The Warner Theatre was built on the site of the 1911 Butterfly Theatre which seated 1,500. It was demolished in February 1930.
The Warner Theatre opened on 1st May 1931 with the movie “Sit Tight” starring Joe E. Brown. Making a personal appearance at the opening was Warner Bros. star Bebe Daniels.
The Warner Theatre opened on 14th November 1930 with the movie “The Life of the Party” starring Winnie Lightner and the Warner Bros, child star Davey Lee, billed as ‘The World’s Biggest Little Star’, made a personal appearance.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 as the Community Theatre with 350 seats. In the 1943 and 1950 editions of F.D.Y. it has been re-named the D & R Theatre with a seating capacity of 408 in 1950.
Ron;
The RKO Palace closed as a movie house not long after Hunt’s Cinestage. It went over to live performance and concerts. The Southern Theatre was re-named Towne Theatre and, as you state, continued for some time.
No, the Fulton Street entrance is still used when the church has ‘busy’ services. Plus, with a capacity of over 3,500 I would think that the authorities would never allow for exits to be removed.
This was built on the site of the 1,000 Park Theatre, a playhouse and variety theatre built in 1890, which was destoyed by fire in 1893.
In January 1895 a new theatre, named the High Street Theatre opened, which closed in 1914. Re-named Lyceum Theatre it re-opened as a playhouse but closed again in 1915. It was re-modeled and became the Lyceum Burlesque Theatre and this was very successful until it 1932, when it suffered fire damage. It was quickly re-built but without a balcony and re-opened in October 1932, continuing as the Lyceum Burlesque until 1935.
It then went over to a full time movie theatre re-named the Uptown Theatre with a seating capacity given as 735 and operating as a double feature ‘grind’ policy.
In 1957, Herman Hunt, a local showman, re-modeled the Uptown into Hunt’s Cinestage Theatre which opened with the Todd A-O widescreen movie presentation of “Around the World in 80 Days”. Other movies to play here were “Dr Zhivago”, “Sweet Charity” and “Ben Hur”.
With attendances falling, Hunt’s Cinestage Theatre closed on 19th April 1972 and demolition began on 22nd January 1973.
The Capitol Theatre opened on 1st September 1928 with Richard Dix starring in “Warming Up”, the first Paramount Pictures sound movie. The Wurlitzer 3Manual/11Rank organ was played by Stanley Anstett who had previously been with the Chicago Theatre, Chicago.
The Durham Auditorium became a full time movie theatre from 1929 when it was re-named Carolina Theatre. Operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary H.F. Kincey in the 1940’s it was listed with a seating capacity of 1,596.
lostmemory;
The address used today as the main entrance to the church at 17 Smith Street is what I believe was originally an additional entrance/exit which originally served the rear orchestra level of the theatre. It is around the corner to the original main entrance on Fulton Street and retains its original decorations.
The main original entrance to the theatre at 392 Fulton Street (now I believe known as Fulton Mall)serves today as a supplementary entrance/exit. For some reason the original facade on this entrance was taken down and rebuilt to a simpler design and the marquee removed when the theatre was being transformed into the Tabernacle Church. If memory serves me right there is a low one storey retail building adjacent to this entrance which could be the current #392 you describe in the property report above.
Vegasite;
Thanks for the link to that great print, but it is of the Freemont Theatre, San Luis Obispo,CA (now known as the Freemont 4)listed here… /theaters/2302/
The Warner Theatre was built on the site of the 1911 Butterfly Theatre which seated 1,500. It was demolished in February 1930.
The Warner Theatre opened on 1st May 1931 with the movie “Sit Tight” starring Joe E. Brown. Making a personal appearance at the opening was Warner Bros. star Bebe Daniels.
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 edition has a Colonial Theatre, Main Street listed that has 360 seats. Could this be the current Millbridge Theatre?
Other theatres listed in the town (no street address given) are the Opera House with 375 seats and the Wittan Theatre (no further details given).
The 1950 F.D.Y has the Colonial and Opera House still operating.
The Warner Theatre opened on 14th November 1930 with the movie “The Life of the Party” starring Winnie Lightner and the Warner Bros, child star Davey Lee, billed as ‘The World’s Biggest Little Star’, made a personal appearance.
Listed in Film Daily Yearbok’s that I have (1941-1950) as the Lyric Theatre.
The Colonial Theatre opened in 1914 and was built for movies and vaudville. It was equipped with a Kimball theatre pipe organ.
The Virginia Theatre opened in 1915 and it was equipped with a Kimball theatre pipe organ.
It is listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 edition as the Strand Theatre with a seating capacity of 627.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 as the Community Theatre with 350 seats. In the 1943 and 1950 editions of F.D.Y. it has been re-named the D & R Theatre with a seating capacity of 408 in 1950.
Ron;
The RKO Palace closed as a movie house not long after Hunt’s Cinestage. It went over to live performance and concerts. The Southern Theatre was re-named Towne Theatre and, as you state, continued for some time.
No, the Fulton Street entrance is still used when the church has ‘busy’ services. Plus, with a capacity of over 3,500 I would think that the authorities would never allow for exits to be removed.
This was built on the site of the 1,000 Park Theatre, a playhouse and variety theatre built in 1890, which was destoyed by fire in 1893.
In January 1895 a new theatre, named the High Street Theatre opened, which closed in 1914. Re-named Lyceum Theatre it re-opened as a playhouse but closed again in 1915. It was re-modeled and became the Lyceum Burlesque Theatre and this was very successful until it 1932, when it suffered fire damage. It was quickly re-built but without a balcony and re-opened in October 1932, continuing as the Lyceum Burlesque until 1935.
It then went over to a full time movie theatre re-named the Uptown Theatre with a seating capacity given as 735 and operating as a double feature ‘grind’ policy.
In 1957, Herman Hunt, a local showman, re-modeled the Uptown into Hunt’s Cinestage Theatre which opened with the Todd A-O widescreen movie presentation of “Around the World in 80 Days”. Other movies to play here were “Dr Zhivago”, “Sweet Charity” and “Ben Hur”.
With attendances falling, Hunt’s Cinestage Theatre closed on 19th April 1972 and demolition began on 22nd January 1973.
The Capitol Theatre opened on 1st September 1928 with Richard Dix starring in “Warming Up”, the first Paramount Pictures sound movie. The Wurlitzer 3Manual/11Rank organ was played by Stanley Anstett who had previously been with the Chicago Theatre, Chicago.
The Schine State Theatre opened in 1928 and had a seating capacity of 1,759.
The World Theatre opened in 1922.
The Durham Auditorium became a full time movie theatre from 1929 when it was re-named Carolina Theatre. Operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary H.F. Kincey in the 1940’s it was listed with a seating capacity of 1,596.
lostmemory;
The address used today as the main entrance to the church at 17 Smith Street is what I believe was originally an additional entrance/exit which originally served the rear orchestra level of the theatre. It is around the corner to the original main entrance on Fulton Street and retains its original decorations.
The main original entrance to the theatre at 392 Fulton Street (now I believe known as Fulton Mall)serves today as a supplementary entrance/exit. For some reason the original facade on this entrance was taken down and rebuilt to a simpler design and the marquee removed when the theatre was being transformed into the Tabernacle Church. If memory serves me right there is a low one storey retail building adjacent to this entrance which could be the current #392 you describe in the property report above.
Vegasite;
Thanks for the link to that great print, but it is of the Freemont Theatre, San Luis Obispo,CA (now known as the Freemont 4)listed here… /theaters/2302/
The Strand Theatre opened on 11th November 1918.
Film Daily Yearbooks 1941 and 1943 list this as the Monte Theatre. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it is the New Monte Theatre.
The Paramount Theatre opened in 1929.
I have now found information that the Circle Theatre closed as a movie house in 1979.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook’s 1941 and 1943 as closed, in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. it is listed as open with a seating capacity of 404.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook,1941 as the Hilan Theatre with a seating capacity of 800.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook,1950 edition it had a seating capacity of 803.
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 edition lists the Mayfair Theater with a seating capacity of 250.