Robert A. “Bob” Oliver opened the Iowa Theatre’s doors with an estimate $30,000 in construction on April 15, 1937 with Fred MacMurray in “Swing High Swing Low” along with special performances by the city’s high school band and a ceremonial speech delivered by Floyd Sammon. Otherwise, it was unclear if any short subjects were added.
Original information as of 1937 goes as follows: The original lobby features a red cement floor and all indirectly lighted with soft light on the display boards. The box-office exterior was lighted with trimmed glass with chromium metal trimming. The original lights in the foyer were all installed by E. Maurice Bakke, and they carry two different color circuits which make possible three distinct blends of color combinations. The auditorium featured a variegated tan scheme in the walls and ceiling, and on each side walls vertical tiers of plasters fluted with chromium metal and hatches of opalescent glass for indirect lighting at the sides of the room, and were finished in Nu-wood.
The auditorium floor slopes about an inch-to-a-foot and the seat rows are placed 32in apart and are staggered assuring comfort and good vision of the screen. There is also a 28-seat balcony only for special occasions such as parties. On the second floor is an office and directly to the south is the projection hooked up with Western Electric Mirrophonic sound. The original air conditioner changes temperature during each season with an estimate every four-and-a-half minutes, and the carpeting was done by the Scott Ballantyne Company.
The original Iowa Theatre sign was created by the Kern Advertising Company of 310 Virginia Street, Sioux City, Iowa. The original color scheme of the sign featured a marine, green, gold, blue, and red neon lighting in a blue background. However the sign lasted until November 1959 when it was replaced by its current red and white V-shaped marquee.
Yes, Kerasotes operated the Gateway Mall Cinema throughout most of its history. Kerasotes began operating all Richmond theaters in 1976.
The Gateway operated as a Kerasotes from 1976 until 1995 when the chain lost all the monopoly on Richmond’s movie market. It officially became a DanBarry theater for a short period of time, but briefly flipped back to Kerasotes one week before the Gateway Mall Cinema’s closure.
Kerasotes closed the Hi-Way after the 1984 season. They promised to reopen for the 1985 season but didn’t happen because of vandalism in theater property.
David and Joseph Warnock opened the Luna Theatre on August 28, 1914 with the one-reeler “And The Villain Still Pursued Her” and the two-reeler “The Secret Marriage” plus a performance by the theater’s orchestra conducted by one of the owners.
On November 1, 1958, the Luna Theater closed and was placed in auction. The theater reopened as the “Maple Valley Theater” on November 21, 1958. This didn’t last long, and the theater closed a few months later in early 1959.
The Mars Under The Stars Drive-In was first (and only) operated by the March Bros Theatres chain and opened its gates on May 29, 1964 with Walt Disney’s “Yellowstone Cubs” and the 1962 smash “The Music Man”. It was first managed by Chuck Houston and later taken over by Tim Collins a couple years later. Throughout its entire history, the drive-in was operated by the March Bros chain.
The theater closed for the final time on June 19, 1986 with “Cobra” due to low attendance.
The Royal Theatre opened its doors on September 14, 1914 with a live presentation of ‘The Mascot" led by the Boston Ideal Opera Company and the theater’s 6-piece orchestra led by Mr. Niles. The 60x100ft theater originally housed 600 seats, and was first operated by the Royal Amusement Company. It would eventually screen movies shortly afterward. The March Bros. chain took over the Royal in 1934 from Dudley C. Scott. The Royal was remodeled in October 1939 and again in July 1967.
In June 1969, the Royal Theatre was twinned, causing its capacity to downgrade from 600 to 385 (with 275 seats in Screen 1 and 110 seats in Screen 2). Screen 1 featured stereo sound, while Screen 2 originally featured mono sound until August 1988 when stereo sound was installed inside Screen 2 during a major upgrade which featured updates to both projection, screen covers, and sound systems.
A third screen was added in September 1996 causing another remodel. Screen 1’s capacity was yet again downgraded from 275 to 110, while Screen 2 remains the same. Screen 3 featured 150 seats and stereo sound. Because of Screen 3’s addiction, the total capacity of the theater stands at 370 seats.
The Princess Theatre was once closed on December 1, 1983 due to lease expiration. The Princess reopened with new management led by Tom Thorn on April 6, 1984. As of the mid-1980s, the Princess operates six-days-a-week (Friday to Wednesday).
The Princess Theatre closed for the final time on January 8, 1986 with “Sweet Dreams” (very unique title for a theater’s closure). However, its neighboring video store remained open after the theater’s closure.
Allan Banks opened his 325-seat Vogue Theatre on September 17, 1937 with Stuart Erwin in “Dance, Charlie, Dance” (unclear if any short subjects were added).
During its later heyday, the Vogue was once operated by Jim Heldsech. Heldsech closed the Vogue on March 3, 1973 and the theater sat abandoned for 13 months due to renovation. The Vogue reopened on April 5, 1974, but this didn’t last long at all.
The Vogue closed for the final time on January 8, 1975 with “Wonder Of It All”, and the marquee was removed in April 1980.
The Grand Opera House opened its doors on October 30, 1911 with a special event led by the extinct Remsen Symphony Orchestra. It was renamed the Grand Theatre in 1933.
Incorrect. The theater actually closed on August 30, 2000 with “Gladiator” at Screen 1, “Me, Myself, & Irene” at Screen 2, “Frequency” at Screen 3, and “Big Momma’s House” at Screen 4.
The earliest mention I can find featuring the Northwood Theatre name dates back as early as Spring 1923.
The Northwood Theatre briefly closed on December 5, 1931 because of the lack of patronage according to then-manager George W. Haight, but reopened its doors the following month on January 7, 1932. Haight decided to reopen it by changing a schedule a little and updating its seats and extending the contract for Western Electric (the sound system that was installed inside the theater).
On September 23, 1949, the Northwood Theatre was remodeled featuring an updated 100-seat balcony, and the seats of the main auditorium were relocated closer to the screen.
USA Cinemas briefly operated the Greenwich Twin Cinemas until the chain was taken over by Loews in 1988. Once known as “Loews Greenwich Cinemas”, Loews operated the theater until the Sony Theatres rebrand in 1994. It was briefly renamed “Sony Greenwich Cinema I & II”, but when Clearview Cinemas took over the theater a few years later, it went back to its “Greenwich Twin Cinemas” name.
The Pop’s Drive-In, named after the owner H.M. “Pop” Wise, opened on March 12, 1953 with “The Wild North” along with a few unnamed short subjects. It was closed in the early-1960s.
The first and old Strand Theatre was located on Main Street and opened its doors on May 20, 1937 with Francis Langford in “The Hit Parade” (unclear if any short subjects were added) featuring a total of 400 seats (with 325 in the lower level and 75 in the balcony).
In 1941, it was announced that a second, newer, and much larger Strand Theatre will be built on 1st Street with an estimate $40,000 on construction.
The newer and second Strand Theatre on 1st Street opened its doors on November 19, 1941 with Walter Pidgeon in “Blossoms In The Dust” (unclear if any short subjects were added) with a capacity of 700 seats.
Because both Strands were operational throughout portions of warfare, Mr. J.M. Heard, the manager of both Strands, decided to operate both Strands at separate days. The old Strand on Main Street operated four-days-a-week (Friday to Monday), while the new Strand on 1st Street operated three-days-a-week (Tuesday to Thursday). Unfortunately, this did not last long at all. By the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, both theaters operate seven-days-a-week.
Despite the 1st Street Strand being known as the New Strand Theatre for its first couple of years of operation, the Old Strand Theatre on Main Street closed in 1942, leaving the Strand on 1st Street the only movie house in town.
In 1974, the Strand briefly closed due to major remodeling. The Strand reopened as the “Country Strand Theatre” on August 2, 1974 with “The Scalawags”. The Strand closed for the final time in 1981.
Opened on November 20, 1926.
Robert A. “Bob” Oliver opened the Iowa Theatre’s doors with an estimate $30,000 in construction on April 15, 1937 with Fred MacMurray in “Swing High Swing Low” along with special performances by the city’s high school band and a ceremonial speech delivered by Floyd Sammon. Otherwise, it was unclear if any short subjects were added.
Original information as of 1937 goes as follows: The original lobby features a red cement floor and all indirectly lighted with soft light on the display boards. The box-office exterior was lighted with trimmed glass with chromium metal trimming. The original lights in the foyer were all installed by E. Maurice Bakke, and they carry two different color circuits which make possible three distinct blends of color combinations. The auditorium featured a variegated tan scheme in the walls and ceiling, and on each side walls vertical tiers of plasters fluted with chromium metal and hatches of opalescent glass for indirect lighting at the sides of the room, and were finished in Nu-wood.
The auditorium floor slopes about an inch-to-a-foot and the seat rows are placed 32in apart and are staggered assuring comfort and good vision of the screen. There is also a 28-seat balcony only for special occasions such as parties. On the second floor is an office and directly to the south is the projection hooked up with Western Electric Mirrophonic sound. The original air conditioner changes temperature during each season with an estimate every four-and-a-half minutes, and the carpeting was done by the Scott Ballantyne Company.
The original Iowa Theatre sign was created by the Kern Advertising Company of 310 Virginia Street, Sioux City, Iowa. The original color scheme of the sign featured a marine, green, gold, blue, and red neon lighting in a blue background. However the sign lasted until November 1959 when it was replaced by its current red and white V-shaped marquee.
The Metro 4 appears that it switched to discount in January 1992, and closed later that same year.
Yes, Kerasotes operated the Gateway Mall Cinema throughout most of its history. Kerasotes began operating all Richmond theaters in 1976.
The Gateway operated as a Kerasotes from 1976 until 1995 when the chain lost all the monopoly on Richmond’s movie market. It officially became a DanBarry theater for a short period of time, but briefly flipped back to Kerasotes one week before the Gateway Mall Cinema’s closure.
Once operated by Kerasotes.
Kerasotes closed the Hi-Way after the 1984 season. They promised to reopen for the 1985 season but didn’t happen because of vandalism in theater property.
David and Joseph Warnock opened the Luna Theatre on August 28, 1914 with the one-reeler “And The Villain Still Pursued Her” and the two-reeler “The Secret Marriage” plus a performance by the theater’s orchestra conducted by one of the owners.
On November 1, 1958, the Luna Theater closed and was placed in auction. The theater reopened as the “Maple Valley Theater” on November 21, 1958. This didn’t last long, and the theater closed a few months later in early 1959.
The Mars Under The Stars Drive-In was first (and only) operated by the March Bros Theatres chain and opened its gates on May 29, 1964 with Walt Disney’s “Yellowstone Cubs” and the 1962 smash “The Music Man”. It was first managed by Chuck Houston and later taken over by Tim Collins a couple years later. Throughout its entire history, the drive-in was operated by the March Bros chain.
The theater closed for the final time on June 19, 1986 with “Cobra” due to low attendance.
The Royal Theatre opened its doors on September 14, 1914 with a live presentation of ‘The Mascot" led by the Boston Ideal Opera Company and the theater’s 6-piece orchestra led by Mr. Niles. The 60x100ft theater originally housed 600 seats, and was first operated by the Royal Amusement Company. It would eventually screen movies shortly afterward. The March Bros. chain took over the Royal in 1934 from Dudley C. Scott. The Royal was remodeled in October 1939 and again in July 1967.
In June 1969, the Royal Theatre was twinned, causing its capacity to downgrade from 600 to 385 (with 275 seats in Screen 1 and 110 seats in Screen 2). Screen 1 featured stereo sound, while Screen 2 originally featured mono sound until August 1988 when stereo sound was installed inside Screen 2 during a major upgrade which featured updates to both projection, screen covers, and sound systems.
A third screen was added in September 1996 causing another remodel. Screen 1’s capacity was yet again downgraded from 275 to 110, while Screen 2 remains the same. Screen 3 featured 150 seats and stereo sound. Because of Screen 3’s addiction, the total capacity of the theater stands at 370 seats.
The Princess Theatre was once closed on December 1, 1983 due to lease expiration. The Princess reopened with new management led by Tom Thorn on April 6, 1984. As of the mid-1980s, the Princess operates six-days-a-week (Friday to Wednesday).
The Princess Theatre closed for the final time on January 8, 1986 with “Sweet Dreams” (very unique title for a theater’s closure). However, its neighboring video store remained open after the theater’s closure.
Anytime!
Allan Banks opened his 325-seat Vogue Theatre on September 17, 1937 with Stuart Erwin in “Dance, Charlie, Dance” (unclear if any short subjects were added).
During its later heyday, the Vogue was once operated by Jim Heldsech. Heldsech closed the Vogue on March 3, 1973 and the theater sat abandoned for 13 months due to renovation. The Vogue reopened on April 5, 1974, but this didn’t last long at all.
The Vogue closed for the final time on January 8, 1975 with “Wonder Of It All”, and the marquee was removed in April 1980.
The Grand Opera House opened its doors on October 30, 1911 with a special event led by the extinct Remsen Symphony Orchestra. It was renamed the Grand Theatre in 1933.
Closed on March 22, 1981 with “Tundra”.
Incorrect. The theater actually closed on August 30, 2000 with “Gladiator” at Screen 1, “Me, Myself, & Irene” at Screen 2, “Frequency” at Screen 3, and “Big Momma’s House” at Screen 4.
Last operated by Kerasotes.
Kerasotes closed the Avon as a first-run house on April 17, 1986 after the chain’s lease of the Avon building expired.
The earliest mention I can find featuring the Northwood Theatre name dates back as early as Spring 1923.
The Northwood Theatre briefly closed on December 5, 1931 because of the lack of patronage according to then-manager George W. Haight, but reopened its doors the following month on January 7, 1932. Haight decided to reopen it by changing a schedule a little and updating its seats and extending the contract for Western Electric (the sound system that was installed inside the theater).
On September 23, 1949, the Northwood Theatre was remodeled featuring an updated 100-seat balcony, and the seats of the main auditorium were relocated closer to the screen.
This started life as the RKO Pickwick Theatre. The RKO name was dropped in 1934 and officially became known as the Pickwick Theatre.
The Pickwick Theatre closed in 1959.
USA Cinemas briefly operated the Greenwich Twin Cinemas until the chain was taken over by Loews in 1988. Once known as “Loews Greenwich Cinemas”, Loews operated the theater until the Sony Theatres rebrand in 1994. It was briefly renamed “Sony Greenwich Cinema I & II”, but when Clearview Cinemas took over the theater a few years later, it went back to its “Greenwich Twin Cinemas” name.
The Pop’s Drive-In, named after the owner H.M. “Pop” Wise, opened on March 12, 1953 with “The Wild North” along with a few unnamed short subjects. It was closed in the early-1960s.
Expanded to six screens in June 1983. The Yorktown would later become Illinois’s first THX theater in 1984.
There are two Strand Theatres in Jena.
The first and old Strand Theatre was located on Main Street and opened its doors on May 20, 1937 with Francis Langford in “The Hit Parade” (unclear if any short subjects were added) featuring a total of 400 seats (with 325 in the lower level and 75 in the balcony).
In 1941, it was announced that a second, newer, and much larger Strand Theatre will be built on 1st Street with an estimate $40,000 on construction.
The newer and second Strand Theatre on 1st Street opened its doors on November 19, 1941 with Walter Pidgeon in “Blossoms In The Dust” (unclear if any short subjects were added) with a capacity of 700 seats.
Because both Strands were operational throughout portions of warfare, Mr. J.M. Heard, the manager of both Strands, decided to operate both Strands at separate days. The old Strand on Main Street operated four-days-a-week (Friday to Monday), while the new Strand on 1st Street operated three-days-a-week (Tuesday to Thursday). Unfortunately, this did not last long at all. By the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, both theaters operate seven-days-a-week.
Despite the 1st Street Strand being known as the New Strand Theatre for its first couple of years of operation, the Old Strand Theatre on Main Street closed in 1942, leaving the Strand on 1st Street the only movie house in town.
In 1974, the Strand briefly closed due to major remodeling. The Strand reopened as the “Country Strand Theatre” on August 2, 1974 with “The Scalawags”. The Strand closed for the final time in 1981.
Closed in the early-1980s.
It briefly closed in 1979 but reopened a short time later that same year.