Description credit I Grew Up in Mortdale 2223 Facebook page.
“15 January 1947, the Herne Bay (Riverwood) Melody Picture Theatre opened on Belmore Road back in the days when all proceeds were donated to Legacy.
The Melody Theatre (right of pic in gallery) was built by Tom Virgona in a paddock on Belmore Road. The suburb was not served by local buses in the early days due to poor roads and there were very few trains which kept people away in wet weather. However, it was very popular because the manager was a passionate movie lover who was very tolerant of children. His theatre was his hobby. At Saturday matinees he encouraged children ‘to come on stage and sing, recite, play or generally raise cain to their own and the audience’s delight’. The picture theatre closed less than 20 years later on 30th January 1965 with the screening of “McHale’s Navy” and “Bullet for a Badman”. The building subsequently demolished and replaced with a supermarket."
Delta Gateway Museum got back and they said they believe it was on Ash Street between 4th & 5th Streets.
They are going to check their Sanborn maps.
I am removing the recreation center comment.
I have reached out to the Delta Gateway Museum in Blytheville to get an exact address for the Princess Theatre. My message to the Blytheville Recreation Center has not netted anything yet.
A.G. Shibley was a wholesale grocer at one time in Blytheville, with a house brand of flour.
Below is a vintage matchbook on eBay.
There are other references as well as obituaries within Google.
When I have time I will try and track down some store addresses.
But a street view search starting on Ash Street and roaming around did not have any buildings match up.
This Richmond County Historical Society publication has a completely different history and timeline.
Halfway down in the link.
Also I added an early `60s photo that has both Friendly Theatre and Strand on the building.
“On July 5, 1934, Joe Caudell announced plans for a new theatre to be located in the then Bob’s Cleaners building on Washington Square. The building was next to the Rockingham-Post Dispatch building, later Hough Hardware, now Kitchin, Neal, Webb, Webb and Futrell law offices.
The new theatre was to be air-conditioned. The only other air-conditioned building in downtown Rockingham at the time was the Richmond Theatre. Opened in August 1934, the new theatre was named Little Joe’s Theatre on the Square.
On Aug. 24, 1939, that theatre was sold to H. B. Meiselman and renamed the Strand Theatre. He later donated the building to the City of Rockingham which is now the Richmond Community Theatre operated by a volunteer board of directors which produces plays and other events in the building."
Do you have a story about the Fine Arts Building? We want to hear it.
We are collecting memories and personal histories from the visitors, artists, staff and Fine Arts Building aficionados that have made this space shine for more than 100 years. Follow the link to share your memories of the Fine Arts Building, the Studebaker Theater and the last 100 years of this magnificent artistic haven.
Originally had a 400 car capacity with a 40'x 55' screen, at its then projected opening, as of May 10, 1949, per page 6 of the below 2009 Hardin County Historical pdf link.
It was managed by Robert Enoch who also managed the other theatres in town for Elizabethtown Amusement Company since 1945, and for the next 36 years.
(I added a CT page for the Ritz/former Masonic Theatre today.)
Posting because Wilson Avenue Theatre building is pictured next door.
https://chicagoyimby.com/2022/01/second-floor-takes-shape-at-4600-n-kenmore-avenue-in-uptown.html?fbclid=IwAR3z4A_sEeGGzu6CiK-SC_f_6R2_hrrGdmL4HvGDVXvYVwTuSh9I7qRkuzw
Update: Postcard image credit Frashers Fotos.
Description credit I Grew Up in Mortdale 2223 Facebook page.
“15 January 1947, the Herne Bay (Riverwood) Melody Picture Theatre opened on Belmore Road back in the days when all proceeds were donated to Legacy.
The Melody Theatre (right of pic in gallery) was built by Tom Virgona in a paddock on Belmore Road. The suburb was not served by local buses in the early days due to poor roads and there were very few trains which kept people away in wet weather. However, it was very popular because the manager was a passionate movie lover who was very tolerant of children. His theatre was his hobby. At Saturday matinees he encouraged children ‘to come on stage and sing, recite, play or generally raise cain to their own and the audience’s delight’. The picture theatre closed less than 20 years later on 30th January 1965 with the screening of “McHale’s Navy” and “Bullet for a Badman”. The building subsequently demolished and replaced with a supermarket."
Well, crisper before it posted…
Update: 1925
Facebook post with 29 photos credit Richard DuVal. Scroll through to the right.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10223291322565544&set=pcb.5131540600204019
Marcy Starnes, below is the Zeigfeld Theatre you worked and saw those films at. It was located at 141 W. 54th Street and opened in 1969.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/12
Update: 1956 photo credit Mildred LaDue Mead, U of C Photographic Archive.
Update: 1956 photo credit Mildred LaDue Mead, U of C Photographic Archive.
Here is the chronology that led to the Officer Kerr/Richard Carpenter shooting.
http://homebrewedmojo.blogspot.com/2020/05/cop-killer-caught-1219-richard-carpenter.html
Relda marquee right of center in background.
Delta Gateway Museum got back and they said they believe it was on Ash Street between 4th & 5th Streets. They are going to check their Sanborn maps. I am removing the recreation center comment.
I have reached out to the Delta Gateway Museum in Blytheville to get an exact address for the Princess Theatre.
My message to the Blytheville Recreation Center has not netted anything yet.
Added the matchbook images for reference, for when the link goes dead.
A.G. Shibley was a wholesale grocer at one time in Blytheville, with a house brand of flour. Below is a vintage matchbook on eBay. There are other references as well as obituaries within Google. When I have time I will try and track down some store addresses. But a street view search starting on Ash Street and roaming around did not have any buildings match up.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233738418835
AKA Pine Tree Drive-In Theatre. Circa 1984 photos in below Itasca County Historical Society Facebook link. Scroll right.
https://www.facebook.com/ItascaHistorical/photos/pcb.10158281802422980/10158281785362980/
This Richmond County Historical Society publication has a completely different history and timeline. Halfway down in the link. Also I added an early `60s photo that has both Friendly Theatre and Strand on the building.
“On July 5, 1934, Joe Caudell announced plans for a new theatre to be located in the then Bob’s Cleaners building on Washington Square. The building was next to the Rockingham-Post Dispatch building, later Hough Hardware, now Kitchin, Neal, Webb, Webb and Futrell law offices.
The new theatre was to be air-conditioned. The only other air-conditioned building in downtown Rockingham at the time was the Richmond Theatre. Opened in August 1934, the new theatre was named Little Joe’s Theatre on the Square.
On Aug. 24, 1939, that theatre was sold to H. B. Meiselman and renamed the Strand Theatre. He later donated the building to the City of Rockingham which is now the Richmond Community Theatre operated by a volunteer board of directors which produces plays and other events in the building."
http://rchs-nc.net/2014/08/08/the-big-screen-in-rockingham/?fbclid=IwAR07vRNfrmXGA0l6Tje9cKeR5gBzvPAoqvyHAUDXoQj5g4L-cLkm__TsXc4
From the Fine Arts Building Facebook page.
Do you have a story about the Fine Arts Building? We want to hear it.
We are collecting memories and personal histories from the visitors, artists, staff and Fine Arts Building aficionados that have made this space shine for more than 100 years. Follow the link to share your memories of the Fine Arts Building, the Studebaker Theater and the last 100 years of this magnificent artistic haven.
https://www.facebook.com/chicagofineartsbuilding/photos/a.108102601704549/119859900528819/
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Hw98R-bpY7j1lL5bmWQ9m1JDy6pdjrytm782xRoZ3cY/viewform?edit_requested=true&fbclid=IwAR3RE3lRX4g4WYS61-fdS-UHHJWUVtz7C5kiSKfyS8f-zwBWEZCmYoprbMY
Great Schiller/Garrick Theatre Visualization Vimeo link below.
https://vimeo.com/658973818?fbclid=IwAR2dp1s3jG574Bd9YNnWz6J-Y0DvtY3w6UEuvek0Ac8RfVKLjSBYqne4AAw
News piece with the “End Credits” photo by Shawn Triplett.
https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/45462629/end-credits-mayfield-ky-man-takes-poignant-photo-of-tornado-damage-sets-up-gofundme-to-buy-toys-for-affected-children?fbclid=IwAR3OaC2rQaSWXKb2HCerK_WepuYB6JpJZ4oNKyE96OnM_V9Z5gnJCBOSLIA
Possibly originally built as Joplin Theatre, but the timeline does not fit the print ads from Masonic to Ritz. It became Houchens Market in 1951.
Opened September 1950, closed in 2002.
Facebook page for Ford Theatre. They list their address as 432 Washington.
https://www.facebook.com/AftonsFordTheatre/
Originally had a 400 car capacity with a 40'x 55' screen, at its then projected opening, as of May 10, 1949, per page 6 of the below 2009 Hardin County Historical pdf link. It was managed by Robert Enoch who also managed the other theatres in town for Elizabethtown Amusement Company since 1945, and for the next 36 years.
(I added a CT page for the Ritz/former Masonic Theatre today.)
http://www.hardinkyhistoricalsociety.org/uplimg/Spring%202009.pdf
1946 photo:
https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1552510/m1/1/?q=will%20rogers%20theatre&fbclid=IwAR1iN0W6IDOA9IrjqKkqZcn2WqWco5fftrE8XNlbUwqnU3bf0W3RhF_D7pg
May 31, 1939 Photo:
https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1552686/m1/1/?q=will%20rogers%20theatre&fbclid=IwAR2KJ8k5uvKAC-DIZa4VR1aS_HmOmlpWSzvI7Y0ZqMyGXp1FX7_0-bhCqzo