This venue opened as the Camera Theatre for C.D. Jackson on November 15, 1912 with three-reel movies. At the conclusion of a second 20-year lease, it then closed as the Camera in March 9 1952 with a double feature of “Francis Goes to the Races” and “Borderline.” Under new operators relaunched after a refresh as the Crest Theatre on April 13, 1952 with “An American in Paris.” Woodie B. Sylvester of Video Independent Theatre Circuit took on the venue on July 1, 1954. Also a part of Griffith Circuit, it was closed January 6, 1956 with “Drumbeat” and the building was sold. It was converted that summer for other retail purposes.
Walsie Campbell launched the Corral Drive-In on May 1, 1956 with “Day of Fury.” In September of 1956, he sold both the Deal hardtop theater and the Corral to Elvin Anderson and James Gaskins.
Frank Deal launched the Met Theatre in the Fall of 1910 on a ten-year lease. As the lease was ending, Deal then acquired the neighboring building and expanded the Met as the new Deal Theatre on October 4, 1920. The theater converted to sound and closed for the first time in 1956 as the new Drive-In launched. New operators then purchased by the Corral Drive-In and the Deal reopening on December 7, 1957. But business wasn’t strong and the Deal was closed permanently following April 24, 1960 showings of “Tarzan, the Ape Man.”
E.M. Loew’s Augusta Drive-In Theatre launched in 1950. Its last listings are in 1980 likely indicating closure at the end of a 30-year lease (though not a guarantee).
The Jay Hill Drive-In launched July 10, 1953 with a double-feature of “Desert Legion” and “Meet Me at the Fair.” (Not that it matters particularly, but I don’t see that it ever went by the name of “Drive-In” as stated above and simply opened and closed as the Jay Hill Drive-In.) The ozoner closed for the season on September 11, 1977 with a double-feature of “The Gumball Rally” and “The Domino Principle.” It did not reopen for another season. The concession stand and projection booth was razed in 1983. The screen tower was subsequently razed in August of 1984 ending hopes of a relaunch.
The Rumford Drive-In Theatre launches October 5, 1949 with “It Happened on Fifth Avenue” and “Shocking Miss Pilgrim” supported by a cartoon. It closed permanently on May 12, 1985 with a double feature of “Missing in Action” and Missing in Action 2: The Beginning.“ The owners were fed up with underage drinking and behavioral issues ending their 27th season not long after it had opened for the season.
General Cinema opened its GCC Northwood Park Cinema with “Tobruk” on February 17, 1967. GCC architect William Riseman had the task of taking the existing Holiday Lanes bowling alley and converting it to a General Cinema location (information above is incorrect). Like many GCC theatres, it had an art gallery area for local artists. February 17, 1967. Five years later, the venue was twinned becoming the GCC Northwood Plaza I & II.
Cinema Centers Corporation of Boston took over the venue on July 19, 1978 altering its name to the Northwood Twin Cinema. Under Hoyts Cinema Circuit’s watch, the theatres were known as Northwood Cinemas. Hoyts bought out the 111-screen Cinema Centers Corp. in 1986. Hoyts operated the Northwood Cinemas until December 13, 1990 closing with “The Rookie” and “The Rescuers Down Under.” They opened the Auburn Cinemas the next day closing the Northwood, the Promenade Mall in Lewistown and the Auburn Mall theatres. After closing, the venue was converted once again - this time to the Fitness Connection Gym in 1991.
A major refresh was conducted in 1936 by architects Thalheimer & Weitz including air conditioning, a new marquee with silhouetted lettering, and a bathing in royal blue and stainless steel for a streamlined moderne makeover. The theatre closed at the end of a 15-year lease with “Dancing in the Dark” and “Brimstone.” It found new operators and continued, apparently, as a theatre for African American patrons until 1957.
The College Theatre launched on September 20, 1946 with “Waltz Time.” It appears to have closed with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on December 5, 1987. If so, that’s a good way to go out.
The Rex appears to have launched in 1915. It closed permanently after a triple-feature western with “Pecos River,” “Jubilee Trail,” and “Jesse James Rides Again” on September 11, 1955.
The Brookline Theatre appears to have ceased operations as a sub-run discount venue following the June 21, 1981 screening of “9 to 5.” What a way to make a living.
The Cambria Theatre closed permanently at the end of lease on October 30, 1966 with “Marco, the Magnificent” and “Around the World Under the Sea” as a double feature.
The October 10, 1927 opening ad for the Park Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Naughty but Nice” is posted in photos. Muriel Draper was at the Barton Two Console Double Orchestral Organ at the opening show for Equity Theatres Circuit.
The final listing is just shy of its 50th anniversary with the Park going out as a grind house with continuous shows its last day of “Hours of the Damned,” “Young Guns of Texas,” “Khartoum,” and “Dr. Goldfoot & the Girl Bombs” on December 4, 1966. No further listings are advertised at the Park. And, if true, it was a memorable final day of operation.
This venue opened as the Camera Theatre for C.D. Jackson on November 15, 1912 with three-reel movies. At the conclusion of a second 20-year lease, it then closed as the Camera in March 9 1952 with a double feature of “Francis Goes to the Races” and “Borderline.” Under new operators relaunched after a refresh as the Crest Theatre on April 13, 1952 with “An American in Paris.” Woodie B. Sylvester of Video Independent Theatre Circuit took on the venue on July 1, 1954. Also a part of Griffith Circuit, it was closed January 6, 1956 with “Drumbeat” and the building was sold. It was converted that summer for other retail purposes.
Woodie B. Sylvester of Video Independent Theatre Circuit took on the venue on June 1, 1953. VIT closed the Mecca with “Wild Heart” on July 15, 1954.
The Alamo Theatre launched in 1909.
Claude Leachman of the Leachman Theatre launced the Moonlite on June 16, 1949 with Canyon Passage.
Walsie Campbell launched the Corral Drive-In on May 1, 1956 with “Day of Fury.” In September of 1956, he sold both the Deal hardtop theater and the Corral to Elvin Anderson and James Gaskins.
Frank Deal launched the Met Theatre in the Fall of 1910 on a ten-year lease. As the lease was ending, Deal then acquired the neighboring building and expanded the Met as the new Deal Theatre on October 4, 1920. The theater converted to sound and closed for the first time in 1956 as the new Drive-In launched. New operators then purchased by the Corral Drive-In and the Deal reopening on December 7, 1957. But business wasn’t strong and the Deal was closed permanently following April 24, 1960 showings of “Tarzan, the Ape Man.”
Max Paul opened his new Max Theater on September 4, 1947 with “It Happened on 5th Avenue.”
E.M. Loew’s Augusta Drive-In Theatre launched in 1950. Its last listings are in 1980 likely indicating closure at the end of a 30-year lease (though not a guarantee).
The Jay Hill Drive-In launched July 10, 1953 with a double-feature of “Desert Legion” and “Meet Me at the Fair.” (Not that it matters particularly, but I don’t see that it ever went by the name of “Drive-In” as stated above and simply opened and closed as the Jay Hill Drive-In.) The ozoner closed for the season on September 11, 1977 with a double-feature of “The Gumball Rally” and “The Domino Principle.” It did not reopen for another season. The concession stand and projection booth was razed in 1983. The screen tower was subsequently razed in August of 1984 ending hopes of a relaunch.
Louis Chiaramonte was responsible for the major renovation in 1959 changing the interior and exterior look of the Morton Theatre.
Louis Chiaramonte was responsible for the 1957 remodeling and its transformation as the “new” Gray Cinema in 1957.
The Rumford Drive-In Theatre launches October 5, 1949 with “It Happened on Fifth Avenue” and “Shocking Miss Pilgrim” supported by a cartoon. It closed permanently on May 12, 1985 with a double feature of “Missing in Action” and Missing in Action 2: The Beginning.“ The owners were fed up with underage drinking and behavioral issues ending their 27th season not long after it had opened for the season.
Ceased operations on April 25, 1982 with “Vice Squad.”
Final shows on September 25, 2021 were “I Can Only Imagine” with “Cry Macho” and “It” with “It Chapter 2.”
General Cinema opened its GCC Northwood Park Cinema with “Tobruk” on February 17, 1967. GCC architect William Riseman had the task of taking the existing Holiday Lanes bowling alley and converting it to a General Cinema location (information above is incorrect). Like many GCC theatres, it had an art gallery area for local artists. February 17, 1967. Five years later, the venue was twinned becoming the GCC Northwood Plaza I & II.
Cinema Centers Corporation of Boston took over the venue on July 19, 1978 altering its name to the Northwood Twin Cinema. Under Hoyts Cinema Circuit’s watch, the theatres were known as Northwood Cinemas. Hoyts bought out the 111-screen Cinema Centers Corp. in 1986. Hoyts operated the Northwood Cinemas until December 13, 1990 closing with “The Rookie” and “The Rescuers Down Under.” They opened the Auburn Cinemas the next day closing the Northwood, the Promenade Mall in Lewistown and the Auburn Mall theatres. After closing, the venue was converted once again - this time to the Fitness Connection Gym in 1991.
Looks to have closed as a discount sub-run dollar house with “Shampoo” at the end of a leasing period on September 28, 1975 with “Shampoo.”
A major refresh was conducted in 1936 by architects Thalheimer & Weitz including air conditioning, a new marquee with silhouetted lettering, and a bathing in royal blue and stainless steel for a streamlined moderne makeover. The theatre closed at the end of a 15-year lease with “Dancing in the Dark” and “Brimstone.” It found new operators and continued, apparently, as a theatre for African American patrons until 1957.
The College Theatre launched on September 20, 1946 with “Waltz Time.” It appears to have closed with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on December 5, 1987. If so, that’s a good way to go out.
Closed at the end of lease on November 28, 1957 with “The Midnight Story” and “Run of the Arrow.”
The Rex appears to have launched in 1915. It closed permanently after a triple-feature western with “Pecos River,” “Jubilee Trail,” and “Jesse James Rides Again” on September 11, 1955.
The Brookline Theatre appears to have ceased operations as a sub-run discount venue following the June 21, 1981 screening of “9 to 5.” What a way to make a living.
The Cambria Theatre closed permanently at the end of lease on October 30, 1966 with “Marco, the Magnificent” and “Around the World Under the Sea” as a double feature.
The October 10, 1927 opening ad for the Park Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Naughty but Nice” is posted in photos. Muriel Draper was at the Barton Two Console Double Orchestral Organ at the opening show for Equity Theatres Circuit.
The final listing is just shy of its 50th anniversary with the Park going out as a grind house with continuous shows its last day of “Hours of the Damned,” “Young Guns of Texas,” “Khartoum,” and “Dr. Goldfoot & the Girl Bombs” on December 4, 1966. No further listings are advertised at the Park. And, if true, it was a memorable final day of operation.
Here is the October 10, 1927 opening ad for the Park Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Naughty but Nice.”
The York Theatre closed permanently following Gregory Peck in “Twelve O'Clock High” supported by cartoons on February 5, 1951.