Do they still show films here?
Here’s an evening shot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/
There also a shot of the BODY SNATCHERS square, down the street from the theater, in the same album.
When I moved to Lancaster (just out of college circa the early ‘60s) the Hamilton was closed. I was always fascinated by it. Any comments?
As I remember the entrance was set back from the street in a kind of arcade. I assumed it had once been an old legitimate theater?
As I have written elsewhere I lived at 123 N. Queen St. (a few doors down from the Grand) during the early stages of the demolition. It was like living in a war zone.
Hope you’ll add more about Lancaster theaters.
I’m not sure. They said this book was only available through Every Picture.
I was distracted by the original $4,500 Mary Blair when I was in the store!
Just saw a gorgeous stereo Panavision print of FIRST MEN ON THE MOON at the Aero. I LOVE this theater and what the American Cinematheque is doing there! It’s also easier access than fighting the Hollywood & Highland traffic at the Egyption.
There was also an exhibit in conjunction with a new Ray Harryhausen book at Every Picture Tells A Story across the street.
After college I had one of my first apartments at 123 N. Queen St. The second block was then the “theater district” of old Lancaster. I was still living there in the midst of the catastrophic demolition from which Lancaster has apparently still never quite recovered.
Four theaters were razed, including an abandoned old classic called the Hamilton. I am very sorry I never got to see the interior.
The night the wrecking ball was taken to the Brunswick Hotel was like a sequence in a Fellini movie!
My apartment was a few doors down from the Grand.
Of all the vintage Lancaster theaters only the historic Fulton Opera House survived. It was still showing films when I moved to the city.
John S: Now that you mention it I think there was a roller rink at Playland. If you faced the property from the highway the miniature golf course and pool were on the left, and the rink was to the right. I think you drove in between them.
The golf course was right in front of the pool which, as I said, was uniquely elevated and shaped like a kind of oval or horseshoe-shaped bowl. Behind the pool there were grounds, mostly grassy lawn, for sunbathing.
There were large paintings of sea creatures on the bottom of the pool and there was a large slide to the right, a smaller children’s one on the left side.
I thought the whole complex was magical, the underwater windows on the dive area were fascinating.
Aside from Hershey Park, Playland was the closest you could come to Disneyland in Pennsylvania. I always looked forward to our trips down from Harrisburg.
Do you (does anyone?) remember Playland? It was probably before your time. My parents took me there when I was a kid. I loved it. I don’t know how long it survived.
Here’s what a friend, Stateboy from Columbia, recalls:
“The Playland Pool underwater viewing windows (which I only ever glimpsed from the highway as Dad drove by) remind me of the Marineland scenes in REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, where Lori Nelson and ‘Blackie’ sort of…well, ogle each other. …” :–)
The other Lancaster drive-in was, as I recall, the Sky Vue, on route 30 east. That, as you said, quickly became prime real estate.
Thanks for all the info, John S. I know little about the York drive-ins, other than vague memories of attending them from time to time. I remember the Lincoln as being fairly rural at the time.
I also attended the Comet and one other drive-in in Lancaster.
Strange you should mention the “cannibalized” Stony Brook projection booth.
I’ve added three new photos including one of the very “no frills” projection building. View link
Interesting. I always wondered what happened to the remains of the Senate. I have some color photos somewhere. Thanks.
I have to admit I have never gotten over that theater’s demolition. The Senate and the Penway were the key theaters where I first discovered movies when I was growing up.
Harrisburg had little regard for it’s vintage theater history. No downtown theaters survived. Then I went through the whole demolition trauma thing – deja vu all over again – when I lived on the second block of N. Queen St. in Lancaster. But there is happened all at once, within a few weeks and, like some recurring nightmare, my apartment was right in the middle of it!
A Photoshop-ed “CinemaScope image of the Stony Brook Drive-In on the east side of York. As yet it seems this has not been included here. I have other photos from some years ago. I assume the Stony Brook no longer exists? View link
Also on 13th St. was the Capitol. It was down towards Market St. and part of the 13th & Market shopping district that also included a Lee’s Five & Ten, a florist, a bakery, a drugstore (on one of the corners), and of course a big farmer’s market. Later there was a Robert Hall’s.
The Capitol was even seedier than the Roxy (which actually was not that seedy). Nobody ever seems to remember or mention the Capitol. I seem to remember when it was razed, probably in the early ‘50s, there was a parking lot there for a time. The theater was just up from the corner drugstore towards and on the same side of the street as the Roxy. I think there may also have been a firehouse near or next to the theater. I know there was another church besides Christ Lutheran up the street too.
I wish there were photos of both of these theaters but I doubt any exist.
Don’t forget pretzel sticks in a little cellophane-covered box and chocolate covered raisins.
The lady at the Penway refreshment stand once said I was going to turn into a chocolate-covered raisin!
I really liked the Uptown.
The Roxy shared a newspaper block ad with the Penway, the Grand, and the Valle. It was across the street from the cathedral-like Christ Lutheran Church. (Christ Lutheran had a neon cross on its high tower. It could be seen at a distance from many points in Harrisburg and was a sort of landmark).
I saw the Roxy every Sunday when we went to church when I lived on Hoerner St. And often wished I was going there instead, though this was a theater I seldom attended.
I vaguely recall that at that period it was not considered one of the “nice” theaters (like the Penway). I assume the whole neighborhood is probably not that nice now.
Do they still show films here?
Here’s an evening shot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39527581@N07/
There also a shot of the BODY SNATCHERS square, down the street from the theater, in the same album.
When I moved to Lancaster (just out of college circa the early ‘60s) the Hamilton was closed. I was always fascinated by it. Any comments?
As I remember the entrance was set back from the street in a kind of arcade. I assumed it had once been an old legitimate theater?
As I have written elsewhere I lived at 123 N. Queen St. (a few doors down from the Grand) during the early stages of the demolition. It was like living in a war zone.
Hope you’ll add more about Lancaster theaters.
FLICKr Album:
View link
I’m not sure. They said this book was only available through Every Picture.
I was distracted by the original $4,500 Mary Blair when I was in the store!
A rather sci-fi nocturnal shot of The Dome. I like that they have preserved the original Cinerama logo.
This is from an in-progress album of vintage theater photos, some one of a kind from Pennsylvania:
View link
Just saw a gorgeous stereo Panavision print of FIRST MEN ON THE MOON at the Aero. I LOVE this theater and what the American Cinematheque is doing there! It’s also easier access than fighting the Hollywood & Highland traffic at the Egyption.
There was also an exhibit in conjunction with a new Ray Harryhausen book at Every Picture Tells A Story across the street.
Also hoping to get some more comments on the Lancaster downtown theaters…
I have not been able to find any photos of the Boyd and other theaters.
Please see comments for the Boyd, Lancaster, Pa.
After college I had one of my first apartments at 123 N. Queen St. The second block was then the “theater district” of old Lancaster. I was still living there in the midst of the catastrophic demolition from which Lancaster has apparently still never quite recovered.
Four theaters were razed, including an abandoned old classic called the Hamilton. I am very sorry I never got to see the interior.
The night the wrecking ball was taken to the Brunswick Hotel was like a sequence in a Fellini movie!
My apartment was a few doors down from the Grand.
Of all the vintage Lancaster theaters only the historic Fulton Opera House survived. It was still showing films when I moved to the city.
PS: DennisZ: Great entry. Break your comments into paragraphs & they would make a good entry on the Comet &/or the Sky Vue….
Wish I could join you too, but I’m in California. I remember seeing GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER at the Comet. It had a neat sign at the entrance too.
John S: Now that you mention it I think there was a roller rink at Playland. If you faced the property from the highway the miniature golf course and pool were on the left, and the rink was to the right. I think you drove in between them.
The golf course was right in front of the pool which, as I said, was uniquely elevated and shaped like a kind of oval or horseshoe-shaped bowl. Behind the pool there were grounds, mostly grassy lawn, for sunbathing.
There were large paintings of sea creatures on the bottom of the pool and there was a large slide to the right, a smaller children’s one on the left side.
I thought the whole complex was magical, the underwater windows on the dive area were fascinating.
Aside from Hershey Park, Playland was the closest you could come to Disneyland in Pennsylvania. I always looked forward to our trips down from Harrisburg.
Do you (does anyone?) remember Playland? It was probably before your time. My parents took me there when I was a kid. I loved it. I don’t know how long it survived.
Here’s what a friend, Stateboy from Columbia, recalls:
“The Playland Pool underwater viewing windows (which I only ever glimpsed from the highway as Dad drove by) remind me of the Marineland scenes in REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, where Lori Nelson and ‘Blackie’ sort of…well, ogle each other. …” :–)
The other Lancaster drive-in was, as I recall, the Sky Vue, on route 30 east. That, as you said, quickly became prime real estate.
Thanks for all the info, John S. I know little about the York drive-ins, other than vague memories of attending them from time to time. I remember the Lincoln as being fairly rural at the time.
I also attended the Comet and one other drive-in in Lancaster.
Strange you should mention the “cannibalized” Stony Brook projection booth.
I’ve added three new photos including one of the very “no frills” projection building.
View link
RE: Stony Brook/Lincoln:
View link
Wasn’t there a cool little snack place called The Spot across Market Square from the Senate?
This should take you to my in-progress FLICKr album:
View link
Interesting. I always wondered what happened to the remains of the Senate. I have some color photos somewhere. Thanks.
I have to admit I have never gotten over that theater’s demolition. The Senate and the Penway were the key theaters where I first discovered movies when I was growing up.
Harrisburg had little regard for it’s vintage theater history. No downtown theaters survived. Then I went through the whole demolition trauma thing – deja vu all over again – when I lived on the second block of N. Queen St. in Lancaster. But there is happened all at once, within a few weeks and, like some recurring nightmare, my apartment was right in the middle of it!
Now on FLICKr:
View link
Now on FLICKr:
View link
A Photoshop-ed “CinemaScope image of the Stony Brook Drive-In on the east side of York. As yet it seems this has not been included here. I have other photos from some years ago. I assume the Stony Brook no longer exists?
View link
Close up of the marquee:
View link
Also on 13th St. was the Capitol. It was down towards Market St. and part of the 13th & Market shopping district that also included a Lee’s Five & Ten, a florist, a bakery, a drugstore (on one of the corners), and of course a big farmer’s market. Later there was a Robert Hall’s.
The Capitol was even seedier than the Roxy (which actually was not that seedy). Nobody ever seems to remember or mention the Capitol. I seem to remember when it was razed, probably in the early ‘50s, there was a parking lot there for a time. The theater was just up from the corner drugstore towards and on the same side of the street as the Roxy. I think there may also have been a firehouse near or next to the theater. I know there was another church besides Christ Lutheran up the street too.
I wish there were photos of both of these theaters but I doubt any exist.
Don’t forget pretzel sticks in a little cellophane-covered box and chocolate covered raisins.
The lady at the Penway refreshment stand once said I was going to turn into a chocolate-covered raisin!
I really liked the Uptown.
The Roxy shared a newspaper block ad with the Penway, the Grand, and the Valle. It was across the street from the cathedral-like Christ Lutheran Church. (Christ Lutheran had a neon cross on its high tower. It could be seen at a distance from many points in Harrisburg and was a sort of landmark).
I saw the Roxy every Sunday when we went to church when I lived on Hoerner St. And often wished I was going there instead, though this was a theater I seldom attended.
I vaguely recall that at that period it was not considered one of the “nice” theaters (like the Penway). I assume the whole neighborhood is probably not that nice now.