billymac, I think the U.S. Naval Air Station Theatre burned down in 1967, I know it was the night before a Mothers Day. When I find the paper I have with the exact date of the fire I will add the base theatre to Cinema Treasures. Yes it was strange to all the civilians all around the base to not be able to go on the base and therefore have no idea what was on the base. I didn’t mention in my yesterdays post that the base was closed in 1994, which broke my heart. So now anyone can go on the base, but really nothing of the base is left except the front of Hanger One with the Control Tower with stores in it, the Chapel that I got married in and the married Naval housing which is used by sailors stationed up at the U.S. Naval Station, Great Lakes, up near Waukegan. The rest of the old base is homes, stores, golf courses and parks. Just think what it cost to tear out the runways and tear down all those hangers! The “great movie theatre” is an all new building , built since the Navy left. The control Tower is the next building to the north.
And the Golf Mill, that breaks my heart too!
I was stationed at the nearby U.S. Naval Air Station At Glenview, which had a movie theatre, till it burned down, so I went to the Golf Mill Theatres (about 3 miles away) often. The name comes from the name of the two main roads that go by the shopping center, Golf Road and Milwaukee Avenue. I saw Kate Smith at the Mill Run Theatre (as mentioned above, a theatre in the round).
The Golf Mill was a really nice theatre and a first class act back in those days. I don’t think any of the theatres ever got split, they just built new theatres attached to the existing building. I remember seeing part of The Sound of Music in one of it’s reruns. We had a big storm and the power went out, they had no choice, but to cancel the movie.
Who was the fella from the theatre who Wally Phillips of WGN Radio used to always talk to (I think about new movies that would be opening?). He had someting to do with the Chicago Variety Club? What was his name?
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 29, a 2 manual/6 rank, was shipped to the Fremont Theatre in Oakland, California on December 31, 1913. It was reposessed by the WurliTizer company, rebuilt as Opus 70 and shipped to the Al. Ringling Theatre around 1915.
In about 1928 the Ringling Theatre bought a 3 manual/9 rank, Mighty Golden-voiced Barton Organ. This made sense because Dan Barton had toured in 1909, with the Ringling Brothers Circus. In fact, the organ console style used in this theatre, and many other installations, is referred to as the “circus wagon,” because of its lavish use of carvings and the red and gold coloring. Another good reason was that Barton’s were made in Oshkosh, Wisconsin only 70 miles away and WurliTizer’s were made in North Tonawanda, New York about 550 miles away.
By the late 1960’s the Barton had gradually fallen into desrepair so that it was barely usable. In the early 1970’s, a group of dedicated volunteers began restoring the instrument to its original glory. They emptied dust from the pipes, patched and replaced the miles and miles of wiring, and cleaned off the grime from 30 years of coal heat. The Barton is now in excellent playing condition.
The WurliTizer, minus the percussion and sound effects went to a church in Baraboo where it was used until around 1970. I don’t know what happened to the WurliTizer after that.
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 29, a 2 manual/6 rank was shipped to this theatre on December 31, 1913. It was reposessed by the WurliTzer company, rebuilt as Opus 70 and shipped to the Al Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin in 1915. In about 1928 the Ringling Theatre got a Mighty Barton Organ. The WurliTzer, minus the percussion and sound effects went to a church in Baraboo where it was used until around 1970. I don’t know what happened to the organ after that.
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 23, a 2 manual/4 rank was shipped to this theatre in 1913. It was reposesssed by the WurliTizer company. It was rebuilt as Opus 114, a style 1SP and shipped on December 14, 1916 to the Race (Irvine) Theatre in Chicago. The last that was know the organ still exisits and is playable at a seminary in Lisle, Illinois.
I see in the organs listed above that a Moller, Opus 2238, 3 manual/15 rank was installed in 1917 and a Moller, Opus 2952, 3 manual/17 rank was installed in 1921.
I have found tHat a WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 20, 2 manual/8 rank was shipped to the first Criterion Theatre, New York, New York on May 10, 1913. Additions and/or alterations were made on February 2, 1914. It was reposessed by the WurliTizer Company (usually for financial reasons) and was installed in the Hamilton Theatre, New York, New York, October 7, 1916, as Opus 103, as a 2 manual/6 rank (what happened to the other 2 ranks?). From what I can find out it was moved to Detroit, October 29, 1935 and rebuilt as a style RB 13. As far as I know it still exisits is Grand Rapids and is playable. IS THIS THE HAMILTON THEATRE IT WAS INSTALLED IN?
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 20. a 2 manual/8 rank was shipped to this theatre on May 10, 1913. As best as I can tell additions or alterations were made on February 2, 1914. The organ was repossessed by thr Wurlitzer Company (usually for financial reasons). On October 7, 1916 it was then shipped to the Hamilton Theatre in New York, New York and became Opus 103 a 2 manual/6 rank (2 ranks must have got lost?). On October 29, 1935 it was shipped to Detroit and rebuilt as a style RB 13. The last that was heard it still exisits in Grand Rapids and is still playable!
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 17, Style 6, was shipped to this theatre on March 22, 1913. The inaugural concert was on June 1, 1913. Additions and/or alterations were made on September 1, 1913. Over the years some or all of the organ has been dispersed.
Opus 9 a 2 Manual/4 Rank WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ was shipped to this theatre in 1912. Sometime later it was removed and ended up in New York, New York, but nothing else is known about what happrned to it.
Livin_in_Iowa, any chance you can answer Bryan Krefft’s comment about the Zephyr Theatre in Ottumwa (if the Masonic Lodge is in the theatre or a new building)?
Bryan, as soon as I saw Justice IL and Cork Theatre something clicked in my memory. As a kid, in 1948 we moved to the edge of Chicago, I’d say about 8 miles from this site. I don’t think I ever went to this theatre, but I seem to remember hearing about it and not because it was an adult theatre. It might be much older then the early Seventies or perhaps my memory is just all mixed up.
Chains for this theatre:
HOSTETTLER AMUSEMENT COMPANY (1925)
A.H. THEATRES (Controlled by PARAMOUNT PUBLIX) (1950+?)
CENTRAL STATES THEATRES (1955-1984)
The Rivola had a 2 manual (keyboards)/5 ranks (sets of pipes) WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN, Opus 1917. It had a shipping date from WURLITZER of July 7, 1928. In June of 1970 it was shipped to Palo Alto, California and was last reported to still exisit and be playable. It may have had other “homes” between Oskaloosa and Palo Alto and may not be in Palo Alto now.
Oskaloosa was named for a Creek princess named Ouscaloosa, which means “last of the beautiful”.
J.CLARK owned this theatre. It closed and was for sale in 2003. If you look at the photos above, it still had it’s projectors in December 2005, which surprised me! The screen had holes in it, which didn’t surprise me.
Lost Memory: I don’t think so. I found some photos of the Capri V on the internet sometime in the past (of course I can’t find them now) but it looked like it was in some old buildings downtown. The front of the buildings had been covered with some false front, but the side of the building still showed the old brick. I printed the photo you mentioned and I know Number 1 is the Capri V, but Number 4 is Applebees. Up above I mention the marquee read: NEW OTTUMWA 8 OPEN ACROSS FROM APPLEBEES, so I think that’s really the Ottumwa 8! My guess is someone in Beachwood, Ohio with Developers Diversified Realty made the map and got things messed up. I think their real interest is in the yellow area, which I guess is what they own?
Anyone in Ottumwa who can let us know what’s going on here?
SLIGHT NAME CHANGE: Huish REEL is how the sign now reads. A lighted box sign with the word REEL has been added below the Huish neon sign. Huish Enterprizes opened the theatre and Reel Theatres took over the theatre sometime between 2000 and 2003.
PAUL,interesting, I never noticed that water tower, next time I’m on the Stevenson I’ll have to look for it, course it just goes to show that theatre chains are not very good about changing names when they take over a theatre.
This isn’t your fault, but when I went to MAP it gives 2 addresses neither of which is correct. Is the theatre at about La Grange Road? I never noticed it, but I do know where the White Castle is! Anyway if you go to the MAP, click on SATELLITE and click east 4 or 5 times, I think that’s about where it is. If you click further east you see the giant McCook Quarry that the theatre got it’s name from.
WARREN, I don’t think Pella, in those days could ever have supported more than one theatre (in 1960 it had a population of about 5000 plus 500 college students). I seem to remember seeing something about the Strand, I need to check that out. For the New Holland I also have just seen the 832 adddress which is so close a number it’s got to be the same place, and that it was owned by Findley’s Theatres from 1998-2000 (I think that might really be for the 810 Washington theatre). I also have something on a Pella Theatre in 1935 and that wouldn’t be the Pella Cinemas which are newly built.
LOST MEMORY, Alas there is no NEW in front of Findley’s Holland Theatre I think it’s a completly different theatre which would sorta be near the northwest side of the square, the New Holland was on the east side of the square, just about exactly where I remember it being. The Findley Theatre was on my sheets of theatres to add to Cinema Treasures. Perhaps when I get all the Pella theatres on Cinema Treasures, I’ll print them all up and send them to the Pella Hitorical Society and see if they have any other info, cause I’m getting all confused!
Bob “VANDER” Jensen
(about the “VANDER”, When I went to college in Pella with all the Dutch there and last names that started with VANDER, VAN, DE, etc., I added the “VANDER” to my Danish Jensen just as a joke to make me fit in better).
THEGREEV, Military Circle Mall is now called The Gallery At Military Circle. They spent $36 Million on renovation, they added a new Sears, did a major renovation of the existing Hecht’s store (I’d guess it’s now a Macy’s), redeveloped the attached 208 room Doubletree Hotel and a new 699-seat food court. It continues to have a J C Penny and 9 retail out-parcels, 3 office buildings and 6,500 parking spaces. They also added a Cinemark 18!
KEN MC, I think Pilates Center rents space from TRDance Center (Todd Rosenlieb Dance Center) so the function should be changed to “Dance Studio”
GHAMILTON, not a bad idea, but I live in the Chicago area.
MIKEMOVIES, very funny, even if I did live in Norfolk, that Pilates stuff looks a lot like Yoga. A long time ago I had a girlfriend who took me to her Yoga class, I was so bored I couldn’t wait for it to be over and I never went back and I got rid of the girlfriend! As far as going to the dance studio, I feel about that like I do Yoga. HA HA!
billymac, I think the U.S. Naval Air Station Theatre burned down in 1967, I know it was the night before a Mothers Day. When I find the paper I have with the exact date of the fire I will add the base theatre to Cinema Treasures. Yes it was strange to all the civilians all around the base to not be able to go on the base and therefore have no idea what was on the base. I didn’t mention in my yesterdays post that the base was closed in 1994, which broke my heart. So now anyone can go on the base, but really nothing of the base is left except the front of Hanger One with the Control Tower with stores in it, the Chapel that I got married in and the married Naval housing which is used by sailors stationed up at the U.S. Naval Station, Great Lakes, up near Waukegan. The rest of the old base is homes, stores, golf courses and parks. Just think what it cost to tear out the runways and tear down all those hangers! The “great movie theatre” is an all new building , built since the Navy left. The control Tower is the next building to the north.
And the Golf Mill, that breaks my heart too!
I was stationed at the nearby U.S. Naval Air Station At Glenview, which had a movie theatre, till it burned down, so I went to the Golf Mill Theatres (about 3 miles away) often. The name comes from the name of the two main roads that go by the shopping center, Golf Road and Milwaukee Avenue. I saw Kate Smith at the Mill Run Theatre (as mentioned above, a theatre in the round).
The Golf Mill was a really nice theatre and a first class act back in those days. I don’t think any of the theatres ever got split, they just built new theatres attached to the existing building. I remember seeing part of The Sound of Music in one of it’s reruns. We had a big storm and the power went out, they had no choice, but to cancel the movie.
Who was the fella from the theatre who Wally Phillips of WGN Radio used to always talk to (I think about new movies that would be opening?). He had someting to do with the Chicago Variety Club? What was his name?
Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus KPO 6537, a 2 manual/9 rank, was installed in 1921
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 29, a 2 manual/6 rank, was shipped to the Fremont Theatre in Oakland, California on December 31, 1913. It was reposessed by the WurliTizer company, rebuilt as Opus 70 and shipped to the Al. Ringling Theatre around 1915.
In about 1928 the Ringling Theatre bought a 3 manual/9 rank, Mighty Golden-voiced Barton Organ. This made sense because Dan Barton had toured in 1909, with the Ringling Brothers Circus. In fact, the organ console style used in this theatre, and many other installations, is referred to as the “circus wagon,” because of its lavish use of carvings and the red and gold coloring. Another good reason was that Barton’s were made in Oshkosh, Wisconsin only 70 miles away and WurliTizer’s were made in North Tonawanda, New York about 550 miles away.
By the late 1960’s the Barton had gradually fallen into desrepair so that it was barely usable. In the early 1970’s, a group of dedicated volunteers began restoring the instrument to its original glory. They emptied dust from the pipes, patched and replaced the miles and miles of wiring, and cleaned off the grime from 30 years of coal heat. The Barton is now in excellent playing condition.
The WurliTizer, minus the percussion and sound effects went to a church in Baraboo where it was used until around 1970. I don’t know what happened to the WurliTizer after that.
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 29, a 2 manual/6 rank was shipped to this theatre on December 31, 1913. It was reposessed by the WurliTzer company, rebuilt as Opus 70 and shipped to the Al Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin in 1915. In about 1928 the Ringling Theatre got a Mighty Barton Organ. The WurliTzer, minus the percussion and sound effects went to a church in Baraboo where it was used until around 1970. I don’t know what happened to the organ after that.
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 23, a 2 manual/4 rank was shipped to this theatre in 1913. It was reposesssed by the WurliTizer company. It was rebuilt as Opus 114, a style 1SP and shipped on December 14, 1916 to the Race (Irvine) Theatre in Chicago. The last that was know the organ still exisits and is playable at a seminary in Lisle, Illinois.
I see in the organs listed above that a Moller, Opus 2238, 3 manual/15 rank was installed in 1917 and a Moller, Opus 2952, 3 manual/17 rank was installed in 1921.
I have found tHat a WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 20, 2 manual/8 rank was shipped to the first Criterion Theatre, New York, New York on May 10, 1913. Additions and/or alterations were made on February 2, 1914. It was reposessed by the WurliTizer Company (usually for financial reasons) and was installed in the Hamilton Theatre, New York, New York, October 7, 1916, as Opus 103, as a 2 manual/6 rank (what happened to the other 2 ranks?). From what I can find out it was moved to Detroit, October 29, 1935 and rebuilt as a style RB 13. As far as I know it still exisits is Grand Rapids and is playable. IS THIS THE HAMILTON THEATRE IT WAS INSTALLED IN?
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 20. a 2 manual/8 rank was shipped to this theatre on May 10, 1913. As best as I can tell additions or alterations were made on February 2, 1914. The organ was repossessed by thr Wurlitzer Company (usually for financial reasons). On October 7, 1916 it was then shipped to the Hamilton Theatre in New York, New York and became Opus 103 a 2 manual/6 rank (2 ranks must have got lost?). On October 29, 1935 it was shipped to Detroit and rebuilt as a style RB 13. The last that was heard it still exisits in Grand Rapids and is still playable!
AlAlvarez, I don’t know if you ever noticed, but the first Criterion is now listed as a seperate theatre.
WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 17, Style 6, was shipped to this theatre on March 22, 1913. The inaugural concert was on June 1, 1913. Additions and/or alterations were made on September 1, 1913. Over the years some or all of the organ has been dispersed.
Opus 9 a 2 Manual/4 Rank WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ was shipped to this theatre in 1912. Sometime later it was removed and ended up in New York, New York, but nothing else is known about what happrned to it.
Livin_in_Iowa, any chance you can answer Bryan Krefft’s comment about the Zephyr Theatre in Ottumwa (if the Masonic Lodge is in the theatre or a new building)?
Bob Jensen
Bryan, as soon as I saw Justice IL and Cork Theatre something clicked in my memory. As a kid, in 1948 we moved to the edge of Chicago, I’d say about 8 miles from this site. I don’t think I ever went to this theatre, but I seem to remember hearing about it and not because it was an adult theatre. It might be much older then the early Seventies or perhaps my memory is just all mixed up.
Chains for this theatre:
HOSTETTLER AMUSEMENT COMPANY (1925)
A.H. THEATRES (Controlled by PARAMOUNT PUBLIX) (1950+?)
CENTRAL STATES THEATRES (1955-1984)
The Rivola had a 2 manual (keyboards)/5 ranks (sets of pipes) WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN, Opus 1917. It had a shipping date from WURLITZER of July 7, 1928. In June of 1970 it was shipped to Palo Alto, California and was last reported to still exisit and be playable. It may have had other “homes” between Oskaloosa and Palo Alto and may not be in Palo Alto now.
Oskaloosa was named for a Creek princess named Ouscaloosa, which means “last of the beautiful”.
J.CLARK owned this theatre. It closed and was for sale in 2003. If you look at the photos above, it still had it’s projectors in December 2005, which surprised me! The screen had holes in it, which didn’t surprise me.
Lost Memory: That’s the photos, it was really bothering me where I had seen them. I forgot to look on Cinematour.
THANKS
Lost Memory: I don’t think so. I found some photos of the Capri V on the internet sometime in the past (of course I can’t find them now) but it looked like it was in some old buildings downtown. The front of the buildings had been covered with some false front, but the side of the building still showed the old brick. I printed the photo you mentioned and I know Number 1 is the Capri V, but Number 4 is Applebees. Up above I mention the marquee read: NEW OTTUMWA 8 OPEN ACROSS FROM APPLEBEES, so I think that’s really the Ottumwa 8! My guess is someone in Beachwood, Ohio with Developers Diversified Realty made the map and got things messed up. I think their real interest is in the yellow area, which I guess is what they own?
Anyone in Ottumwa who can let us know what’s going on here?
Approximate seats:
1 236
2 170
3 197
4 199
5 170
6 235
SLIGHT NAME CHANGE: Huish REEL is how the sign now reads. A lighted box sign with the word REEL has been added below the Huish neon sign. Huish Enterprizes opened the theatre and Reel Theatres took over the theatre sometime between 2000 and 2003.
NAME CHANGE: THE REEL THEATRE (all 3 words in neon) is above the marquee. Each theatre has exactly 200 seats.
PAUL,interesting, I never noticed that water tower, next time I’m on the Stevenson I’ll have to look for it, course it just goes to show that theatre chains are not very good about changing names when they take over a theatre.
This isn’t your fault, but when I went to MAP it gives 2 addresses neither of which is correct. Is the theatre at about La Grange Road? I never noticed it, but I do know where the White Castle is! Anyway if you go to the MAP, click on SATELLITE and click east 4 or 5 times, I think that’s about where it is. If you click further east you see the giant McCook Quarry that the theatre got it’s name from.
WARREN, I don’t think Pella, in those days could ever have supported more than one theatre (in 1960 it had a population of about 5000 plus 500 college students). I seem to remember seeing something about the Strand, I need to check that out. For the New Holland I also have just seen the 832 adddress which is so close a number it’s got to be the same place, and that it was owned by Findley’s Theatres from 1998-2000 (I think that might really be for the 810 Washington theatre). I also have something on a Pella Theatre in 1935 and that wouldn’t be the Pella Cinemas which are newly built.
LOST MEMORY, Alas there is no NEW in front of Findley’s Holland Theatre I think it’s a completly different theatre which would sorta be near the northwest side of the square, the New Holland was on the east side of the square, just about exactly where I remember it being. The Findley Theatre was on my sheets of theatres to add to Cinema Treasures. Perhaps when I get all the Pella theatres on Cinema Treasures, I’ll print them all up and send them to the Pella Hitorical Society and see if they have any other info, cause I’m getting all confused!
Bob “VANDER” Jensen
(about the “VANDER”, When I went to college in Pella with all the Dutch there and last names that started with VANDER, VAN, DE, etc., I added the “VANDER” to my Danish Jensen just as a joke to make me fit in better).
THEGREEV, Military Circle Mall is now called The Gallery At Military Circle. They spent $36 Million on renovation, they added a new Sears, did a major renovation of the existing Hecht’s store (I’d guess it’s now a Macy’s), redeveloped the attached 208 room Doubletree Hotel and a new 699-seat food court. It continues to have a J C Penny and 9 retail out-parcels, 3 office buildings and 6,500 parking spaces. They also added a Cinemark 18!
MARTIN & CARMIKE were different chains that ran this theatre.
KEN MC, I think Pilates Center rents space from TRDance Center (Todd Rosenlieb Dance Center) so the function should be changed to “Dance Studio”
GHAMILTON, not a bad idea, but I live in the Chicago area.
MIKEMOVIES, very funny, even if I did live in Norfolk, that Pilates stuff looks a lot like Yoga. A long time ago I had a girlfriend who took me to her Yoga class, I was so bored I couldn’t wait for it to be over and I never went back and I got rid of the girlfriend! As far as going to the dance studio, I feel about that like I do Yoga. HA HA!
Chief Jensen