Opened as the Granada Theatre on 26th September 1928 with the movie “Glorious Betsy” starring Dolores Costello and Conrad Nagel. Seating capacities vary in different editions of Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 = 732, 1943 = 900, 1950 = 691. The book ‘Show Houses – Twin Cities Style’ by Kirk J. Besse gives a seating capacity of 800.
The Granada was operated by Paramount Picture Inc. through their subsidiary John Friedl during the 1940’s.
The Ken is well worth a visit and it has great programming. When I was there in June (as Group leader for the Theatre Historical Society of America Conclave) we visited the Ken and “Mysterious Skin” was playing as the regular programme. The poster frame outside promised a screening at Midnight on the Saturday; The Lollipop Girls in “Hard Candy” -They’re licking good! in Widescreen – 3-Dimension – Super 70mm Stereo (eh!??) starring John “Johnny Wadd' Holmes. As I say…Great programming.
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists a Peoples Pleasure Palace at 1676 Broadway. Could this have been another name for the Decatur Park airdrome (later Decatur Theatre) located at 1674 Broadway, as mentioned by cjdv in his posting dated April 24, 2005. Or then again it could be totally seperate building?
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 has this listed as the Decatur Theater, 612 Hamburg Avenue (today Wilson Avenue).
In the 1926 edition of Film Daily Yearbook it has been re-named the Woodrow Theater, 610 Wilson Avenue with a seating capacity of 300 and has the same details in the 1927 edition. In the 1930 edition of F.D.Y. it has disappeared from the listings and I can’t see an operating theatre listed at this address in any further editions of F.D.Y.. Maybe it never made it into ‘talkies’
Regarding the ‘other’ Decatur Theater at 1674 Broadway, Brooklyn (600 seats) mentioned above by shoeshoe /theaters/7929/ it is listed as operating in the 1926 edition of F.D.Y., this could perhaps? have been the People’s Pleasure Palace which is listed in The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 as being located at 1676 Broadway, Brooklyn.
Elizabeth; Thank you for correcting the spelling of the name of Cine Roble. Also the for interesting personal insight into the management of this theatre by your father. I would be interested to know what the seating capacity for the theatre was, it is certainly a huge building.
I took a look around Tijuana and its theatre’s last year. Sadly the Cine Roble, like several others sits empty, awaiting its fate.
When the bingo club use had ceased in March 1986, the building began use as the Empire Skate Building (a skating area) and a nightclub in another section. The front facade had been reduced in height by then.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s in the 1940’s as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc and Butterfield Michigan Theaters Co.
I notice on the postcard photo it is The Plaza, not La Plaza. It does certainly look like a large theatre. Maybe La Plaza (or LaPlaza is it is spelt in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook) was a small theatre attached to the larger Plaza Theatre that was no longer there from 1941 onwards. Just a thought.
We need someone local with first hand knowledge to help solve this one. What is currently located on the 504 Central Avenue address?
The World Premier of “How the West Was Won” was held at the Casino Cinerama Theatre on 1st November 1962 and it went on to play at this theatre for a record breaking 123 weeks (longer than any other theatre in the world for this movie). It opened in 10 other cities around the world before having its first American date at the Warner Cinerama, Hollywood CA on 20th February 1963.
Listed as the LaPlaza Theatre in Film Daily Yearbook;1941 and La Plaza Theatre 1943 editions as having a seating capacity of 375 in both editions. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.
In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the La Plaza Theatre, 504 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL has a seating capacity listed as 2,390! Surely a mis-print here and it must be 390?
I agree to leave this theatre as it is too. After all it, it has now been stated here that it was located where the State Theatre was built. I have just mentioned that on the State Theatre page: /theaters/241/
The architect of Flicks (G.H.B. Gould) also designed the 800 seat West Cliff Gardens Theatre on Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea. It has been operating as a live theatre since opening on 25th May 1928 and continues today as the West Cliff Theatre. It has never screened films, so doesn’t qualify for listing on Cinema Treasures, but I thought I would mention it here.
Film Daily Yearbooks; 1950 and 1952 list this as the Arcade Theatre, 404 North Central Avenue, Glendale with a seating capacity of 652.
Strangely, it is not listed as either the Villa Glen or Arcade in editions of F.D.Y. that I have for 1940 or 1943, yet the above description states it probably dates from the silent era.
The Cottage Road Cinema (which first opened in July 1912) has been taken over by a new operator Mr Morris who operates cinemas in Lancaster and Skipton and other places. It continues to screen films.
The 1941 Film Daily Yearbook has this listed as the New Broad Theater with a seating capacity of 500. Two years later in the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it is the St. Marys Theater, still with 500 seats. The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. lists the St. Marys Theater with a seating capacity of 613.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition Wintergarden Theatre, 640 seats. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.; Winter Garden Theatre, Curch Street & Temple Street, Freedonia, NY. seating capacity 672.
Bway;Thanks for the photo and confirmation of the site’s current status. Much appreciated.
Opened as the Granada Theatre on 26th September 1928 with the movie “Glorious Betsy” starring Dolores Costello and Conrad Nagel. Seating capacities vary in different editions of Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 = 732, 1943 = 900, 1950 = 691. The book ‘Show Houses – Twin Cities Style’ by Kirk J. Besse gives a seating capacity of 800.
The Granada was operated by Paramount Picture Inc. through their subsidiary John Friedl during the 1940’s.
The Ken is well worth a visit and it has great programming. When I was there in June (as Group leader for the Theatre Historical Society of America Conclave) we visited the Ken and “Mysterious Skin” was playing as the regular programme. The poster frame outside promised a screening at Midnight on the Saturday; The Lollipop Girls in “Hard Candy” -They’re licking good! in Widescreen – 3-Dimension – Super 70mm Stereo (eh!??) starring John “Johnny Wadd' Holmes. As I say…Great programming.
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 lists a Peoples Pleasure Palace at 1676 Broadway. Could this have been another name for the Decatur Park airdrome (later Decatur Theatre) located at 1674 Broadway, as mentioned by cjdv in his posting dated April 24, 2005. Or then again it could be totally seperate building?
The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 has this listed as the Decatur Theater, 612 Hamburg Avenue (today Wilson Avenue).
In the 1926 edition of Film Daily Yearbook it has been re-named the Woodrow Theater, 610 Wilson Avenue with a seating capacity of 300 and has the same details in the 1927 edition. In the 1930 edition of F.D.Y. it has disappeared from the listings and I can’t see an operating theatre listed at this address in any further editions of F.D.Y.. Maybe it never made it into ‘talkies’
Regarding the ‘other’ Decatur Theater at 1674 Broadway, Brooklyn (600 seats) mentioned above by shoeshoe /theaters/7929/ it is listed as operating in the 1926 edition of F.D.Y., this could perhaps? have been the People’s Pleasure Palace which is listed in The American Motion Picture Directory 1914-1915 as being located at 1676 Broadway, Brooklyn.
Elizabeth; Thank you for correcting the spelling of the name of Cine Roble. Also the for interesting personal insight into the management of this theatre by your father. I would be interested to know what the seating capacity for the theatre was, it is certainly a huge building.
I took a look around Tijuana and its theatre’s last year. Sadly the Cine Roble, like several others sits empty, awaiting its fate.
When the bingo club use had ceased in March 1986, the building began use as the Empire Skate Building (a skating area) and a nightclub in another section. The front facade had been reduced in height by then.
Film Daily Yearbook;1941 and 1943 editions give a seating capacity of 1,823.
A history of the building here: http://www.foxdeliciashotel.com/history.htm
Listed in Film Daily Yearbook’s in the 1940’s as being operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc and Butterfield Michigan Theaters Co.
I notice on the postcard photo it is The Plaza, not La Plaza. It does certainly look like a large theatre. Maybe La Plaza (or LaPlaza is it is spelt in the 1941 Film Daily Yearbook) was a small theatre attached to the larger Plaza Theatre that was no longer there from 1941 onwards. Just a thought.
We need someone local with first hand knowledge to help solve this one. What is currently located on the 504 Central Avenue address?
The World Premier of “How the West Was Won” was held at the Casino Cinerama Theatre on 1st November 1962 and it went on to play at this theatre for a record breaking 123 weeks (longer than any other theatre in the world for this movie). It opened in 10 other cities around the world before having its first American date at the Warner Cinerama, Hollywood CA on 20th February 1963.
Listed as the LaPlaza Theatre in Film Daily Yearbook;1941 and La Plaza Theatre 1943 editions as having a seating capacity of 375 in both editions. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary E.J. Sparks.
In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. the La Plaza Theatre, 504 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL has a seating capacity listed as 2,390! Surely a mis-print here and it must be 390?
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook’s that I have;1941, 1943 and 1950 editions as being located in Auburn. It’s seating capacity is listed as 1,200.
The State Theatre was built on the site of the Grand Circus Theatre, listed on Cinema Treasures: /theaters/13410/
I agree to leave this theatre as it is too. After all it, it has now been stated here that it was located where the State Theatre was built. I have just mentioned that on the State Theatre page: /theaters/241/
The architect of Flicks (G.H.B. Gould) also designed the 800 seat West Cliff Gardens Theatre on Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea. It has been operating as a live theatre since opening on 25th May 1928 and continues today as the West Cliff Theatre. It has never screened films, so doesn’t qualify for listing on Cinema Treasures, but I thought I would mention it here.
Listed as the Fairlawn Theatre in 1941 and 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook, but no further details are given, not even a seating capacity.
By the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it is still the Fairlawn Theatree and has a seating capacity given as 800.
Film Daily Yearbooks; 1950 and 1952 list this as the Arcade Theatre, 404 North Central Avenue, Glendale with a seating capacity of 652.
Strangely, it is not listed as either the Villa Glen or Arcade in editions of F.D.Y. that I have for 1940 or 1943, yet the above description states it probably dates from the silent era.
The Cottage Road Cinema (which first opened in July 1912) has been taken over by a new operator Mr Morris who operates cinemas in Lancaster and Skipton and other places. It continues to screen films.
It was converted into a skating rink, but that venture failed and it is now in use as a pub.
When it first opened in 1929 it was known as the Castle Super Cinema and had a seating capacity of 1,696.
Some further information and photos here: http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/castlecinema.htm
The 1941 Film Daily Yearbook has this listed as the New Broad Theater with a seating capacity of 500. Two years later in the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. it is the St. Marys Theater, still with 500 seats. The 1950 edition of F.D.Y. lists the St. Marys Theater with a seating capacity of 613.
That last address in the above post should read: Church Street & Temple Street, Fredonia, NY
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1941 edition Wintergarden Theatre, 640 seats. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y.; Winter Garden Theatre, Curch Street & Temple Street, Freedonia, NY. seating capacity 672.
Listed as the Roxy Theatre in Film Daily Yearbook’s;1941 and 1943 editions. Seating capacity is given as 450.