According to local history and newspaper articles the Gem was originally to be called the Magnolia. It opened on June 14, 1928 with a seating capacity of 425.
On the afternoon of December 6, 1929 the empty theatre was ravaged by a fire of unknown origin which caused interior damage.
On Jan 3, 1930 the renovated and redecorated Gem reopened with the addition of 40 loge seats, upgraded sound proofing and a “talking pictures exclusively” policy.
The name was probably changed to Omak Theatre on the date in the introduction.
Larry and Mary Lassila bought the theatre on April 1, 1976 and changed the name to Omak Cinema.
In 2004 they also opened the Mirage Theatre across the street in the former Brownies Building.
I have looked at current photos of Cottage Avenue taken from the same Division Avenue vantage point. No signs of the three story building that housed the Royal. Doing some detective work on that.
Uploaded two photos. One shows the Royal on the immediate left foreground. The second is taken from Division Avenue (with a portion of the Vale in the left foreground) with the painted sign “Royal Theatre” on the right some ways down the block.
The owner tried to collect damages incurred due to closing for the pandemic from his insurance company but was denied by the courts. This may set a precedence for future suits.
They are still closed and the phone has been disconnected. Also, the shopping center has a new owner. Doesn’t look good.
I have uploaded three photos in which the Vale appears: one at a celebration of VJ Day where the marquee and a portion of the vertical appear; one in which the vertical is seen in the distance on the right; and the third showing the corner of the building and the Division Street sign.
I find it odd when looking at these old photos that this, which appears to be the main street in town, is called Cottage Avenue.
And JBottero if the current building at 101 is the former Vale it has been altered beyond recognition. The bank on Division has also been altered considerably but still is recognizable.
This was a segregated theatre with persons of color seated in a corner of the upper balcony reached through a separate entrance. This seated area was referred to by the now politically incorrect term “Crows Nest”.
Uploaded a photo by Val B of the rebranded facade. Disgusting. Looks like a burger joint. UA was noted for letting theatres deteriorate; AMC is noted for the sterile, non theatrical appearance of its properties.
The target date of a December 2020 opening has been delayed. The adjacent building, a former funeral parlor, must be demolished so there can be an annex for additional dressing rooms, office space and a loading dock. Estimate is now 46 million dollars for the renovation/restoration.
The Joy was erected around 1946 and was one of 40 operated by Joy’s Theatres, Inc. in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia. It was an impressive brick building with a balcony which was entered by a side entrance for persons of color. Despite being listed in the National Registry of Historic places it was demolished in 1988 to become a parking lot. One source estimates that ½ of Vicksburg’s historic buildings have been demolished over time.
I could not find a date of closure but I did find a reference to a 1969 showing of McKenna’s Gold.
According to information I found the theatre originally opened in 1985 and was closed in December 2006. In 2008 it was reopened, still with four auditoriums, but renovated by Wilcox.
I’ve uploaded two photos of the building which I believe housed the Virma. It fits the criteria: older white concrete building with brick frontage, on Highway 19 (Main Street), next to a mobile home park. If it is, in fact, still trying to verify that, the address would be 212 Main Street South.
The theatre was opened by the then owners of the Omak Theatre across the street, Larry and Mary Lassila, in the former Brownies Building.
At some point the name went back to Omak Theatre.
According to local history and newspaper articles the Gem was originally to be called the Magnolia. It opened on June 14, 1928 with a seating capacity of 425.
On the afternoon of December 6, 1929 the empty theatre was ravaged by a fire of unknown origin which caused interior damage.
On Jan 3, 1930 the renovated and redecorated Gem reopened with the addition of 40 loge seats, upgraded sound proofing and a “talking pictures exclusively” policy.
The name was probably changed to Omak Theatre on the date in the introduction.
Larry and Mary Lassila bought the theatre on April 1, 1976 and changed the name to Omak Cinema.
In 2004 they also opened the Mirage Theatre across the street in the former Brownies Building.
I have looked at current photos of Cottage Avenue taken from the same Division Avenue vantage point. No signs of the three story building that housed the Royal. Doing some detective work on that.
Uploaded two photos. One shows the Royal on the immediate left foreground. The second is taken from Division Avenue (with a portion of the Vale in the left foreground) with the painted sign “Royal Theatre” on the right some ways down the block.
The owner tried to collect damages incurred due to closing for the pandemic from his insurance company but was denied by the courts. This may set a precedence for future suits.
They are still closed and the phone has been disconnected. Also, the shopping center has a new owner. Doesn’t look good.
In 2017 the remaining tenants were evicted and the mall closed. It remains boarded up awaiting redevelopment. The namesake Carousel was sold.
I have uploaded three photos in which the Vale appears: one at a celebration of VJ Day where the marquee and a portion of the vertical appear; one in which the vertical is seen in the distance on the right; and the third showing the corner of the building and the Division Street sign.
I find it odd when looking at these old photos that this, which appears to be the main street in town, is called Cottage Avenue.
And JBottero if the current building at 101 is the former Vale it has been altered beyond recognition. The bank on Division has also been altered considerably but still is recognizable.
Actual building dates to 1907.
Uploaded three photos of the theatre at varying times: as the vacant, for sale North Beach; as the North Beach Movie and as The Movie.
This was a segregated theatre with persons of color seated in a corner of the upper balcony reached through a separate entrance. This seated area was referred to by the now politically incorrect term “Crows Nest”.
Uploaded a photo by Val B of the rebranded facade. Disgusting. Looks like a burger joint. UA was noted for letting theatres deteriorate; AMC is noted for the sterile, non theatrical appearance of its properties.
The target date of a December 2020 opening has been delayed. The adjacent building, a former funeral parlor, must be demolished so there can be an annex for additional dressing rooms, office space and a loading dock. Estimate is now 46 million dollars for the renovation/restoration.
The Joy was erected around 1946 and was one of 40 operated by Joy’s Theatres, Inc. in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia. It was an impressive brick building with a balcony which was entered by a side entrance for persons of color. Despite being listed in the National Registry of Historic places it was demolished in 1988 to become a parking lot. One source estimates that ½ of Vicksburg’s historic buildings have been demolished over time.
I could not find a date of closure but I did find a reference to a 1969 showing of McKenna’s Gold.
Reportedly there were no indoor toilets, only outhouses, until 1960. Must have been challenging at the heavily populated dances.
I found a reference that the Palace was only for persons of color.
The Strand was a segregated theatre with persons of color seated in the balcony after they had entered through a side door.
According to information I found the theatre originally opened in 1985 and was closed in December 2006. In 2008 it was reopened, still with four auditoriums, but renovated by Wilcox.
I’ve uploaded two photos of the building which I believe housed the Virma. It fits the criteria: older white concrete building with brick frontage, on Highway 19 (Main Street), next to a mobile home park. If it is, in fact, still trying to verify that, the address would be 212 Main Street South.
They didn’t have in car heaters? That was the norm on Long Island, New York.
Time has come for the resurrection of this venue.
In my day the local fire department conducted exercises at the Bellerose Theatre because it was the tallest building in the community.
I’ve uploaded an ad for the Virma and the notice of the auction both of which appeared in issues of the Aiken Herald.
Uploaded photo of Lex booster ad in the 1957 Filer High School Wildcats yearbook.
Uploaded photo by Ronmaster Tailors.