The Jewel Theatre opened its doors on April 15, 1908 with four acts (“The Two Orphans”, “A Burglar Or A Midnight Surprise”, “A Night In Dreamland”, and an illustrated song titled “Near The Boughs Of The Old Maple Tree”).
The K-Cinema Theatre opened its doors on August 31, 1968 with Walt Disney’s “Never A Dull Moment”.
Midcontinent Theatres closed the K-Cinema Theatre on January 13, 1983 with Walt Disney’s “Peter Pan” due to the theater falling in disrepair. The management (managed by Marshall Fine and Mark Spencer) said that a strong gust of wind can cause the outside walls to either crack or bundle.
The Hollywood Theatre opened its doors on January 28, 1939 with Penny Singleton in “Blondie” along with the Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony cartoon “Mother Goose Goes Hollywood”, a technicolor travel film on Bermuda, and RKO Pathé News. Joe Floyd was the first main manager who previously operated the Granada Theatre there beforehand, and the assistant manager is then-21-year-old Harold Boyd. The chief projectionists are longtime theater operators Kenneth Blood and Earl Nason. The cashiers are Dorothy Buck and Marion Ray, the ushers are Milton Knutson, John Rock, and two unknown other men, and Tony Johnson is the maintenance man.
Information about the Hollywood Theatre as of 1939 goes as follows: The original front exterior of the showhouse as of 1939 features the panels of blue-gray porcelain with the buff-colored brickwork and black slate cornices. The marquee itself measures 36ft in height with spells the name of the theater, and a total of more than 1,500 electric bulbs combining with neon tubing to provide more lighting. Walking through the entrance doors, patrons will pass through a vestibule which planned to afford protection during inclement weather. The floors, ceiling, and walls are made of flexible rubber, and the lobby features an unusual ceiling height and vari-colored floor patterns. There is also fluorescent lamps and a picture of a much-heralded photo mural created by ace cameraman Whitey Schaefer of Columbia Pictures. The original lobby then leads into the foyer which is unique in its circular architecture. A circular staircase winds its way down to the general lounge as well as restrooms.
After the foyer is the oval-shaped auditorium with an original capacity of 736 self-lifting springless cushioned seats arranged spaciously and on a sweeping incline to provide the maximum of comfort and visibility. The seats were also invented from the northwest and was shipped to Sioux Falls. Aisle lights are also built right into the seats. Simplex projections and Western Electric sound were the original installers for the Hollywood.
It was a decades-long Hollywood Theatre, running first-run movies for over 47 years, until final operator Midcontinent Theatres (or Midco Theatres) closed the Hollywood Theatre for the final time on September 27, 1987 with a special run of “The Last Picture Show” and was demolished in February 1990 to make way for parking lots.
Originally opened as a triplex, expanded to six in August 1986 following the closure of the nearby Plaza Twin Theatre. The Empire 6 Cinemas closed on January 12, 2001.
The Plaza Twin opened on August 9, 1975 with “Jaws” in Screen 1 and “The Great Waldo Pepper” in Screen 2.
Midco operated the Plaza Twin throughout its life until the chain closed the Plaza Twin in late-August 1986 with “The Karate Kid Part II” in Screen 1 and “Shanghai Surprise” in Screen 2 when the Empire Cinemas nearby expanded to six screens.
The Head’s Opera House was actually renamed the Iowa Theatre after its March 1931 remodeling. It was renamed the Iowa Theatre on March 28, 1931 reopening with Claudette Colbert in “Honor Among Lovers” along with a Strange As It Seems short, a Grantland Rice Sportlight, and an unknown cartoon.
After World War II died, the Pioneer Theatres chain took over both the Iowa Theatre and the Howard Theatre in October 1945 following the chain’s 15th anniversary.
The Iowa Theatre was remodeled in March 1974 but was still open at the time. On March 27, 1974, it was renamed the Sierra Theatre, screening Walt Disney’s “Robin Hood” as its first film under the Sierra name.
GCC operated the Westchester Mall I-IV throughout most of its life until United Artists took the quad over from General Cinema in 1994. UA operated the theater for another four additional years until closing in mid-September 1998.
A tornado on July 16, 2024 hit downtown Rome, but the good news is that the Capitol did not receive any damage. Unfortunately neighboring buildings were severely damage though.
Edited from my February 15, 2020 (5:32 PM) and July 20, 2021 (1:27 PM) comments:
The Crystal Theatre closed in 1932 and briefly reopened in 1933.
After being abandoned for a couple years, Plaza Theatre manager Jack H. Yeo remodeled the former Crystal Theatre. After remodeling, the theater was renamed the State Theatre and reopened its doors on November 9, 1935 with Boris Karloff’s “The Bride Of Frankenstein” along with a 20-minute Ben Blue comedy and an unnamed Looney Tunes cartoon starring Buddy.
For a brief time, Burlington had three movie houses but was down to two following the nearby Orpheum Theatre being gutted by a fire on January 28, 1937.
During its final years of operation, the State Theatre became a weekend-only theater (except for a brief moment in August 1951 when Burlington’s run of Walt Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland” ran at the State for a whole week). This lasted until the State Theatre closed in October 1952, leaving the Plaza Theatre the only operating movie house in Burlington.
During the late-1930s, the Paramount was operated by the Southio Theatre Corporation.
Do you have any information on when it opened and the other details on the Castle? I think MichaelKilgore has the history somewhere.
The Lark Theatre opened in 1970, cannot find its opening date though.
Once operated by Delft Theaters Inc.
The Jewel Theatre opened its doors on April 15, 1908 with four acts (“The Two Orphans”, “A Burglar Or A Midnight Surprise”, “A Night In Dreamland”, and an illustrated song titled “Near The Boughs Of The Old Maple Tree”).
The New Theatre was briefly renamed the Melba Theatre in 1903, but was reverted back to its New Theatre name for unknown reasons a few days later.
This started life as the Princess Theatre in 1912, and was renamed the Dakota Theatre in January 1931.
The Kmart closed in December 2016, it is now a Runnings.
Once operated by ABC Theatres and later Plitt Theatres in the mid-1970s.
The K-Cinema Theatre opened its doors on August 31, 1968 with Walt Disney’s “Never A Dull Moment”.
Midcontinent Theatres closed the K-Cinema Theatre on January 13, 1983 with Walt Disney’s “Peter Pan” due to the theater falling in disrepair. The management (managed by Marshall Fine and Mark Spencer) said that a strong gust of wind can cause the outside walls to either crack or bundle.
The West Mall Cinema opened its doors on November 22, 1968 with “West Side Story”, and was tripled in November 1984.
Last operated by Plitt, the West Mall 3 closed on June 23, 1988 when the West Mall 7 opened the following day.
The Hollywood Theatre opened its doors on January 28, 1939 with Penny Singleton in “Blondie” along with the Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony cartoon “Mother Goose Goes Hollywood”, a technicolor travel film on Bermuda, and RKO Pathé News. Joe Floyd was the first main manager who previously operated the Granada Theatre there beforehand, and the assistant manager is then-21-year-old Harold Boyd. The chief projectionists are longtime theater operators Kenneth Blood and Earl Nason. The cashiers are Dorothy Buck and Marion Ray, the ushers are Milton Knutson, John Rock, and two unknown other men, and Tony Johnson is the maintenance man.
Information about the Hollywood Theatre as of 1939 goes as follows: The original front exterior of the showhouse as of 1939 features the panels of blue-gray porcelain with the buff-colored brickwork and black slate cornices. The marquee itself measures 36ft in height with spells the name of the theater, and a total of more than 1,500 electric bulbs combining with neon tubing to provide more lighting. Walking through the entrance doors, patrons will pass through a vestibule which planned to afford protection during inclement weather. The floors, ceiling, and walls are made of flexible rubber, and the lobby features an unusual ceiling height and vari-colored floor patterns. There is also fluorescent lamps and a picture of a much-heralded photo mural created by ace cameraman Whitey Schaefer of Columbia Pictures. The original lobby then leads into the foyer which is unique in its circular architecture. A circular staircase winds its way down to the general lounge as well as restrooms.
After the foyer is the oval-shaped auditorium with an original capacity of 736 self-lifting springless cushioned seats arranged spaciously and on a sweeping incline to provide the maximum of comfort and visibility. The seats were also invented from the northwest and was shipped to Sioux Falls. Aisle lights are also built right into the seats. Simplex projections and Western Electric sound were the original installers for the Hollywood.
It was a decades-long Hollywood Theatre, running first-run movies for over 47 years, until final operator Midcontinent Theatres (or Midco Theatres) closed the Hollywood Theatre for the final time on September 27, 1987 with a special run of “The Last Picture Show” and was demolished in February 1990 to make way for parking lots.
Originally opened as a triplex, expanded to six in August 1986 following the closure of the nearby Plaza Twin Theatre. The Empire 6 Cinemas closed on January 12, 2001.
The Plaza Twin opened on August 9, 1975 with “Jaws” in Screen 1 and “The Great Waldo Pepper” in Screen 2.
Midco operated the Plaza Twin throughout its life until the chain closed the Plaza Twin in late-August 1986 with “The Karate Kid Part II” in Screen 1 and “Shanghai Surprise” in Screen 2 when the Empire Cinemas nearby expanded to six screens.
Actually, General Cinema operated the Somerville Circle throughout its entire life.
Anytime!
The Head’s Opera House was actually renamed the Iowa Theatre after its March 1931 remodeling. It was renamed the Iowa Theatre on March 28, 1931 reopening with Claudette Colbert in “Honor Among Lovers” along with a Strange As It Seems short, a Grantland Rice Sportlight, and an unknown cartoon.
After World War II died, the Pioneer Theatres chain took over both the Iowa Theatre and the Howard Theatre in October 1945 following the chain’s 15th anniversary.
The Iowa Theatre was remodeled in March 1974 but was still open at the time. On March 27, 1974, it was renamed the Sierra Theatre, screening Walt Disney’s “Robin Hood” as its first film under the Sierra name.
GCC operated the Westchester Mall I-IV throughout most of its life until United Artists took the quad over from General Cinema in 1994. UA operated the theater for another four additional years until closing in mid-September 1998.
Closed on October 24, 1984 with Prince’s “Purple Rain” and the 1971 classic “A Clockwork Orange”.
Last known as “Beach Quad Cinema” and closed on September 28, 1994. It originally closed for renovations but never reopened.
It’s still open for now, but it will close sometime in late-August.
Just a short time ago, it was announced that the Movies 14 will close for the final time in late-August and will soon be converted to a church.
A tornado on July 16, 2024 hit downtown Rome, but the good news is that the Capitol did not receive any damage. Unfortunately neighboring buildings were severely damage though.
Edited from my February 15, 2020 (5:32 PM) and July 20, 2021 (1:27 PM) comments:
The Crystal Theatre closed in 1932 and briefly reopened in 1933.
After being abandoned for a couple years, Plaza Theatre manager Jack H. Yeo remodeled the former Crystal Theatre. After remodeling, the theater was renamed the State Theatre and reopened its doors on November 9, 1935 with Boris Karloff’s “The Bride Of Frankenstein” along with a 20-minute Ben Blue comedy and an unnamed Looney Tunes cartoon starring Buddy.
For a brief time, Burlington had three movie houses but was down to two following the nearby Orpheum Theatre being gutted by a fire on January 28, 1937.
During its final years of operation, the State Theatre became a weekend-only theater (except for a brief moment in August 1951 when Burlington’s run of Walt Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland” ran at the State for a whole week). This lasted until the State Theatre closed in October 1952, leaving the Plaza Theatre the only operating movie house in Burlington.
The theater’s exterior and marquee is also featured on a Nissan commercial recently.