1987 print ad added to gallery & description courtesy Tim O'Neill.
35 years ago today, the McClurg Court Theatre in Chicago reopened as the McClurg Court Cinemas. Cineplex Odeon took over the original 1200-seat theatre one year earlier and chopped it up into 3 auditoriums. The original main floor portion became Theatre 1; with THX Sound and 70mm. The upper area of the original auditorium (commonly known as “stadium seating” nowadays) was divided into two small auditoriums with a wall constructed down the middle. The original projection booth was utilized for the two small auditoriums. A new booth was constructed down below for the big 800-seat auditorium. A half-way decent dividing project; but nothing like the original McClurg Court that opened in 1971. The new McClurg Court lasted for 16 years, until a 21-screen AMC Theatre complex opened one block south in 2002. The McClurg Court Cinemas closed forever in August 2003. The space got gutted and there is a grocery store inside it today.
Not sure why they are switching to reserved seating.
I have been there often over the last 6 years, and there is rarely more than 20 people in any given theatre at any time.
Even less at the early shows.
There is one April 8, 1917 print ad in the gallery indicating a multiple day showing of the silent film “A Daughter of the Gods”.
I wonder how many other films were ever shown there before it’s closure.
If this was ever named Fox Theatre, it was located on Main Street just off the corner of East 7th Street.
Circa 1940 photo added credit Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado. Sign on the Domestic Propane building reads “Location of the New Fox Theatre”.
Building has been Demolished based on current Street View.
Cinematour also shows a Delta Theatre in Delta, but can find no other record of that.
Description credit Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado via Facebook.
“Deltarado Days parade, featuring a fire hose water fight, circa 1940.
Two teams of firefighters are shown here conducting a fire hose water fight on Main Street at the Deltarado Parade in 1940. It looks like some of the bystanders are also getting soaked.
Deltarado Days is a celebration of the area’s long-standing agricultural history, and is one of Western Colorado’s longest running annual festivals.”
Grand Opening as Village Twin December 1, 1972, November 30, 1972 print ad added credit the Daily Mirror.
“Deliverance” in Cinema 1, “The Emigrants” in Cinema 2. Extra “Friday Night Supper Show" at 11:15 pm of Sharon Tate in “The Fearless Vampire Killers”.
Per Andy Andrews on Facebook:
“Lot of stories about old Strand/Fox theatre - opened July 1, 1919 as Strand Theatre and in winter 1951 a complete remodeling with grand opening April 12, 1951 - Many of us old timer’s remember H. L. "Chub” Golladay & Daisy that managed the theatre 1940 to 1946 and returned again after the remodel to manage the theatre - in interim Ralph Wallace managed it."
Additional history credit North Lee County Historical Society.
Accompanied the 1960 photo credit John Enslow added to gallery.
Confirms address as 735 Avenue H.
Original name was Ebinger Grand Opera House.
“A blast from the past at 735 Avenue H - The Ebinger Grand Opera House photo taken in 1960 by John Enslow a long time projectionist at local theatres. It had seen better days before razed for the Pen City parking lot.
Built in 1872-73 and opened in 1873. In 1908 it was listed in Julius Cohn’s National Theatrical guide with seating for 1,000 with illumination using gas & electric. Fred Podeyn was the stage carpenter and a 7 member orchestra led by John Stein. This historian remembers attending many motion pictures here mainly Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis and many westerns when Dick Gaston ran the Iowa Theatre.
It had many staged performances, high school graduations, and some shows with Dennis O'Keefe the Fort Madison born actor. The history is to long to publish. It replaced the Bennett Roller Skating Rink that burned in 1870.”
This was The Frisina Madison Drive-In operated by Frisina Amusements by 1974 per the North Lee County Historical Society.
Photo added with that name on the marquee.
There was also a Frisina Drive-In in Taylorville Illinois.
1987 print ad added to gallery & description courtesy Tim O'Neill.
35 years ago today, the McClurg Court Theatre in Chicago reopened as the McClurg Court Cinemas. Cineplex Odeon took over the original 1200-seat theatre one year earlier and chopped it up into 3 auditoriums. The original main floor portion became Theatre 1; with THX Sound and 70mm. The upper area of the original auditorium (commonly known as “stadium seating” nowadays) was divided into two small auditoriums with a wall constructed down the middle. The original projection booth was utilized for the two small auditoriums. A new booth was constructed down below for the big 800-seat auditorium. A half-way decent dividing project; but nothing like the original McClurg Court that opened in 1971. The new McClurg Court lasted for 16 years, until a 21-screen AMC Theatre complex opened one block south in 2002. The McClurg Court Cinemas closed forever in August 2003. The space got gutted and there is a grocery store inside it today.
Not sure why they are switching to reserved seating. I have been there often over the last 6 years, and there is rarely more than 20 people in any given theatre at any time. Even less at the early shows.
History of the Hoosier Theatre by Anthony Borgo, published in February 2019 by the Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society.
https://www.wrhistoricalsociety.com/the-history-of-the-hoosier-theat?fbclid=IwAR3GdGWR-zRa17m4OgzWCNOIrNbE2veHD252_J5GqJBBVQvnftYzIoboAuM
Link with multiple photos of the Center Theatre.
https://drivingfordeco.com/vanished-new-york-city-center-theatre/
Friday nite March 30, 1933 Grand Opening as Coast Theater, image credit Kelly House Museum added.
This below facebook post by the Kelly House Museum also indicates it was Liberty Theatre when Asa Bishop bought it from Dave C. Crockett in 1924.
https://www.facebook.com/KelleyHouseMuseum/photos/a.127016644043613/4101004059978165/
Closing in January barring a miracle.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/park-ridge/ct-prh-pickwick-closing-tl-1208-20221206-efuvojzgxvasbov645x5ophedm-story.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Don%27t%20miss%3A%20News%20%2B%20Business&utm_content=5701670369795
There is one April 8, 1917 print ad in the gallery indicating a multiple day showing of the silent film “A Daughter of the Gods”. I wonder how many other films were ever shown there before it’s closure.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/41191/photos/226008
Crisper version in public facebook post below.
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricChicago/photos/a.977635955923914/1808778696142965/
If this was ever named Fox Theatre, it was located on Main Street just off the corner of East 7th Street. Circa 1940 photo added credit Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado. Sign on the Domestic Propane building reads “Location of the New Fox Theatre”. Building has been Demolished based on current Street View. Cinematour also shows a Delta Theatre in Delta, but can find no other record of that.
Description credit Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado via Facebook.
“Deltarado Days parade, featuring a fire hose water fight, circa 1940. Two teams of firefighters are shown here conducting a fire hose water fight on Main Street at the Deltarado Parade in 1940. It looks like some of the bystanders are also getting soaked. Deltarado Days is a celebration of the area’s long-standing agricultural history, and is one of Western Colorado’s longest running annual festivals.”
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalFruitaPhotos/photos/pb.100024343751091.-2207520000./1421932371568317/?type=3
Update: 1958 photo credit & copyright © Charles W. Cushman.
Some interior scenes in “Xanadu” as mentioned in the Overview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdPJ9BtqK7w
This was used in the film “Xanadu”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdPJ9BtqK7w
Full size version.
https://www.facebook.com/BeverlyHillsHistoricalSociety/photos/a.1475949702667367/1503364976592506/
Photo added via eBay courtesy LeRoy Blommaert.
Facebook page for the Chopin Theatre.
https://www.facebook.com/ChopinTheatre
Photos of Clover Theatre as the 2 O'Clock Club can be seen on the Globe Theatre page below. I added a page for the Plaza Theatre pictured.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/45127/photos
I added a page for the Plaza Theatre pictured.
Grand Opening as Village Twin December 1, 1972, November 30, 1972 print ad added credit the Daily Mirror. “Deliverance” in Cinema 1, “The Emigrants” in Cinema 2. Extra “Friday Night Supper Show" at 11:15 pm of Sharon Tate in “The Fearless Vampire Killers”.
Per Andy Andrews on Facebook: “Lot of stories about old Strand/Fox theatre - opened July 1, 1919 as Strand Theatre and in winter 1951 a complete remodeling with grand opening April 12, 1951 - Many of us old timer’s remember H. L. "Chub” Golladay & Daisy that managed the theatre 1940 to 1946 and returned again after the remodel to manage the theatre - in interim Ralph Wallace managed it."
Additional history credit North Lee County Historical Society. Accompanied the 1960 photo credit John Enslow added to gallery. Confirms address as 735 Avenue H. Original name was Ebinger Grand Opera House.
“A blast from the past at 735 Avenue H - The Ebinger Grand Opera House photo taken in 1960 by John Enslow a long time projectionist at local theatres. It had seen better days before razed for the Pen City parking lot. Built in 1872-73 and opened in 1873. In 1908 it was listed in Julius Cohn’s National Theatrical guide with seating for 1,000 with illumination using gas & electric. Fred Podeyn was the stage carpenter and a 7 member orchestra led by John Stein. This historian remembers attending many motion pictures here mainly Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis and many westerns when Dick Gaston ran the Iowa Theatre. It had many staged performances, high school graduations, and some shows with Dennis O'Keefe the Fort Madison born actor. The history is to long to publish. It replaced the Bennett Roller Skating Rink that burned in 1870.”
This was The Frisina Madison Drive-In operated by Frisina Amusements by 1974 per the North Lee County Historical Society. Photo added with that name on the marquee. There was also a Frisina Drive-In in Taylorville Illinois.
1983 photo added credit North Lee County Historical Society.
Crisper version in Facebook post below.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=466915755549108&set=pb.100066920631821.-2207520000.&type=3
1935 photo credit LAPL.