The Palace was first operated by George H. Hickman, who only operated for almost or possibly enough around 2 years, before being shot and killed by a suspect who shortly later was caught by Jacksonville Police on September 4, 1921, charging the suspect as an attempted robbery and first-degree murder.
On March 9, 2021, A 24-Year-Old Man Named Ateef Rafiq Died In An Unusual Way After Being Trapped Inside One Of The Vue Birmingham Screens. Reports Later Say That He Died From A Cardiac Arrest Inside One Of The Screens.
In living color, the theater’s structure is concrete and steel surrounded by spacious well-lighted paved free parking areas, and exterior features include massive concrete walls with embedded native rock in panel form highlighted by bronze cylindrical light fixtures and a centrally located entrance with a large overhanging canopy of white marblecrete supported on columns. In the center of the theater’s front is the dual-window’s box office. On each side of the office are separate entrance doors for each auditorium, with screen #1 being led at the right, and on the left is screen #2, with 400 seats each in both screens in total bringing a grand total to 800 seats. The I & II opened with a road show engagement of “The Godfather Part II” at Screen #1, and “The Man With The Golden Gun” at Screen #2. Entrances lead into spacious lobby areas which serves the auditoriums with the lobby separated by a striking custom-made concession stand, lighted from above. The lobby area features a terrazzo floor, acoustic ceilings on two levels, Brazilian rosewood paneled walls and black formic covered doors. Adjacent to each auditorium entrance is a carpeted waiting area with red leather seats along the walls. The end of the lobby contains lounges for both genders and contains a bi-level drinking fountain on a black formica background at the center of the wall. Both auditoriums were identically the same size with the entry areas, aisles, and lobby seating areas are carpeted in all wool. Drapes of red damask material adorn auditorium walls, extending from ceiling to floor and from the entrance to the wall0and-wall screens. The seats were set in fully upholstered form-padded high-back lounger chairs covered in bright red nylon fabric, and set on the specially engineered red cement decks in a staggered pattern with wide spacing for maximum viewing comfort and easy ingress and egress without disturbing seated patrons. In the mezzanine out of sight is the nerve center of both auditoriums is the projection booth and equipment room.
The I & II was eventually part of the Sunset Mall, an enclosed shopping center being developed by Jack Jacobs & his company of Chicago, being located on a 57-acre tract and 730,000 squared feet.
The Waco Theatre became part of the Interstate Theatres chain of Dallas when it started its Interstate expansion to Waco in 1933. Many other theaters in Waco would later take over the business. Along with the Waco, the Rivoli, Strand, Texas, and Orpheum Theatres were also operated by Interstate during World War II. The 25th Street Theatre and the Lake Air Drive-In were soon to be operated by Interstate later on.
The Waco Theatre’s relationship with Interstate Theatres lasted until New Year’s Day 1972 when ABC Mid-South Theatres (later ABC Interstate Theatres) took over operations. The Group Vice President of the non-broadcasting operations of the American Broadcasting Company, Samuel H. Clark, said that the merger would transfer the properties of the name “ABC Mid-South Theatres” to “ABC Interstate Theatres” in connection of the ongoing boost of the Interstate chain.
Its relationship didn’t last long. The Waco Theatre ran its last film on December 15, 1974 in connection of the Christmas Day 1974 opening of the 800-seat capacity ABC Interstate operated Cinema I & II and the Waco Theatre became the Waco Hippodrome Theatre.
In the other hand also in connection of the I & II, the Lake Air Drive-In closed its gates for the final time on December 8, 1974, a week prior to the movie-ending relationship to the Waco Theatre.
Actually, according to The Comet of Johnson City, the Edisonia dates back to as early as 1908 running both movies and vaudeville (which I presume that’s when it opened its doors).
The Criterion Theatre closed for the final time on October 13, 1934 with “Fighting Texan” and “Devil Horse” as its last films, and was erected later that November.
Actually, according to the Johnson City Staff, the Liberty Theatre opened sometime during the second quarter of 1918 running a mix of movies and special events, and was first managed by a guy simply known as Mr. Babb (despite some revenue I found, its opening date has been lost as of now).
After closing as a movie house for the final time in 1954, the theater was converted into a Vogue clothing store which opened in March 1955.
This theater was originally relocated a few blocks down, as this first opened as the City Theatre on May 30, 1932 with Jimmy Durante in “Passionate Plumber” along with the Vitaphone comedy “Pie, Pie Blackbird”, a short entitled “Fisherman’s Paradise”, and a newsreel. When the theater opened its doors, it was nearly in completion due to a shipping delay on carpets.
Information about the “second” City Theatre (later the Vergennes Theatre) goes as follows: The “first” City Theatre (opened as early as 1917) was relocated in April of 1932 for unknown reasons, and was the second out of 2 City Theatres in the city of Vergennes' history. The “second” City Theatre had a capacity of 400 with dark red semi-deluxe leather upholstered seats and was built and managed by George Roberts. It also has a ventilating system capable of clearing air in a total of 8 minutes, steam heat with thermostatic control, carpeted aisles with lights, and draw curtains and draperies. Over the front doors and extending to the edge of the sidewalk hangs a marquee with a row of electric lights bordering its outer edge and another parallel row on its under side. The entrance itself as of 1932 has two sets of double teal swinging doors with large glass window between it. But there is a foyer which was finished in firewood is the ticket office with three windows attached so that tickets may be sold to two lines of patrons all at once. Passing by contains the following: There were two doors, one contains the main 84x36 ft auditorium with an inclined floor. The walls and ceiling were deeply panel insulating board finished in cream down to about 3-4ft from the floor where the color commonly changed to slate, which shades into a cement, which the floor is made. The decorating of the interior was done by Foster Daigneault and John LeBoeuf took its supervision on the work (with plumbing and heating installed by J.W. & D.E. Ryan, and the main contraction was done by the Carey Brothers of Fletcher, Vermont). Like earlier, the aisles will be carpeted but although the carpets haven’t arrived yet in time due to shipping delay but lights for the aisles will be placed on the frames of five seats for each aisle arranged in stagger formation. The projection room is fireproof and contains Western Electric sound (like the former “first” City Theatre). And lastly, the stage has a depth of 10ft and there were 2 dressing rooms.
The City changed its name to the Vergennes Theatre more than a year later in October 1933.
The Vergennes Theatre closed for the final time on February 19, 1955 With “Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle” with no extra subjects.
The 65 Main Street building was built in 1924, and the Campus Theatre began constructing in 1936. The Campus Theatre opened its doors on March 27, 1937 with “That Girl From Paris” with no extra short subjects.
First planned by J. Coates Carter, and constructed by cinder block and bricks, the $100,000 552-Capacity colored Ritz Theatre opened its doors on December 14, 1946 and was first owned by Bernard Depkin Jr., and Rives Brown, both from Martinsville.
The Ritz closed for a time on September 2, 1954 for the installation of CinemaScope (I didn’t notice it until now), and reopened a few months later. It was closed in 1957.
The Ritz’s CinemaScope wasn’t mainly used very often, possible due to Danville’s dominant mainstream indoor theaters (the Capitol, North, and Lea) and secondary indoor mainstreamers (Rialto and Schoolfield) all had CinemaScope.
The 702-Capacity (540 for main auditorium and 162 for balcony) Dan Theatre opened its doors on December 19, 1939 with Arthur Lake in “Blondie Takes A Vacation” with no extra subjects. When the theater opened its doors, the nearby 690-capacity Broadway Theatre immediately closed permanently until being bought by R. Lea, and the Broadway Theatre changed its name to the Lea Theatre named after the operator.
The Dan was last owned by Wilby-Kincey and last managed by W.S. Shepherd Jr., and closed for the final time on March 27, 1954 with John Wayne in “Fort Apache” and Ann Sheridan in “Take Me To Town” with no extras. A S.S. Kresge store would later sit in the theater’s spot including extra expansion of floor space.
The Plaza Cinema Theatre had a very strange start at first. Opening as a single-screener on Christmas Day 1970 with “Tora! Tora! Tora!”, the Cinecom operated Cinema Plaza Theatre was constructed by the Delco Development Company of New York and contains the following: a capacity of 599 seats, RCA sound system, and Xenon lamp projection. A red, gold, and black interior decor has been used, and the drapes were flameproof burlop fabric.
After just 11 MONTHS of operation as a Cinecom theater, the Plaza Cinema ceased operations and closed its doors for a few months beginning on November 30, 1971 with “Going Home”. Exactly a few months later, the Plaza Cinema Theatre reopened under new local management by Wayne Petty, reopening with “The Godfather” on May 24, 1972. Wayne Petty is a 12-year veteran at the theater business who formerly worked as the manager of the popular Capitol Theatre for three years, and also worked at the North, Riverside, Lea, and Schoolfield Theatres. He was assisted by Dallas Riggan, a former disc jockey at Martinsville, Virginia radio station (now defunct since January 28, 2019) 1450 AM WMVA.
William West would later take over operations of the Plaza. It remained as a single-screener throughout the rest of the 1970s, with the only twin theater in Danville being the ABC Southeastern operated Riverside I & II which operated as a twin since Christmas Day 1974. The Plaza would later twinned in 1979.
The Palace was first operated by George H. Hickman, who only operated for almost or possibly enough around 2 years, before being shot and killed by a suspect who shortly later was caught by Jacksonville Police on September 4, 1921, charging the suspect as an attempted robbery and first-degree murder.
On March 9, 2021, A 24-Year-Old Man Named Ateef Rafiq Died In An Unusual Way After Being Trapped Inside One Of The Vue Birmingham Screens. Reports Later Say That He Died From A Cardiac Arrest Inside One Of The Screens.
Closed On June 19, 1959 With “Juke Box Rhythm” As Its Last Film.
May 30, 1964.
The Orpheum Opened In Late August 1915.
During World War II, The Orpheum Was Operated By Interstate Theatres.
Last operated by Interstate Theatres.
Last operated by Interstate Theatres.
The Lake Air Drive-In closed its gates for the final time on December 8, 1974 in connection to the opening of the Cinema I & II.
Information about the I & II goes as follows:
In living color, the theater’s structure is concrete and steel surrounded by spacious well-lighted paved free parking areas, and exterior features include massive concrete walls with embedded native rock in panel form highlighted by bronze cylindrical light fixtures and a centrally located entrance with a large overhanging canopy of white marblecrete supported on columns. In the center of the theater’s front is the dual-window’s box office. On each side of the office are separate entrance doors for each auditorium, with screen #1 being led at the right, and on the left is screen #2, with 400 seats each in both screens in total bringing a grand total to 800 seats. The I & II opened with a road show engagement of “The Godfather Part II” at Screen #1, and “The Man With The Golden Gun” at Screen #2. Entrances lead into spacious lobby areas which serves the auditoriums with the lobby separated by a striking custom-made concession stand, lighted from above. The lobby area features a terrazzo floor, acoustic ceilings on two levels, Brazilian rosewood paneled walls and black formic covered doors. Adjacent to each auditorium entrance is a carpeted waiting area with red leather seats along the walls. The end of the lobby contains lounges for both genders and contains a bi-level drinking fountain on a black formica background at the center of the wall. Both auditoriums were identically the same size with the entry areas, aisles, and lobby seating areas are carpeted in all wool. Drapes of red damask material adorn auditorium walls, extending from ceiling to floor and from the entrance to the wall0and-wall screens. The seats were set in fully upholstered form-padded high-back lounger chairs covered in bright red nylon fabric, and set on the specially engineered red cement decks in a staggered pattern with wide spacing for maximum viewing comfort and easy ingress and egress without disturbing seated patrons. In the mezzanine out of sight is the nerve center of both auditoriums is the projection booth and equipment room.
The I & II was eventually part of the Sunset Mall, an enclosed shopping center being developed by Jack Jacobs & his company of Chicago, being located on a 57-acre tract and 730,000 squared feet.
The Waco Theatre became part of the Interstate Theatres chain of Dallas when it started its Interstate expansion to Waco in 1933. Many other theaters in Waco would later take over the business. Along with the Waco, the Rivoli, Strand, Texas, and Orpheum Theatres were also operated by Interstate during World War II. The 25th Street Theatre and the Lake Air Drive-In were soon to be operated by Interstate later on.
The Waco Theatre’s relationship with Interstate Theatres lasted until New Year’s Day 1972 when ABC Mid-South Theatres (later ABC Interstate Theatres) took over operations. The Group Vice President of the non-broadcasting operations of the American Broadcasting Company, Samuel H. Clark, said that the merger would transfer the properties of the name “ABC Mid-South Theatres” to “ABC Interstate Theatres” in connection of the ongoing boost of the Interstate chain.
Its relationship didn’t last long. The Waco Theatre ran its last film on December 15, 1974 in connection of the Christmas Day 1974 opening of the 800-seat capacity ABC Interstate operated Cinema I & II and the Waco Theatre became the Waco Hippodrome Theatre.
In the other hand also in connection of the I & II, the Lake Air Drive-In closed its gates for the final time on December 8, 1974, a week prior to the movie-ending relationship to the Waco Theatre.
This page needs to be updated, the Palace still runs as a special events theater today (which includes concerts and sometimes films).
July 10, 1940.
Closed on May 29, 1966 after being destroyed by a fire, with only a single injury being reported.
Actually, according to The Comet of Johnson City, the Edisonia dates back to as early as 1908 running both movies and vaudeville (which I presume that’s when it opened its doors).
The Criterion Theatre closed for the final time on October 13, 1934 with “Fighting Texan” and “Devil Horse” as its last films, and was erected later that November.
Actually, according to the Johnson City Staff, the Liberty Theatre opened sometime during the second quarter of 1918 running a mix of movies and special events, and was first managed by a guy simply known as Mr. Babb (despite some revenue I found, its opening date has been lost as of now).
After closing as a movie house for the final time in 1954, the theater was converted into a Vogue clothing store which opened in March 1955.
This theater was originally relocated a few blocks down, as this first opened as the City Theatre on May 30, 1932 with Jimmy Durante in “Passionate Plumber” along with the Vitaphone comedy “Pie, Pie Blackbird”, a short entitled “Fisherman’s Paradise”, and a newsreel. When the theater opened its doors, it was nearly in completion due to a shipping delay on carpets.
Information about the “second” City Theatre (later the Vergennes Theatre) goes as follows: The “first” City Theatre (opened as early as 1917) was relocated in April of 1932 for unknown reasons, and was the second out of 2 City Theatres in the city of Vergennes' history. The “second” City Theatre had a capacity of 400 with dark red semi-deluxe leather upholstered seats and was built and managed by George Roberts. It also has a ventilating system capable of clearing air in a total of 8 minutes, steam heat with thermostatic control, carpeted aisles with lights, and draw curtains and draperies. Over the front doors and extending to the edge of the sidewalk hangs a marquee with a row of electric lights bordering its outer edge and another parallel row on its under side. The entrance itself as of 1932 has two sets of double teal swinging doors with large glass window between it. But there is a foyer which was finished in firewood is the ticket office with three windows attached so that tickets may be sold to two lines of patrons all at once. Passing by contains the following: There were two doors, one contains the main 84x36 ft auditorium with an inclined floor. The walls and ceiling were deeply panel insulating board finished in cream down to about 3-4ft from the floor where the color commonly changed to slate, which shades into a cement, which the floor is made. The decorating of the interior was done by Foster Daigneault and John LeBoeuf took its supervision on the work (with plumbing and heating installed by J.W. & D.E. Ryan, and the main contraction was done by the Carey Brothers of Fletcher, Vermont). Like earlier, the aisles will be carpeted but although the carpets haven’t arrived yet in time due to shipping delay but lights for the aisles will be placed on the frames of five seats for each aisle arranged in stagger formation. The projection room is fireproof and contains Western Electric sound (like the former “first” City Theatre). And lastly, the stage has a depth of 10ft and there were 2 dressing rooms.
The City changed its name to the Vergennes Theatre more than a year later in October 1933.
The Vergennes Theatre closed for the final time on February 19, 1955 With “Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle” with no extra subjects.
It Was Unknown Why The Meadows Twin Closed In 2004, But Demolished A Year Later To Make Way For Mountain Top Financial And Extended Parking.
The 65 Main Street building was built in 1924, and the Campus Theatre began constructing in 1936. The Campus Theatre opened its doors on March 27, 1937 with “That Girl From Paris” with no extra short subjects.
The 1,800+ Capacity Cinemark North McKinney Not Just Runs First-Run Films, But Also Runs Foreign Films Sometimes.
Closed On November 1, 1970.
Actually, the Hi-Way Movie Drive-In opened its gates on August 13, 1949 with Randolph Scott in “Gunfighter” for one day only.
First planned by J. Coates Carter, and constructed by cinder block and bricks, the $100,000 552-Capacity colored Ritz Theatre opened its doors on December 14, 1946 and was first owned by Bernard Depkin Jr., and Rives Brown, both from Martinsville.
The Ritz closed for a time on September 2, 1954 for the installation of CinemaScope (I didn’t notice it until now), and reopened a few months later. It was closed in 1957.
The Ritz’s CinemaScope wasn’t mainly used very often, possible due to Danville’s dominant mainstream indoor theaters (the Capitol, North, and Lea) and secondary indoor mainstreamers (Rialto and Schoolfield) all had CinemaScope.
The 702-Capacity (540 for main auditorium and 162 for balcony) Dan Theatre opened its doors on December 19, 1939 with Arthur Lake in “Blondie Takes A Vacation” with no extra subjects. When the theater opened its doors, the nearby 690-capacity Broadway Theatre immediately closed permanently until being bought by R. Lea, and the Broadway Theatre changed its name to the Lea Theatre named after the operator.
The Dan was last owned by Wilby-Kincey and last managed by W.S. Shepherd Jr., and closed for the final time on March 27, 1954 with John Wayne in “Fort Apache” and Ann Sheridan in “Take Me To Town” with no extras. A S.S. Kresge store would later sit in the theater’s spot including extra expansion of floor space.
The Riverside became a twin on Christmas Day 1974.
The Plaza Cinema Theatre had a very strange start at first. Opening as a single-screener on Christmas Day 1970 with “Tora! Tora! Tora!”, the Cinecom operated Cinema Plaza Theatre was constructed by the Delco Development Company of New York and contains the following: a capacity of 599 seats, RCA sound system, and Xenon lamp projection. A red, gold, and black interior decor has been used, and the drapes were flameproof burlop fabric.
After just 11 MONTHS of operation as a Cinecom theater, the Plaza Cinema ceased operations and closed its doors for a few months beginning on November 30, 1971 with “Going Home”. Exactly a few months later, the Plaza Cinema Theatre reopened under new local management by Wayne Petty, reopening with “The Godfather” on May 24, 1972. Wayne Petty is a 12-year veteran at the theater business who formerly worked as the manager of the popular Capitol Theatre for three years, and also worked at the North, Riverside, Lea, and Schoolfield Theatres. He was assisted by Dallas Riggan, a former disc jockey at Martinsville, Virginia radio station (now defunct since January 28, 2019) 1450 AM WMVA.
William West would later take over operations of the Plaza. It remained as a single-screener throughout the rest of the 1970s, with the only twin theater in Danville being the ABC Southeastern operated Riverside I & II which operated as a twin since Christmas Day 1974. The Plaza would later twinned in 1979.