The Pleasant Hill Drive-In closed for the final time on January 1, 1984 with a triple-feature. The final films played there were “Staying Alive”, “Flashdance”, and “Classroom Teasers” as its last attraction.
The Majestic 6 was the first movie theater in Bonham after the little town of 10,000 was left without a movie theater for eight years and three months. After the American Theatre closed on August 5, 1984, the Bonham Drive-In remained as the only movie theater in town until April 1987. Otherwise, people were forced to either go to Sherman or Denison to see movies during the eight-year hiatus (or a decade-hiatus for indoor people).
Once known as the “Malco Razorback Quartet” when the theater became a four-screen theater in December 1984. Two more screens were added in 1989 bringing a total to six and was renamed “Malco Razorback 6”.
I just found that the American Theatre closed on August 5, 1984. Shortly after closure, the Bonham Daily Favorite began showing showtimes for Sherman area theaters for a time.
The little town of Bonham had a total of three theaters as of World War II, which were the Elite, Best, and American Theatres. Out of the three, the American and Elite Theatres were the only mainstream A theaters with a balance.
In the neighboring city of Whitewright for a short period of time, moviegoers all across Whitewright were forced to either go to the American in Bonham, the Rialto in Denison, the Ritz and Texas Theatres in Sherman, or the Ritz in McKinney to see first-run movies in connection with the short closure of Whitewright’s Palace Theatre due to its receivership ordering by the 15th District Court which closed Whitewright’s Palace Theatre for three-and-a-half months.
The American Theatre opened on October 8, 1921, and went into a truckload of remodeling throughout the years: First in 1938, again on June 27, 1948, and a third time in December 1954.
CinemaScope was introduced in Bonham when it was installed at the American Theatre by RCA technicians on September 26, 1954, as well as the installation of four-track magnetic StereoScope sound with its first CinemaScope film being Robert Mitchum in “River of No Return” with no extra short subjects.
Shortly after the closures of both Elite and Best Theatres, the American Theatre became the only indoor movie theater in Bonham and was one of two theaters to survive in Bonham for the next few decades (with the other being the Bonham Drive-In).
I cannot find when the American Theatre closed, but the building was demolished in the early 2000s.
UPDATE FROM MY PREVIOUS COMMENT: The American Theatre continued operating into the 1980s, but during that decade, the Bonham Daily Favorite stopped showing showtimes for the theater after the August 5, 1984 edition of the Bonham Daily Favorite. The Bonham Drive-In nearby closed in April 1987 according to The Paris Times of Paris, Texas, but I cannot find its last showing at all.
So it was either the American Theatre continued running without notice or the American Theatre closed for the final time on August 5, 1984 with “Top Secret” as its last film.
The relaunch of the Elite Theatre in December 1953 was actually short-lived, closing as a movie house in 1955. The Elite Theatre became a church a short time later.
This theater had a very interesting start. The Sundowner Cruise-In opened its gates on June 15, 1950, but closed one week later following nuisance and major complaints on its 12-acre property. Common Pleas Judge James Bell of London, Ohio, went to the theater (which at the time was operated by a Middletown firm) to depreciate the neighboring property. Five months prior to the theater’s opening, 19 property owners protested around the construction of the theater in January 1950.
On July 10, 1950, they lost the fight against reopening the theater under the property. Because on the case, the Sundowner never reopened throughout the 1950 season and into most of the 1951 season. A total of $9,300 has been given to judgement, and on July 10, 1951, a private sale was arranged in the Miller & Finny Law Office to dispose the theater, which later became a public sale the following week.
On August 27, 1951, a special and surprising announcement was received by The Journal Herald of Dayton, saying that the Sundowner Cruise-In will held its official “re-grand opening” on August 30, 1951 as it came after the Jackson Theatre Company took over as new management. The Sundowner Cruise-In reopened its doors after a 14½ month hiatus on August 30, 1951 with the 1943 film “My Friend Flicka” and its 1945 sequel “Thunderhead, Son Of Flicka” with no extra short subjects. A short time later, the theater was renamed “Old Town Drive-In”.
On May 17, 1993, the Punxsutawney Arts Council tried to reopen the Jefferson Theatre. At the time, the theater was still abandoned, which sat abandoned since the theater’s closure for the final time on October 6, 1978. They tried to form a committee comprised of individuals with an interest in the restoration and reopening of the theater. The general idea at the time for the city’s Arts Council is to create “an umbrella organization to work with existing groups to expand cultural development” according to one of its members who also respond that the restoration and reopening should be considered as a part of the overall downtown renovation of people across Punxsutawney and will be a major step in economic recovery of the community. A total of four subcommittees were formed and one exclusively involved in restoring the theater. Two proposals to conduct architecture studies of the Jefferson Theatre and to approach renovation was expected at the time. Unfortunately, they failed to reopen the theater.
Shortly during its last days as a movie theater in the 1970s, the Jefferson Theatre was last managed and operated by Patsy Barber, a local resident who also is a longtime Democratic Party worker. The Jefferson Theatre was also named in the Pennsylvania Registry of Historic Places.
During the week of August 11, 1998, the theater was demolished forcibly.
The Harris-DuBois opened with William Powell in “Double Wedding” with no extra short subjects. It was built by the B.C. Skinner & Son company and construction began in early June of the same year. A “Mirrophone” Western Electric sound system, Da-tone Non-Glare curtains, and latest air conditioning units were also installed.
The actual opening date was November 24, 1905 with a presentation of Blaine Von Thiele in “The Princess Chic”. It was first operated under the management of Edward R. Salter.
Not just films but for a time, the Jefferson was popular for local politician events. The Jefferson had a mix of movies and special events.
On October 18, 1951, Republican Chairman Grant Scheafnocker tripped and fell while walking out of the Jefferson Theatre. He fractured his leg and was taken back to his house without incident.
The Jefferson Theatre remains as the only surviving movie theater in Punxsutawney after the closures of both Skyline Drive-In and Alpine Theatres, until the Jefferson closed for the final time on October 6, 1978. This left moviegoers across the Groundhog Capital to go see films in DuBois or Brookville, both of which were 20 miles away. The Jefferson Theatre was demolished 20 years later in 1998 after leaving it abandoned for two long decades.
Shortly before it became a longtime Western Auto store, it was an office for a time. Harry Batastini and William Good both leased the building after closing the Alpine in 1969.
The Loews opened with David Niven in “The Impossible Years” when it opened on Christmas Day 1968 with an original capacity of 1,623 seats. Sack took over the theater in 1973, and then it was twinned in Late 1975 as the “Sack Natick 1-2”. Four more screens were added in 1979 bringing a total to 6 screens as the “Sack Natick 1-6”.
On January 17, 1986, USA Cinemas took over operations of the theater from Sack, and on March 27, 1989, Loews returned back to Natick and became a Loews theater once again. Sony Theatres took over the theater from December 1, 1994 until 1996.
The theater closed for the final time in mid-January 2004.
The triplex Salem 1-3 opened as a first-run house on October 15, 1982 by Sack. The theater went under the operations of USA Cinemas from January 17, 1986 until March 26, 1989, Loews from March 27, 1989 until Early December 1994, and Sony Theatres from Early December 1994 until closure in mid-January 1995.
The theater reopened on July 10, 1995 as Salem Flick, retaining its first-run fare. In November 1997, it became part of the local Patriot Cinemas chain and was renamed “Patriot Cinemas at the Museum Place Mall” (or “Museum Place Cinemas” for short). The theater closed on October 20, 2005, and sat abandoned for nearly seven months.
The theater was then reopened as the CinemaSalem on June 2, 2006, running classic films, independent films, revival films, film festivals, and as well as special events.
The Pleasant Hill Drive-In closed for the final time on January 1, 1984 with a triple-feature. The final films played there were “Staying Alive”, “Flashdance”, and “Classroom Teasers” as its last attraction.
The Majestic 6 was the first movie theater in Bonham after the little town of 10,000 was left without a movie theater for eight years and three months. After the American Theatre closed on August 5, 1984, the Bonham Drive-In remained as the only movie theater in town until April 1987. Otherwise, people were forced to either go to Sherman or Denison to see movies during the eight-year hiatus (or a decade-hiatus for indoor people).
Once known as the “Malco Razorback Quartet” when the theater became a four-screen theater in December 1984. Two more screens were added in 1989 bringing a total to six and was renamed “Malco Razorback 6”.
I just found that the American Theatre closed on August 5, 1984. Shortly after closure, the Bonham Daily Favorite began showing showtimes for Sherman area theaters for a time.
It appears that the screen was removed in late 2013.
The little town of Bonham had a total of three theaters as of World War II, which were the Elite, Best, and American Theatres. Out of the three, the American and Elite Theatres were the only mainstream A theaters with a balance.
In the neighboring city of Whitewright for a short period of time, moviegoers all across Whitewright were forced to either go to the American in Bonham, the Rialto in Denison, the Ritz and Texas Theatres in Sherman, or the Ritz in McKinney to see first-run movies in connection with the short closure of Whitewright’s Palace Theatre due to its receivership ordering by the 15th District Court which closed Whitewright’s Palace Theatre for three-and-a-half months.
The American Theatre opened on October 8, 1921, and went into a truckload of remodeling throughout the years: First in 1938, again on June 27, 1948, and a third time in December 1954.
CinemaScope was introduced in Bonham when it was installed at the American Theatre by RCA technicians on September 26, 1954, as well as the installation of four-track magnetic StereoScope sound with its first CinemaScope film being Robert Mitchum in “River of No Return” with no extra short subjects.
Shortly after the closures of both Elite and Best Theatres, the American Theatre became the only indoor movie theater in Bonham and was one of two theaters to survive in Bonham for the next few decades (with the other being the Bonham Drive-In).
I cannot find when the American Theatre closed, but the building was demolished in the early 2000s.
UPDATE FROM MY PREVIOUS COMMENT: The American Theatre continued operating into the 1980s, but during that decade, the Bonham Daily Favorite stopped showing showtimes for the theater after the August 5, 1984 edition of the Bonham Daily Favorite. The Bonham Drive-In nearby closed in April 1987 according to The Paris Times of Paris, Texas, but I cannot find its last showing at all.
So it was either the American Theatre continued running without notice or the American Theatre closed for the final time on August 5, 1984 with “Top Secret” as its last film.
Opened in July 1995.
Closed for the final time in April 1987.
The relaunch of the Elite Theatre in December 1953 was actually short-lived, closing as a movie house in 1955. The Elite Theatre became a church a short time later.
This is taken between September 28 and October 2, 1947, because of the marquee reading “Dear Ruth” which ran for five days at the Elite.
Famous Players operated the Capitol Theatre throughout most of its history.
This theater had a very interesting start. The Sundowner Cruise-In opened its gates on June 15, 1950, but closed one week later following nuisance and major complaints on its 12-acre property. Common Pleas Judge James Bell of London, Ohio, went to the theater (which at the time was operated by a Middletown firm) to depreciate the neighboring property. Five months prior to the theater’s opening, 19 property owners protested around the construction of the theater in January 1950.
On July 10, 1950, they lost the fight against reopening the theater under the property. Because on the case, the Sundowner never reopened throughout the 1950 season and into most of the 1951 season. A total of $9,300 has been given to judgement, and on July 10, 1951, a private sale was arranged in the Miller & Finny Law Office to dispose the theater, which later became a public sale the following week.
On August 27, 1951, a special and surprising announcement was received by The Journal Herald of Dayton, saying that the Sundowner Cruise-In will held its official “re-grand opening” on August 30, 1951 as it came after the Jackson Theatre Company took over as new management. The Sundowner Cruise-In reopened its doors after a 14½ month hiatus on August 30, 1951 with the 1943 film “My Friend Flicka” and its 1945 sequel “Thunderhead, Son Of Flicka” with no extra short subjects. A short time later, the theater was renamed “Old Town Drive-In”.
Alright. So it’s somewhere.
That’ll be a great idea!
I don’t know.
On May 17, 1993, the Punxsutawney Arts Council tried to reopen the Jefferson Theatre. At the time, the theater was still abandoned, which sat abandoned since the theater’s closure for the final time on October 6, 1978. They tried to form a committee comprised of individuals with an interest in the restoration and reopening of the theater. The general idea at the time for the city’s Arts Council is to create “an umbrella organization to work with existing groups to expand cultural development” according to one of its members who also respond that the restoration and reopening should be considered as a part of the overall downtown renovation of people across Punxsutawney and will be a major step in economic recovery of the community. A total of four subcommittees were formed and one exclusively involved in restoring the theater. Two proposals to conduct architecture studies of the Jefferson Theatre and to approach renovation was expected at the time. Unfortunately, they failed to reopen the theater.
Shortly during its last days as a movie theater in the 1970s, the Jefferson Theatre was last managed and operated by Patsy Barber, a local resident who also is a longtime Democratic Party worker. The Jefferson Theatre was also named in the Pennsylvania Registry of Historic Places.
During the week of August 11, 1998, the theater was demolished forcibly.
Still in operation in the 1960s.
The Harris-DuBois opened with William Powell in “Double Wedding” with no extra short subjects. It was built by the B.C. Skinner & Son company and construction began in early June of the same year. A “Mirrophone” Western Electric sound system, Da-tone Non-Glare curtains, and latest air conditioning units were also installed.
The actual opening date was November 24, 1905 with a presentation of Blaine Von Thiele in “The Princess Chic”. It was first operated under the management of Edward R. Salter.
Not just films but for a time, the Jefferson was popular for local politician events. The Jefferson had a mix of movies and special events.
On October 18, 1951, Republican Chairman Grant Scheafnocker tripped and fell while walking out of the Jefferson Theatre. He fractured his leg and was taken back to his house without incident.
The Jefferson Theatre remains as the only surviving movie theater in Punxsutawney after the closures of both Skyline Drive-In and Alpine Theatres, until the Jefferson closed for the final time on October 6, 1978. This left moviegoers across the Groundhog Capital to go see films in DuBois or Brookville, both of which were 20 miles away. The Jefferson Theatre was demolished 20 years later in 1998 after leaving it abandoned for two long decades.
Shortly before it became a longtime Western Auto store, it was an office for a time. Harry Batastini and William Good both leased the building after closing the Alpine in 1969.
Closed on January 5, 1986.
Oh, now I see it! Thanks for correcting me ErikH!
Closed in 1997.
The Loews opened with David Niven in “The Impossible Years” when it opened on Christmas Day 1968 with an original capacity of 1,623 seats. Sack took over the theater in 1973, and then it was twinned in Late 1975 as the “Sack Natick 1-2”. Four more screens were added in 1979 bringing a total to 6 screens as the “Sack Natick 1-6”.
On January 17, 1986, USA Cinemas took over operations of the theater from Sack, and on March 27, 1989, Loews returned back to Natick and became a Loews theater once again. Sony Theatres took over the theater from December 1, 1994 until 1996.
The theater closed for the final time in mid-January 2004.
The triplex Salem 1-3 opened as a first-run house on October 15, 1982 by Sack. The theater went under the operations of USA Cinemas from January 17, 1986 until March 26, 1989, Loews from March 27, 1989 until Early December 1994, and Sony Theatres from Early December 1994 until closure in mid-January 1995.
The theater reopened on July 10, 1995 as Salem Flick, retaining its first-run fare. In November 1997, it became part of the local Patriot Cinemas chain and was renamed “Patriot Cinemas at the Museum Place Mall” (or “Museum Place Cinemas” for short). The theater closed on October 20, 2005, and sat abandoned for nearly seven months.
The theater was then reopened as the CinemaSalem on June 2, 2006, running classic films, independent films, revival films, film festivals, and as well as special events.