Members of CORE staged a 40-minute demonstration April 3 at Wometco’s 163rd Street Theater in the 163rd Street shopping center. The Committee of Racial Equality sent some 30 Negroes to the box office to purchase tickets. When they were refused, the demonstrators formed a revolving line which continued the requests until the ticket window closed for the night.
I used to go the Promenade when it was more interesting. The Midnight Special bookstore closed a long time ago, so all that’s left is Banana Republic and Gap. Great deal if you like to buy clothes.
Homer and Rita Michael returned to the theater business when they reopened the Evergreen Drive-In in the Mount Pleasant-Scottsdale area. They acquired the drive-in from Mrs. Donald Ruth, widow of the original owner who managed this ozoner last year.
The Michaels, former operators of the Liberty Theater on Pittsburgh’s south side, have modernized the Evergreen, first with a complete fresh paint job, including screen resurfacing, and also with installation of new in-car speakers. The concession building, with various new features and equipment, has been turned into a self-service operation under management of Rita Michael.
CHERRY HILL, N.J.-The new Cherry Hill Cinema was to have its grand opening on Wednesday, April 11. The new 1,425-seat theater is located in the Cherry Hill Mall Shopping Center, on Route 38 at Haddonfield Road. Managing the new theater is Max Bernstein. General Drive-In Corp., operated by president Richard A. Smith, is the owner. The opening picture at the new Cinema was “The Children’s Hour”.
It looks like the theater is advertising Spanish films. There is also a sign by the door that says “Teatro”. Interesting that they were doing that so close to the opening.
Here is part of a March 1999 article from the San Jose Mercury News:
ADULT THEATER CLOSING SOUGHT BURBANK CINEMA: DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUES OWNERS, CLAIMING PUBLIC NUISANCE, UNLAWFUL SEX ACTS
Calling it a public nuisance, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office sought an order Friday to close the Burbank Theatre, an adult movie house and longtime fixture in the unincorporated community of Burbank. Though Superior Court Judge William Elfving did not immediately shut down the theater, he ordered the owners to stop allowing unlawful sex acts on the premises and to meet a series of conditions, including hiring full-time security.
Here is part of an article in the 6/5/85 edition of the LA Times, on the passing of Vincent Miranda:
Vincent Miranda, a one-time busboy and waiter who founded the controversial chain of Pussycat adult theaters nearly 25 years ago, died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of cancer. He was 52.
Miranda, who bought his first theater in Huntington Park in 1961 to boost business at his adjacent restaurant, rapidly expanded his chain when he discovered that it cost no more to advertise several theaters than one.
He was arrested more than 60 times over the years on obscenity charges, but was convicted only once, in 1977 in San Bernardino for a film called “Sex Freaks”.
There was a followup story in the LA Times in March 1977 about the demolition of the Oaks. Harold Wenzler passed away a month before the demolition. I don’t know if the theater ever moved over to Raymond Avenue. Here is a photo that accompanied the story in the Times: http://tinyurl.com/975gbx
Boxoffice magazine reported in January 1940 that the fire previously mentioned started when a boiler exploded in the theater building. At the time the temperature outside was thirteen degrees below zero.
A recent internet search shows the Lulu business which Ken Roe mentioned as well as another pet business called Fins, Feathers & Paws. Both businesses are at 117 E. Washington.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1940. The Hart spelling is theirs.
EFFINGHAM, ILL.-The Frisina Amusement Co. was scheduled to open its new theater, the Hart, here with appropriate ceremonies Thursday. Exhibitors from central Illinois were invited to attend.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in April 1962:
Members of CORE staged a 40-minute demonstration April 3 at Wometco’s 163rd Street Theater in the 163rd Street shopping center. The Committee of Racial Equality sent some 30 Negroes to the box office to purchase tickets. When they were refused, the demonstrators formed a revolving line which continued the requests until the ticket window closed for the night.
Here are some photos of the marquee coming down from the Bay City Times in August 2008:
http://tinyurl.com/9zj3r4
Was Casselman the architect or the builder?
Here is an undated photo of the marquee:
http://tinyurl.com/9ss546
Renovation information here:
http://tinyurl.com/9vmav9
There are some interior photos from 2004 on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/9eeoxj
Here is a January 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/7p7zup
I used to go the Promenade when it was more interesting. The Midnight Special bookstore closed a long time ago, so all that’s left is Banana Republic and Gap. Great deal if you like to buy clothes.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in April 1962:
Homer and Rita Michael returned to the theater business when they reopened the Evergreen Drive-In in the Mount Pleasant-Scottsdale area. They acquired the drive-in from Mrs. Donald Ruth, widow of the original owner who managed this ozoner last year.
The Michaels, former operators of the Liberty Theater on Pittsburgh’s south side, have modernized the Evergreen, first with a complete fresh paint job, including screen resurfacing, and also with installation of new in-car speakers. The concession building, with various new features and equipment, has been turned into a self-service operation under management of Rita Michael.
From Boxoffice magazine, April 1962:
CHERRY HILL, N.J.-The new Cherry Hill Cinema was to have its grand opening on Wednesday, April 11. The new 1,425-seat theater is located in the Cherry Hill Mall Shopping Center, on Route 38 at Haddonfield Road. Managing the new theater is Max Bernstein. General Drive-In Corp., operated by president Richard A. Smith, is the owner. The opening picture at the new Cinema was “The Children’s Hour”.
Some photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/8fto4w
Note the name of the apartment complex on the site:
http://tinyurl.com/8d6cav
Here is the 1910 photo discussed above:
http://tinyurl.com/8mtx3z
Here is a 1951 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/92l8mz
Here is a 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/9tf6xl
Here is a late 1940s photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/9nyjvt
Here are some early 1930s views from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/98q3hh
It looks like the theater is advertising Spanish films. There is also a sign by the door that says “Teatro”. Interesting that they were doing that so close to the opening.
Here is a circa 1947 photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/94acve
Here is a picture of the foyer on opening night, from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/a59xz6
Here is part of a March 1999 article from the San Jose Mercury News:
ADULT THEATER CLOSING SOUGHT BURBANK CINEMA: DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUES OWNERS, CLAIMING PUBLIC NUISANCE, UNLAWFUL SEX ACTS
Calling it a public nuisance, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office sought an order Friday to close the Burbank Theatre, an adult movie house and longtime fixture in the unincorporated community of Burbank. Though Superior Court Judge William Elfving did not immediately shut down the theater, he ordered the owners to stop allowing unlawful sex acts on the premises and to meet a series of conditions, including hiring full-time security.
Here is part of an article in the 6/5/85 edition of the LA Times, on the passing of Vincent Miranda:
Vincent Miranda, a one-time busboy and waiter who founded the controversial chain of Pussycat adult theaters nearly 25 years ago, died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of cancer. He was 52.
Miranda, who bought his first theater in Huntington Park in 1961 to boost business at his adjacent restaurant, rapidly expanded his chain when he discovered that it cost no more to advertise several theaters than one.
He was arrested more than 60 times over the years on obscenity charges, but was convicted only once, in 1977 in San Bernardino for a film called “Sex Freaks”.
There was a followup story in the LA Times in March 1977 about the demolition of the Oaks. Harold Wenzler passed away a month before the demolition. I don’t know if the theater ever moved over to Raymond Avenue. Here is a photo that accompanied the story in the Times:
http://tinyurl.com/975gbx
Boxoffice magazine reported in January 1940 that the fire previously mentioned started when a boiler exploded in the theater building. At the time the temperature outside was thirteen degrees below zero.
A recent internet search shows the Lulu business which Ken Roe mentioned as well as another pet business called Fins, Feathers & Paws. Both businesses are at 117 E. Washington.
From Boxoffice magazine, January 1940. The Hart spelling is theirs.
EFFINGHAM, ILL.-The Frisina Amusement Co. was scheduled to open its new theater, the Hart, here with appropriate ceremonies Thursday. Exhibitors from central Illinois were invited to attend.