Comments from dsedman

Showing 51 - 75 of 80 comments

dsedman
dsedman commented about Globe Theatre on Feb 26, 2017 at 3:56 pm

Dates incorrect (that’s a different Globe Theatre). This one was still going in 1969 and likely an African American Theatre. Converted to retail by 1973.

dsedman
dsedman commented about State Theatre on Feb 26, 2017 at 7:49 am

The original Bank Theatre opened in a bank on March 27, 1912 at 16 S. Main. It moved to new digs within a bank building launching in the 328-332 S. Main facility on December 9, 1917 with “The Price Mark.” In August of 1923, the Bank Theatre became the State Theatre.

Always a subrun double feature house, the State had its biggest run with the Gene Tunney v. Jack Dempsey fight in 1927. With demolition occurring nearby, the low point came when the ceiling crashed down August 13, 1947 when “The Man from Texas” was playing. Only four of 50 patrons were injured. The theatre finally ended its run in August of 1950.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Star Theatre on Feb 21, 2017 at 3:58 pm

After being known as the Hauber Annex Theatre from 1941 to late 1946, Otto C. Hauber sold of the original Hauber Theatre closing November 17, 1946 after a ten-year run at 635 Main Street. This theatre listed at 621 Main Street changed its name to the Hauber Theatre which was its name from November 17, 1946 to its quick sale on May 30, 1950. Upon closing for a remodel, it reopened.

Within two months, Charles P. Morel – who had operated theMoon Theatre in Alexandria from 1937-9) opened the venue in July of 1950. A refurbishing of the projection booth didn’t pay out in February of 1956 as a fire gutting the interior ended the location’s run as a movie theatre on February 8, 1956. It was retrofitted as a retail operation.

(Minutiae: Though the correct address of this theatre in Alexandria is, indeed, 637 Main Street, it does so despite the fact that the neighboring building going uptown carries the lower 635 Main Street. The original Hauber building next door technically was 635-637 Main with 621 Main being this entry, the Hauber Annex. When the Hauber Annex turned Hauber, the address appears to have gotten fouled up.)

dsedman
dsedman commented about Joy Twin Drive-In on Feb 21, 2017 at 6:16 am

June 20, 1952 grand opening ads for the Joy Twin which maps well to 1615 MacArthur in Alexandria

dsedman
dsedman commented about Hauber Theatre on Feb 20, 2017 at 7:00 pm

The original Hauber Theatre by O.C. Hauber definitely closed November 17, 1946 after a ten-year run at 635 Main Street (barely seen at the far right of the shot in photos). Upon closing, the building was sold to Bill Moody and F.L. “Webb” Webster. They opened Webb & Bill’s Auto and Electric Store following a remodeling on March 7, 1947. The Hauber Annex changed to the Hauber Theatre on November 18, 1946 next door at 637 Main Street.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Saenger Theatre on Feb 19, 2017 at 7:35 pm

The Saenger closed June 30, 1950 playing “The Hills of Oklahoma” and was sold to Schwartzberg’s Department Store on July 12, 1950 which modified the theatre to expand its retail operation.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Cinema on Feb 19, 2017 at 7:23 pm

The original Rex Theatre opened December 7, 1911 in the Lund Building on Front Street as a motion picture house.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Silver City Theatre on Feb 19, 2017 at 7:09 pm

August 7, 1947 grand opening ad of the African American $60,000 Silver City Theatre in photos. The 700 seat theatre architects were Dunn & Quinn from Lake Charles. The theatre is liquidated in 1951 but finds a new operator reopening that same year. Ads stop after the shows on April 11, 1955 and is offered for sale. The theater could have continued without ads.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Joy Drive-In on Feb 19, 2017 at 6:47 pm

There was a race in Alexandria to see which of two new outdoor theatres could open first and, sadly for the Joy Drive-In, it finished second. The Joy did open but very late in the year on November 18, 1949 playing “Tulsa.” The Fox Drive-In was first to the tape opening July 8th of that same year. And the Joy was first to close in 1962 though it did host a movie-less fireworks show in 1963. The land was sold in 1966 with the theatre bulldozed.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Don Drive-In on Feb 19, 2017 at 6:41 pm

The Fox Drive-In Theatre was named after its operator, Billy “Fox” Johnson who raced with the Joy Drive-In to see who could open first. Billy and the Fox won opening July 7, 1949 with “A Date With Judy” while the Joy opened months later in November.

In 1957, the operators of the downtown Don Theatre took on the Fox and renamed it the Don Drive-In. The theatre lasted into the video age.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Redwood Theatre on Feb 19, 2017 at 4:32 am

Opened June 6, 1929, the Redwood was initially built for Paul H. Tessier and Pine Tree Amusement Circuit. It was apparently called the Redwood Theatre for its heavy use of redwood inside and out from the local sawmill. The Berenson Brothers, who were also building a theater in town, took on the theater prior to its completion.

Favrot and Livaudais were both architects and builders of the venue. The theatre was downgraded to five days a week operation and closed several times including a nearly two-year stretch. In 1942, it was modernized with cushioned seats, wood paneling and new marquee. It lasted into the television age

dsedman
dsedman commented about State Theatre on Feb 19, 2017 at 4:05 am

Opened March 8, 1929 for the Berenson Brothers Circuit. Lockett & Chachere were the architects. Simplex projection and Western Electric Sound were the choices for opening (though the latter was delayed). The $125,000 venue had a Reproducer pipe organ for its launch.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Bison Theatre on Feb 18, 2017 at 3:35 pm

May 4, 1952 final day for the Bison in a protest over taxation.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Parkway Theatre on Feb 18, 2017 at 6:14 am

Max Roche, architect

dsedman
dsedman commented about Band Box Theatre on Feb 16, 2017 at 7:02 pm

CC: Good question. The local paper reported that John T. Graham of Kansas City got permission from the War Production Board to transform an existing retail building owned by F.P Zbranek to what would become the Band Box Theatre. The short-lived Plaza Theatre was actually opened April 10, 1936 in the Odd Fellows Building on the East Side of the Square. The theatre looks to have gone out of business in 1937 and the building was severely damaged by a fire April 21, 1938.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Fotosho Theatre on Feb 16, 2017 at 7:13 am

The Fotosho (not Photosho) Theatre ads in Neosho from opening in 1921 to closing 1947 (upper left). This location of the Fotosho Theatre opened on September 30, 1922 in the Price Building on the South Side of the Neosho Square at 105 East Main Street. Its last show was “The Oklahoma Kid” on July 16, 1946. It was retrofitted for retail becoming the long-running Mode O'Day Clothing Store.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Band Box Theatre on Feb 15, 2017 at 9:01 pm

Grand opening as the Band Box Theatre was July 26, 1944. Closed again briefly reopening in 1948. When the Edgewood Drive-In opened, the Band Box was reduced to Winter usage only with its bookings at the ozoner. Appears to have closed April 3, 1954 perhaps at the end of a ten-year lease. After three years of inactivity, it became the new home to W.J. Hux Clothing Store in 1957. Proper name is “Band Box Theatre”

dsedman
dsedman commented about Clarinda Theatre on Feb 11, 2017 at 6:25 am

Bluechel and Lannan purchased the Armory and Rialto in 1929 equipping the Armory with Vitaphone disc-based sound. After its theatrical life, it became known as the Glenn Miller Armory as Clarinda was his birthplace.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Ebony Drive-In on Feb 9, 2017 at 2:53 pm

Likely opened in 1952

dsedman
dsedman commented about Uptown Theatre on Jan 22, 2017 at 9:54 am

The Orpheum Theatre opened on East Main Street in 1911 likely on a twenty-year lease. John Meehan bought the house running it from 1914 to its end of lease in 1931. Meehan had converted the theater to RCA sound on film technology in 1930. He sold it to new owners who relaunched on November 1, 1931 as the Uptown Theatre with “Big Boy” and “Rich People.” The Uptown closed on November 30, 1952 after a showing of “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima.” It was converted to a piano store and demolished in 1992.

dsedman
dsedman commented about 10th Avenue Drive-In on Jan 18, 2017 at 5:47 am

The 10th Ave. Drive-In is ready for its grand opening on September 30th, 1955

dsedman
dsedman commented about Lyric Theatre on Jan 17, 2017 at 7:11 am

Received a new facade in 1937 for a more moderne look (see photo)

dsedman
dsedman commented about Kaw Theatre on Jan 11, 2017 at 10:32 am

The Kaw Theatre had a film seized during its adult operation. On March 8, 1973, Judge A.B. Fletcher ruled that the Junction City theater’s presentation of the film, “Pornographic in New York” was obscene and ruled that the film had to be destroyed.

dsedman
dsedman commented about Globe Theatre on Jan 11, 2017 at 9:52 am

The Globe Theatre opened on November 2, 1912 with the films, “The Refugee’s Casket,” “White Treachery,” and “All Account of a Handkerchief.” The architect of the theatre was Frederick L. Brown.

dsedman
dsedman commented about 10th Street Theatre on Jan 10, 2017 at 8:58 am

The 10th Street Theatre opened in 1911 as a 480-seat venue at 15 Tenth Street in Kansas City. Located close to a major streetcar transfer point, the theater made heavy use of streetcar ads. It appears to have a brief name change under new ownership to the Columbia Theatre in 1918 but new operators gutted the theatre and with entrance moved returning to the Tenth Street Theatre moniker on September 25, 1920 at a grand reopening now with 650 seats. In 1928, the theatre went to a homemade disc sound system that had poor results before equipping to improved sound.

In 1937, the theatre under Ed F. Burgan went for a streamline modern makeover by architects Besecke & Swanson. The new theatre now had 877 seats.