Per Jim Crowley:
“The Blatt Brothers (Chuck, Jake and Bill) started the business in East Brady and spread all over Western Pennsylvania and Southwestern New York. All told there were over 35 Theatres and Drive-ins they operated. The Governor was named in honor of their mother Catherine Blatt who after her husband passed away raised 7 kids without anyone’s help. After my grandfather Jack Crowley passed the Blatt’s offspring decided it was time to go in another direction as conglomerate Mega Theatres started popping up.”
Address is 101 E. Main Street.
Built in 1922 by P.M. Peck.
Building is still standing and today houses Janet’s Boutique LLC.
The upper floor and windows have all been covered with vertical metal siding.
Street view confirms it is the same building.
Address was 236 Main Street, which is a vacant lot today so status is Demolished.
Verdi Theatre was located at 533 Broad Avenue in North Belle Vernon, and is still standing.
I have added a page for the Verdi and will upload photos when it is active.
Photo and description added credit The State Journal-Register. “Springfield, Illinois – Easter on April 13, 1954 – The drive-in Sunrise Service at the Springfield Drive-In Theater attracted more than 3,800 people. They arrived in 975 cars, according to the organizers, a number that probably compared favorably to the turnout for movies on summer weekend evenings.”
Per June Allred, whose photos I just uploaded.
“The Capitol closed in 1954. The bottom floor was reworked into retail space, the bldg. was tore down 1962-63 when Randolph Savings was built.”
Therefore the street view photo in the Overview is not the Captiol Theatre and should be removed.
“The old movie theater was housed in the former Buss’s General Store, located at the present-day corner of Main Street and Park Lane.
In the 1930s, the building sat empty and unused and according to the local newspaper “had become an unsightly object to persons entering the village from the South.”
In 1940, the building was completely remodeled and restored for use as a movie theater.
On May 4, 1941, the theater officially opened.
The first film shown was “Slightly Honorable” starring Pat O'Brien.
The theater had 442 seats and featured the latest sound and projection equipment.”
(Frozen Custard and a giant cone were added on top of the marquee circa 1958. A sign for such can also be seen on the side of the building in the 1962 demolition photo.)
Closed due to declining business in 1960.
Demolished in 1962.
Replaced by the Hudson Square Building built in 1963.
Which oddly originally looked very similar to the former Hudson Theatre building.
It has had additions built on both sides sometime after 1970.
Photos from 1900, 1940, 1958, 1962 & 1963 added.
Per Jim Crowley: “The Blatt Brothers (Chuck, Jake and Bill) started the business in East Brady and spread all over Western Pennsylvania and Southwestern New York. All told there were over 35 Theatres and Drive-ins they operated. The Governor was named in honor of their mother Catherine Blatt who after her husband passed away raised 7 kids without anyone’s help. After my grandfather Jack Crowley passed the Blatt’s offspring decided it was time to go in another direction as conglomerate Mega Theatres started popping up.”
The Governor Theatre apparently closed in April 1977. Farewell To The Governor photo added credit Robert Kovack.
Zoom ability in above link.
State Theatre on the far right.
Address is 101 E. Main Street. Built in 1922 by P.M. Peck. Building is still standing and today houses Janet’s Boutique LLC. The upper floor and windows have all been covered with vertical metal siding. Street view confirms it is the same building.
4 photos added.
Army ground forces marching in a 4th of July Parade on Main Street in Uniontown, Fayette County in 1946.
Photo credit Jack Gates.
1951
1951
Photo credit Jack Gates.
Address was 236 Main Street, which is a vacant lot today so status is Demolished. Verdi Theatre was located at 533 Broad Avenue in North Belle Vernon, and is still standing. I have added a page for the Verdi and will upload photos when it is active.
Opened as The Old State Theatre. Named was changed to Bulldog Theatre during the depression. Per the book “Weatherford 1898-1998” page 70.
March 20, 2020 photo in Buzzfeed News link below.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/coronavirus-covid-cities-second-homes-rural-small-towns?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Nine photos added.
Photo and description added credit The State Journal-Register. “Springfield, Illinois – Easter on April 13, 1954 – The drive-in Sunrise Service at the Springfield Drive-In Theater attracted more than 3,800 people. They arrived in 975 cars, according to the organizers, a number that probably compared favorably to the turnout for movies on summer weekend evenings.”
15 photos added, some as The Flick Theatre.
Multiple images added.
Per June Allred, whose photos I just uploaded. “The Capitol closed in 1954. The bottom floor was reworked into retail space, the bldg. was tore down 1962-63 when Randolph Savings was built.” Therefore the street view photo in the Overview is not the Captiol Theatre and should be removed.
Ah, my mistake. It was Mekong.net.
http://www.mekong.net/random/theatres.htm
Thank you for posting Matt. Always loved your Granada in Chicago photos.
Full history credit Vince Niklin and Lee Bishop.
“The old movie theater was housed in the former Buss’s General Store, located at the present-day corner of Main Street and Park Lane. In the 1930s, the building sat empty and unused and according to the local newspaper “had become an unsightly object to persons entering the village from the South.” In 1940, the building was completely remodeled and restored for use as a movie theater. On May 4, 1941, the theater officially opened. The first film shown was “Slightly Honorable” starring Pat O'Brien. The theater had 442 seats and featured the latest sound and projection equipment.” (Frozen Custard and a giant cone were added on top of the marquee circa 1958. A sign for such can also be seen on the side of the building in the 1962 demolition photo.) Closed due to declining business in 1960. Demolished in 1962. Replaced by the Hudson Square Building built in 1963. Which oddly originally looked very similar to the former Hudson Theatre building. It has had additions built on both sides sometime after 1970. Photos from 1900, 1940, 1958, 1962 & 1963 added.
Brief marquee shot at the November 4, 1953 premiere of “How To Marry A Millionaire”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O2y9FvAdak&fbclid=IwAR0EnD-gXH8x2p11rdhkyV_h0_k7_At94yzbP0M8LdW3uJMVlf9UUDMO_R0
EVO has turned their parking lot into a drive-in theatre during the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.indiewire.com/2020/04/texas-movie-theater-turns-parking-lot-into-drive-in-1202221888/?fbclid=IwAR1wTwn31lMdwO9Q9asrNq2aMMXIJOVqsacKjPU9hsSwPlvwnzkvb4SV4fE
1939 photo.
1920 photo added courtesy Lee Bishop.