The theater’s sale in November 1920 was noted by the Washington Post:
SALE OF EMPRESS THEATER.
Office of William K. Ellis Reports Transactions Totaling $100,000.
Transactions said to Involve considerations totaling approximately $100,000 are reported from the office of William K. Ellis. The Empress Theater, 416 Ninth Street Northwest, was sold to Marcus Notes who opened this theater as one of the first moving picture houses in Washington in 1909. Arthur Jordan was the former owner.
The Aschers sold in April 1923, according to the Tribune:
THEATER, STORES SOLD BY ASCHER; PRICE, $328,000
According to the revenue stamps on the deed, Nathan Ascher, president of the Cosmopolitan Securities company, was paid $328,000, subject to an incumbrance of $90,000, for the Cosmopolitan theater, store and office building.
Here is part of an article from the Reno Evening Gazette dated 8/30/57:
HAWTHORNE â€" Mrs. Elizabeth Bearden, owner of the Cactus and Desert theaters in Hawthorne, recently purchased the Mineralite Drive-In Theater and the lease on the Babbitt Theater and will assume active management of these two theaters on Sept 1.
The sale was made by Charles Leonard who has operated the Babbitt theater since 1949 and who constructed the Mineralite Drive-In, Hawthorne’s only drive-in theater, in 1953. Mrs. Bearden has announced that her Desert theater will be closed on Sept 1 and that the Babbitt theater, which has been closed during the summer months, will re-open on Sunday, Sept 1.
Here is part of an article from the Reno Evening Gazette dated 8/30/57:
Theater Sale is Announced in Hawthorne
HAWTHORNE â€" Mrs. Elizabeth Bearden, owner of the Cactus and Desert theaters in Hawthorne, recently purchased the Mineralite Drive-In Theater and the lease on the Babbitt Theater and will assume active management of these two theaters on Sept 1.
The sale was made by Charles Leonard who has operated the Babbitt theater since 1949 and who constructed the Mineralite Drive-In, Hawthorne’s only drive-in theater, in 1953. Mrs. Bearden has announced that her Desert theater will be closed on Sept 1 and that the Babbitt theater, which has been closed during the summer months, will re-open on Sunday, Sept 1.
Co;lumbia Broadcasting System announced sale of its CBS-Radio Theater at 1615 N. Vine Street to Huntington Hartford III, food chain heir, for a figure in excess of $200,000. It was understood that Hartford acquired the theater-scene of many radio shows since 1936-as a legitimate stage theater and theater workshop.
Formerly known as the Vine Street Theater, the house was acquired by the radio network in 1936 and was operated by the Vine Street Realty Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS.
Here is part of another Trib article dated 1/15/36:
ILLINOIS THEATER SITE LEASED FOR $21,000 PER YEAR
Dimmed lights for the Illinois Theater will mean $21,000 rental for the site it now occupies to be paid the liquidating trustees by the Loop Auto Parks, Inc. This was disclosed yesterday when the final steps in the leasing of the historic property were concluded.
The church took over the abandoned Austin Theater in 1972. The front of the building has been stuccoed over, not much to make anyone think a theater was there. http://tinyurl.com/5vtvb4
I tried to take some interior photos in the dome before the movie started, but it was too dark. Besides, the Arclight ushers are very involved in having phones turned off and the rest. No argument from me there.
There is also a clothing store at this address. The dance studio is 217 ½ N. Parkerson, which may be upstairs or a different part of the building. Retail should be added as a function. http://www.divinefashions.biz/
Executive producer of “Slipper & the Rose” was David Frost.
Lou Dobbs from CNN?
The theater’s sale in November 1920 was noted by the Washington Post:
SALE OF EMPRESS THEATER.
Office of William K. Ellis Reports Transactions Totaling $100,000.
Transactions said to Involve considerations totaling approximately $100,000 are reported from the office of William K. Ellis. The Empress Theater, 416 Ninth Street Northwest, was sold to Marcus Notes who opened this theater as one of the first moving picture houses in Washington in 1909. Arthur Jordan was the former owner.
The Aschers sold in April 1923, according to the Tribune:
THEATER, STORES SOLD BY ASCHER; PRICE, $328,000
According to the revenue stamps on the deed, Nathan Ascher, president of the Cosmopolitan Securities company, was paid $328,000, subject to an incumbrance of $90,000, for the Cosmopolitan theater, store and office building.
Here is a February 1927 ad from the Englewood Register:
http://tinyurl.com/5pmv2q
The bakery can be seen at the bottom of this page:
http://tinyurl.com/6syw93
Here is part of an article from the Reno Evening Gazette dated 8/30/57:
HAWTHORNE â€" Mrs. Elizabeth Bearden, owner of the Cactus and Desert theaters in Hawthorne, recently purchased the Mineralite Drive-In Theater and the lease on the Babbitt Theater and will assume active management of these two theaters on Sept 1.
The sale was made by Charles Leonard who has operated the Babbitt theater since 1949 and who constructed the Mineralite Drive-In, Hawthorne’s only drive-in theater, in 1953. Mrs. Bearden has announced that her Desert theater will be closed on Sept 1 and that the Babbitt theater, which has been closed during the summer months, will re-open on Sunday, Sept 1.
Here is part of an article from the Reno Evening Gazette dated 8/30/57:
Theater Sale is Announced in Hawthorne
HAWTHORNE â€" Mrs. Elizabeth Bearden, owner of the Cactus and Desert theaters in Hawthorne, recently purchased the Mineralite Drive-In Theater and the lease on the Babbitt Theater and will assume active management of these two theaters on Sept 1.
The sale was made by Charles Leonard who has operated the Babbitt theater since 1949 and who constructed the Mineralite Drive-In, Hawthorne’s only drive-in theater, in 1953. Mrs. Bearden has announced that her Desert theater will be closed on Sept 1 and that the Babbitt theater, which has been closed during the summer months, will re-open on Sunday, Sept 1.
Here is part of an LA Times story dated 7/10/53:
CBS-RADIO THEATER SOLD TO HARTFORD
Co;lumbia Broadcasting System announced sale of its CBS-Radio Theater at 1615 N. Vine Street to Huntington Hartford III, food chain heir, for a figure in excess of $200,000. It was understood that Hartford acquired the theater-scene of many radio shows since 1936-as a legitimate stage theater and theater workshop.
Formerly known as the Vine Street Theater, the house was acquired by the radio network in 1936 and was operated by the Vine Street Realty Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS.
Here is part of another Trib article dated 1/15/36:
ILLINOIS THEATER SITE LEASED FOR $21,000 PER YEAR
Dimmed lights for the Illinois Theater will mean $21,000 rental for the site it now occupies to be paid the liquidating trustees by the Loop Auto Parks, Inc. This was disclosed yesterday when the final steps in the leasing of the historic property were concluded.
The church took over the abandoned Austin Theater in 1972. The front of the building has been stuccoed over, not much to make anyone think a theater was there.
http://tinyurl.com/5vtvb4
I am indeed. Quaker education, in fact.
Here is a 2004 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6m35du
Is this just a parking lot now? Did they replace the theater with another building? Atlantic Avenue today is pretty dismal.
Here is the theater website:
http://grahamdrivein.com/
Here is a 2001 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/5hr4xq
I tried to take some interior photos in the dome before the movie started, but it was too dark. Besides, the Arclight ushers are very involved in having phones turned off and the rest. No argument from me there.
Undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6haupn
Also, the chain should be unknown, and not AMC Theaters.
I agree, but Blazer Tag is also what you see when you google the address, map-wise.
This one is at 1701 W. Ben White. Are there a bunch of laser tag places on this street?
http://www.blazertag.com/tour/tour.html
Here is an ad from the Suburbanite Economist, dated 10/23/55:
For Rent: Barber shop, fully equipped.
Good location in Momence Theater Bldng.
18 N. Dixie Hghwy., Momence, Ill.
Call Momence 57, after 7 p.m.
An apartment complex now stands on the former theater’s location.
The Circle can be seen in this 1945 photo as well, also from Life:
http://tinyurl.com/69lyzw
Here is a June 1943 Life photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6865s2
There is also a clothing store at this address. The dance studio is 217 ½ N. Parkerson, which may be upstairs or a different part of the building. Retail should be added as a function.
http://www.divinefashions.biz/