Came upon a site called Notable People, Lost Tales and Forgotten Facts of Oil City, LA. Apparently there was a rich history of short lived theaters in town which succumbed to fire. The Strand which this replaced burnt down in December 1936 (see photo) and the new opened in March 1937 (see photo). Among the theaters of the past were the Cozy (circa 1912), Victory (1922), and the Star. I could not verify whether the Bijou Dream actually screened films. It was also unclear whether the original Strand theater had been a rebranding of the Dixie.
Daniel, I tried to flesh out your entry for the Strand and was unsuccessful. I then tried the Heritage Center of the Fresno Public Library. To date they have also found nothing. Could you supply some additional thoughts to point them in the right direction? I presume this is a theatre that you personally knew. Any sort of general time frame when it was in operation? Any general neighborhood in Fowler where it was located? Anything not specific enough to put on CT that might be an aid?
Cool-no curiosity. The nearby theaters is totally unreliable. I have seen occasions where it doesn’t even pick up multiple theaters in the same zip code of some remote town in the mid west.
dallas – The Loew’s nameplate never appeared on the exterior of the building. The Cineplex Odeon vertical was the only identifying marker. That was finally upgraded to reflect the AMC identity. See my comment above.
The Riverhead Center sign announcing the forthcoming Regal Cinemas (see photo section) is no longer there. Did the sign meet with a problem or has the deal fallen through? This has been back and forth for over a year with Regal, the owner of the site and the town. Seemingly all the zoning problems had been overcome. In 2001 a deal to have a multiplex at the Riverhead Tanger Outlets also fell through. The town approved, but Tanger did not and chose a retailer to fill the space. The Tanger folk did allow a theater at the Commack outlet they subsequently built.
Many of the Broadway to film transfers also as they were able to “expand” them. Often ran longer than the Broadway which had applause and a 15 minute intermission. Think Barbara Streisand and Don’t let it rain on my parade.
According to “History of the Motion Picture Theatre in Lindenhurst”, published in conjunction with the fifteenth anniversary of the Lindenhurst Theater (see elsewhere on CT), the building was heated by steam, had a semicircular stage with two side wings with dressing rooms. The front vestibule and ticket booth were under the projection booth. Prior to the erection of the National movies were screened in public halls in two of the hotels in the village. Members of the orchestra which provided musical background for the silent movie on opening night were paid the nominal compensation of one dollar.
Supposedly seating was for 500 people, unlikely in a one story 30'X 100' building that had a stage. Wonder where the bathrooms were.
Came upon a site called Notable People, Lost Tales and Forgotten Facts of Oil City, LA. Apparently there was a rich history of short lived theaters in town which succumbed to fire. The Strand which this replaced burnt down in December 1936 (see photo) and the new opened in March 1937 (see photo). Among the theaters of the past were the Cozy (circa 1912), Victory (1922), and the Star. I could not verify whether the Bijou Dream actually screened films. It was also unclear whether the original Strand theater had been a rebranding of the Dixie.
vindanpar-it happened twenty years ago. I don’t understand why this is only now coming to your attention.
Daniel, I tried to flesh out your entry for the Strand and was unsuccessful. I then tried the Heritage Center of the Fresno Public Library. To date they have also found nothing. Could you supply some additional thoughts to point them in the right direction? I presume this is a theatre that you personally knew. Any sort of general time frame when it was in operation? Any general neighborhood in Fowler where it was located? Anything not specific enough to put on CT that might be an aid?
Uploaded a recent photo of the facade.
Reopening for the season this Friday. Glad to have it back. Good movies at good prices. Who needs recliners?
Uploaded a picture of the Paramount as it appeared when it opened as the Huntington which I found at Huntingtonhistory.com.
One of only 16 open “Texas” theaters of the 81 on Cinema Treasures.
Regal deal must really be dead. There is petition being circulated to get a national movie chain to build a theater in Riverhead.
Nearby theaters is not reliable. Period.
Cool-no curiosity. The nearby theaters is totally unreliable. I have seen occasions where it doesn’t even pick up multiple theaters in the same zip code of some remote town in the mid west.
dallas – The Loew’s nameplate never appeared on the exterior of the building. The Cineplex Odeon vertical was the only identifying marker. That was finally upgraded to reflect the AMC identity. See my comment above.
Added an artist’s rendering of the William Penn from the Irving R. Glazer Theatre Collection.
Wonder how Cabaret did in Germany considering its subject matter.
Definitely the latter.
It was a musical, for Pete sake.
The Riverhead Center sign announcing the forthcoming Regal Cinemas (see photo section) is no longer there. Did the sign meet with a problem or has the deal fallen through? This has been back and forth for over a year with Regal, the owner of the site and the town. Seemingly all the zoning problems had been overcome. In 2001 a deal to have a multiplex at the Riverhead Tanger Outlets also fell through. The town approved, but Tanger did not and chose a retailer to fill the space. The Tanger folk did allow a theater at the Commack outlet they subsequently built.
Mike that number just went on forever.
Many of the Broadway to film transfers also as they were able to “expand” them. Often ran longer than the Broadway which had applause and a 15 minute intermission. Think Barbara Streisand and Don’t let it rain on my parade.
The York will again be a theater, home to Bob Baker’s Marionettes. See artist’s rendering of the new facade I just uploaded.
Don’t forget the need for Valet parking, too.
David, my computer displays an icon of a pair of scissors. Click on that and follow the prompts.
Use the clipping tool feature on your computer to get around this.
According to “History of the Motion Picture Theatre in Lindenhurst”, published in conjunction with the fifteenth anniversary of the Lindenhurst Theater (see elsewhere on CT), the building was heated by steam, had a semicircular stage with two side wings with dressing rooms. The front vestibule and ticket booth were under the projection booth. Prior to the erection of the National movies were screened in public halls in two of the hotels in the village. Members of the orchestra which provided musical background for the silent movie on opening night were paid the nominal compensation of one dollar.
Supposedly seating was for 500 people, unlikely in a one story 30'X 100' building that had a stage. Wonder where the bathrooms were.
Uploaded copies of photos from the historical society of the marquee, the fire and as the National.
Recliners should be in the home, not a theater.