You are talking about the Palace theater. Back in the 60s the Beatles played there and ABC tv used the theater for their hit variety show “The Hollywood Palace”. Now the Avalon nightclub.
As I recall during the 50s when I was in Cleveland, 1 person managed both theaters as well as the Loews Stillman which was down the street a few blocks. I would assume that maybe each theater had an assistant manager. Anyone know for sure?
Don’t forget all the 3 strip Cinerama films which would also be considered roadshows. I don’t have dates or length of run, but some of them ran for over a year each.
I was in 3 of the auditoriums. All were stadium. All had very sub standard projection (Poor focuse, sound out of balance)despite being THX licensed. If all the CinemaStar theaters were as poorly run as this one, it’s no wonder they went bankrupt.
This will be labor day weekend so I won’t be able to attend. Hopefully, someone will post a detailed review of how the restoration turned out. Does digital Cinerama use 3 projectors as with film or have they converted it to one projector. Anyone have any technical info? Thanks.
The religious feel of this theater was by design. It was inspired by the great cathedrals of eurupe. This was chosen by original owners Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, etc. It’s because of this design that Dr. Scott chose the UA for his downtown church.
Great video about the vintage curtains. How sad that the multiplexes of today don’t value the showmanship that used to be standard theater procedure way back when.
Of all the Playhouse Square theaters, the Allen is my favorite. Although most look to the Palace for it’s beauty, for me it’s always been the Allen that took my breath away. What a beautiful theater and what a crime is being committed. Shame on Cleveland for letting this happen!
My error. The theater was located at the corner of Highway 18 and Rock Creek Road. The box office was off of Rock Creek with reader board on 18. I looked at google maps and see that there is some kind of industrial enterprise now on the property with all signs of the drive in gone.
McMinnville Amusement was owned by Robert J. Mattecheck who had retired before I started working at the Mack theater. Bill Hibbert did not have anything to do McMinnville. He owned and worked his farm full time and ran the theaters on the side. After the theaters closed or were leased out, he continued farming until his death of a heart attack.
It’s been too many years since I’ve been in the area but I think the Sky-Way was located on the Sheridan-Willamina Highway (18) at the intersection of Pittman Road. Since the lot was never paved it would be overgrown by grass now or other structures built on the property. With the screen tower and reader board gone only the concession building might still be there.
Mr. Hibbert owned the 4 theater chain and operated them through the 50s, then retired and started leasing them out. I ran the Hi-Way during the winter/spring of ‘63/64 and then the drive-in summer of '64. Fun theaters to operate but no money to be made :–(
You are talking about the Palace theater. Back in the 60s the Beatles played there and ABC tv used the theater for their hit variety show “The Hollywood Palace”. Now the Avalon nightclub.
The theater is listed in the 1947 film daily yearbook with 800 seats.
I saw Avatar 3D there. The picture quality was excellent, nice and bright for a 3D film. Sound was without fault. Very comfortable theater.
In the photos in the link above, along with slides 4, 15 and 16, check out slide 14. It shows the Pearl Road Drive-in theater.
WF, can you post the pictures or e-mail scans?
As I recall during the 50s when I was in Cleveland, 1 person managed both theaters as well as the Loews Stillman which was down the street a few blocks. I would assume that maybe each theater had an assistant manager. Anyone know for sure?
Don’t forget all the 3 strip Cinerama films which would also be considered roadshows. I don’t have dates or length of run, but some of them ran for over a year each.
This from Wikipedia: “As of the 2000 Census, Rubidoux is the largest unincorporated community in the Inland Empire and in Riverside County.”
Bullitt was shot at 1.85:1 so it would not fill a Cinemascope/Panavison type screen. Most theaters would mask off the unused part of the screen.
I was in 3 of the auditoriums. All were stadium. All had very sub standard projection (Poor focuse, sound out of balance)despite being THX licensed. If all the CinemaStar theaters were as poorly run as this one, it’s no wonder they went bankrupt.
This will be labor day weekend so I won’t be able to attend. Hopefully, someone will post a detailed review of how the restoration turned out. Does digital Cinerama use 3 projectors as with film or have they converted it to one projector. Anyone have any technical info? Thanks.
Don, Guess I was confused. Sorry bout that.
The religious feel of this theater was by design. It was inspired by the great cathedrals of eurupe. This was chosen by original owners Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, etc. It’s because of this design that Dr. Scott chose the UA for his downtown church.
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Great video about the vintage curtains. How sad that the multiplexes of today don’t value the showmanship that used to be standard theater procedure way back when.
Where can I find the list mentioned above? As a kid growing up in the 1950s, the Variety and Riverside where my two favorite hang outs.
Of all the Playhouse Square theaters, the Allen is my favorite. Although most look to the Palace for it’s beauty, for me it’s always been the Allen that took my breath away. What a beautiful theater and what a crime is being committed. Shame on Cleveland for letting this happen!
My error. The theater was located at the corner of Highway 18 and Rock Creek Road. The box office was off of Rock Creek with reader board on 18. I looked at google maps and see that there is some kind of industrial enterprise now on the property with all signs of the drive in gone.
Interesting story. Hope things will work out for this grand lady.
McMinnville Amusement was owned by Robert J. Mattecheck who had retired before I started working at the Mack theater. Bill Hibbert did not have anything to do McMinnville. He owned and worked his farm full time and ran the theaters on the side. After the theaters closed or were leased out, he continued farming until his death of a heart attack.
It’s been too many years since I’ve been in the area but I think the Sky-Way was located on the Sheridan-Willamina Highway (18) at the intersection of Pittman Road. Since the lot was never paved it would be overgrown by grass now or other structures built on the property. With the screen tower and reader board gone only the concession building might still be there.
Mr. Hibbert owned the 4 theater chain and operated them through the 50s, then retired and started leasing them out. I ran the Hi-Way during the winter/spring of ‘63/64 and then the drive-in summer of '64. Fun theaters to operate but no money to be made :–(
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