I think the picture is posted above is of the Plaza/ABC Govan. The picture of the Plaza/ABC Govan on this webpage is clearly the same building. (The picture appears to be after closing but before demolition in 1972; the picture advertised was released in most European countries in 1972).
There is also a picture on the webpage of the Lyceum (second Lyceum); there is a certain similarity in that both have curvature in their facades, occupy or occupied corner sites near each other on Govan Road, and were designed by the same architects, But the Plaza/ABC Govan opened in 1936 and is demolished, whereas the Lyceum opened in 1938 and the building, after serving as a bingo hall, was still standing and for sale in 2006.
This photograph shows the theatre’s exterior before ABC took over.
This webpageshows the restoration of the original stained class panels bearing the words “The Mayfair” that can be seen in the photograph over the center doors.
In addition to the photo above, this webpage has an additional interior photo of the screen and an exterior shot.
It also claims that the theater was also known as the East Milar Street Picture House which does not seem to make sense given the address above and on the webpage.
When converted to a movie theater in 1919, the building retained the stately columned front from its days as a church. This was modified some time in later years so that it looks as it does now. There is additional history on the official website’s history page.
There is a picture on this webpage of WW I soldiers lined up to see a film at this theater when it was the Strand in 1919, apparently soon after the building went into use as a cinema (scroll down; it’s the last one at the bottom of the page).
I think that the best answer to bigjoe59’s question is probably “Nobody knows at this point.” Like almost everyone else here, I hope for the best. But from an economic standpoint I do think there is reason for caution (leading, I would hope to organized watchdog/ preservation action), if not some pessimism.
IMHO, if Clearview is bought as a package by an entity other than a theater operator, then I think the theaters will be sold off as real estate. Even if it is a theater operator, the situation could be similar to the situation Landmark has been in for several years; it has been gradually divesting theaters it is no longer interested in orfind profitable, or the chain gives them up when the lease runs out (Landmark has been on the block for a couple of years too). It would be great if Robert Redford’s Sundance Cinemas might be interested, but all of theaters they hav acquired so far are multiplexes. I have read that Arclight is thinking of operating cinemas outside of California, but I would imagine they, like Sundance, wold only be interested if an addition to the theater could be built that would house multiple screens.
An acquisition by Disney might well be the theater’s best chance of survival as a large single screen cinema. As for landmarking, I don’t know; like Ed Solero, I’m not sure the Ziegfeld’s architecture is all that distinguished. And, worse, while a landmark designation certainly helps, it never has been an absolute guarantee of preservation (and acquiring or attempting landmarking to save theaters in NYC has, shall we say, not always been successful?). But landmarking sure could not hurt at this point; better now than later after a sale has gone through.
The installation of a Cinerama strip screen at the Showcase Cinema Toledo was not a “coincidence.” According Sharon Redstone, daughter of the chains father, Sumner Redstone, Showcase Cinemas, in their earlier years, deliberately installed louvered Cinerama screens (built by Hurley Screen which built most of them – and still can if you can afford one) in a number of their early twin and triplex theaters and had an agreement with Cinerama to be an exhibitor.
The curve of the Showcase louvered screens was shallower than the original Cinerama screens as 70mm Cinerama was now standard, and as the original release of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, World” proved, there was more distortion of the image on the original Cinerama screens than on the later ones with a shallower curve.
Also, in regard to another comment, I may be wrong, but I don’t recall this theater ever been used for retail; from the theater’s closing until its demolition, I was in Toledo several times staying at a hotel just a few yards up Secor Road, and during that period it just sat there, boarded up. There was a plan to incorporate it into a new retail/shopping complex, but nothing came of that. The demolition photos show clearly that the auditoriums at least weren’t converted to anything but rubble.
This theater appears to be open: its website is:http://atlanticstationcinema.com/. It is owned by Wilson Amusements.
However, the address above is not the same as the one on the theater’s website, but how many Atlantic Station Cinema 4’s can there be in Atlantic Beach, NC?
This would appear to confirm the opening date of 1893:
From the New York Dramatic Mirror, December 30, 1893:
“DETROIT’S NEW THEATER
Campbell’s Empire Theatre was opened last night at Detroit, Mich., with Sadie Hasson in A Kentucky Girl. The new theatre is erected on the site of what was formerly known as Latimer’s Livery Stable, and comprises 17 and 19 Lafayette Avenue. The house is heated by steam and is lighted by both gas and electricity. The seating capacity is 2,000. There are eight boxes, all upholstered in red plush and draped with chenille. The general decorations are in panels and in colors. The stage has fifteen complete scenic settings, supplied by Sosman and Laadis, of Chicago.
Dr. Campbell, who is to manage the new house, has the advantage of extensive experience. In 1869 he built and owned the Jersey City Opera House. In 1870 he built and managed the Grand Central Theatre of Brooklyn. A few years later he leased the Metropolitan Theatre of New York city, and formed Campbell’s Circuit, to which he subsequently added the Comique and Globe theatres of New York. In 1882 he began devoting himself entirely to the circus business, and sometime after that retired from the amusement business altogether."
The proprietors are the city. They closed down their own theater.
This webpage has a picture of the former cinema in its current role as a church.
Sadly, that is something that most likely will never happen again, at least not at the Dome.
I think the picture is posted above is of the Plaza/ABC Govan. The picture of the Plaza/ABC Govan on this webpage is clearly the same building. (The picture appears to be after closing but before demolition in 1972; the picture advertised was released in most European countries in 1972).
There is also a picture on the webpage of the Lyceum (second Lyceum); there is a certain similarity in that both have curvature in their facades, occupy or occupied corner sites near each other on Govan Road, and were designed by the same architects, But the Plaza/ABC Govan opened in 1936 and is demolished, whereas the Lyceum opened in 1938 and the building, after serving as a bingo hall, was still standing and for sale in 2006.
This photograph shows the theatre’s exterior before ABC took over.
This webpageshows the restoration of the original stained class panels bearing the words “The Mayfair” that can be seen in the photograph over the center doors.
The Highland Park was shut down by the city on May 6 for fire code violations: View link.
Oddly enough, The City of Highland Park owns the theater.
There is an account of the fire here.
In addition to the photo above, this webpage has an additional interior photo of the screen and an exterior shot.
It also claims that the theater was also known as the East Milar Street Picture House which does not seem to make sense given the address above and on the webpage.
According to the IMDB, Warner’s filmed “The Command” in both Cinemascope and 3-D, but only released the CinemaScope version.
A more direct link to the article: View link
The Wall Street Journal reported today that Cablevision has hired Citigroup to advise and coordinate the sale of Clearview Cinemas.
When converted to a movie theater in 1919, the building retained the stately columned front from its days as a church. This was modified some time in later years so that it looks as it does now. There is additional history on the official website’s history page.
There is a picture on this webpage of WW I soldiers lined up to see a film at this theater when it was the Strand in 1919, apparently soon after the building went into use as a cinema (scroll down; it’s the last one at the bottom of the page).
I think that the best answer to bigjoe59’s question is probably “Nobody knows at this point.” Like almost everyone else here, I hope for the best. But from an economic standpoint I do think there is reason for caution (leading, I would hope to organized watchdog/ preservation action), if not some pessimism.
IMHO, if Clearview is bought as a package by an entity other than a theater operator, then I think the theaters will be sold off as real estate. Even if it is a theater operator, the situation could be similar to the situation Landmark has been in for several years; it has been gradually divesting theaters it is no longer interested in orfind profitable, or the chain gives them up when the lease runs out (Landmark has been on the block for a couple of years too). It would be great if Robert Redford’s Sundance Cinemas might be interested, but all of theaters they hav acquired so far are multiplexes. I have read that Arclight is thinking of operating cinemas outside of California, but I would imagine they, like Sundance, wold only be interested if an addition to the theater could be built that would house multiple screens.
An acquisition by Disney might well be the theater’s best chance of survival as a large single screen cinema. As for landmarking, I don’t know; like Ed Solero, I’m not sure the Ziegfeld’s architecture is all that distinguished. And, worse, while a landmark designation certainly helps, it never has been an absolute guarantee of preservation (and acquiring or attempting landmarking to save theaters in NYC has, shall we say, not always been successful?). But landmarking sure could not hurt at this point; better now than later after a sale has gone through.
The installation of a Cinerama strip screen at the Showcase Cinema Toledo was not a “coincidence.” According Sharon Redstone, daughter of the chains father, Sumner Redstone, Showcase Cinemas, in their earlier years, deliberately installed louvered Cinerama screens (built by Hurley Screen which built most of them – and still can if you can afford one) in a number of their early twin and triplex theaters and had an agreement with Cinerama to be an exhibitor.
The curve of the Showcase louvered screens was shallower than the original Cinerama screens as 70mm Cinerama was now standard, and as the original release of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, World” proved, there was more distortion of the image on the original Cinerama screens than on the later ones with a shallower curve.
Also, in regard to another comment, I may be wrong, but I don’t recall this theater ever been used for retail; from the theater’s closing until its demolition, I was in Toledo several times staying at a hotel just a few yards up Secor Road, and during that period it just sat there, boarded up. There was a plan to incorporate it into a new retail/shopping complex, but nothing came of that. The demolition photos show clearly that the auditoriums at least weren’t converted to anything but rubble.
Trouble ahead perhaps for the Ziegfeld? Cablevision is putting their Clearview Cinemas chain up for sale according to this article
This theater appears to be open: its website is:http://atlanticstationcinema.com/. It is owned by Wilson Amusements.
However, the address above is not the same as the one on the theater’s website, but how many Atlantic Station Cinema 4’s can there be in Atlantic Beach, NC?
There is a picture on this webpage View link.
There is a picture of the theater here: View link
Photos of the theatre while under construction: View link View link
Current owners are giving the theater a thorough sprucing up: View link
The theater’s sign is up for auction, and a developer has plans to raze the theater and adjacent structures: View article
This would appear to confirm the opening date of 1893:
From the New York Dramatic Mirror, December 30, 1893:
“DETROIT’S NEW THEATER
Campbell’s Empire Theatre was opened last night at Detroit, Mich., with Sadie Hasson in A Kentucky Girl. The new theatre is erected on the site of what was formerly known as Latimer’s Livery Stable, and comprises 17 and 19 Lafayette Avenue. The house is heated by steam and is lighted by both gas and electricity. The seating capacity is 2,000. There are eight boxes, all upholstered in red plush and draped with chenille. The general decorations are in panels and in colors. The stage has fifteen complete scenic settings, supplied by Sosman and Laadis, of Chicago.
Dr. Campbell, who is to manage the new house, has the advantage of extensive experience. In 1869 he built and owned the Jersey City Opera House. In 1870 he built and managed the Grand Central Theatre of Brooklyn. A few years later he leased the Metropolitan Theatre of New York city, and formed Campbell’s Circuit, to which he subsequently added the Comique and Globe theatres of New York. In 1882 he began devoting himself entirely to the circus business, and sometime after that retired from the amusement business altogether."
A picture of the Kingsway: View link
This webpage has links to pictures and information about the theatre’s Compton organ.
This webpage has some related pictures.
Exterior picture: View link
You are not the only one who thinks so!