That makes it sound like this was probably the Comet, and the theater to the south was the Rex. The brick facade that was put up to convert it to a dealership is rather indeterminate in style, but certainly could be from 1923-ish.
There is a problem with the dates. If the Rex was the demolished theater to the south, it was open by Nov. 1922 at the latest. It’s still listed as open in the 1929 guide, but that could be wrong.
The theater was open by Feb. 1913. The building was originally built for the Citizen, which ceased publication in May 1916. They originally used the entire building, but had retreated to the basement by the time the theater opened. The 1907 map shows the first floor as a pool & billiard hall. The side of the building still shows the original 1893 structure, with a second floor bay removed, and all the window openings bricked over. I’ve added a map view of the original layout.
Found the photo, which is a 1962 picture of the Rock Island depot in Centerville. The depot is now a house off of 210th Ave, which is ridiculously far out of town, but I guess that is the screen in the background. A caption would not have hurt.
Is that supposed to be the screen in the background on the right? One set of tracks obviously did run nearby, behind what is now the MFA location at the intersection, but it would have made no sense to have the station there. It’s miles out of town. There is a railway station well to the north on IA 5, but it is older.
I suppose this was originally also used as an armory, but between 1907 and 1913 a large armory was built on E Jackson St. It’s still there, used as apartments.
The 1905 Cahn guide gives the capacity as 1,000. Maps call it the Armory or Drake Avenue Opera House, but the Cahn guide uses Theatre. I’ve added a map view. The site is currently occupied by a used car dealer operating in an old gas station that was likely built just after the fire.
The 1914-15 listings also have a Gem. There’s no other movie theater on the 1916 map, but there is a building with stage/scenery on the second floor. It’s now a parking lot to the east of the large old building that has the pharmacy.
The 1914-15 listings call this the Opera House, but it was the Broadway by 1916. Still listed as the Broadway in 1956. The capacity of 350 is pretty consistent. I’m not sure when this closed, but it appears to be closed in a 1980 John Margolies photo. I think it was still vacant when I first visited in early 2010, although of course there could have been work going on inside.
The barracks doesn’t seem to have a street address, but the marker should be moved to the site directly across from the end of the path leading to the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The building was constructed between 1854 and 1868. It’s huge, and it’s not clear where the theater was.
Demolished and replaced, or just butchered into a ‘ye olde fake’?
SethG
commented about
Cine Lunaon
Mar 3, 2025 at 6:07 am
Now part of a local university. It’s in good shape, and now painted white. There are windows cut into the large doors on the left, so you can see the old tile entry for the theater. The building was modified (probably during the theater conversion), and the very top of the roofline is art-nouveauish.
Most of the old comments are rather useless, since they’re about other theaters. This building was constructed in 1937. It’s difficult to photograph since the street is so narrow. It was in good repair on our visit a few weeks ago, but it’s hard to tell what it’s used for.
SethG
commented about
Cine Roxyon
Mar 3, 2025 at 5:57 am
Just a reminder that the 2015 picture needs to be deleted. It is not the same building, and it isn’t even on the same street. The Roxy appears to be vacant and derelict from our visit a few weeks ago. Shutters cover the entrance, and there was no sign or anything.
There is no such thing as W Main St. In addition, a 137 address (which would be on the west SIDE of Main, which runs N-S) is impossible since that portion of the block is mostly taken up by the railway station. I’m not sure where this was supposed to be. If it did not open until 1921, it cannot have been the theater shown on the 1913 map, which I will provisionally list separately. The Main St portion of downtown is quite well preserved, so the ‘demolished’ status is dubious.
Ritz Park is a grassy area with a gazebo, at 133 Forsyth. That must have been the location. Ken’s picture link is dead, does anyone have a photo? The theater was demolished sometime before 2008.
The address makes no sense at all. The 300 block is purely residential. 126 is a possibility, the 100 block has several large vacant lots. This theater first appears in the 1937 listings, which confusingly show it operated by both the Central Amusement Co. and Lucas & Jenkins.
That makes it sound like this was probably the Comet, and the theater to the south was the Rex. The brick facade that was put up to convert it to a dealership is rather indeterminate in style, but certainly could be from 1923-ish.
There is a problem with the dates. If the Rex was the demolished theater to the south, it was open by Nov. 1922 at the latest. It’s still listed as open in the 1929 guide, but that could be wrong.
Website is: https://www.facebook.com/KingOperaHouseAlbia/
It was looking a little shabby when I saw it in 2010, but the new front is so cheap and bland. It’s a depressing Auto-CAD remake of the original.
That’s a good possibility. It’s odd that only the Majestic is listed, since the Ritz was also open by early 1913 at the latest.
The theater was open by Feb. 1913. The building was originally built for the Citizen, which ceased publication in May 1916. They originally used the entire building, but had retreated to the basement by the time the theater opened. The 1907 map shows the first floor as a pool & billiard hall. The side of the building still shows the original 1893 structure, with a second floor bay removed, and all the window openings bricked over. I’ve added a map view of the original layout.
Found the photo, which is a 1962 picture of the Rock Island depot in Centerville. The depot is now a house off of 210th Ave, which is ridiculously far out of town, but I guess that is the screen in the background. A caption would not have hurt.
Is that supposed to be the screen in the background on the right? One set of tracks obviously did run nearby, behind what is now the MFA location at the intersection, but it would have made no sense to have the station there. It’s miles out of town. There is a railway station well to the north on IA 5, but it is older.
Why is there a picture of a railway station? Totally useless, and should be deleted.
This is not showing movies, and is only open for special events. The name should probably revert to Ritz from the clumsy and verbose name used now.
I don’t know why this is listed as closed, that is not what Trolleyguy was saying. ‘Website’ is: https://www.facebook.com/WayneTheatre/
We should also add the circuit info that Ken supplied long ago.
I suppose this was originally also used as an armory, but between 1907 and 1913 a large armory was built on E Jackson St. It’s still there, used as apartments.
Address should be 101-103 Drake Ave.
The 1905 Cahn guide gives the capacity as 1,000. Maps call it the Armory or Drake Avenue Opera House, but the Cahn guide uses Theatre. I’ve added a map view. The site is currently occupied by a used car dealer operating in an old gas station that was likely built just after the fire.
The 1914-15 listings also have a Gem. There’s no other movie theater on the 1916 map, but there is a building with stage/scenery on the second floor. It’s now a parking lot to the east of the large old building that has the pharmacy.
The 1914-15 listings call this the Opera House, but it was the Broadway by 1916. Still listed as the Broadway in 1956. The capacity of 350 is pretty consistent. I’m not sure when this closed, but it appears to be closed in a 1980 John Margolies photo. I think it was still vacant when I first visited in early 2010, although of course there could have been work going on inside.
I didn’t say it had been demolished. I asked it if had been. The Burger King is still there.
The barracks doesn’t seem to have a street address, but the marker should be moved to the site directly across from the end of the path leading to the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The building was constructed between 1854 and 1868. It’s huge, and it’s not clear where the theater was.
Demolished and replaced, or just butchered into a ‘ye olde fake’?
Now part of a local university. It’s in good shape, and now painted white. There are windows cut into the large doors on the left, so you can see the old tile entry for the theater. The building was modified (probably during the theater conversion), and the very top of the roofline is art-nouveauish.
Most of the old comments are rather useless, since they’re about other theaters. This building was constructed in 1937. It’s difficult to photograph since the street is so narrow. It was in good repair on our visit a few weeks ago, but it’s hard to tell what it’s used for.
Just a reminder that the 2015 picture needs to be deleted. It is not the same building, and it isn’t even on the same street. The Roxy appears to be vacant and derelict from our visit a few weeks ago. Shutters cover the entrance, and there was no sign or anything.
There is no such thing as W Main St. In addition, a 137 address (which would be on the west SIDE of Main, which runs N-S) is impossible since that portion of the block is mostly taken up by the railway station. I’m not sure where this was supposed to be. If it did not open until 1921, it cannot have been the theater shown on the 1913 map, which I will provisionally list separately. The Main St portion of downtown is quite well preserved, so the ‘demolished’ status is dubious.
Ritz Park is a grassy area with a gazebo, at 133 Forsyth. That must have been the location. Ken’s picture link is dead, does anyone have a photo? The theater was demolished sometime before 2008.
The address makes no sense at all. The 300 block is purely residential. 126 is a possibility, the 100 block has several large vacant lots. This theater first appears in the 1937 listings, which confusingly show it operated by both the Central Amusement Co. and Lucas & Jenkins.
Website is not even a website. Should link to their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/newsharoncapri/
This building does not appear on the 1911 map, which shows a two story tin-clad wooden pool hall here.
Still listed as the Sharon in 1955. I assume the Capri name came along with the schlocky ‘60s remodel.