Glad to read that Ben is now at rest and that the theatre lives on today! When Brian broadcast the Nightly News from the Fitzgerald I just had to find out what theatre and where so wrote NBC and got my answer within a few days! :–)
Charles: So glad to hear that this theatre has been added to the TX State Register of Historical Landmarks and that it has been restored including the ceiling murals! Congratulations to the City of Wichita Falls! I would also say that that State Register is as important or maybe even more important to the folks of Texas than the National Register! I say this because many years ago while touring an historic home in Galveston I couldn’t even find the National Register, but was shown the State Register immediately!!
While in Charleston I spoke to a lady who owned a gift shop and next door was a former theatre. It seems that Charleston had 4 theatres on King at one time! The auditorium still exists, but is being used by the University of Charleston especially during their Spoleto Festival. The marquee is still there, too and is used when the university has a production planned in the former theatre. I told the gift shop owner about the Fabulous Fox since she was originally from Atlanta. She then asked about the Loews and I had to tell her that it doesn’t exist anymore which surprised her very much!
Thanks John for the update on these SC theatres. I sure wish I had known about the Garden’s history when I was there as I would have spent time at that location as I did with the others on King Street!
I was recently in Charleston and was not aware that this address on King Street had been a theatre until looking at the photo on this cinema site. The Riviera has been saved on King Street across from the Charleston Place Hotel though.
I just today visited this art deco theatre after visiting the Hilton Head Island area and it is a wonderful example of art deco that shouldn’t be missed!
Also interesting to read about the Southwestern Bell connection. If you read about the Fox in Atlanta you will read about the BellSouth connection and consequently a happy ending as the Fox was saved and BellSouth decided to build their tall office skyscraper BEHIND the Fox!! Amen!! So sad though that the Texas was razed about the time interest in saving historical buildings was growing, but at least the special terra-cotta facade was salvaged!! Amen!!
Melissa in San Antonio: Interesting to read that where the Texas Theater once stood stands the restored ticket booth! Too bad San Antonio didn’t decide to restore the theater along with the booth!! :–(
If you are ever in Buffalo NY the Guaranty Building is a Sullivan structure that is well worth seeing with its intricate ornate facade It has large oval windows on the top floor so the offices have quite an ‘oval’ view of the city and Lake Erie.
Bryan: Tried bringing up “another view of the Garrick when clicking n "Here’s”, but not having any luck. So sad about the photographer who was killed trying to salvage architectural fragments. I’ll keep trying to bring up the Garrick site.
McGee: “the desire for the property’s prime site led to it’s demolition”…interesting quote! And does anyone know the whereabouts of the former Loew’s Wurlitzer today?
I now have a copy of Popcorn Palaces and the former Loew’s Grand Theatre is in there! But so sad that it was demolished as I feel there was room in Atlanta for BOTH the Loew’s and the Fox!
While going through the Minneapolis theatres that are still open I wondered if this is the theatre that Brian Williams broadcast the NBC Nightly News from on Thursday, Jan. 13th?
I do see somewhat of a similarity, yet the Marianne is quite unique in the realm of art deco theatres as seen on page 115 of Popcorn Palaces as it shows the entire facade including above the lighted marquee. The same architect could have built both theatres though.
Heisenbottle Architects: Thank you so very much! The sites that I have posted will truly give you interesting insight on the Carolina’s past and future. “Looking a bit forlorn in the shadows of a new and progressive uptown Charlotte stands the Carolina Theater, a grand lady physically bent and broken but still spirited, awaiting her fate.”
Thank you, thank you and thank you! I will pass along your email address to my Charlotte friend and his group who have been involved for 10 long years in trying to create interest in restoring the Carolina Theatre in downtown Charlotte NC. This historic theatre’s history is documented on cinema treasures with a photo, but also can be found by going to the following sites: www.mtos.org
The Metrolina Theatre Organ Society (MTOS) has put together a very well done ‘virtual tour’ of the theatre which makes one feel as if they have virtually walked inside and the other site gives a well written documentary/no photos.
It is great to see a group of architects who have interest in old structures. I have been in contact with an architect concerning the restoration of a 1920’s theatre and though cordial during our brief phone conversations his interest does not include historical theatres, but rather high rise condos and probably parking lots!
Glad to read that Ben is now at rest and that the theatre lives on today! When Brian broadcast the Nightly News from the Fitzgerald I just had to find out what theatre and where so wrote NBC and got my answer within a few days! :–)
Charles: So glad to hear that this theatre has been added to the TX State Register of Historical Landmarks and that it has been restored including the ceiling murals! Congratulations to the City of Wichita Falls! I would also say that that State Register is as important or maybe even more important to the folks of Texas than the National Register! I say this because many years ago while touring an historic home in Galveston I couldn’t even find the National Register, but was shown the State Register immediately!!
While in Charleston I spoke to a lady who owned a gift shop and next door was a former theatre. It seems that Charleston had 4 theatres on King at one time! The auditorium still exists, but is being used by the University of Charleston especially during their Spoleto Festival. The marquee is still there, too and is used when the university has a production planned in the former theatre. I told the gift shop owner about the Fabulous Fox since she was originally from Atlanta. She then asked about the Loews and I had to tell her that it doesn’t exist anymore which surprised her very much!
Thanks John for the update on these SC theatres. I sure wish I had known about the Garden’s history when I was there as I would have spent time at that location as I did with the others on King Street!
I was recently in Charleston and was not aware that this address on King Street had been a theatre until looking at the photo on this cinema site. The Riviera has been saved on King Street across from the Charleston Place Hotel though.
I just today visited this art deco theatre after visiting the Hilton Head Island area and it is a wonderful example of art deco that shouldn’t be missed!
This is the theatre that Brian Williams broadcast the NBC Nightly News from a few weeks ago! I wonder if Brian saw Ben, the ghost!?!
Congratulations to the City of Knoxville for restoring their special historic theatre.
Also interesting to read about the Southwestern Bell connection. If you read about the Fox in Atlanta you will read about the BellSouth connection and consequently a happy ending as the Fox was saved and BellSouth decided to build their tall office skyscraper BEHIND the Fox!! Amen!! So sad though that the Texas was razed about the time interest in saving historical buildings was growing, but at least the special terra-cotta facade was salvaged!! Amen!!
Melissa in San Antonio: Interesting to read that where the Texas Theater once stood stands the restored ticket booth! Too bad San Antonio didn’t decide to restore the theater along with the booth!! :–(
That’s okay as I still enjoyed reading your Garrick comments.
If you are ever in Buffalo NY the Guaranty Building is a Sullivan structure that is well worth seeing with its intricate ornate facade It has large oval windows on the top floor so the offices have quite an ‘oval’ view of the city and Lake Erie.
Bryan: Tried bringing up “another view of the Garrick when clicking n "Here’s”, but not having any luck. So sad about the photographer who was killed trying to salvage architectural fragments. I’ll keep trying to bring up the Garrick site.
BTW, what was built on the former Loew’s site since this was such “prime property”? :–((
Hard to believe that THE theatre that premiered Gone with the Wind is now….‘gone’! :–((
McGee: “the desire for the property’s prime site led to it’s demolition”…interesting quote! And does anyone know the whereabouts of the former Loew’s Wurlitzer today?
I now have a copy of Popcorn Palaces and the former Loew’s Grand Theatre is in there! But so sad that it was demolished as I feel there was room in Atlanta for BOTH the Loew’s and the Fox!
These are wonderful theatre photos out of Flint MI. Congratulations to the community for working together to bring back another historical theatre!
Can anyone tell me if this theatre perhaps or the Orpheum was the location of the recent NBC Nightly News broadcast on Thursday, Jan. 13th?
While going through the Minneapolis theatres that are still open I wondered if this is the theatre that Brian Williams broadcast the NBC Nightly News from on Thursday, Jan. 13th?
I do see somewhat of a similarity, yet the Marianne is quite unique in the realm of art deco theatres as seen on page 115 of Popcorn Palaces as it shows the entire facade including above the lighted marquee. The same architect could have built both theatres though.
Heisenbottle Architects: Thank you so very much! The sites that I have posted will truly give you interesting insight on the Carolina’s past and future. “Looking a bit forlorn in the shadows of a new and progressive uptown Charlotte stands the Carolina Theater, a grand lady physically bent and broken but still spirited, awaiting her fate.”
Thank you, thank you and thank you! I will pass along your email address to my Charlotte friend and his group who have been involved for 10 long years in trying to create interest in restoring the Carolina Theatre in downtown Charlotte NC. This historic theatre’s history is documented on cinema treasures with a photo, but also can be found by going to the following sites: www.mtos.org
View link
The Metrolina Theatre Organ Society (MTOS) has put together a very well done ‘virtual tour’ of the theatre which makes one feel as if they have virtually walked inside and the other site gives a well written documentary/no photos.
Does Clear Channel have an official website to contact them? Thanks.
It is great to see a group of architects who have interest in old structures. I have been in contact with an architect concerning the restoration of a 1920’s theatre and though cordial during our brief phone conversations his interest does not include historical theatres, but rather high rise condos and probably parking lots!