Well actually the marquee looks better (pretty cool actually) in person.
What to me is amazing is that a comparatively small town like Urbana, Ohio still has an operating movie theatre. The Urbana Twin has a very classy lobby with crystal chandeliers. I still like driving through a small town and find an OPEN theatre that is still close to the way it was in past years. If the predictions of people like Mark Lipsky (CT news item for Saturday 8/14/10) are correct, in short order there won’t be many theatres for us to see anywhere except our memories.
The Super Castle was certainly the nicer of the two area drive-ins. It had a larger field, a large concession stand and very large block and concrete screen tower. Screens “wings†were added for cinemascope in the mid-50’s. By the 60’s the Super Castle was running first-run product with the Penn Theatre, downtown. Often the filmco’s would allocate a single print for the town. Ushers would take one reel (20 minutes) from the Penn projection booth and swap it for a reel at the drive-in. The two theatres were more than 5 miles apart. Timing was very important and too many red lights or a train would result in a dark screen until the usher could make it back to one theatre or another. This “bicycling prints†program continued until a train hit an usher’s car, hurting him and destroying his car. After that there were always enough prints available and nobody had to share.
The Skyline was a pretty bare-bones operation compared to the nicer Super Castle nearby.
The screen tower was on a direct sight line with the New Castle Airport a couple miles away. The revolving searchlight at the airport was a challenge while watching the movies…if you were actually watching the movies :–) I’m confident that I am not alone with my memories of romantic pursuits, which were part of the “right of passage†for teenagers in the 50’s and 60’s at drive-in theatres.
This was a very ornate theatre used for both movies and vaudeville.
Many notable acts of the time were featured on the Capitol stage including Al Jolson and a very young newcomer, Bob Hope. A former cashier in many New Castle theatres, Helen Harding, remembers the time a (then poor) Bob Hope split his trousers while performing his comedy/variety act. Since they were Hope’s only pants, Miss Harding invited him home where she mended his pants and fed him a welcome, hot meal. She reported to say that “Hr (Hope) was very kind and a perfect gentleman.â€
The night the Capitol burned down the marquee announced the next attraction: “Fireman Save My Child.â€
The Capitol mural is completed, along with several other “works in progress” on walls in Milton, PA
The following three links are articles in the Sunbury Daily Item about the artist, The Cinestage Group, and the impact of the murals (and the Capitol) on the area.
The commemorative celebration honoring the 1972 re-opening is now scheduled for 2011.
The Cresent was a very well built, progessionally operated neighborhood theatre. A classic feature was the illuminated glass block wall that separated the auditorium from the tiny lobby. It was well maintained until it’s closing as a movie theatre in 1959. The New Castle Playhouse thrived for several years at this location.
The Cinestage Group, Jack Oberleitner, Tom Poling and others) operated the Motor Vu for one season in 1973. Very profitable!
Ran many “dusk to dawn” shows. Concession stand sold out completely for Beatles D to D marathon. :–)
Like the nearby Dome Theatre (Paramount/Vogue/New Vogue/Cinema) the Nixon (Ritz/Victor) originally had no restrooms since programs only lasted a half hour or so. These early nickelodeons had a quick turnover in audiences. Feature films were still a bit in the future. Films grew longer, audiences more discriminating, prices rose to 15 cents or higher (!), and city officials demanded “comfort facilities.†Some places closed like the Cascade, Moravia, Star and Baltimore Strand. The Nixon and Dome found only one location in their smallish buildings to place restrooms, behind the screen! So, while the audience watched what was ON the screen, men walked up the left aisle and women up the right, under illuminated signs that read EXIT/MENS and EXIT/LADIES, to attend to nature. Of course, there was the occasional catcall by less sophisticated patrons. The Victor never had a concession stand until the late 50’s and a rather unusual shaped auditorium. The room had a fairly large screen, for its size, with flanking exits (and restroom entrances). Seating was in two sections; however, one seating section had 10 to 12 more rows of seats than the other, thus giving the auditorium a squared off “pork chop†appearance. Certainly unique, especially for a first run house.
The Dome in its various incarnations never amounted to more than a second run B house. The Nixon on the other hand was the number two first run house (specializing in WB and Fox) throughout the thirties, forties and very early fifties. In 1951, after a very brief try as an art house, the Victor closed for 7 years. It reopened in the late fifties, finally with a concession stand, as a second run double and triple feature grinder operated by the Fry family, operators of the Wampum Theatre in nearby Wampum, PA.. John Borovilos operated the Victor for a couple of years before it was finally closed and demolished in the early sixties. The Victor boasted a beautiful, three sided marquee with hundreds of tiny bulbs, a beautiful, nighttime feature on New Castle’s main shopping street. Since it’s closing, the location has remained a vacant lot.
David Victor also tried to run movies, briefly, in the mammoth, very ornate Cathedral auditorium within the imposing Masonic Scottish Rite building. He also operated a theatre in Meadville, PA during the early depression and the Victor Theatre in McKeesport, PA..
Hi Joe, Sorry for the delay, I’ve been working on a restoration. This info. (from memory) originally came from an old projection operator who was around at the time. The Warner Bro’s. had been going around Western PA and Eastern Ohio, near their Youngstown home, with a crank projector, a single film and a tent for use when weather or a vacant room were not available. One of the rooms they rented for this special event was part of, or adjacent to a funeral home on New Castle’s E. Washington Street. They borrowed folding chairs from the funeral director and projected the film on a 7 foot mirror. Apparently the response was so good and New Castle was a bustling city with the world’s largest tin mill and many other industries that they decided to experiment with making New Castle a permanent location. The makeshift “theatre†was referred to as the Bijou (little Gem) and The Pioneer. After several months, in 1903, the moved a few doors down E. Washington Street to a more appropriate property and created the Cascade Theatre. The location later became a Neisner 5 and 10 store and is now called the Cascade Center with a lobby display representing the façade of the Cascade Theatre and some vintage projectors. The Cascade was quickly followed by small “nickelodeons†such as the sheet metal-constructed Moravia Theatre, The Nixon (Victor), across the street from the Cascade, The Dome (Cinema), Park (Regent), Star, all on Washington Street and the Baltimore Strand on Long Avenue. In 1904 the Warner’s bought a small film company in Pittsburgh which eventually evolved into the Warner empire. Later, more elaborate theatres included the Capitol (vaudeville) and Penn theatres were constructed.
It would be nice to see a working “model†of the Cascade created. It might show a Warner documentary film, classics, etc as a tourist attraction. Who know, maybe some day…..
A mural is planned which depicts the Capitol theatre and it’s restoration and reopening in 1972. Picture and story at: View link
There is some talk of a celebration scheduled for this summer at the park that is now on the site of the theatre. The event will include a reenactment of the original gala reopening.
I think a reunion of sorts is long overdue for former theatre people in the W3estern PA area. Our numbers are dwindling.
I believe the building is still standing.
Both The Oriental and Family were last operated by Associated Theatre, Pittsburgh, in the 70’s.
Thanks :–)
Acrually, someone who still lives in New Castle could probably get the address from an old City Directory at the library.
I agree, I am often amazed at the level and depth of his theatrical knowleg. I would love to me you both sometime.
According to Philip Chakeres, President, the theatre is closed while some exterior repairs are being undertaken, new seats are being installed, etc.
Thanks Chuck!
I’ll see if I can locate a night shot.
Well actually the marquee looks better (pretty cool actually) in person.
What to me is amazing is that a comparatively small town like Urbana, Ohio still has an operating movie theatre. The Urbana Twin has a very classy lobby with crystal chandeliers. I still like driving through a small town and find an OPEN theatre that is still close to the way it was in past years. If the predictions of people like Mark Lipsky (CT news item for Saturday 8/14/10) are correct, in short order there won’t be many theatres for us to see anywhere except our memories.
Thanks! :–)
Anybody have any more info. on the Family Theatre?
It would be nice to see an entry.
Are you from Augusta?
I knows the feelin…
The Super Castle was certainly the nicer of the two area drive-ins. It had a larger field, a large concession stand and very large block and concrete screen tower. Screens “wings†were added for cinemascope in the mid-50’s. By the 60’s the Super Castle was running first-run product with the Penn Theatre, downtown. Often the filmco’s would allocate a single print for the town. Ushers would take one reel (20 minutes) from the Penn projection booth and swap it for a reel at the drive-in. The two theatres were more than 5 miles apart. Timing was very important and too many red lights or a train would result in a dark screen until the usher could make it back to one theatre or another. This “bicycling prints†program continued until a train hit an usher’s car, hurting him and destroying his car. After that there were always enough prints available and nobody had to share.
The Skyline was a pretty bare-bones operation compared to the nicer Super Castle nearby.
The screen tower was on a direct sight line with the New Castle Airport a couple miles away. The revolving searchlight at the airport was a challenge while watching the movies…if you were actually watching the movies :–) I’m confident that I am not alone with my memories of romantic pursuits, which were part of the “right of passage†for teenagers in the 50’s and 60’s at drive-in theatres.
This was a very ornate theatre used for both movies and vaudeville.
Many notable acts of the time were featured on the Capitol stage including Al Jolson and a very young newcomer, Bob Hope. A former cashier in many New Castle theatres, Helen Harding, remembers the time a (then poor) Bob Hope split his trousers while performing his comedy/variety act. Since they were Hope’s only pants, Miss Harding invited him home where she mended his pants and fed him a welcome, hot meal. She reported to say that “Hr (Hope) was very kind and a perfect gentleman.â€
The night the Capitol burned down the marquee announced the next attraction: “Fireman Save My Child.â€
The Capitol mural is completed, along with several other “works in progress” on walls in Milton, PA
The following three links are articles in the Sunbury Daily Item about the artist, The Cinestage Group, and the impact of the murals (and the Capitol) on the area.
The commemorative celebration honoring the 1972 re-opening is now scheduled for 2011.
View link
View link
View link
The Cresent was a very well built, progessionally operated neighborhood theatre. A classic feature was the illuminated glass block wall that separated the auditorium from the tiny lobby. It was well maintained until it’s closing as a movie theatre in 1959. The New Castle Playhouse thrived for several years at this location.
The Cinestage Group, Jack Oberleitner, Tom Poling and others) operated the Motor Vu for one season in 1973. Very profitable!
Ran many “dusk to dawn” shows. Concession stand sold out completely for Beatles D to D marathon. :–)
See also Capitol, Milton, PA.
Like the nearby Dome Theatre (Paramount/Vogue/New Vogue/Cinema) the Nixon (Ritz/Victor) originally had no restrooms since programs only lasted a half hour or so. These early nickelodeons had a quick turnover in audiences. Feature films were still a bit in the future. Films grew longer, audiences more discriminating, prices rose to 15 cents or higher (!), and city officials demanded “comfort facilities.†Some places closed like the Cascade, Moravia, Star and Baltimore Strand. The Nixon and Dome found only one location in their smallish buildings to place restrooms, behind the screen! So, while the audience watched what was ON the screen, men walked up the left aisle and women up the right, under illuminated signs that read EXIT/MENS and EXIT/LADIES, to attend to nature. Of course, there was the occasional catcall by less sophisticated patrons. The Victor never had a concession stand until the late 50’s and a rather unusual shaped auditorium. The room had a fairly large screen, for its size, with flanking exits (and restroom entrances). Seating was in two sections; however, one seating section had 10 to 12 more rows of seats than the other, thus giving the auditorium a squared off “pork chop†appearance. Certainly unique, especially for a first run house.
The Dome in its various incarnations never amounted to more than a second run B house. The Nixon on the other hand was the number two first run house (specializing in WB and Fox) throughout the thirties, forties and very early fifties. In 1951, after a very brief try as an art house, the Victor closed for 7 years. It reopened in the late fifties, finally with a concession stand, as a second run double and triple feature grinder operated by the Fry family, operators of the Wampum Theatre in nearby Wampum, PA.. John Borovilos operated the Victor for a couple of years before it was finally closed and demolished in the early sixties. The Victor boasted a beautiful, three sided marquee with hundreds of tiny bulbs, a beautiful, nighttime feature on New Castle’s main shopping street. Since it’s closing, the location has remained a vacant lot.
David Victor also tried to run movies, briefly, in the mammoth, very ornate Cathedral auditorium within the imposing Masonic Scottish Rite building. He also operated a theatre in Meadville, PA during the early depression and the Victor Theatre in McKeesport, PA..
Hi Joe, Sorry for the delay, I’ve been working on a restoration. This info. (from memory) originally came from an old projection operator who was around at the time. The Warner Bro’s. had been going around Western PA and Eastern Ohio, near their Youngstown home, with a crank projector, a single film and a tent for use when weather or a vacant room were not available. One of the rooms they rented for this special event was part of, or adjacent to a funeral home on New Castle’s E. Washington Street. They borrowed folding chairs from the funeral director and projected the film on a 7 foot mirror. Apparently the response was so good and New Castle was a bustling city with the world’s largest tin mill and many other industries that they decided to experiment with making New Castle a permanent location. The makeshift “theatre†was referred to as the Bijou (little Gem) and The Pioneer. After several months, in 1903, the moved a few doors down E. Washington Street to a more appropriate property and created the Cascade Theatre. The location later became a Neisner 5 and 10 store and is now called the Cascade Center with a lobby display representing the façade of the Cascade Theatre and some vintage projectors. The Cascade was quickly followed by small “nickelodeons†such as the sheet metal-constructed Moravia Theatre, The Nixon (Victor), across the street from the Cascade, The Dome (Cinema), Park (Regent), Star, all on Washington Street and the Baltimore Strand on Long Avenue. In 1904 the Warner’s bought a small film company in Pittsburgh which eventually evolved into the Warner empire. Later, more elaborate theatres included the Capitol (vaudeville) and Penn theatres were constructed.
It would be nice to see a working “model†of the Cascade created. It might show a Warner documentary film, classics, etc as a tourist attraction. Who know, maybe some day…..
A mural is planned which depicts the Capitol theatre and it’s restoration and reopening in 1972. Picture and story at:
View link
There is some talk of a celebration scheduled for this summer at the park that is now on the site of the theatre. The event will include a reenactment of the original gala reopening.
Nouveau Cinema Group, Inc. (NCGI) today announced a special fund raising event for THE PAGE Cinema Arts Theatre Thursday evening, January 21, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Café Monet which is located in the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton, OH. According to NCGI spokesperson, Rick Martin, the event will feature live and film entertainment, wine and soft drinks and finger-foods, door prizes as well as an opportunity for people interested in this non-profit group, potential volunteers, corporate and individual sponsors. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Those unable to pay will be admitted free after 8:00PM. Further information and tickets are available by calling 937 613-4432
Chuck,
I had no idea. Just trying to keep up with places of interest. Very sorry for the trouble.
Jack
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