The original Essex Green Cinema opened as a single screen house seating about 1000 in 1966. The October 10 issue of Boxoffice that year ran a brief article about the new General Cinemas house. It said that Maurice D. Sornick was the architect.
The April 10, 1972, issue of Boxoffice reported that the theater had been renamed the Essex Green Twin Cinemas on the opening (March 29) of a second auditorium accommodating and additional 800 seats.
The June 4, 1979, issue of Boxoffice said that General Cinema’s Essex Green was slated to reopen as a triplex on June 15. The conversion was accomplished by splitting the second auditorium in two. The original main auditorium remained open during the conversion.
The ca.1949 Art Moderne remodeling of the Senate Theatre was designed by Detroit architect Ted Rogvoy. At the time of the remodeling the house was operated by the Broder circuit.
The Senate was one of three Rogvoy-designed theater remodeling projects featured in an article published in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice. The article featured before and after photos of the Senate’s facade.
The original classical facade had been disfigured by the addition of a bulky art deco marquee in the 1930s, and Rogvoy replaced it with the porcelain enamel front and tall sign the building still sports.
The other theaters remodeled by Rogvoy that were featured in the Boxoffice article were the Roxy and the Ace.
The April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice featured a rendering of the Genesee Theatre by its architect, Michael J. DeAngelis. One of the earliest shopping center theaters, it was built by the Albanese Brothers and operated under lease by the Kallet Theatre Corporation.
The Roxy was one of three remodeling projects featured in an article in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice. All three projects were designed by Detroit architect Ted Rogvoy. Prior to the remodeling the Roxy featured a facade dating back forty years when the building was erected for retail space. Most of its features remained intact when the building was later converted into a theater.
Rogvoy updated the house with an Art Moderne porcelain enamel front that also stretched across an adjacent shop building. Above the theater entrance was a sign tower with ROXY spelled out vertically in block letters on all four sides. It was quite an elaborate remodeling for a 24-hour grind house.
The photo at Water Winter Wonderland (ken mc’s link above) does not depict the Roxy Theatre, but the later Roxy bar located down the block.
The Art Moderne remodeling of the Ace Theatre was the work of architect Ted Rogvoy. It was pictured in an article in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice, along with two more recent remodeling projects by Rogvoy. The article dated the Ace project to “…just before the war….”
The Brookhaven Theatre was designed by architects John and Drew Eberson. Photos of it accompanied an article by John Eberson in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice. Prudential’s new Art Moderne house seated 872, with 668 in the orchestra nad 204 in the balcony.
The February 2, 1946, issue of Boxoffice said that the Pittman Brothers' Delta Theatre had opened on January 25. The first movie shown was “Anchors Aweigh.”
The February 2, 1946, issue of Boxoffice reported that Robb and Rowley’s new Stevens Theatre had opened after months of delay. The new house was designated R&R’s first-run theater for the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. R&R also operated the Texas, Bison, Rosewin, Midway and Astor theaters in the area.
The Village Theatre had been scheduled to open on August 15, 1941, according to the issue of Boxoffice dated the following day.
Boxoffice of August 26, 1968, confirms that “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” would be the first roadshow movie presented at the Village Theatre. The date planned for reopening the house after remodeling was December 20.
Loew’s State is already listed at Cinema Treasures, though at 1014 Main Street.
The State at 5913 Washington Street must be the one that was mentioned in the August 2, 1941, issue of Boxoffice: “R.Z. Glass said the opening of his new State in Houston would take place Friday, August 1.”
I don’t know if that State Theatre is already listed here under some other name or not. I can’t find it with a search on previous names, so it’s either not listed or is listed but missing the State aka.
Robert K. Headley’s book “Maryland’s Motion Picture Theaters” attributes the design of the AACO Theatre (for Aberdeen Amusement Company) to architect William O. Sparklin.
Sparklin practiced in Florida later in his career and, according to the May 1, 1948, issue of Boxoffice he was engaged to design a 600-seat theater in the 1900 block of Grand Central (now renamed Kennedy Blvd.) in Tampa for George Stonaris. I don’t know if the project was built or not. Google Maps doesn’t show any theater-like buildings on that block, and nothing in that area is currently listed at Cinema Treasures.
The May 3, 1941, issue of Boxoffice said that Altec would be providing “…sound service for Bert Ram’s new Lakeview, Augusta, Ga…..” The house must have opened around that time.
The River Theatre was built for the Banducci and Lemucchi Theatre Company, according to an item in Southwest Builder & Contractor, March 17, 1939. The May 26 issue of the same publication revealed that Clifford Balch was the architect for the project.
The September 23, 1939, issue of Boxoffice Magazine reported that the River Theatre at Oildale had been opened. Banducci and Lemucchi also operated the Arvin Theatre at Arvin and the Granada Theatre in Bakersfield.
Following the death of Jim Banducci in 1955, various issues of Boxoffice reported multiple closings and re-openings of the River under various operators during the next two years, until it was taken over by Ernest Martini in 1957. Martini was still operating the house in January, 1964, the last mention of it I’ve found in Boxoffice.
Boxoffice of November 10, 1951, said that the Cloverleaf Drive-In at Augusta had opened on October 30. It was operated by the Georgia Theatres Company.
The June 28, 1952, issue of Boxoffice ran an article about the seven drive-ins which had opened in Aiken County area since 1949. There was a small photo of the Cloverleaf’s screen tower, which featured a giant four-leaf clover with “CLOVER” emblazoned across the top two leaves and “LEAF” on the bottom two.
The article also gave the names, locations, and opening years of the other six drive-ins. They were the Aiken Drive-In at Aiken, 1949; The Friendly Drive-In at Aiken and the Valley Drive-In at Gloversville, S.C., in 1950; The Hilltop Drive-In at North Augusta, S.C., in 1951; The Skyline Drive-In at New Ellington and the Fox Drive-In at Augusta, 1952.
Forest Hills should have only one “r” in it. An article about the Forest Hills Drive-In appeared in Boxoffice Magazine of September 5, 1953. Several small photographs were included.
Boxoffice Magazine announced the start of construction on the Skyview Drive-In at Augusta in its issue of April 2, 1949. It was located on Olive Road near Milledgeville Road. The architect was Barney Dunbar. The August 13, 1949, issue of Boxoffice said that the Skyview Drive-In had recently opened.
The Skyview was built by Harold M. Boardman, a local automobile dealer, and originally managed by his son Donald. Not long after opening, the Skyview got a visit from Boxoffice columnist Harry Hart, who wrote about the operation in his column in the October 1, 1949 issue:
“Stopped at Augusta, GA., to see Harold and Donald Boardman of the Skyview Drive-In, a 670-car situation which opened earlier this year. The tower is all brick construction and the office is finished in natural pine, with hand-made furniture to match. The Boardmans certainly are hustlers and have been playing to a full house. They’ve had to put in seats besides the car space. The have carts to send out from the concession stand with ice cream, hot dogs, pop, and popcorn. Their setup is the result of a year’s study before opening, illustrating that the better the planning the better the success.”
The Cinema Centre was probably the theater mentioned in August 16, 1971, issue of Boxoffice: “Leibrand & Halvorson, contractors, report that construction of the theatre here has reached the midway point. They anticipate completion in three weeks.”
The Rex building got moved twice. The August 1, 1953, issue of Boxoffice reported that the Rex had been closed after the owners had opened the Riv-R-Vue Drive-In south of town. The Rex had by then operated as a theater for nearly forty years.
The building had been moved to the townsite somewhat earlier and at first had been used to store flax. It became a theater soon after, originally presenting traveling shows. The Boxoffice item does not give the year movies were first presented at the Rex, but it must have been in the 1910s.
If your date is correct, then Boxoffice has provided the most extreme examples of delayed reporting I’ve found yet. Announcing a groundbreaking when the building has already been completed is pretty drastic. Maybe somebody at Georgia Theatre Company was slacking off and sending the press releases out months late.
A correction to my previous comment: The February 14, 1954, issue of Boxoffice said that Reggie Gannon, son of the late E.G. Gannon, had bought the Colfax Theatre with the intention of closing it. The Colfax is only mentioned retrospectively in Boxoffice after that. Reggie Gannon continued to operate the Sky Theatre until 1962, when he moved to Arizona.
Identical seat counts of a non-round number, coupled with the other information I dug up, seems good enough to me. I think the aka of Varsity Theatre should be restored. As the theater opened in 1926 and is in a college town, it’s likely that Varsity was its opening name. It was a very popular name for movie theaters in the 1920s. It probably saw its fair share of raccoon coats, hip flasks, and co-eds in cloche hats sneaking smokes in the ladies room.
Both the West Theatre and the Y Not Drive-In were operated by Donald Johnson’s Johnson Theatres from 1966 until 1974. They were offered for sale in the classified section of various issues of Boxoffice in 1973, and the July 8, 1974, issue ran an item saying that both theaters had been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reese, effective June 2.
The item also said that when Johnson bought the theaters from in 1966, the West Theatre had been called the Rivola. He remodeled and renamed it, and also updated the drive-in, and both theaters were operated until 1973 by his brother, Franklin Johnson.
The July 3, 1948, issue of Boxoffice said that construction had begun in Schuyler for a new theater for E.G. Gannon. Gannon had become the operator of the Avalon Theatre at Schuyler in 1945.
Boxoffice mentioned the recent opening of the 600-seat Sky Theatre at Schuyler in its issue of November 20, 1948. E.G. Gannon reported an overflow crowd for the opening movie, Northwest Stampede.
The October 7, 1950, issue of Boxoffice reported that Edward Gannon had died suddenly. After that, the Sky Theater was operated by his son, Reggie Gannon. The February 14, 1954, issue said that Reggie Gannon had bought the rival Colfax Theatre, which he planned to close. He operated the Sky until 1962, when the June 11 issue of Boxoffice reported that he was moving to Arizona and that Don Johnson of Lynch, Nebraska, would take over the Sky Theatre.
The November 22, 1965 issue of Boxoffice said that Mr. and Mrs. Donald Johnson had sold their Lynn and Boyd Theatres in Lynch, Nebraska, and would move to Schuyler to operate their Sky Theatre which had lately been under the management of Don Johnson’s brother.
The August 5, 1968, Boxoffice said that Don Johnson was planning an extensive remodeling job at his Sky Theatre. There’s no mention of twinning at this time, though.
The February 12, 1979, issue of Boxoffice reported that the Chicago Used Chair Mart had finished a chair renovation project at the Sky Theatre in Schuyler. The house was still being operated by Johnson Theatres. That’s the most recent mention of the Sky I’ve been able to find.
The original Essex Green Cinema opened as a single screen house seating about 1000 in 1966. The October 10 issue of Boxoffice that year ran a brief article about the new General Cinemas house. It said that Maurice D. Sornick was the architect.
The April 10, 1972, issue of Boxoffice reported that the theater had been renamed the Essex Green Twin Cinemas on the opening (March 29) of a second auditorium accommodating and additional 800 seats.
The June 4, 1979, issue of Boxoffice said that General Cinema’s Essex Green was slated to reopen as a triplex on June 15. The conversion was accomplished by splitting the second auditorium in two. The original main auditorium remained open during the conversion.
Mike: On your initial search results page, check the box marked “previous names” and hit “search” again. The current name will come up in new results.
The ca.1949 Art Moderne remodeling of the Senate Theatre was designed by Detroit architect Ted Rogvoy. At the time of the remodeling the house was operated by the Broder circuit.
The Senate was one of three Rogvoy-designed theater remodeling projects featured in an article published in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice. The article featured before and after photos of the Senate’s facade.
The original classical facade had been disfigured by the addition of a bulky art deco marquee in the 1930s, and Rogvoy replaced it with the porcelain enamel front and tall sign the building still sports.
The other theaters remodeled by Rogvoy that were featured in the Boxoffice article were the Roxy and the Ace.
The April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice featured a rendering of the Genesee Theatre by its architect, Michael J. DeAngelis. One of the earliest shopping center theaters, it was built by the Albanese Brothers and operated under lease by the Kallet Theatre Corporation.
The Roxy was one of three remodeling projects featured in an article in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice. All three projects were designed by Detroit architect Ted Rogvoy. Prior to the remodeling the Roxy featured a facade dating back forty years when the building was erected for retail space. Most of its features remained intact when the building was later converted into a theater.
Rogvoy updated the house with an Art Moderne porcelain enamel front that also stretched across an adjacent shop building. Above the theater entrance was a sign tower with ROXY spelled out vertically in block letters on all four sides. It was quite an elaborate remodeling for a 24-hour grind house.
The photo at Water Winter Wonderland (ken mc’s link above) does not depict the Roxy Theatre, but the later Roxy bar located down the block.
The Art Moderne remodeling of the Ace Theatre was the work of architect Ted Rogvoy. It was pictured in an article in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice, along with two more recent remodeling projects by Rogvoy. The article dated the Ace project to “…just before the war….”
The Brookhaven Theatre was designed by architects John and Drew Eberson. Photos of it accompanied an article by John Eberson in the April 1, 1950, issue of Boxoffice. Prudential’s new Art Moderne house seated 872, with 668 in the orchestra nad 204 in the balcony.
The February 2, 1946, issue of Boxoffice said that the Pittman Brothers' Delta Theatre had opened on January 25. The first movie shown was “Anchors Aweigh.”
The February 2, 1946, issue of Boxoffice reported that Robb and Rowley’s new Stevens Theatre had opened after months of delay. The new house was designated R&R’s first-run theater for the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. R&R also operated the Texas, Bison, Rosewin, Midway and Astor theaters in the area.
The Village Theatre had been scheduled to open on August 15, 1941, according to the issue of Boxoffice dated the following day.
Boxoffice of August 26, 1968, confirms that “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” would be the first roadshow movie presented at the Village Theatre. The date planned for reopening the house after remodeling was December 20.
A drawing of the proposed Eastwood Theatre by its architect, Michael J. DeAngelis, appeared in Boxoffice Magazine’s issue of August 16, 1941.
Loew’s State is already listed at Cinema Treasures, though at 1014 Main Street.
The State at 5913 Washington Street must be the one that was mentioned in the August 2, 1941, issue of Boxoffice: “R.Z. Glass said the opening of his new State in Houston would take place Friday, August 1.”
I don’t know if that State Theatre is already listed here under some other name or not. I can’t find it with a search on previous names, so it’s either not listed or is listed but missing the State aka.
Robert K. Headley’s book “Maryland’s Motion Picture Theaters” attributes the design of the AACO Theatre (for Aberdeen Amusement Company) to architect William O. Sparklin.
Sparklin practiced in Florida later in his career and, according to the May 1, 1948, issue of Boxoffice he was engaged to design a 600-seat theater in the 1900 block of Grand Central (now renamed Kennedy Blvd.) in Tampa for George Stonaris. I don’t know if the project was built or not. Google Maps doesn’t show any theater-like buildings on that block, and nothing in that area is currently listed at Cinema Treasures.
The May 3, 1941, issue of Boxoffice said that Altec would be providing “…sound service for Bert Ram’s new Lakeview, Augusta, Ga…..” The house must have opened around that time.
The River Theatre was built for the Banducci and Lemucchi Theatre Company, according to an item in Southwest Builder & Contractor, March 17, 1939. The May 26 issue of the same publication revealed that Clifford Balch was the architect for the project.
The September 23, 1939, issue of Boxoffice Magazine reported that the River Theatre at Oildale had been opened. Banducci and Lemucchi also operated the Arvin Theatre at Arvin and the Granada Theatre in Bakersfield.
Following the death of Jim Banducci in 1955, various issues of Boxoffice reported multiple closings and re-openings of the River under various operators during the next two years, until it was taken over by Ernest Martini in 1957. Martini was still operating the house in January, 1964, the last mention of it I’ve found in Boxoffice.
Boxoffice of November 10, 1951, said that the Cloverleaf Drive-In at Augusta had opened on October 30. It was operated by the Georgia Theatres Company.
The June 28, 1952, issue of Boxoffice ran an article about the seven drive-ins which had opened in Aiken County area since 1949. There was a small photo of the Cloverleaf’s screen tower, which featured a giant four-leaf clover with “CLOVER” emblazoned across the top two leaves and “LEAF” on the bottom two.
The article also gave the names, locations, and opening years of the other six drive-ins. They were the Aiken Drive-In at Aiken, 1949; The Friendly Drive-In at Aiken and the Valley Drive-In at Gloversville, S.C., in 1950; The Hilltop Drive-In at North Augusta, S.C., in 1951; The Skyline Drive-In at New Ellington and the Fox Drive-In at Augusta, 1952.
Forest Hills should have only one “r” in it. An article about the Forest Hills Drive-In appeared in Boxoffice Magazine of September 5, 1953. Several small photographs were included.
Here’s the article (if the link works.)
Boxoffice Magazine announced the start of construction on the Skyview Drive-In at Augusta in its issue of April 2, 1949. It was located on Olive Road near Milledgeville Road. The architect was Barney Dunbar. The August 13, 1949, issue of Boxoffice said that the Skyview Drive-In had recently opened.
The Skyview was built by Harold M. Boardman, a local automobile dealer, and originally managed by his son Donald. Not long after opening, the Skyview got a visit from Boxoffice columnist Harry Hart, who wrote about the operation in his column in the October 1, 1949 issue:
The Cinema Centre was probably the theater mentioned in August 16, 1971, issue of Boxoffice: “Leibrand & Halvorson, contractors, report that construction of the theatre here has reached the midway point. They anticipate completion in three weeks.”
The Rex building got moved twice. The August 1, 1953, issue of Boxoffice reported that the Rex had been closed after the owners had opened the Riv-R-Vue Drive-In south of town. The Rex had by then operated as a theater for nearly forty years.
The building had been moved to the townsite somewhat earlier and at first had been used to store flax. It became a theater soon after, originally presenting traveling shows. The Boxoffice item does not give the year movies were first presented at the Rex, but it must have been in the 1910s.
If your date is correct, then Boxoffice has provided the most extreme examples of delayed reporting I’ve found yet. Announcing a groundbreaking when the building has already been completed is pretty drastic. Maybe somebody at Georgia Theatre Company was slacking off and sending the press releases out months late.
A correction to my previous comment: The February 14, 1954, issue of Boxoffice said that Reggie Gannon, son of the late E.G. Gannon, had bought the Colfax Theatre with the intention of closing it. The Colfax is only mentioned retrospectively in Boxoffice after that. Reggie Gannon continued to operate the Sky Theatre until 1962, when he moved to Arizona.
Identical seat counts of a non-round number, coupled with the other information I dug up, seems good enough to me. I think the aka of Varsity Theatre should be restored. As the theater opened in 1926 and is in a college town, it’s likely that Varsity was its opening name. It was a very popular name for movie theaters in the 1920s. It probably saw its fair share of raccoon coats, hip flasks, and co-eds in cloche hats sneaking smokes in the ladies room.
Both the West Theatre and the Y Not Drive-In were operated by Donald Johnson’s Johnson Theatres from 1966 until 1974. They were offered for sale in the classified section of various issues of Boxoffice in 1973, and the July 8, 1974, issue ran an item saying that both theaters had been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reese, effective June 2.
The item also said that when Johnson bought the theaters from in 1966, the West Theatre had been called the Rivola. He remodeled and renamed it, and also updated the drive-in, and both theaters were operated until 1973 by his brother, Franklin Johnson.
The July 3, 1948, issue of Boxoffice said that construction had begun in Schuyler for a new theater for E.G. Gannon. Gannon had become the operator of the Avalon Theatre at Schuyler in 1945.
Boxoffice mentioned the recent opening of the 600-seat Sky Theatre at Schuyler in its issue of November 20, 1948. E.G. Gannon reported an overflow crowd for the opening movie, Northwest Stampede.
The October 7, 1950, issue of Boxoffice reported that Edward Gannon had died suddenly. After that, the Sky Theater was operated by his son, Reggie Gannon. The February 14, 1954, issue said that Reggie Gannon had bought the rival Colfax Theatre, which he planned to close. He operated the Sky until 1962, when the June 11 issue of Boxoffice reported that he was moving to Arizona and that Don Johnson of Lynch, Nebraska, would take over the Sky Theatre.
The November 22, 1965 issue of Boxoffice said that Mr. and Mrs. Donald Johnson had sold their Lynn and Boyd Theatres in Lynch, Nebraska, and would move to Schuyler to operate their Sky Theatre which had lately been under the management of Don Johnson’s brother.
The August 5, 1968, Boxoffice said that Don Johnson was planning an extensive remodeling job at his Sky Theatre. There’s no mention of twinning at this time, though.
The February 12, 1979, issue of Boxoffice reported that the Chicago Used Chair Mart had finished a chair renovation project at the Sky Theatre in Schuyler. The house was still being operated by Johnson Theatres. That’s the most recent mention of the Sky I’ve been able to find.