Yes, Direspaul is correct. Some people today are under the impression that the Paramount they see is the original building. The only parts of the building today which are original are the facade, including the marquee and vertical sign, plus several feet of the sidewalls and roof leading from the facade wall. All of the remainder was removed. The interior was in very poor condition after many years closed and not maintained.
There is a Grand Opera House in Anthony KS listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. This guide does not list street addresses. Jennison & Rice were managers of the Grand OH. It had 900 seats and was upstairs on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 25 feet deep. There were 2 hotels for show folk, and 2 weekly newspapers. The population of Anthony as of 1897 was 2,500.
As of Oct 10 the cinema’s sign out on Route 53 was still standing, with no movies posted on it. I was unable to see if the building was still intact, but probably not, because there has been so much demo in that area during the past few months.
The “Norway Opera House” is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. C. L. Hathaway was Mgr. There were 900 seats and the theatre was upstairs on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide X 18 feet high, and the stage was 24 feet deep. There were 2 weekly newspapers and 3 hotels for show folk. Town served by Grand Trunk Railway. The 1897 population of Norway was 2,800.
There was a feature story on local drive-ins in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Sat. July 18, written by Fred Hanson. He says that the Blue Hills DI opened 1959, closed 1983, now site of an office park. He mentions mosquito problems there, and also an unruly crowd at Led Zeppelin/ “Song Remains the Same”.
In the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Sat. July 18 there is a feature about local drive-ins by Fred Hanson. He mentions that the comic actor Jerry Lewis once made a personal appearance at the Neponset Drive-in (no date listed). Jerry Lewis made many appearances at indoor movie theatres so it’s certainly possible.
A nostalgic feature about local drive-ins appeared in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Sat. July 18, by Fred Hanson. He states that there were once live wrestling shows at the Abington Drive-in, but with no dates or details.
The Hollywood reopened in late-May and was the only indoor cinema open in the Pittsburgh metro area (A drive-in was also open at that time.) They have been operating for almost 2 months now.
The Colonial Theatre showed movies occasionally during the 1910s and 1920s. There were many movies at the Majestic Theatre, especially in the 1940s when some of them ran for months at a time.(I saw “The Red Shoes” there, circa-1948 or so. ) But the Shubert ?? – I would have to see movie ads from the Boston newspapers.
We need proof that the Boston Shubert was showing movies as of the mid-1930s. I have never seen any, such as newspaper ads. It was operating as a live theatre all through the 1940s and 1950s. I know this because I went there then to see stage shows as a child and a teen.
The Alexandria Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. H.V. Otto was Mgr. The house, which was on the ground floor, had 754 seats. The proscenium opening was 22 feet high X 24 feet wide, and the stage was 27 feet deep. There was both gas and electric illumination. 8 musicians in the house orchestra. There were 3 hotels for show folk, and the 1897 population was 8,000.
davidcoppock -No, all scrapped many years ago. But some of the engines and cars are still around. And at one of the stations, in Phillips ME, the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad museum has relaid some track in town and operates it. Two hobbies which go together: Old Theatres, and Old Railroads !!
The odd name is derived from the fact that there was a famous narrow-gauge (2 feet between the rails) rail system there, the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes RR, which lasted into the 1930s.
The Grand Opera House in Lebanon is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Theatrical Guide. J.C. Brown was Mgr. No seating capacity given. Tickets 25 cents to 75 cents. Theatre on second floor. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide X 30 feet high; the stage was 38 feet deep. There were 8 musicians in the house orchestra. The population of Lebanon was 6,000.
Cool – Yes, the THSA still owns and operates the Hollywood Th. in Dormont, just a short trolley car ride south of downtown Pittsburgh. They show current movie product on its single screen, and they installed some new seats in mid-2018. If you go to the Hollywood’s page here in CT there are some comments made very recently.
Yes, the Hollywood is still a single-screener showing current releases, and operated by the Theatre Historical Society. The seating capacity today is greater than 285 – I think that there are now 400 seats on the main floor and about 200 in the balcony.
Katz – I have seen the floor plan from when the Trans Lux first opened in the late-1930s and it definitely looks like it had a rear projection booth at the rear of the stage. But at some point they must have got rid of it in favor of a regular balcony projection booth. The Park was a live theatre for many years, then in the 1910s it became a movie house; in the 1930s it reverted to stage use as the Boston outlet for Minsky Burlesque. Then a total remodel as the Trans Lux.
Katz- It did not have rear projection in its later days, at least. I knew someone who worked there in the 1970s and I’m 99% sure that he was in the booth at the rear of the balcony.
The Associated Press had a long feature article today about this theatre. There is a new movie “Burden” which will be released soon and which is about the theatre and the curious bond between its former owner (white) and the church pastor (black) who purchased it. The church hopes to open a civil rights museum there. Website: rehabhate.com
At least one person on this thread has asked what has happened to the theatre news. The news was gathered and edited by a staff member of the Theatre Historical Society in Pittsburgh. At least once or twice per week she posted news on the THS website, the THS Readerboard e-mail newsletter, and here on Cinema Treasures. This worked well for a long time. But in the fall of 2018 the THS suffered a financial collapse. The last Readerboard appeared over 12 months ago and the publication of the THS"Marquee" Magazine has been suspended. There has been no one gathering theatre news since late-2018.
The Grand Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Theatrical Guide. Managed by Hudson & Judah, it was on the ground floor and had 1,800 seats. Ticket prices 25 cents to $1. It had the “Edison system” of electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 40 feet wide X 39 feet high, and the stage was 34 feet deep. Unfortunately, there are almost no street addresses in this Guide.
The Auditorium in Kansas City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Managed by Paxton & Burgess. The theatre was on the ground floor, and had both gas and electric illumination. Seats: Orchestra 300, Loges 64, Dress Circle 314, 1st Balcony 495, 2nd Balcony 458, Gallery 500. The proscenium opening was 47.5 feet square, and the stage was 40 feet deep. Other theatres in Kansas City at the time were the Coates Opera House, Grand Opera House, New Gillis Theatre and Ninth Street Opera House. The 1897 population was 200,000.
Yes, Direspaul is correct. Some people today are under the impression that the Paramount they see is the original building. The only parts of the building today which are original are the facade, including the marquee and vertical sign, plus several feet of the sidewalls and roof leading from the facade wall. All of the remainder was removed. The interior was in very poor condition after many years closed and not maintained.
There is a Grand Opera House in Anthony KS listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. This guide does not list street addresses. Jennison & Rice were managers of the Grand OH. It had 900 seats and was upstairs on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide X 20 feet high, and the stage was 25 feet deep. There were 2 hotels for show folk, and 2 weekly newspapers. The population of Anthony as of 1897 was 2,500.
As of Oct 10 the cinema’s sign out on Route 53 was still standing, with no movies posted on it. I was unable to see if the building was still intact, but probably not, because there has been so much demo in that area during the past few months.
The “Norway Opera House” is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. C. L. Hathaway was Mgr. There were 900 seats and the theatre was upstairs on the second floor. The proscenium opening was 24 feet wide X 18 feet high, and the stage was 24 feet deep. There were 2 weekly newspapers and 3 hotels for show folk. Town served by Grand Trunk Railway. The 1897 population of Norway was 2,800.
There was a feature story on local drive-ins in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Sat. July 18, written by Fred Hanson. He says that the Blue Hills DI opened 1959, closed 1983, now site of an office park. He mentions mosquito problems there, and also an unruly crowd at Led Zeppelin/ “Song Remains the Same”.
In the Quincy Patriot Ledger of Sat. July 18 there is a feature about local drive-ins by Fred Hanson. He mentions that the comic actor Jerry Lewis once made a personal appearance at the Neponset Drive-in (no date listed). Jerry Lewis made many appearances at indoor movie theatres so it’s certainly possible.
A nostalgic feature about local drive-ins appeared in the Quincy Patriot Ledger, Sat. July 18, by Fred Hanson. He states that there were once live wrestling shows at the Abington Drive-in, but with no dates or details.
The Hollywood reopened in late-May and was the only indoor cinema open in the Pittsburgh metro area (A drive-in was also open at that time.) They have been operating for almost 2 months now.
The Colonial Theatre showed movies occasionally during the 1910s and 1920s. There were many movies at the Majestic Theatre, especially in the 1940s when some of them ran for months at a time.(I saw “The Red Shoes” there, circa-1948 or so. ) But the Shubert ?? – I would have to see movie ads from the Boston newspapers.
We need proof that the Boston Shubert was showing movies as of the mid-1930s. I have never seen any, such as newspaper ads. It was operating as a live theatre all through the 1940s and 1950s. I know this because I went there then to see stage shows as a child and a teen.
The Alexandria Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. H.V. Otto was Mgr. The house, which was on the ground floor, had 754 seats. The proscenium opening was 22 feet high X 24 feet wide, and the stage was 27 feet deep. There was both gas and electric illumination. 8 musicians in the house orchestra. There were 3 hotels for show folk, and the 1897 population was 8,000.
davidcoppock -No, all scrapped many years ago. But some of the engines and cars are still around. And at one of the stations, in Phillips ME, the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad museum has relaid some track in town and operates it. Two hobbies which go together: Old Theatres, and Old Railroads !!
The odd name is derived from the fact that there was a famous narrow-gauge (2 feet between the rails) rail system there, the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes RR, which lasted into the 1930s.
The Grand Opera House in Lebanon is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Theatrical Guide. J.C. Brown was Mgr. No seating capacity given. Tickets 25 cents to 75 cents. Theatre on second floor. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide X 30 feet high; the stage was 38 feet deep. There were 8 musicians in the house orchestra. The population of Lebanon was 6,000.
It was named “Coury’s” because it was run by Al Coury.
“Hoosac” is a geographical name in that area of MA. Near Adams is the Hoosac Tunnel, a rail tunnel built in the 19th Century.
Cool – Yes, the THSA still owns and operates the Hollywood Th. in Dormont, just a short trolley car ride south of downtown Pittsburgh. They show current movie product on its single screen, and they installed some new seats in mid-2018. If you go to the Hollywood’s page here in CT there are some comments made very recently.
Yes, the Hollywood is still a single-screener showing current releases, and operated by the Theatre Historical Society. The seating capacity today is greater than 285 – I think that there are now 400 seats on the main floor and about 200 in the balcony.
The website for this theatre is www.themetphilly.com In the March issue of Opera News Magazine there is an ad for a concert here next month.
Katz – I have seen the floor plan from when the Trans Lux first opened in the late-1930s and it definitely looks like it had a rear projection booth at the rear of the stage. But at some point they must have got rid of it in favor of a regular balcony projection booth. The Park was a live theatre for many years, then in the 1910s it became a movie house; in the 1930s it reverted to stage use as the Boston outlet for Minsky Burlesque. Then a total remodel as the Trans Lux.
Katz- It did not have rear projection in its later days, at least. I knew someone who worked there in the 1970s and I’m 99% sure that he was in the booth at the rear of the balcony.
The Associated Press had a long feature article today about this theatre. There is a new movie “Burden” which will be released soon and which is about the theatre and the curious bond between its former owner (white) and the church pastor (black) who purchased it. The church hopes to open a civil rights museum there. Website: rehabhate.com
At least one person on this thread has asked what has happened to the theatre news. The news was gathered and edited by a staff member of the Theatre Historical Society in Pittsburgh. At least once or twice per week she posted news on the THS website, the THS Readerboard e-mail newsletter, and here on Cinema Treasures. This worked well for a long time. But in the fall of 2018 the THS suffered a financial collapse. The last Readerboard appeared over 12 months ago and the publication of the THS"Marquee" Magazine has been suspended. There has been no one gathering theatre news since late-2018.
The Grand Opera House is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Theatrical Guide. Managed by Hudson & Judah, it was on the ground floor and had 1,800 seats. Ticket prices 25 cents to $1. It had the “Edison system” of electric illumination. The proscenium opening was 40 feet wide X 39 feet high, and the stage was 34 feet deep. Unfortunately, there are almost no street addresses in this Guide.
The Auditorium in Kansas City is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Managed by Paxton & Burgess. The theatre was on the ground floor, and had both gas and electric illumination. Seats: Orchestra 300, Loges 64, Dress Circle 314, 1st Balcony 495, 2nd Balcony 458, Gallery 500. The proscenium opening was 47.5 feet square, and the stage was 40 feet deep. Other theatres in Kansas City at the time were the Coates Opera House, Grand Opera House, New Gillis Theatre and Ninth Street Opera House. The 1897 population was 200,000.