It appears that the Washington Theater lasted until at least late April or early May 1959, as Walt Disney’s “The Shaggy Dog” moved over from the State to the Washington the final weekend of May 1-2, 1959.
Actually, Chuck…the Cinema at Regency Mall opened the week of January 21, 1970. The first film to play there was “Viva, Max!” starring Peter Ustinov, Jonathan Winters, and Pamela Tiffin. (I attended IUP from September 1971-December 1975. The first movie I saw there was “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” on October 8, 1971. Even more memorable was the 3-D presentation of “The Stewardesses” (rated X) a couple of weeks later. Hordes of freshman males trouped up the street from the Oakland and Rooney dormitories since this was their first ability to see a “skin flick” away from their parents. I ended up sitting next to an older couple in their late 50s or early 60s. After a few nude scenes they stomped out to the box-office and demanded their money back. It turns out they thought the movie was “Airport” with Dean Martin!
I attended IUP from 1971 through 1975. During that time, there were 3 indoor theaters in Indiana, PA…the Indiana and Manos on Philadelphia Street and the Cinema inside of Regency Mall on Route 286. There were also two drive-ins outside town. I saw many films at all 3 indoor theaters as the film critic for the Indiana Penn back then. The Indiana Theater and Manos theater were run by the Manos chain. The Indiana got the bigger pictures while the Manos generally changed its program each week. One of my biggest memories of the time was being part of a group of freshman guys from IUP’s Rooney Hall all trooping up the street to see “The Stewardesses,” an X-rated picture in 3-D. We sat next to an elderly couple who got up and went out to demand their money back. Apparently they thought they were seeing Dean Martin in “Airport.” :–)
When the bar now known as “R Bar” was in operation as “Wilkie’s Inn” there was a photograph of THAT building from the 1930s or 1940s inside on the wall
showing IT as a theater with a boxoffice – no marquee.
I’ve found your Cinerama blod extremely useful in my research of old theaters and what they played. I would hope that you would add Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New Orleans, San Antonio, Portland (OR), Providence, and Buffalo. I have some of the theaters and opening dates for these, as well as some information on Cinerama films that didn’t play in Cinerama in these markets. Most of my research is from 1958-1975, so it doesn’t include the Cinerama openings of the early 50s for these cities.
It appears that the Washington Theater lasted until at least late April or early May 1959, as Walt Disney’s “The Shaggy Dog” moved over from the State to the Washington the final weekend of May 1-2, 1959.
Actually, Chuck…the Cinema at Regency Mall opened the week of January 21, 1970. The first film to play there was “Viva, Max!” starring Peter Ustinov, Jonathan Winters, and Pamela Tiffin. (I attended IUP from September 1971-December 1975. The first movie I saw there was “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” on October 8, 1971. Even more memorable was the 3-D presentation of “The Stewardesses” (rated X) a couple of weeks later. Hordes of freshman males trouped up the street from the Oakland and Rooney dormitories since this was their first ability to see a “skin flick” away from their parents. I ended up sitting next to an older couple in their late 50s or early 60s. After a few nude scenes they stomped out to the box-office and demanded their money back. It turns out they thought the movie was “Airport” with Dean Martin!
The Manos Theater’s closing was announced on September 24, 1980.
I attended IUP from 1971 through 1975. During that time, there were 3 indoor theaters in Indiana, PA…the Indiana and Manos on Philadelphia Street and the Cinema inside of Regency Mall on Route 286. There were also two drive-ins outside town. I saw many films at all 3 indoor theaters as the film critic for the Indiana Penn back then. The Indiana Theater and Manos theater were run by the Manos chain. The Indiana got the bigger pictures while the Manos generally changed its program each week. One of my biggest memories of the time was being part of a group of freshman guys from IUP’s Rooney Hall all trooping up the street to see “The Stewardesses,” an X-rated picture in 3-D. We sat next to an elderly couple who got up and went out to demand their money back. Apparently they thought they were seeing Dean Martin in “Airport.” :–)
There are mailers/schedules from this theater on sale on Ebay today – 3/6/2012.
When the bar now known as “R Bar” was in operation as “Wilkie’s Inn” there was a photograph of THAT building from the 1930s or 1940s inside on the wall showing IT as a theater with a boxoffice – no marquee.
I’ve found your Cinerama blod extremely useful in my research of old theaters and what they played. I would hope that you would add Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New Orleans, San Antonio, Portland (OR), Providence, and Buffalo. I have some of the theaters and opening dates for these, as well as some information on Cinerama films that didn’t play in Cinerama in these markets. Most of my research is from 1958-1975, so it doesn’t include the Cinerama openings of the early 50s for these cities.