the entrance are empty. Could this be a pre-opening 1914 photo taken a few weeks prior to opening? Regarding the missing stairs to the roof garden theatre and no sign of the auditorium block beyond the facade on the photo, I believe the original 1914 Carlton theatre was a much smaller building, lower in height than the later auditorium that was built on the site.
lostmemory;I agree with you, looking at the two photographs side by side the two facades are the same. This either means the 1914 photo is wrongly dated (which is what I would go for) or the earlier building’s facade was retained when the theatre was re-built in 1926.
A quote from the Theatre Historical Society magazine Marquee Vol 1 No.3:‘Theatres of Brooklyn’s Park Slope’ by Cezar Del Valle
‘Pioneer film director D.W. Griffith made a guest appearance at the opening night of the Carlton on February 8, 1926. The theatre had been built on the site of an earlier movie house and airdome at 292 Flatbush Avenue. Patrons of the new Carlton entered a foyer 100 by 37 feet, with rose and black carpet, a statue in the centre and French mirrors along the walls of travertine marble. A fireplace help keep out the winter chill. The 1,383-seat oval auditorium boasted a 16-foot-high chandelier surrounded by 16 others, each 5.5 feet high. On warm summer nights audiences could enjoy a film in the Italianate roof garden with a capacity of 1,124.’
The 1914 photograph is of a different building to the 1926 one. Obviously an earlier theatre that was replaced in 1926. lostmemory;Thanks for finding the photo of the 1914 building.
Here is the updated link to the one posted by Bryan on Feb 7th 2005. Exterior view with ‘The Waste Land’ playing in 1997:
http://www.1timessquare.com/on42/adverts/waste.htm
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914 – 1915 lists the Carlton Theatre, 292 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Jack;There was another cinema on Chelsea Avenue but it was some distance away East along the Avenue. It’s not listed here on C.T. at the moment, here are the details that I have:
Hollywood Theatre, 2469 Chelsea Avenue, Memphis, TN. 38108 in the district of Hollywood. Seating capacity varies from 400 (in 1941 and 1943) to 725 seats in 1950.
I agree, we need someone with local knowledge to sort out the Avon Theatre……
The Ambassador Theatre is stil listed as operating in the Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition.
A photo and some text on the Miami Theatre here:
http://www.hsje.org/cinema/cinema_miami.htm
A photograph and some text on the Metro Cinema here:
http://www.hsje.org/cinema/cinema_metro.htm
A photo and text on the Radio Cinema here:
http://www.hsje.org/cinema/cinema_radio.htm
Due to the relaxation of the Licensing Laws in England and Wales which are due to come into force in November 2005, the Cornerhouse Cinemas have become the first cinema in England to be granted a 24 hours Drinking Licence to serve alcoholic drinks 24/7.
Of course making it legal doesn’t mean it will happen and the managment have stated that drinks will be normally only be served during regular cinema operating hours. It’s nice to think you can get a drink at 3am after a late night movie has finished and chat to friends in the cinema bar. Most civilised….and about time too.
The Cine Metropolitan was aquired and operated by the Rank Organisation of the UK in December 1957. It was a great success for the company as they were the distributers of Walt Disney releases throughout Latin America at that period of time.
Gary;Thanks for the update on the state of the Metro Cinema and for adding other Cairo Theatres. I hope you had a great time over there?
The Bailey Theatre is not listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition, but it is listed in the 1943 edition and was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary H.F. Kincey.
It seems like the New Daisy Theatre opened around 1942. It’s not listed in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook, but is listed in the 1943 edition.
It is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1940 – 1950 editions as the Roxy Theatre with a seating capacity varying from 800 to 756.
Listed as operating in Film Daily Yearbook at least from the 1940 edition.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition as the TCU Theatre with a seating capacity of 800.
The Land-Sun Theatre opened in 1947.
The architect of the Grand Theatre and Opera House was local architect Thomas Taylor with ‘a leading London architect’? It was built and opened in 1908.
The building was errected in 1907 and since 1916 has housed the Strand Theatre. In 1946 it was modernised and re-furbished to the design of architect Michael J. DeAngelis. The Streamline Moderne style facade with black Carrara glass comes from this period of time.
This is great news and will cover a subject that has been woefully neglected by the movie industry. Best Wishes to all concerned in this project.
I can’t wait to see it (will it get a distributor in the UK and Worldwide?) Will it be released on DVD at a later stage? Will there be a book of the movie?
The first full production at the North Park Theatre begins tonight with the Lyric Opera San Diego production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”. The newly refurbished theatre is now also the new home to the San Diego Mens Chorus.
Listed in the 1941 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 753. It has gone from listings in the 1950 F.D.Y.