I only hope that Seattle movie theater fans mount some campaign to compel Amazon to include the theater in their plans. The King Cat (previously the King) is a good example of the last generation of single screen theaters. I only saw one film there but it was impressive.
JeffinTexas: The information comes from a variety of sources, but all of it comes from CT members. Some of us worked in these theaters or have friends and family who did. Others share their memories, personal records, and photos. Others research various online sources, newspaper archives, and the holdings of historical societies and government bureaus. We have some folks who have access to various film industry and exhibitor publications. As you read the theaters' headnotes and comments, it will become clear just how diverse the sources are, how resourceful CT members are, and how much we appreciate this site and the work of its creators and moderators.
I am sure all of us would love to have you post your photos; many CT readers and contributors look especially for photos, old advertisements and other graphical material. Just follow the site guidelines (see photos, above), being sure that you do not post copyrighted material. Photos should not be posted on a theater’s Comments page but only on its photos page, although you can post a comment that you have uploaded a picture or pictures to the photos page.
And then there is this page from the Denis Theater Foundation’s site; it looks like very little of the theater’s original decor remains, probably lost when the theater was converted to a quad.
This article appeared on January 19, 2012. The group working to advance the theater’s restoration has a webpage (see above for the official site) and there is a news tab there.
Based on your comment of 02-12-12 with the link to the photo of the fireman extinguishing still smoking embers, I think the blog entry is (sadly) wrong. Some other articles about the damage caused by rioters say the building was gutted.
True, but even that GKC facade was an improvement over the original theater’s appearance. Those 70s-era Butterfield-built theaters were little more than cement block bunkers. The interiors were very plain.
Actually, no. As previous comments indicate, the historical main entrance to the Pantages was on Victoria Street; the Yonge Street entrance was actually a later addition (although constructed a long time ago now and well-blended architecturally into the original design). The Yonge Street entry actually takes one over O'Keefe Lane and then into the the original main foyer. Because Yonge is such a main thoroughfare, it is easy to assume the Yonge Street entry always was the main entry, especially if you are among those who recall the theater in its days as the Imperial 6 cinema.
Thanks for the correction, steelbeard1; it has been awhile since I was in Jackson and I misremembered who owned what.
I suspect this odd situation probably has to do principally with the Jackson market. Jackson really is not all that large a city and probably would not be able to support a Landmark-type operation.
I am a bit surprised that the Plaza still hangs in there. I remember going there when it opened as either as a single screen or a twin, I think back in the early 70s. It was one of the last theaters built and operated by the Butterfield chain back when the shopping area it was adjacent to was called Paka Plaza.
Well, in this case, not only are the theaters (the Carmike Plaza 8 and the GKC Jackson 10) not in different parts of town, they are just about across the road from each other on North Wisner Street. A look at the listings does show a significant amount of duplication. It is a rather odd situation.
Jackson’s downtown theaters closed as regular movie theaters years ago (the sole survivor, the magnificent Michigan does show family and classic films but is also now a community and live performance venue).
A 1970s era twin out at the Westwood Mall south of town also closed many years ago as well as a couple of area drive-ins.
I am sorry that you thought that Michael; that was not my intent. I was using your lists to ascertain the gap between the July 14 event and the actual public premiere; I did not mean to suggest that you were unaware of the July 14 event nor that the event was omitted from your carefully researched lists.
I am curious as to the origin of this three-strip print; over the last couple of years, most online sources that have information about this film having been saying that no three-strip prints survive and that the negatives and other elements that could be used for a restoration were severely water-damaged. TCM has shown a roadshow version but I have been unable to find really anything about its origin either.
In this case it appears to have been a screening in advance of the official premiere. One online source indicates that this Denver event occurred on July 14, 1962, and that the film’s composer was working on the film’s score up until July 17. According Michael Coate’s lists, the film had a simultaneous premiere in New York and Los Angeles on August 7, and the Denver public run began on August 8.
My guess is that this July 14 preview was a media event to draw attention to the film and for the Cooper Foundation to show of its new purpose-built Cinerama house.
Is it certain that the West End Theater is demolished? I came across this merchant listing for a West End Theater Group; the photo is clearly that of a movie theater and the text indicates it is located in the West End Theater Building; however, the address is 685 W. Fifth. Clicking on the photo will enlarge it:
Based on this and other articles about the closing, the theater actually opened in 1997; it later went to a discount operation, and two screens were closed. Also, it apparently did not have stadium seating, and was last known as the Post Falls Theater:
A later article in the Detroit Free Pressindicates hat the Maple is being taken over by a new operator that will close it in April for renovations and then reopen it:
Landmark’s lease on this theater will end at the end of January, 2012; a new operator is taking over and will shut down the theater in April to install digital projection, new seating, and new screens.
There is a proposal being floated to demolish the building that houses this theater; the theater owner says he will keep the cinema going even if he has to relocate:
I only hope that Seattle movie theater fans mount some campaign to compel Amazon to include the theater in their plans. The King Cat (previously the King) is a good example of the last generation of single screen theaters. I only saw one film there but it was impressive.
JeffinTexas: The information comes from a variety of sources, but all of it comes from CT members. Some of us worked in these theaters or have friends and family who did. Others share their memories, personal records, and photos. Others research various online sources, newspaper archives, and the holdings of historical societies and government bureaus. We have some folks who have access to various film industry and exhibitor publications. As you read the theaters' headnotes and comments, it will become clear just how diverse the sources are, how resourceful CT members are, and how much we appreciate this site and the work of its creators and moderators.
I am sure all of us would love to have you post your photos; many CT readers and contributors look especially for photos, old advertisements and other graphical material. Just follow the site guidelines (see photos, above), being sure that you do not post copyrighted material. Photos should not be posted on a theater’s Comments page but only on its photos page, although you can post a comment that you have uploaded a picture or pictures to the photos page.
Two articles, each with an interior picture:
View link View link
And then there is this page from the Denis Theater Foundation’s site; it looks like very little of the theater’s original decor remains, probably lost when the theater was converted to a quad.
This article appeared on January 19, 2012. The group working to advance the theater’s restoration has a webpage (see above for the official site) and there is a news tab there.
Based on your comment of 02-12-12 with the link to the photo of the fireman extinguishing still smoking embers, I think the blog entry is (sadly) wrong. Some other articles about the damage caused by rioters say the building was gutted.
Click on the Photos tab above.
There is a plan to reopen this theater as a multifunctional entertainment center described in this article.
True, but even that GKC facade was an improvement over the original theater’s appearance. Those 70s-era Butterfield-built theaters were little more than cement block bunkers. The interiors were very plain.
There is additional information about this theater here.
There is additional information about this theater here.
Actually, no. As previous comments indicate, the historical main entrance to the Pantages was on Victoria Street; the Yonge Street entrance was actually a later addition (although constructed a long time ago now and well-blended architecturally into the original design). The Yonge Street entry actually takes one over O'Keefe Lane and then into the the original main foyer. Because Yonge is such a main thoroughfare, it is easy to assume the Yonge Street entry always was the main entry, especially if you are among those who recall the theater in its days as the Imperial 6 cinema.
Thanks for the correction, steelbeard1; it has been awhile since I was in Jackson and I misremembered who owned what.
I suspect this odd situation probably has to do principally with the Jackson market. Jackson really is not all that large a city and probably would not be able to support a Landmark-type operation.
I am a bit surprised that the Plaza still hangs in there. I remember going there when it opened as either as a single screen or a twin, I think back in the early 70s. It was one of the last theaters built and operated by the Butterfield chain back when the shopping area it was adjacent to was called Paka Plaza.
Well, in this case, not only are the theaters (the Carmike Plaza 8 and the GKC Jackson 10) not in different parts of town, they are just about across the road from each other on North Wisner Street. A look at the listings does show a significant amount of duplication. It is a rather odd situation.
Jackson’s downtown theaters closed as regular movie theaters years ago (the sole survivor, the magnificent Michigan does show family and classic films but is also now a community and live performance venue).
A 1970s era twin out at the Westwood Mall south of town also closed many years ago as well as a couple of area drive-ins.
I am sorry that you thought that Michael; that was not my intent. I was using your lists to ascertain the gap between the July 14 event and the actual public premiere; I did not mean to suggest that you were unaware of the July 14 event nor that the event was omitted from your carefully researched lists.
I am curious as to the origin of this three-strip print; over the last couple of years, most online sources that have information about this film having been saying that no three-strip prints survive and that the negatives and other elements that could be used for a restoration were severely water-damaged. TCM has shown a roadshow version but I have been unable to find really anything about its origin either.
In this case it appears to have been a screening in advance of the official premiere. One online source indicates that this Denver event occurred on July 14, 1962, and that the film’s composer was working on the film’s score up until July 17. According Michael Coate’s lists, the film had a simultaneous premiere in New York and Los Angeles on August 7, and the Denver public run began on August 8.
My guess is that this July 14 preview was a media event to draw attention to the film and for the Cooper Foundation to show of its new purpose-built Cinerama house.
An article with pictures about the renovations being made to the Hanna to meet the needs of the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival:
http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2008/07/newest_photo_tour_of_great_lak.html
Is it certain that the West End Theater is demolished? I came across this merchant listing for a West End Theater Group; the photo is clearly that of a movie theater and the text indicates it is located in the West End Theater Building; however, the address is 685 W. Fifth. Clicking on the photo will enlarge it:
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Historic.West.End.Theater.Group.507-457-0872
This theater is closing as of January 29, 2012:
http://www.kxly.com/news/30291687/detail.html
Based on this and other articles about the closing, the theater actually opened in 1997; it later went to a discount operation, and two screens were closed. Also, it apparently did not have stadium seating, and was last known as the Post Falls Theater:
http://www.nwcn.com/home/?fId=138064008&fPath=/news/local&fDomain=10222
A link to a picture of the theatre’s interior
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/MP-1980.390.9/
A later article in the Detroit Free Pressindicates hat the Maple is being taken over by a new operator that will close it in April for renovations and then reopen it:
http://www.freep.com/article/20120119/ENT01/120119051/Maple-Art-Theatre?odyssey=nav|head
Landmark’s lease on this theater will end at the end of January, 2012; a new operator is taking over and will shut down the theater in April to install digital projection, new seating, and new screens.
http://www.freep.com/article/20120119/ENT01/120119051/Maple-Art-Theatre?odyssey=nav|head
AMC has lost its bid with the building’s owners to renew its lease; it appears likely that this theater may close when the current lease is up:
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/if-block-e-loses-its-movie-theater,-developers-hope-a-casino-could-take-its-place
There is a picture, posted on the theater’s page at Drive-ins.com, that may the same one Mike is referring to:
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/nmtcirc006.jpg
There is a proposal being floated to demolish the building that houses this theater; the theater owner says he will keep the cinema going even if he has to relocate:
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=5&id=48504