Terry; The Comet Cinema, West Hartlepool was built as the Coronet Cinema, and the unfinished building was acquired by ABC in February 1942. It was requisitioned by the Ministry of Food for the duration of World War II and was called the Comet. These details are from Allen Eyles book “ABC, The First Name In Entertainment”.
It could be (1) the Renovo Theatre of pre-1914 vintage became the Rialto Theatre or (2) The Renovo Theatre was demolished and a new Rialto Theatre built on the site in 1919.
I have added a page for the Strand Theatre and opted for option (1), giving the Strand Theatre a 1919 opening.
Yes, It was gutted back to the bare brick walls. I saw it being done on a visit I made to NYC in early-2005. Nothing of the original interior decorations were saved.
The Cinema Theatre Association (CTA) visited the Mecca Bingo Club (former Odeon Halifax) a couple of years ago. I don’t think we were allowed access into the former projection box. I certainly didn’t get in there to take photos. Maybe former projectionist have photographs of the projection box, or another source is possibly the CTA archive (although photos of projection boxes back in the day are quite rare).
The 1946 edition of Theatre Catalog states the Reece Theatre was built for Reese Harrington. That could be a misprint and possibly they meant to say a ‘Mr. Reese of Harrington’?
danny18badel: Are you certain it was “Confessions of a Window Cleaner” as that was released in August 1974 and would have been an over one year ‘old’ film by the date of the Odeon closing? “Confessions of a Pop Performer” was released in July 1975.
Did Rank bring back ‘Window Cleaner’ or do we have the incorrect year of closing?
wolfgirl500:The information text in the heading is taken from The Billboard, March 21, 1908 edition. It lists nickelodeons across the USA, but is not fully comprehensive, only listing 3 in Youngstown, which I have added pages for on Cinema Treasures, other two being the Edison Theatre and the Luna Theatre.
DavidZornig:The Rialto Theatre and its near neighbour the Crescent Theatre have now been added to CT.
Terry; The Comet Cinema, West Hartlepool was built as the Coronet Cinema, and the unfinished building was acquired by ABC in February 1942. It was requisitioned by the Ministry of Food for the duration of World War II and was called the Comet. These details are from Allen Eyles book “ABC, The First Name In Entertainment”.
HJHill:The address and street view have been corrected, as has the English spelling!
It could be (1) the Renovo Theatre of pre-1914 vintage became the Rialto Theatre or (2) The Renovo Theatre was demolished and a new Rialto Theatre built on the site in 1919.
I have added a page for the Strand Theatre and opted for option (1), giving the Strand Theatre a 1919 opening.
Yes, It was gutted back to the bare brick walls. I saw it being done on a visit I made to NYC in early-2005. Nothing of the original interior decorations were saved.
LC: I have created a page for the Saratoga 6.
Correct spelling of the main movie title is “The Reluctant Dragon”.
An early photograph, taken before Regent Court flats were built on each side of the Regent Cinema.
goodshow: I took a look at the Imperial War Museum website, and as you say, there are several war-time photos of cinemas. Thanks for the information.
goodshow: What a great photograph of the left side stairs in the foyer of the original Empire Theatre. I have not seen this before. Great find!
The Cinema Theatre Association (CTA) visited the Mecca Bingo Club (former Odeon Halifax) a couple of years ago. I don’t think we were allowed access into the former projection box. I certainly didn’t get in there to take photos. Maybe former projectionist have photographs of the projection box, or another source is possibly the CTA archive (although photos of projection boxes back in the day are quite rare).
The 1946 edition of Theatre Catalog states the Reece Theatre was built for Reese Harrington. That could be a misprint and possibly they meant to say a ‘Mr. Reese of Harrington’?
danny18badel: Are you certain it was “Confessions of a Window Cleaner” as that was released in August 1974 and would have been an over one year ‘old’ film by the date of the Odeon closing? “Confessions of a Pop Performer” was released in July 1975.
Did Rank bring back ‘Window Cleaner’ or do we have the incorrect year of closing?
Joe: Alaska does not feature in the theatre lists in the 1952, 1955 or 1957 Film Daily Yearbooks.
MoviePeter:The Google Street view has now been corrected.
The still operating Vue, Birmingham, England U.K. is another 30 screen cinema, but with 277 less seats than the AMC Mesquite 30.
Y & W Management Corp. were based in Indianapolis, IN. R.R. Young was the Secretary-Treasurer and Marc J. Wolf was the President & General Manager.
Orlando & Senosock: We are looking for a volunteer to take control of the news blog, hence no new postings on here for the past few weeks.
When doing a search the default is for currently operating ‘Open’ theatres. To see all theatres click on the ‘All Theatres’ button.
FanaticalAboutOdeon: Your comment actually relates to the former Savoy/Gaumont/Odeon, which has its own page on Cinema Treasures as the Focus Cinema.
The Wadsworth Theatre now has its own page.
HJHill:I have reset the Google Map, if you wish to now set the correct streetview.
wolfgirl500:The information text in the heading is taken from The Billboard, March 21, 1908 edition. It lists nickelodeons across the USA, but is not fully comprehensive, only listing 3 in Youngstown, which I have added pages for on Cinema Treasures, other two being the Edison Theatre and the Luna Theatre.
Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez: I have added a page for the original 1903 Orpheum Theatre.
From the film titles this would be February-March 1953.