Keep it as Bontina and AKA it as Dixie-Bontina. I feel certain that this is not the Dixie at 920 Market since both were in operation at about the same time and because of the distance between the two theatres.
I think the Bontina on Mike’s list is the probally the same one I found in the city directory. I checked for it in the IMPA, but it only started listing individual theatres around 1955.
I discovered the Bontina in the 1936 Chattanooga City Directory (v56)while researching other theatres in the Hamilton County area. There was a Dixie Theatre (AKA Midtown) a couple of blocks up at 920 Market Street.
The theatre is/was located at 3642 Campbellton Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331 and was the north anchor of the Bell Hill Shopping Centre. The only film I can recall seeing there was Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (circa 1970). I am almost sure that the theatre’s rear seating area was reserved for smokers, a convenience absent in 21st century cinemas.
The Belmont did open in the early 1950s. In that this was about the time streamline modernaire was in vogue, one would imagine that this rather bland shopping complex would have had some visually distinctive elements to it.
Here are a couple of photos of the theatre.
Bryan it has to be the Eveska. In that there was only one theatre in the county, this has to be it. Were you able to locate any information regarding the dates of operation? I haven’t found any mention of the theatre under either name in the IMPA. Thanks
Neither the Belle Meade nor the Crescent were constructed as a “Cinerama Cinema”, but were modified to accommodate this format when it was in vogue. I believe both theatres had reverted back to flat screens prior to their final curtain call.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I know never to doubt ones grandmother. These dates are the years the theatre appeared in the Film Weekly Journal Yearbook. This building, which formerly was the Princess, was built in 1900, years before the FWJY came to print (your inquiry prompted me the change the dates on the photo). From what I have been able to gather so far is that the Princess was in operation during the 1920s and possibly earlier.
This was among the last of the Martin stand-alone cinemas built before Carmike bought out the circuit. This rather non descript venue brought about the demise of the Capitol in downtown Lebanon when it opened in 1980. Martin allegedly had a non-compete clause attached to the lease of the Capitol that has keep it shuttered for the past 26 years. The Roxy, a 20-screen cinema opened in the area in 2004 and drained the life out of the old triplex. Maybe some attention can now be focused on restoring and reopening the Capitol.
Thank you for the offer Chuck, but I have quite a caseload and am posting new entries and updates as I have time and the information available. Please enter what you have directly onto Cinema Treasures.
Know the spot and think I have an old photo of this building. This building was constructed in 1930 and had/has some elements which suggest that it might have been a theatre at one time.
Keep it as Bontina and AKA it as Dixie-Bontina. I feel certain that this is not the Dixie at 920 Market since both were in operation at about the same time and because of the distance between the two theatres.
I think the Bontina on Mike’s list is the probally the same one I found in the city directory. I checked for it in the IMPA, but it only started listing individual theatres around 1955.
I discovered the Bontina in the 1936 Chattanooga City Directory (v56)while researching other theatres in the Hamilton County area. There was a Dixie Theatre (AKA Midtown) a couple of blocks up at 920 Market Street.
The theatre is/was located at 3642 Campbellton Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331 and was the north anchor of the Bell Hill Shopping Centre. The only film I can recall seeing there was Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (circa 1970). I am almost sure that the theatre’s rear seating area was reserved for smokers, a convenience absent in 21st century cinemas.
The Belmont did open in the early 1950s. In that this was about the time streamline modernaire was in vogue, one would imagine that this rather bland shopping complex would have had some visually distinctive elements to it.
Is anything left of this theatre?
Maybe it is the State. The IMPA still recorded it as being in operation as late as 1988.
I currently do not know. I haven’t had a chance to make a site visit. It is definitely in the vicinity. Is there any mention of it in the FDY?
What has become of the theatre? Is it still there or has it been razed?
Here is a photo of the Bellevue.
Here are a couple of photos of the theatre.
Bryan it has to be the Eveska. In that there was only one theatre in the county, this has to be it. Were you able to locate any information regarding the dates of operation? I haven’t found any mention of the theatre under either name in the IMPA. Thanks
Neither the Belle Meade nor the Crescent were constructed as a “Cinerama Cinema”, but were modified to accommodate this format when it was in vogue. I believe both theatres had reverted back to flat screens prior to their final curtain call.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I know never to doubt ones grandmother. These dates are the years the theatre appeared in the Film Weekly Journal Yearbook. This building, which formerly was the Princess, was built in 1900, years before the FWJY came to print (your inquiry prompted me the change the dates on the photo). From what I have been able to gather so far is that the Princess was in operation during the 1920s and possibly earlier.
Here are a a few current photos of of the Capitol.
Here is a current photo of what remains of the Princess.
Here are 2006 photos of the theatre. The 208 Sarratt Student Center is the official address of the theatre.
The North Main was at one time part of the Interstate Theatre circuit.
The Cameo opened as the York around 1925 and was equipped with a Wurlitzer pipe organ.
This was among the last of the Martin stand-alone cinemas built before Carmike bought out the circuit. This rather non descript venue brought about the demise of the Capitol in downtown Lebanon when it opened in 1980. Martin allegedly had a non-compete clause attached to the lease of the Capitol that has keep it shuttered for the past 26 years. The Roxy, a 20-screen cinema opened in the area in 2004 and drained the life out of the old triplex. Maybe some attention can now be focused on restoring and reopening the Capitol.
Thank you for the offer Chuck, but I have quite a caseload and am posting new entries and updates as I have time and the information available. Please enter what you have directly onto Cinema Treasures.
Here are a couple of photos from January 2006 of the Idlewild.
Great shot! Any information on the unnamed theatre in Loretto?
Know the spot and think I have an old photo of this building. This building was constructed in 1930 and had/has some elements which suggest that it might have been a theatre at one time.
Here are a couple of photos of the Old National from the Stan Malone collection.
Here are a couple of photos of the Westgate from the Stan Malone collection.