Brighton Theatre

Wow those photos take me back!! thanks

In 1962 I saw South Pacific with my college sweetheart at the Brighton. I’ve never forgotten either one.

Vintage Bob, I would like to get a small piece of the facade. I remember passing by once and it was an arts center and the next time I went by it was an empty lot! The block looks so vacant without the theater. Thanks, john.

Thomandlinda and Johnp77, I have some nice pieces of the facade from when they tore it down. If you want, I can send you one as a souvenir. I grabbed a bunch when it was being torn down because I wanted a keepsake and a few friends did also, so I took more in case I ran into other people who might have wanted a keepsake. It was such a wonderful place!

I grew up in brighton park in the 70’s and I even worked in the theater in the 80’s. I have been living on the east coast and my kids keep asking me about where I used to live and what it was like, the more I told them about the movie theater the more I wanted to see it again. To my sorrow it has been torn down, but finding this site and listening to your stories has been a real treat. It has brought back good memories.

My dad worked at the Brighton as a floor man (Manager) from 1955 till 1958. His boss and overseer of the Midwest and Peoples as well was a fellow named George Bishoff, who was also quite politically connected. I attended movies there nearly every Sunday afternoon during that time period eating all the free extra buttered popcorn I desired! During movies, I’ve been behind the screen and in the projection booth (two projectors)above the balcony observing the operation. To my knowledge, I have been the only rock band to have performed live on that stage during a democratic rally, 1966, to a full house of screaming 10 to 16 year olds. My father worked the evening the Grimes girls dissapeared. He was one of the last to see them alive. I’ll never forget the day my mother was cooking dinner when the detectives knocked on our rear door and entered the kitchen with their wide brimmed hats and trenchcoats. They asked my dad if he would come down to 39th and California for some routine questioning. My dad returned home after about 3 hours visably shaken. He said that he told them that he remembered that the girls left the theatre alone. The police also interrogated, more than once, an usher working for my father that night, by the name of Benny. The rest is history. I graduated from Kelly, ‘68, where I met my wife of 38 years. We would go to Gerties (Not same owners as 59th St.) for a Coke after school.

Just an update to this date their is NOT A THING on this spot just a broken down fence and a weed infested lot.

There was a Fishman’s Liquor store just east of Sacramento. Neilvs, I’d be interested in a copy of that b&w photo you mention; I’d be happy to pay copying and mailing fee. TShaffer

My mother used to take me to Neisners to each lunch. We would sit at the counter, and they had good food! We used to get Coke Floats there, and they came in commerative Bicentennial Glasses with George Washington on them. That was in 1976.. That is a great memory that I have with my Mom. Growing up in that time was so fun! I spent many Saturdays at the Brighton, and always stopped at Fannie May’s. My sister had “Stebrens” restaurant next door to Zips and down from Kelly High School. That was a fun place for me to go too. Anyone remember Stebrens?

I lived in Brightion Park in the 1970`s and i can not recall a Woolworths? i do recall that the corner of Sac/Archer as you face the fire house was a taveren and what is Zemkeys was the archer ave big store. then (as you stand by the bank facing the archer ave big store)to you right was if i am right a dollar store then next to that was the fannie may candies,and across the streeet (whare Watra is now) was a furturnure store than next to that was a jeweler and then the Brightion Park Theatre.

The area has changed the only thing that can recall that is still there is THE PANTS BOX the LIQURE STORE that was next door and the RESTURANT i think it is call the GOLDEN DOLLAR or something like that .

One more thing whare was NEISNERS and ware was WOOLWORTHS at ?

Thank you for you time.

I went up Archer the other day. It has been so long, it’s hard to recognize. Reading these posts helps to put things into perspective though!

I used to live in Brighton Park, and worked at the Brighton while in High School late 70’s, early 80’s. Worked there with my brother and some friends from school. We went to Gerties a lot for sandwiches and sodas. Ted Zaffer (not sure if that’s spelled right) was the owner. Marty O'Brien was the manager at Brighton for many years. He was a great funny guy.

Don’t know when the organ was removed, because I never saw it. Behind the screen was a stage. There were two sound system speakers, one on either side of the screen. We hooked up an 8-track player to the theater speakers and blasted music before we opened and on Saturday morning when we cleaned the place. Was happy to see the interior pictures.

It was a fun place to work for a bunch of teenagers!

Up the street was a dime store called McCrorys (sp) in the 70’s, was it Neisners or something similar before that? They had a soda fountain inside the front door.

I believe lost memory is sourcing this great info from the database at theatreorgans.com . I’m glad to see someone cross-referencing this.