That’s an error, which happens a lot on Film Daily Yearbooks. I officially realized that this is the Rowe Theatre, because an article from May 1956 say that the Rowe is the only movie house in St. James.
The Rowe Theatre, which opened on June 29, 1949 by Carney himself with an original capacity of 600 seats, replaced the older 384-seat Lyric Theatre nearby which closed the previous day. This came a few days before Carney officially planned to build a drive-in theater in Rolla with a very expensive cost. The Rowe Theatre suffered fire destruction with an estimate $40,000 loss in May 1956, leaving St. James without a movie theater for 11 months until officially reopening after a long remodel on April 26, 1957. It was renamed the St. James Cinema in the late-1970s.
Although I cannot find its opening date, the Skyvue opened in 1949 by Robert Lowery. It originally housed 350 cars but appears that it may’ve nearly doubled the capacity sometime in the 1960s. It appears that it closed in the early-1980s, as a 1985 aerial view shows the screen but the traces were completely cleared off.
The Juno Theatre opened on January 25, 1948 with Wayne Morris in “Deep Valley” along with a newsreel and a cartoon, and was first owned by Carl F. Neitzel.
The Liberty Theatre opened in 1919, and was renamed multiple times over the years. It was renamed the Palms Theatre on May 6, 1934, and the El Rancho Theatre in June 1940. On August 20, 1946, the theater was severely damaged from a backstage fire that started next to the screen causing an estimate $20,000 in damage. The theater reopened on November 12, 1946 after remodeling. It was renamed the Lakeside Cinema in the mid-1980s and finally the Uptown Cinema in the 2000s.
This started life as the New Theatre for only a single month, opening its doors on November 22, 1934 with Eddie Cantor in “Roman Scandals” along with Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony smash “Three Little Pigs”. The following month in December 1934, a theater naming contest was held with a local woman winning $25 for the name Melba, and the theater was renamed the Melba Theatre.
The actual opening date is July 15, 1949 with James Stewart in “The Stratton Story” and MGM’s documentary “Some Of The Best” along with two newsreels (one of which is “Magazine Of The Screen”).
The Vallejo Auto Movies opened its gates on June 9, 1950 with June Haver in “The Daughter Of Rosie O'Grady” and Dennis O'Keefe in “The Great Dan Patch” along with two Looney Tunes cartoons (Tweety in “I Taw a Putty Tat” and an unnamed Bugs Bunny one), and a Magazine Of The Screen newsreel. Some of the original installations include RCA speakers, a rain fluid, and a 70x60ft screen.
The Crescent Drive-In opened its gates on July 13, 1948 with Walt Disney’s “Bambi” and Pat O'Brien in “Riff-Raff” (unknown if extras added). The original screen measures 90ft, and was first operated by M.C. Mayo.
The actual opening date is November 22, 1928 with Richard Dix in “Moran Of The Marines” (unknown if extras added) alongside a performance from the theater’s Reproducto organ, and was first operated by E.H. Brechler.
The Millenium Cinema opened in the early-2000s as an independently-operated theater, and in May 2007, the Millenium Cinema was taken over by the State Theatres Circuit owned by the owners of the Avalon Cinema.
The Platteville Drive-In opened its gates on June 25, 1953 with Sterling Hayden in “The Golden Hawk” along with a few cartoons, a sportlight, and a short subject on the U.S. Army Band. The theater was actually (and strangely) located at the current intersection of Ridge Avenue and 8th Avenue despite being located directly east of Wisconsin 81.
The original screen measures 56x62ft and was supported on a 74ft tower that withstand winds of 125 MPH secured on a cement base of 90 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. It was first operated by John O'Connor.
During the 1973 season, two of its speakers were stolen led by two local 18-to-19-year-old boys, but the Platteville Drive-In managed to continue operating for a little bit more. The theater unfortunately closed later in the mid-1970s and was immediately demolished to make way for a neighborhood.
It was never known as the Highway 80 Drive-In, judging by its location.
The Avalon Theatre opened its doors on December 11, 1930 with Spencer Tracy in “Up The River” along with an unnamed Paramount Screen Song, the screen novelty “Pirates”, and a Fox Movietone Newsreel.
On grand opening day, a trumpet call was blown followed by a local band performing both the National Anthem and “On Wisconsin” on-stage, and afterwards is a special address delivered by the city’s longtime mayor A.W. Hoosier (1879-1960).
The Popular Auto Theatre closed for the final time on November 24, 1963 with “Spencer’s Mountain” and “Black Gold” (exactly two days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy).
The Popular Auto Theatre never reopened for the 1964 season due to the death of its owner William John Stadtlander from an illness at age 49 while settling in Cincinnati on April 6, 1964.
The Starlight Drive-In opened its gates on September 14, 1961, and was owned by Charles Whitman. Less than two years later on June 15, 1963, the original screen supported by steel angle irons anchored in concrete was severely damaged when wind gusts caused the screen to collapse during a storm.
The Sundown Drive-In opened its gates on May 26, 1950 with “Lust For Gold” and “The Return of Rin-Tin-Tin” (unknown if extras added), and was first operated by Martinsville brothers Thomas G. and James A. Cramer. It was renamed the Cinema West in 1967 retaining its mainstream policy for a short period of time, but flipped its policy to adult films a couple years later.
Closed on August 29, 2024.
Closed on April 27, 1986 with “Murphy’s Law” and “Critters”.
That’s an error, which happens a lot on Film Daily Yearbooks. I officially realized that this is the Rowe Theatre, because an article from May 1956 say that the Rowe is the only movie house in St. James.
The Rowe Theatre, which opened on June 29, 1949 by Carney himself with an original capacity of 600 seats, replaced the older 384-seat Lyric Theatre nearby which closed the previous day. This came a few days before Carney officially planned to build a drive-in theater in Rolla with a very expensive cost. The Rowe Theatre suffered fire destruction with an estimate $40,000 loss in May 1956, leaving St. James without a movie theater for 11 months until officially reopening after a long remodel on April 26, 1957. It was renamed the St. James Cinema in the late-1970s.
Although I cannot find its opening date, the Skyvue opened in 1949 by Robert Lowery. It originally housed 350 cars but appears that it may’ve nearly doubled the capacity sometime in the 1960s. It appears that it closed in the early-1980s, as a 1985 aerial view shows the screen but the traces were completely cleared off.
Its alright! Mistakes happen!
The Juno Theatre opened on January 25, 1948 with Wayne Morris in “Deep Valley” along with a newsreel and a cartoon, and was first owned by Carl F. Neitzel.
The Liberty Theatre opened in 1919, and was renamed multiple times over the years. It was renamed the Palms Theatre on May 6, 1934, and the El Rancho Theatre in June 1940. On August 20, 1946, the theater was severely damaged from a backstage fire that started next to the screen causing an estimate $20,000 in damage. The theater reopened on November 12, 1946 after remodeling. It was renamed the Lakeside Cinema in the mid-1980s and finally the Uptown Cinema in the 2000s.
This started life as the New Theatre for only a single month, opening its doors on November 22, 1934 with Eddie Cantor in “Roman Scandals” along with Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony smash “Three Little Pigs”. The following month in December 1934, a theater naming contest was held with a local woman winning $25 for the name Melba, and the theater was renamed the Melba Theatre.
The Village Twin Cinema opened its doors on March 4, 1974 with “Executive Action” in Screen 1 and “Electra Glide In Blue” in Screen 2.
It appears that it closed on October 27, 1994 with “Speed” in Screen 1 and “Forrest Gump” in Screen 2.
The actual opening date is July 15, 1949 with James Stewart in “The Stratton Story” and MGM’s documentary “Some Of The Best” along with two newsreels (one of which is “Magazine Of The Screen”).
The Vallejo Auto Movies opened its gates on June 9, 1950 with June Haver in “The Daughter Of Rosie O'Grady” and Dennis O'Keefe in “The Great Dan Patch” along with two Looney Tunes cartoons (Tweety in “I Taw a Putty Tat” and an unnamed Bugs Bunny one), and a Magazine Of The Screen newsreel. Some of the original installations include RCA speakers, a rain fluid, and a 70x60ft screen.
The Crescent Drive-In opened its gates on July 13, 1948 with Walt Disney’s “Bambi” and Pat O'Brien in “Riff-Raff” (unknown if extras added). The original screen measures 90ft, and was first operated by M.C. Mayo.
The Post-Commack Theatre actually opened on February 11, 1922 with an original capacity of 500 seats.
The actual opening date is November 22, 1928 with Richard Dix in “Moran Of The Marines” (unknown if extras added) alongside a performance from the theater’s Reproducto organ, and was first operated by E.H. Brechler.
The actual opening date is February 23, 1924 with a live presentation of “The Cat And The Canary”.
Opened on May 4, 1911, closed in Spring 1960.
The Millenium Cinema opened in the early-2000s as an independently-operated theater, and in May 2007, the Millenium Cinema was taken over by the State Theatres Circuit owned by the owners of the Avalon Cinema.
The Platteville Drive-In opened its gates on June 25, 1953 with Sterling Hayden in “The Golden Hawk” along with a few cartoons, a sportlight, and a short subject on the U.S. Army Band. The theater was actually (and strangely) located at the current intersection of Ridge Avenue and 8th Avenue despite being located directly east of Wisconsin 81.
The original screen measures 56x62ft and was supported on a 74ft tower that withstand winds of 125 MPH secured on a cement base of 90 cubic yards of reinforced concrete. It was first operated by John O'Connor.
During the 1973 season, two of its speakers were stolen led by two local 18-to-19-year-old boys, but the Platteville Drive-In managed to continue operating for a little bit more. The theater unfortunately closed later in the mid-1970s and was immediately demolished to make way for a neighborhood.
The Avalon Theatre opened its doors on December 11, 1930 with Spencer Tracy in “Up The River” along with an unnamed Paramount Screen Song, the screen novelty “Pirates”, and a Fox Movietone Newsreel.
Oh, so it closed as a triplex? I didn’t know until now! Thanks Dallas! Yes this closed as a triplex.
The Popular Auto Theatre closed for the final time on November 24, 1963 with “Spencer’s Mountain” and “Black Gold” (exactly two days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy).
The Popular Auto Theatre never reopened for the 1964 season due to the death of its owner William John Stadtlander from an illness at age 49 while settling in Cincinnati on April 6, 1964.
The Starlight Drive-In opened its gates on September 14, 1961, and was owned by Charles Whitman. Less than two years later on June 15, 1963, the original screen supported by steel angle irons anchored in concrete was severely damaged when wind gusts caused the screen to collapse during a storm.
The Starlite closed after the 1984 season.
It was renamed the Cinema 67 Drive-In at the start of the 1977 season.
The Y&M Open-Air Theatre opened its gates on June 7, 1970 with “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Support Your Local Sheriff”.
The Sundown Drive-In opened its gates on May 26, 1950 with “Lust For Gold” and “The Return of Rin-Tin-Tin” (unknown if extras added), and was first operated by Martinsville brothers Thomas G. and James A. Cramer. It was renamed the Cinema West in 1967 retaining its mainstream policy for a short period of time, but flipped its policy to adult films a couple years later.