Willis is one smart, amazing, funny, and beloved man who made the Chicago Metropolitan Area shine the light with love, friendship, and entertainment town-by-town. He gave so much love to many downtowns across Northeast Illinois and shares the greatest spirit of them all!
All of our members and founders of Cinema Treasures will miss you dearly in our hearts Willis. -50sSNIPES
He’s an amazing man that made the Chicago Metropolitan Area and all of Illinois shine with love and entertainment, and I’m so sad and heartbroken on the news of his passing at age 86 today.
RIP Willis, you’ll be missed! God bless Willis and his great family.
Another fun fact is that the marquee that was installed in January 2000 is actually a restored/redesigned version of its original 1934 marquee. Also at that same time, the blue stadium-style seats that were installed at the time during the 2000 remodel were from the Irwin Signature Series. The Lyric’s last projection before digital is Christie Electric with JBL ScreenArray speakers as well as Dolby amplifiers.
There were two Lyric Theatres in Osceola throughout its history.
Free Vreeland was the first manager of the first Lyric Theatre, who opened Osceola’s playhouse located on the north side of the square on May 10, 1913 featuring an original capacity of 750 seats. The first Lyric opened with two vaudeville acts by the Downes Sisters and their Classy Kids and a special piano performance by Kate McDonald, although its first film screened at the Lyric has not yet to be found. It was first owned by William and Carl Shields.
On November 7, 1929, then-owner and manager John Waller (who also helped constructing the Idle Hour Theatre in Leon and install talkies in Shenandoah) announced that sound from both Vitaphone and Movietone systems will be installed in Osceola’s Lyric after contacting the DeForest Sound & Tone Company. After a whole month of wiring, the Lyric became an all-sound theater beginning with “The Return of Sherlock Holmes” along with a comedy reel “A Hollywood Star” on December 29, 1929.
Early-September 1934 comes an announcement led by Waller that a new Lyric Theatre will be built on its now-current site located in the west side of the square. The Lyric on the north side continued to operate until December 26, 1934 when it closed with John Lodge in “Menace” along with a musical subject of Cab Calloway’s “Hi-De-Ho” and a short entitled “Old Kentucky Hounds”. The first Lyric Theatre will have its own Cinema Treasures page soon.
The second and current Lyric Theatre opened its doors two days later on December 28, 1934 with William Powell in “Evelyn Prentice” along with the short “Fall Of The Vienna Woods” and a sportlight “Pro Football” plus a special performance by the Iowa Ladies Band led by Mayo Williams before showing, featuring an original capacity of 600 seats and original installations of heavy wine-colored velvet curtains that close by sliding along a track at the top of the stage, with an old gold color of the backdrops. Some of its equipment including the sound system were relocated from the old Lyric to the current Lyric. The projectionist during its heyday is Fred Ketcham.
Nearly a month later in early-February 1935, E.L. Bryant of Zearing announced that the former first Lyric Theatre will be rebuilt at that same site and reopen as the city of Osceola’s second movie house on the north side of the square called the Osceola Theatre. Osceola’s second movie house, known as the Osceola Theatre, would later open its doors on April 12, 1935 with Eddie Cantor in “Kid Millions” along with a Fox Movietone Newsreel and a Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony “Funny Little Bunnies”. The Osceola Theatre will also have its own Cinema Treasures page soon.
Both the Lyric and the Osceola theaters throughout the 1940s and early-1950s share an equal and fair amount of first-run features each week, but it wasn’t until the CinemaScope era when things started to rattle. In May 1954, it was announced that the Lyric Theatre at the west side of the square would be the main target of the city’s CinemaScope installation. At that same time, the Osceola Theatre at the north side was on its last legs after the building went under a sellout. The Lyric Theatre ran its first CinemaScope film, “Lucky Me”, on July 11, 1954. A few years later, the Lyric Theatre officially became the only movie house in Osceola after the closure of the Osceola Theatre in 1956.
Throughout portions of its history, there is one unique about the lighting inside the Lyric Theatre. In its May 1941 remodel featured a “black light” whenever the theater was darkened or whenever blackout drills during World War II were presented making it a very unusual decorative effect.
Gerald Clark operated the Lyric Theatre for 14 years beginning in 1974. This lasted until 1988 when it was taken over by Frank Munyon, and a short time later, its original marquee was removed and was replaced by a traditional blocky black-and-white marquee. This lasted until the Lyric closed for a time in January 2000 for remodeling. Neon lights return to the Lyric after a new marquee was installed, and reopened a couple of months later under the Fridley Theatres chain only for a short time.
As of today despite being independently operated, first-run films are still going strong at the Lyric.
Back as a twin, the original Showcase I & II housed a total of 450 seats, with 225 seats in each auditorium with installations of stereophonic sound. It was first operated by Rhyan Theatres led by H.C. Rhyan, who also operated theaters in Fox Lake, McHenry, Grayslake, Libertyville, and Antioch.
Some other installations the theater had as of 1973 include twin floor chandeliers amid a general motiff of dark walnut furnishings and deep red carpeting. Special art by David White were also added in each auditorium, and the theater building’s original landscape features evergreens, grass, and stone by Flowerwoods.
The Paramount closed for the final time in June 1983 with “An Officer And A Gentlemen” (which screened there for more than two months at the Paramount).
The Starlite South was twinned in the early-1970s, and was tripled a short time later.
The Starlite South closed for the final time on June 11, 1988. One of its last features according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis is “The Karate Kid Part II” playing at one screen, but the final features on the other two screens were unknown at this time. It was last managed by Bob Toogood who also operated other theaters and cinemas in Rochester. At the time, the Starlite South housed a total capacity of 800 cars. On its final night of operation, only 150 cars attended its final showings.
The theater is located on 1308 Hadley View Ct NE, Rochester, MN 55906 where a U-Haul and Storage Rentals of America currently occupies the former drive-in site.
The UA Cinema Twin opened its doors on March 7, 1973 with “The Emigrants” at Screen 1 and “The Getaway” at Screen 2. The twin is located next to the former Kmart on 3024 NJ-35 in Hazlet, and housed a total of 790 seats, with 450 seats at Screen 1 and 340 seats at Screen 2. Screen 1 features installations of a decor of gold panels on charcoal walls, gold and black seating and red and black carpeting, while Screen 2 has red panels against a charcoal background.
Recently, the theater experienced major parking problems. Just before midnight yesterday, four gunmen approached four people who demanded their black Chrysler 300 and all of their phones and cash outside the Cinemark. Several hours later, police found a white Hummer near the parking lot that was recently stolen in Schaumburg.
Throughout much of the early-1980s, the State Twin Drive-In received too much trouble, as on September 1, 1984, the State Twin Drive-In became local headlines following major concerns over both large disturbances and crowd fights (mostly youths and teens) as reported by the Kansas City (KS) Police Department. Although it was not the crowd’s fault, it was actually radio station KYYS-FM (now KCKC-FM) announcing drive-in blowouts which a total of five different features were screened on the same day each Labor Day and Memorial Day, known as the “KY-102 Blowouts”. These incidents include injuries, one of which was a local 16-year-old boy who was injured in the State Twin Drive-In’s blowout.
Leroy Shaver, the manager of the State Twin Drive-In, said from 10 to 12 men provided security for each of the blowouts at his business, and spectators called the attacks “riots”. Its not just the State Twin Drive-In, but it was also the I-70 Drive-In and the nearby Boulevard Drive-In who also did host the blowouts, but it was the State Twin Drive-in that caused all the major riots and ruckus. Leroy also replied that most of his watchmen were not units for the KCKSPD or security officers but former drive-in employees “over 21 and wearing security T-shirts” were employed in business. He said such security forces relate to patrons better than units.
During one other blowout also being held at the State Twin, officials from the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office said that they had limited the role of off-duty officers at the blowouts after three deputies were assaulted with rocks and knives on a Memorial Day blowout also at the State Twin Drive-In. Undersheriff officer Tim Johnson said he directed deputy sheriff’s to do no more than guard money in the concession areas, most importantly the concession stand. He also added that in the past even when 10 off-duty officers worked each of the blowouts, as security had not been sufficient. As he replied, Mr. Shaver disagreed on how it can’t be sufficient, even Mike Costello, the general manager of KYYS-FM said that while his station promotes the events, it is not responsible for security.
The State Twin Drive-In closed for the final time on September 22, 1991 with “Livin' Large” and “Jungle Fever” at Screen 1 and “Freddy’s Dead” and “Terminator 2” at Screen 2. It was last operated by Wesley Neal who both operated the Boulevard and State Twin Drive-Ins in Kansas City (KS).
The Grand Theatre was once destroyed by a fire in the Spring of 1929. It was rebuilt, restored, and reopened on January 9, 1930.
After the Grand Cinema closed in 1986, the theater sat abandoned for a decade. It wasn’t until ten years later in 1996 that the Grand was renovated and renamed the Pocono Cinema by John and Carolyn Yetter, unfortunately it almost turned down. They only operated the cinema for six months, and throughout the following few months, other former employees tried to take over the business by leasing it but failed after less than a year.
Throughout time, the Pocono received some ups-and-downs. In mid-2008, after the Pocono Cinema had closed for the third time in less than two years, the theater re-opened as a non-profit organization as the Pocono Community Theater. And in November 2015, the Pocono Community Theater was renamed “Pocono Cinema and Cultural Center” to better reflect its mission statement.
As of 2023, the Pocono Cinema & Cultural Center ran mainly first-run features, although there were some classic matinees added. Only some independent features were also added as rare occasions, since it was formerly an art house back when the theater was known as simply “Pocono Cinema” in the late-1990s and early-to-mid 2000s.
The Cinema Lux was designed by Abbe Villan, and opened its doors on February 25, 1960 with Carmine Gallone in “Michel Strogoff” in CinemaScope. It was first managed by Gilbert Benois who managed the Lux for more than 30 years.
As of 2023, the Cinema Lux has a seating capacity of 466 seats and currently screens mainly art and independent features (mainly French stuff), as well as special classic and silent matinees. What’s rare about the Cinema Lux nowadays despite the Lux being mostly an art/independent cinema is that the Cinema Lux also rarely runs a couple of first-run American selections that normally and primarily pick up at both the Pathe Les Rives de l'Orne (or “Pathe Banks Of The Orne” in English) and the UGC Cine Cite Mondeville, but the Cinema Lux only picked it up for rare occasions.
The “new” Mesa Drive-In opened its gates on May 20, 1969 with “Young Americans” and John Wayne’s “The War Wagon” plus a disc jockey meet-and-greet from then-Top 40 radio station KAOR (now KPYV) and musical performances by a local choir known as “Sing-Out Oroville” were presented before showing. it was first managed by Gerald Smith.
Yes, this indeed replaced another drive-in also named the “Mesa Drive-In”. The “old” Mesa Drive-In was first managed by George Hickox and opened on November 23, 1949 with Fred Astaire in “The Barkleys Of Broadway” along with two cartoons, a newsreel, and a couple of short subjects. The old Mesa closed on December 7, 1968 with Frank Sinatra in “The Detective” and Paul Newman in “Hombre”.
The picture demonstrated by Willis shown here were actual blueprints that was planned, which soon after comes the big expansion.
Willis is one smart, amazing, funny, and beloved man who made the Chicago Metropolitan Area shine the light with love, friendship, and entertainment town-by-town. He gave so much love to many downtowns across Northeast Illinois and shares the greatest spirit of them all!
All of our members and founders of Cinema Treasures will miss you dearly in our hearts Willis. -50sSNIPES
Closed on February 10, 2001. Last operated by Loews Cineplex.
He’s an amazing man that made the Chicago Metropolitan Area and all of Illinois shine with love and entertainment, and I’m so sad and heartbroken on the news of his passing at age 86 today.
RIP Willis, you’ll be missed! God bless Willis and his great family.
Opened on September 17, 1910 and closed in the mid-1970s.
Another fun fact is that the marquee that was installed in January 2000 is actually a restored/redesigned version of its original 1934 marquee. Also at that same time, the blue stadium-style seats that were installed at the time during the 2000 remodel were from the Irwin Signature Series. The Lyric’s last projection before digital is Christie Electric with JBL ScreenArray speakers as well as Dolby amplifiers.
There were two Lyric Theatres in Osceola throughout its history.
Free Vreeland was the first manager of the first Lyric Theatre, who opened Osceola’s playhouse located on the north side of the square on May 10, 1913 featuring an original capacity of 750 seats. The first Lyric opened with two vaudeville acts by the Downes Sisters and their Classy Kids and a special piano performance by Kate McDonald, although its first film screened at the Lyric has not yet to be found. It was first owned by William and Carl Shields.
On November 7, 1929, then-owner and manager John Waller (who also helped constructing the Idle Hour Theatre in Leon and install talkies in Shenandoah) announced that sound from both Vitaphone and Movietone systems will be installed in Osceola’s Lyric after contacting the DeForest Sound & Tone Company. After a whole month of wiring, the Lyric became an all-sound theater beginning with “The Return of Sherlock Holmes” along with a comedy reel “A Hollywood Star” on December 29, 1929.
Early-September 1934 comes an announcement led by Waller that a new Lyric Theatre will be built on its now-current site located in the west side of the square. The Lyric on the north side continued to operate until December 26, 1934 when it closed with John Lodge in “Menace” along with a musical subject of Cab Calloway’s “Hi-De-Ho” and a short entitled “Old Kentucky Hounds”. The first Lyric Theatre will have its own Cinema Treasures page soon.
The second and current Lyric Theatre opened its doors two days later on December 28, 1934 with William Powell in “Evelyn Prentice” along with the short “Fall Of The Vienna Woods” and a sportlight “Pro Football” plus a special performance by the Iowa Ladies Band led by Mayo Williams before showing, featuring an original capacity of 600 seats and original installations of heavy wine-colored velvet curtains that close by sliding along a track at the top of the stage, with an old gold color of the backdrops. Some of its equipment including the sound system were relocated from the old Lyric to the current Lyric. The projectionist during its heyday is Fred Ketcham.
Nearly a month later in early-February 1935, E.L. Bryant of Zearing announced that the former first Lyric Theatre will be rebuilt at that same site and reopen as the city of Osceola’s second movie house on the north side of the square called the Osceola Theatre. Osceola’s second movie house, known as the Osceola Theatre, would later open its doors on April 12, 1935 with Eddie Cantor in “Kid Millions” along with a Fox Movietone Newsreel and a Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony “Funny Little Bunnies”. The Osceola Theatre will also have its own Cinema Treasures page soon.
Both the Lyric and the Osceola theaters throughout the 1940s and early-1950s share an equal and fair amount of first-run features each week, but it wasn’t until the CinemaScope era when things started to rattle. In May 1954, it was announced that the Lyric Theatre at the west side of the square would be the main target of the city’s CinemaScope installation. At that same time, the Osceola Theatre at the north side was on its last legs after the building went under a sellout. The Lyric Theatre ran its first CinemaScope film, “Lucky Me”, on July 11, 1954. A few years later, the Lyric Theatre officially became the only movie house in Osceola after the closure of the Osceola Theatre in 1956.
Throughout portions of its history, there is one unique about the lighting inside the Lyric Theatre. In its May 1941 remodel featured a “black light” whenever the theater was darkened or whenever blackout drills during World War II were presented making it a very unusual decorative effect.
Gerald Clark operated the Lyric Theatre for 14 years beginning in 1974. This lasted until 1988 when it was taken over by Frank Munyon, and a short time later, its original marquee was removed and was replaced by a traditional blocky black-and-white marquee. This lasted until the Lyric closed for a time in January 2000 for remodeling. Neon lights return to the Lyric after a new marquee was installed, and reopened a couple of months later under the Fridley Theatres chain only for a short time.
As of today despite being independently operated, first-run films are still going strong at the Lyric.
Back as a twin, the original Showcase I & II housed a total of 450 seats, with 225 seats in each auditorium with installations of stereophonic sound. It was first operated by Rhyan Theatres led by H.C. Rhyan, who also operated theaters in Fox Lake, McHenry, Grayslake, Libertyville, and Antioch.
Some other installations the theater had as of 1973 include twin floor chandeliers amid a general motiff of dark walnut furnishings and deep red carpeting. Special art by David White were also added in each auditorium, and the theater building’s original landscape features evergreens, grass, and stone by Flowerwoods.
The actual opening date is May 5, 1966.
The Paramount closed for the final time in June 1983 with “An Officer And A Gentlemen” (which screened there for more than two months at the Paramount).
The Starlite South was twinned in the early-1970s, and was tripled a short time later.
The Starlite South closed for the final time on June 11, 1988. One of its last features according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis is “The Karate Kid Part II” playing at one screen, but the final features on the other two screens were unknown at this time. It was last managed by Bob Toogood who also operated other theaters and cinemas in Rochester. At the time, the Starlite South housed a total capacity of 800 cars. On its final night of operation, only 150 cars attended its final showings.
The theater is located on 1308 Hadley View Ct NE, Rochester, MN 55906 where a U-Haul and Storage Rentals of America currently occupies the former drive-in site.
Opened with Walt Disney’s “The Sword In The Stone”. The Plaza closed on August 28, 1982 with “Rocky III”.
The UA Cinema Twin opened its doors on March 7, 1973 with “The Emigrants” at Screen 1 and “The Getaway” at Screen 2. The twin is located next to the former Kmart on 3024 NJ-35 in Hazlet, and housed a total of 790 seats, with 450 seats at Screen 1 and 340 seats at Screen 2. Screen 1 features installations of a decor of gold panels on charcoal walls, gold and black seating and red and black carpeting, while Screen 2 has red panels against a charcoal background.
The Alternate Ending Beer Company now occupies the former theater building since 2020.
Recently, the theater experienced major parking problems. Just before midnight yesterday, four gunmen approached four people who demanded their black Chrysler 300 and all of their phones and cash outside the Cinemark. Several hours later, police found a white Hummer near the parking lot that was recently stolen in Schaumburg.
Opened on May 5, 1998.
Throughout much of the early-1980s, the State Twin Drive-In received too much trouble, as on September 1, 1984, the State Twin Drive-In became local headlines following major concerns over both large disturbances and crowd fights (mostly youths and teens) as reported by the Kansas City (KS) Police Department. Although it was not the crowd’s fault, it was actually radio station KYYS-FM (now KCKC-FM) announcing drive-in blowouts which a total of five different features were screened on the same day each Labor Day and Memorial Day, known as the “KY-102 Blowouts”. These incidents include injuries, one of which was a local 16-year-old boy who was injured in the State Twin Drive-In’s blowout.
Leroy Shaver, the manager of the State Twin Drive-In, said from 10 to 12 men provided security for each of the blowouts at his business, and spectators called the attacks “riots”. Its not just the State Twin Drive-In, but it was also the I-70 Drive-In and the nearby Boulevard Drive-In who also did host the blowouts, but it was the State Twin Drive-in that caused all the major riots and ruckus. Leroy also replied that most of his watchmen were not units for the KCKSPD or security officers but former drive-in employees “over 21 and wearing security T-shirts” were employed in business. He said such security forces relate to patrons better than units.
During one other blowout also being held at the State Twin, officials from the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office said that they had limited the role of off-duty officers at the blowouts after three deputies were assaulted with rocks and knives on a Memorial Day blowout also at the State Twin Drive-In. Undersheriff officer Tim Johnson said he directed deputy sheriff’s to do no more than guard money in the concession areas, most importantly the concession stand. He also added that in the past even when 10 off-duty officers worked each of the blowouts, as security had not been sufficient. As he replied, Mr. Shaver disagreed on how it can’t be sufficient, even Mike Costello, the general manager of KYYS-FM said that while his station promotes the events, it is not responsible for security.
The State Twin Drive-In closed for the final time on September 22, 1991 with “Livin' Large” and “Jungle Fever” at Screen 1 and “Freddy’s Dead” and “Terminator 2” at Screen 2. It was last operated by Wesley Neal who both operated the Boulevard and State Twin Drive-Ins in Kansas City (KS).
Demolished in Early May 1979.
Edited from my March 20, 2020 comment: The Mid-City Outdoor was demolished on April 30, 1985.
Demolished in February 2016.
The Grand Theatre was once destroyed by a fire in the Spring of 1929. It was rebuilt, restored, and reopened on January 9, 1930.
After the Grand Cinema closed in 1986, the theater sat abandoned for a decade. It wasn’t until ten years later in 1996 that the Grand was renovated and renamed the Pocono Cinema by John and Carolyn Yetter, unfortunately it almost turned down. They only operated the cinema for six months, and throughout the following few months, other former employees tried to take over the business by leasing it but failed after less than a year.
Throughout time, the Pocono received some ups-and-downs. In mid-2008, after the Pocono Cinema had closed for the third time in less than two years, the theater re-opened as a non-profit organization as the Pocono Community Theater. And in November 2015, the Pocono Community Theater was renamed “Pocono Cinema and Cultural Center” to better reflect its mission statement.
As of 2023, the Pocono Cinema & Cultural Center ran mainly first-run features, although there were some classic matinees added. Only some independent features were also added as rare occasions, since it was formerly an art house back when the theater was known as simply “Pocono Cinema” in the late-1990s and early-to-mid 2000s.
Actual closing date is May 11, 2013.
Opened on May 14, 2013.
Opened on July 29, 1998. The building was designed by Denis Valode and Jean Pistre.
The Cinema Lux was designed by Abbe Villan, and opened its doors on February 25, 1960 with Carmine Gallone in “Michel Strogoff” in CinemaScope. It was first managed by Gilbert Benois who managed the Lux for more than 30 years.
As of 2023, the Cinema Lux has a seating capacity of 466 seats and currently screens mainly art and independent features (mainly French stuff), as well as special classic and silent matinees. What’s rare about the Cinema Lux nowadays despite the Lux being mostly an art/independent cinema is that the Cinema Lux also rarely runs a couple of first-run American selections that normally and primarily pick up at both the Pathe Les Rives de l'Orne (or “Pathe Banks Of The Orne” in English) and the UGC Cine Cite Mondeville, but the Cinema Lux only picked it up for rare occasions.
The “new” Mesa Drive-In opened its gates on May 20, 1969 with “Young Americans” and John Wayne’s “The War Wagon” plus a disc jockey meet-and-greet from then-Top 40 radio station KAOR (now KPYV) and musical performances by a local choir known as “Sing-Out Oroville” were presented before showing. it was first managed by Gerald Smith.
Yes, this indeed replaced another drive-in also named the “Mesa Drive-In”. The “old” Mesa Drive-In was first managed by George Hickox and opened on November 23, 1949 with Fred Astaire in “The Barkleys Of Broadway” along with two cartoons, a newsreel, and a couple of short subjects. The old Mesa closed on December 7, 1968 with Frank Sinatra in “The Detective” and Paul Newman in “Hombre”.