The actual opening date is December 22, 1928 with Jacqueline Logan in “Nothing To Wear” along with an unknown comedy and a newsreel plus music from an orchestra named after the theater itself and the Master Page Twin organ. It was managed by A.C. Thornton and was the first movie theater to operate in North Hyde Park since the short-lived Belle-Air Theatre in May 1919.
The original Bonita Theatre on the site opened its doors on April 19, 1910 with two films, with one of the films titled “Bitter Sweet” (also known as “The Power Of The Child”), alongside musical performances by the Bonita Orchestra conducted by A.C. Gourlie. It was operated by A.N. Waters who also later opened the nearby Alcazar Theatre the following year.
The Bonita Theatre closed on August 4, 1923 with Bronco Billy in “Greater Duty” and an unknown Harold Lloyd comedy when the announcement of a new theater being built at the former Bonita site came, and the original Bonita building was demolished a few weeks later for the construction of the 56x110ft Franklin Theatre.
During construction, the theater was originally set to be named the New Bonita Theatre but that name was scrapped in December 1923 for unknown reasons. The Franklin name came from a theater naming contest which was held that same month.
The actual opening date is May 26, 1911, and has a total capacity of 250 seats.
In color, the front of the theater is in green tints featuring a marvel of ornamental plaster art, and the walls of the lobby featured molded caryatids and busts of Pallas-Athene on elaborate pedestals while a total of 60 incandescent lights from the dark green background make a brilliant effect. A highly ornamental ticket booth adds to the outside effect. The interior in color is in cream, buff, and gold, and the side lights are in rose-tinted globes which hang from the mouths of lion head sculptures. The panels of the walls contain drawings of winged Cupids and the intervening columns are surmounted by shields bearing the letter “A”. Lastly, the ceiling is paneled with plenteous white-globed lights, and eight large oscillating fans keep the gentle breezes playing incessantly throughout the show.
It was unknown why the theater was named Tommie’s, because it was not named after its manager H.E. Boyd. The original screen measures 45x85ft and the drive-in covers a total of 12 acres with an estimate $60,000 in construction. It has an original capacity of 450 cars and also features two lanes of traffic in both directions.
Actually, the Kmart was built several years after its demolition. The land was empty at first and then the Kmart was built, opening on October 16, 1986. The Kmart closed in March 2017 and was converted into both Bargain Hunt and Harbor Freight.
Plitt Theatres closed the Capitol as a first-run movie house on September 16, 1979 with “Hot Stuff” due to lease expiration. Exactly a few weeks later, local residents Bill Neville and Jerry Strain formed their own theater company called the Sunshine State Theatres and they immediately helped to relaunch the Capitol Theatre.
The Capitol Theatre reopened its doors as a 99-cent variety house on October 5, 1979 with two Charlie Chaplin movies, “The Gentlemen Tramp” and “City Lights”, with live organ music and live performances were presented before each showing. On its first day, guitar player Barbara Moore took the stage on grand opening.
Unfortunately, the Capitol Theatre closed on November 1, 1980 with “New York, New York” when the city purchased the theater. On December 3, 1981, the Capitol reopened as the Royalty Theatre with a live presentation of “Oliver”.
There’s another cinema in Steubenville called the Cinema Theatre, although I cannot find any information about it. All I know is that its located at the then-Hollywood Shopping Plaza, and it appears to have opened around 1968 as a single-screener.
Information about the Paramount Theatre as of 1951 goes as follows:
William C. Gates, the manager of the Imperial Theatre also in Moncton, served as the original manager for the Paramount. The dazzling marquee features a grand total of 2,400 lightbulbs spelling out Paramount creating a waterfall effect. The ticket booth features both an automatic vendor and an automatic changemaker being located in the outer lobby which is arranged so that way tickets may be purchased in the open air during the summer months, and inside the doors in colder weather. The walls are dipped with rose and green with a border of flowers make an attractive entrance to the Paramount. In the inner lobby is a sky blue luxuriously rug with a starlight effect. There is also a confection bar, featuring a maroon leather bar with large mirrors and glass shelves on a wall of sky blue matching the ceiling add to the attractive appearance of the bar. Comfortable chesterfield suits have been installed for the comfort of patrons who are waiting.
The original auditorium housed an original capacity of 1,176 modern special push-back holstered seats (with more space to add more but was unknown if the management did that) alongside the management adding a policy designed to prevent overcrowding and space has been left in the two aisles and at the sides. The walls of the auditorium are dipped in turquoise with light and dark shades of old roses at the front supplying a string accent to the color scheme. There is also a motif in gold line panels the walls, as in the lobby starlight lighting is featured in the ceiling. At the stage, a flowing arch with indirect lighting forms a striking frame for the screen, with golden curtains to protect the screen when not in use and a porthole design is used to camouflage the air conditioning system with which the air is kept pure, fresh, and the right temperature. The drinking fountain at the rear of the auditorium is a black marble with a lighted “goldfish bowl” backdrop, and a stepping stool was used for the kiddies.
On grand opening night before “The Lemon Drop Kid”, there was a special ceremony delivered by the eastern supervisor of Famous Players R.S. Roddick. The occasion features the Moncton Salvage Corps, officers of the Moncton Police Department, members of the Moncton Fire Department, Mayor T.B. Parlee along with his wife, and people who worked with the theater.
The Fern Theatre was built on the site of a Planters Mercantile garage, and opened its doors on May 30, 1938 with Tony Martin in “Kentucky Moonshine” along with an unnamed comedy and a newsreel, featuring Motiograph projection and an original capacity of 500 seats (with 350 seats in the orchestra pit and 150 in the balcony for colored patrons).
The actual opening date is December 22, 1928 with Jacqueline Logan in “Nothing To Wear” along with an unknown comedy and a newsreel plus music from an orchestra named after the theater itself and the Master Page Twin organ. It was managed by A.C. Thornton and was the first movie theater to operate in North Hyde Park since the short-lived Belle-Air Theatre in May 1919.
Actual closing date is January 22, 1985 with “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Dune” in Screen 1 and “Avenging Angel” and “Cotton Club” in Screen 2.
It was still operating in May 1924 as a special events house, which also housed sporting events.
Closed in January 1918.
The original Bonita Theatre on the site opened its doors on April 19, 1910 with two films, with one of the films titled “Bitter Sweet” (also known as “The Power Of The Child”), alongside musical performances by the Bonita Orchestra conducted by A.C. Gourlie. It was operated by A.N. Waters who also later opened the nearby Alcazar Theatre the following year.
The Bonita Theatre closed on August 4, 1923 with Bronco Billy in “Greater Duty” and an unknown Harold Lloyd comedy when the announcement of a new theater being built at the former Bonita site came, and the original Bonita building was demolished a few weeks later for the construction of the 56x110ft Franklin Theatre.
The actual opening date is May 26, 1911, and has a total capacity of 250 seats.
The Lyric Theatre opened on March 12, 1927. It was originally supposed to open a week earlier but delayed due to shipping delay on seats.
It was unknown why the theater was named Tommie’s, because it was not named after its manager H.E. Boyd. The original screen measures 45x85ft and the drive-in covers a total of 12 acres with an estimate $60,000 in construction. It has an original capacity of 450 cars and also features two lanes of traffic in both directions.
Actually, the Kmart was built several years after its demolition. The land was empty at first and then the Kmart was built, opening on October 16, 1986. The Kmart closed in March 2017 and was converted into both Bargain Hunt and Harbor Freight.
Closed on April 24, 1997 with “Ransom” in Screen 1 and “Michael” in Screen 2.
Opened on April 13, 1952.
Closed as a first-run house on June 8, 1995 with “Crimson Tide” in Screen 1 and “Mad Love” in Screen 2.
The actual closing date is July 2, 1987 with “Benji The Hunted” in Screen 1 and “Project X” in Screen 2.
This also replaced the Lyric Theatre, also in Shediac.
Plitt Theatres closed the Capitol as a first-run movie house on September 16, 1979 with “Hot Stuff” due to lease expiration. Exactly a few weeks later, local residents Bill Neville and Jerry Strain formed their own theater company called the Sunshine State Theatres and they immediately helped to relaunch the Capitol Theatre.
The Capitol Theatre reopened its doors as a 99-cent variety house on October 5, 1979 with two Charlie Chaplin movies, “The Gentlemen Tramp” and “City Lights”, with live organ music and live performances were presented before each showing. On its first day, guitar player Barbara Moore took the stage on grand opening.
Unfortunately, the Capitol Theatre closed on November 1, 1980 with “New York, New York” when the city purchased the theater. On December 3, 1981, the Capitol reopened as the Royalty Theatre with a live presentation of “Oliver”.
There’s another cinema in Steubenville called the Cinema Theatre, although I cannot find any information about it. All I know is that its located at the then-Hollywood Shopping Plaza, and it appears to have opened around 1968 as a single-screener.
Still open in 1970, but was already closed in 1972.
The actual closing date is May 23, 1953 with “Prince Of Pirates” and “The Bride Comes To Yellow Sky”.
Information about the Paramount Theatre as of 1951 goes as follows:
William C. Gates, the manager of the Imperial Theatre also in Moncton, served as the original manager for the Paramount. The dazzling marquee features a grand total of 2,400 lightbulbs spelling out Paramount creating a waterfall effect. The ticket booth features both an automatic vendor and an automatic changemaker being located in the outer lobby which is arranged so that way tickets may be purchased in the open air during the summer months, and inside the doors in colder weather. The walls are dipped with rose and green with a border of flowers make an attractive entrance to the Paramount. In the inner lobby is a sky blue luxuriously rug with a starlight effect. There is also a confection bar, featuring a maroon leather bar with large mirrors and glass shelves on a wall of sky blue matching the ceiling add to the attractive appearance of the bar. Comfortable chesterfield suits have been installed for the comfort of patrons who are waiting.
The original auditorium housed an original capacity of 1,176 modern special push-back holstered seats (with more space to add more but was unknown if the management did that) alongside the management adding a policy designed to prevent overcrowding and space has been left in the two aisles and at the sides. The walls of the auditorium are dipped in turquoise with light and dark shades of old roses at the front supplying a string accent to the color scheme. There is also a motif in gold line panels the walls, as in the lobby starlight lighting is featured in the ceiling. At the stage, a flowing arch with indirect lighting forms a striking frame for the screen, with golden curtains to protect the screen when not in use and a porthole design is used to camouflage the air conditioning system with which the air is kept pure, fresh, and the right temperature. The drinking fountain at the rear of the auditorium is a black marble with a lighted “goldfish bowl” backdrop, and a stepping stool was used for the kiddies.
Closed with “Grease”.
Closed on August 18, 1985 with “National Lampoon’s European Vacation”, “Tightrope”, and “Police Academy 2”.
Opened on March 29, 1996.
Closed on May 7, 1984 with “Hardbodies”.
Opened in September 1949.
The Fern Theatre was built on the site of a Planters Mercantile garage, and opened its doors on May 30, 1938 with Tony Martin in “Kentucky Moonshine” along with an unnamed comedy and a newsreel, featuring Motiograph projection and an original capacity of 500 seats (with 350 seats in the orchestra pit and 150 in the balcony for colored patrons).