It had been renamed State Theatre by the late `60s per Hubert Crain. Two of his photos added as the State (albeit blurry) and as Coleman’s Pawn Shop. Appears to be the same building in both.
Per Fred Fritz Hennig regarding the fire:
“I was there in the audience when it started. The Movie featured 19-year-old Jane Russell in a loose peasant dress. The Movie, Howard Hughes' ‘The Outlaw,’ was made in the early ‘40s but not released until years later – a long story. It was said that Jane was so hot that when she bent over Jesse, giving the audience an ample down blouse look, it set the movie on fire. Actually, the movie was printed on old film stock which was highly flammable. The projectionist was in a hurry to change reels, dropped a hot carbon arc rod on a roll of the old film, and up it went! Lots of fire and nasty smelling smoke. There were weird flame patterns in the auditorium until the projection room window shields automatically dropped down. No one was hurt and the audience didn’t panic, the men perhaps savoring the last pleasurable scene on the screen.”
Found mention on Facebook of a possible Woods Theatre in Woodruff in 1952, possibly on Main Street near Nestldown Candies.
Friday night admission was 10 cents, children under 12 were 9 cents.
April 1962 demolition photo added courtesy Steve Oare.
The Korkay System on the marquee is a cleaning supplies company founded in Gloversville in 1953.
So it must have been their showroom prior to demolition.
This was named the Ace Theatre in the mid `50s, which should be added to previous names.
Circa 1956 photo added as Ace Theatre courtesy Michael Goodson.
Below history credit Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page.
Hoegg Hall/Opera House was built in 1895 at the north corner of Brentwood and Stevens Ave by canned goods pioneer, Daniel Warren Hoegg. It changed names to Deering Theatre, later Dollhouse, and was home the Portland Players and the Lyric Theatre. It was destroyed by fire in 1971.
May 1941 photo (added) and below history courtesy Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page.
“Capitol Theatre entrance May 1941, now Geno’s rock club at 627 Congress Street. The actual theatre can be seen in the distance over the entrance and the Western Auto.
Kotzschmar Hall opened as a small concert hall, honoring musician Hermann Kotzschmar, built by Horatio Nelson Jose in 1891, designed by Frederick A Tompson. It was set back from the sidewalk by a forecourt, behind the building seen here to the left. When it was renovated about 1910 into the Casco Theatre, the footprint was extended to the sidewalk with a one-story subway. About 1928 the Casco Theatre was renovated into the Capitol Theatre with 535 seats. It was renamed Fine Arts Cinema in 1959 after another renovation. A second screen was added in 1970 in an adjacent building to the right of the theatre, seen here; this building had been a Western Auto Store and later Bartlett’s TV and Radio. When the original theatre was closed in the early 1980s, the second screen remained open showing discount films and later adult films. In 1998, it became a performing arts space for a couple years and later The Skinny rock club and finally Geno’s. The original theatre was demolished in 2002.
The building to the left was the Splendid Restaurant and rooms for many years."
Was possibly called Isle Theatre in 1928, owned by Raymond Quady in 1930. Ticket image added.
It had been renamed State Theatre by the late `60s per Hubert Crain. Two of his photos added as the State (albeit blurry) and as Coleman’s Pawn Shop. Appears to be the same building in both.
Address is 205 Front Street.
Building currently houses Alexander’s Pizza, and the marquee overhang is still in use but covered with signage.
Per Fred Fritz Hennig regarding the fire: “I was there in the audience when it started. The Movie featured 19-year-old Jane Russell in a loose peasant dress. The Movie, Howard Hughes' ‘The Outlaw,’ was made in the early ‘40s but not released until years later – a long story. It was said that Jane was so hot that when she bent over Jesse, giving the audience an ample down blouse look, it set the movie on fire. Actually, the movie was printed on old film stock which was highly flammable. The projectionist was in a hurry to change reels, dropped a hot carbon arc rod on a roll of the old film, and up it went! Lots of fire and nasty smelling smoke. There were weird flame patterns in the auditorium until the projection room window shields automatically dropped down. No one was hurt and the audience didn’t panic, the men perhaps savoring the last pleasurable scene on the screen.”
Found mention on Facebook of a possible Woods Theatre in Woodruff in 1952, possibly on Main Street near Nestldown Candies. Friday night admission was 10 cents, children under 12 were 9 cents.
Astor marquee at 26:24 in video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXnEvW0XD0&fbclid=IwAR2GTsgBZEZuZ87EDtbKV6j1ULsIXc8zGMuKNKgRCSl387N6hynE9UQ2axQ
Paramount marquee at 19:30 in video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXnEvW0XD0&fbclid=IwAR2GTsgBZEZuZ87EDtbKV6j1ULsIXc8zGMuKNKgRCSl387N6hynE9UQ2axQ
Rivoli marquee at 22:20 in video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXnEvW0XD0&fbclid=IwAR2GTsgBZEZuZ87EDtbKV6j1ULsIXc8zGMuKNKgRCSl387N6hynE9UQ2axQ
Martin Turnbull’s site with September 1954 photos of the premiere of “Sabrina”, at then the Paramount.
https://martinturnbull.com/2016/02/23/premiere-of-sabrina-at-the-pramount-theater-hollywood-blvd-1954/
Late 1930s postcard added courtesy Route 66 Postcards Facebook page.
1940 photo.
Steve Oare: “A Mingling of the Wets and the Drys” was a humoresque about Prohibition…
April 1962 demolition photo added courtesy Steve Oare. The Korkay System on the marquee is a cleaning supplies company founded in Gloversville in 1953. So it must have been their showroom prior to demolition.
Appears to have been reopened in 2019. Link to website below, but it is in a Foreign language.
https://business.fultonmontgomeryny.org/list/member/glove-performing-arts-center-the-974
1939 photo.
Crisper version of the 1934 photo added, courtesy Steve Oare.
Demolition photos added courtesy Dave Gonzalez.
5 demolition photos added credit Noran Warot.
1937 original marquee photo, plus two 1940s photos with updated facade added.
This was named the Ace Theatre in the mid `50s, which should be added to previous names. Circa 1956 photo added as Ace Theatre courtesy Michael Goodson.
Address was 5241 N. Clark, confirmed via 1915 poster added courtesy Suzanne Bonhivert Kinnaird.
Early `60s photo added courtesy Bill Zimp Zimpleman.
Closed December 1957, later sold to Boys Club as a community center. Newspaper image added.
Below history credit Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page.
Hoegg Hall/Opera House was built in 1895 at the north corner of Brentwood and Stevens Ave by canned goods pioneer, Daniel Warren Hoegg. It changed names to Deering Theatre, later Dollhouse, and was home the Portland Players and the Lyric Theatre. It was destroyed by fire in 1971.
May 1941 photo (added) and below history courtesy Portland Maine History 1786 to Present Facebook page.
“Capitol Theatre entrance May 1941, now Geno’s rock club at 627 Congress Street. The actual theatre can be seen in the distance over the entrance and the Western Auto.
Kotzschmar Hall opened as a small concert hall, honoring musician Hermann Kotzschmar, built by Horatio Nelson Jose in 1891, designed by Frederick A Tompson. It was set back from the sidewalk by a forecourt, behind the building seen here to the left. When it was renovated about 1910 into the Casco Theatre, the footprint was extended to the sidewalk with a one-story subway. About 1928 the Casco Theatre was renovated into the Capitol Theatre with 535 seats. It was renamed Fine Arts Cinema in 1959 after another renovation. A second screen was added in 1970 in an adjacent building to the right of the theatre, seen here; this building had been a Western Auto Store and later Bartlett’s TV and Radio. When the original theatre was closed in the early 1980s, the second screen remained open showing discount films and later adult films. In 1998, it became a performing arts space for a couple years and later The Skinny rock club and finally Geno’s. The original theatre was demolished in 2002.
The building to the left was the Splendid Restaurant and rooms for many years."