The Showtown Twin with a 1,500 car capacity and 2 120x60ft screens opened on June 19, 1969 with “Romeo & Juliet” along with “Love With Proper Stranger” at Screen 1 and “Destroy All Monsters” along with “House Of 1000 Dolls” at Screen 2 (Both Screens Listed As North And South Screens). It was closed in the 1990s.
With an estimate of $100K, the Weslin Theatre name was first planned on August 14, 1939. The name “Weslin” came from Mrs. M. E. Chaddock of 850 Danner Street NE in Massillon, and was selected from 2,000 other people. She suggests the name “WESTLIN” but they decided to drop the “T” to make it Weslin. She suggests that the name being a combination of “West” and “Lincoln”. There is also a second prize, which was hand out to Lucille Reese of 113 Erie Street N in Massillon for the name “Clarion”.
During construction of the Weslin on November 24, 1939, it was halted and suspended for only a single day due to an outgrowth of a strike called against the contracting company, the Johnson Lumber & Supply Company of Steubenville. Yep, and it occurred in Steubenville as well! A refusal of the company to sign a new agreement with the common laborers' union in the city was said by an official of the concern to have been the cause of the strike. General manager of the company, J. S. Bushfield, signed as an agreement with the inion covering public works jobs. Bushfield said that “insists that this agreement does not expire until December 30 (1939)”.
After a very hard construction site, the theater opened its doors on February 9, 1940. The theater opened with Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell in “The Amazing Mr. Williams” along with a chapter of Zorro’s Fighting Legion. Apparently enough, there were no other specialities on its first day, but added a giant kiddie show for the kids the following morning.
On January 13, 1954, manager Alden Brinham had announced that CinemaScope will be installed to the Weslin Theatre, and had an estimate cost of $25,000. The erection of the 18x28ft screen began that day. Other additions include the following: new equipment from the projection booth, amplifiers, curtains, and 2 costly anamorphic lenses for the projectors. 25 speakers are required to properly transmit stereophonic sound and high fidelity sound systems. The first CinemaScope film the Weslin Theatre ran is the one-and-only well-known CinemaScope beginners film: “The Robe”. An early bird show was added to its 7-week run as well.
The theater continued operating throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s in mixed formats. The closing date is not found yet, but was still in operation since 1977. So the hunt still continues.
The Grand stopped showing films in 1951. The Grand apparently enough then became a special events/politician house until ultimately closing its doors for the final time in 1957. The Grand then became a JCPenney in 1958.
The Ribault Drive-In is notable for an August 24, 1957 advertisement containing a quadruple run with films that began with the word “Hell”, and a r**ing investigation from the Jacksonville Police Department, reporting of a man and a little girl at the playground section of the Ribault Drive-In on March 3, 1955. Its opening/closing dates were not discovered yet.
The Ritz opened on November 24, 1933 with Lillian Harvey in “My Weakness”, along with a (simply named “Fast and Furious”) comedy and a performance. It was remodeled on May 29, 1941, reopening with Merle Oberon in “That Uncertain Feeling” along with the first chapter of “Sky Raider”. CinemaScope was installed on October 27, 1954, reopening once again. This time, with Robert Mitchum in “River Of No Return” along with a CinemaScope short “The Rose Bowl Tournament”. It was closed in 1962.
Closed on June 6, 1954 after the projectionist, Clarence Shaw of Charlevoix (born on March 9, 1903; and has been in the Palace Theatre business for 30 years since 1924), had died unexpectedly at the age of 51.
Built by Johnson Enterprises Incorporated, the Sky Vue Drive-In was originally scheduled to open on June 16, 1949 with “The Babe Ruth Story” but was delayed due to 2 days of rain. Its opening day was then rescheduled to June 19, 1949 with the 1941 film “Buck Privates”. The CinemaScope screen that was used since the mid-1950s was blown during severe weather between the 1970s and 1980s. A second screen was added on March 15, 2002.
Actually, the West Side Drive-In completed its construction exactly hours before the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), including its local station WILK-TV (now WNEP-TV), began telecasting the grand opening to Disneyland. The West Side Drive-In didn’t open its gates until 6 days later.
The West Side Drive-In opened its gates on July 23, 1955 with Charlton Heston in “Far Horizons” and Dale Robertson in “Top Of The World”.
First opened as the Premier Theatre on February 5, 1913 with the film “Mr. Dave Marlowe” along with a musical number by the names of Marnane and Grenier, and a performances by a trio simply named as “Tenor, Baritone, and Boy Soprano”. The Premier Theatre became the Please-U Theatre on December 16, 1914, and closed on May 31, 1923 after being destroyed by a massive fire which destroyed many places. It is massive that I cannot list all of the places the fire had destroyed so far. The fire destroyed the Please-U, a music store, a market, and many tenants, among others. Luckily enough, nobody was hurt.
It actually first opened as the Star Theatre on November 23, 1905 with some attraction I cannot think which one goes first. It reads “The Bigamist or Ten Wives To One Hundred” but I consider it as a double feature, along with other comedies and performances, before becoming the Gem Theatre on March 15, 1906.
Built On April 25, 1911. There’s A Lot To Say On Its Opening Day. The Anton Opened On February 17, 1912 With A Very Shocking, Long, Interesting And Confusing Lineup. I Looked At The Photoplay Attraction Very Closely And It Actually Reads “Selig-Western”, But I’m Totally Not Sure What That Film Is Originally Titled. This Also Includes An Illustrated Song By A Name Simply Termed As “Rosenbaum”, A Musical Performance By Ola Edeburn, Comedy Routines Including Roller Skating Artists By 2 Guys Simply Named As Barry And Barton, Another Musical Performance, This Time By 2 Guys Simply Named As Morton And Hahn Including Some Other Producers, The Greater City Quartette, And Another Photoplay, Vitagraph, And A Comedy Reel.
There are a few fires that occurred at the Fine Arts Theatre, the earliest one being on November 14, 1957, caused by the projector while in a middle of one out of 3 Charlie Chaplin films. This forced an evacuation of 25 patrons, nobody injured. It caused an estimated $800 in damage.
The projection booth was once devastated by a fire for only a few seconds on December 14, 1944, caused by the projector where a brittle piece of film which was caught in one of the 2 machines and ignited from the heat of the lense. This happened during an intermission, but it didn’t close at all due to the fire being easily extinguished very quickly by Thomas P. Abbott, the projectionist for the Lucille Theatre. The fire destroyed a film, and damaged the 2 projectors, but seemed to work afterward.
The actual opening date is February 5, 1947 with “Tell The Clouds Roll By”.
Opened On June 23, 1941 With “Tight Shoes” Along With A Few Short Subjects.
The Showtown Twin with a 1,500 car capacity and 2 120x60ft screens opened on June 19, 1969 with “Romeo & Juliet” along with “Love With Proper Stranger” at Screen 1 and “Destroy All Monsters” along with “House Of 1000 Dolls” at Screen 2 (Both Screens Listed As North And South Screens). It was closed in the 1990s.
I believed that the Barksdale opened on November 23, 1950 with “Barricade”. I haven’t looked in the extra subjects yet though.
With an estimate of $100K, the Weslin Theatre name was first planned on August 14, 1939. The name “Weslin” came from Mrs. M. E. Chaddock of 850 Danner Street NE in Massillon, and was selected from 2,000 other people. She suggests the name “WESTLIN” but they decided to drop the “T” to make it Weslin. She suggests that the name being a combination of “West” and “Lincoln”. There is also a second prize, which was hand out to Lucille Reese of 113 Erie Street N in Massillon for the name “Clarion”.
During construction of the Weslin on November 24, 1939, it was halted and suspended for only a single day due to an outgrowth of a strike called against the contracting company, the Johnson Lumber & Supply Company of Steubenville. Yep, and it occurred in Steubenville as well! A refusal of the company to sign a new agreement with the common laborers' union in the city was said by an official of the concern to have been the cause of the strike. General manager of the company, J. S. Bushfield, signed as an agreement with the inion covering public works jobs. Bushfield said that “insists that this agreement does not expire until December 30 (1939)”.
After a very hard construction site, the theater opened its doors on February 9, 1940. The theater opened with Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell in “The Amazing Mr. Williams” along with a chapter of Zorro’s Fighting Legion. Apparently enough, there were no other specialities on its first day, but added a giant kiddie show for the kids the following morning.
On January 13, 1954, manager Alden Brinham had announced that CinemaScope will be installed to the Weslin Theatre, and had an estimate cost of $25,000. The erection of the 18x28ft screen began that day. Other additions include the following: new equipment from the projection booth, amplifiers, curtains, and 2 costly anamorphic lenses for the projectors. 25 speakers are required to properly transmit stereophonic sound and high fidelity sound systems. The first CinemaScope film the Weslin Theatre ran is the one-and-only well-known CinemaScope beginners film: “The Robe”. An early bird show was added to its 7-week run as well.
The theater continued operating throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s in mixed formats. The closing date is not found yet, but was still in operation since 1977. So the hunt still continues.
The Grand stopped showing films in 1951. The Grand apparently enough then became a special events/politician house until ultimately closing its doors for the final time in 1957. The Grand then became a JCPenney in 1958.
The Ribault Drive-In is notable for an August 24, 1957 advertisement containing a quadruple run with films that began with the word “Hell”, and a r**ing investigation from the Jacksonville Police Department, reporting of a man and a little girl at the playground section of the Ribault Drive-In on March 3, 1955. Its opening/closing dates were not discovered yet.
Opened with Randolph Scott in “Albuquerque”.
The Ritz opened on November 24, 1933 with Lillian Harvey in “My Weakness”, along with a (simply named “Fast and Furious”) comedy and a performance. It was remodeled on May 29, 1941, reopening with Merle Oberon in “That Uncertain Feeling” along with the first chapter of “Sky Raider”. CinemaScope was installed on October 27, 1954, reopening once again. This time, with Robert Mitchum in “River Of No Return” along with a CinemaScope short “The Rose Bowl Tournament”. It was closed in 1962.
The theater actually closed in late-Spring 1982.
The Temple changed its name to the Gaslight Cinema in December 1973.
Can’t find the actual opening date, but opened sometime in October 1940.
Closed on June 6, 1954 after the projectionist, Clarence Shaw of Charlevoix (born on March 9, 1903; and has been in the Palace Theatre business for 30 years since 1924), had died unexpectedly at the age of 51.
Built by Johnson Enterprises Incorporated, the Sky Vue Drive-In was originally scheduled to open on June 16, 1949 with “The Babe Ruth Story” but was delayed due to 2 days of rain. Its opening day was then rescheduled to June 19, 1949 with the 1941 film “Buck Privates”. The CinemaScope screen that was used since the mid-1950s was blown during severe weather between the 1970s and 1980s. A second screen was added on March 15, 2002.
The actual opening date according to the Newport Mercury is August 10, 1929.
The theater actually opened on July 23rd, not the 17th.
Actually, the West Side Drive-In completed its construction exactly hours before the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), including its local station WILK-TV (now WNEP-TV), began telecasting the grand opening to Disneyland. The West Side Drive-In didn’t open its gates until 6 days later.
The West Side Drive-In opened its gates on July 23, 1955 with Charlton Heston in “Far Horizons” and Dale Robertson in “Top Of The World”.
First opened as the Premier Theatre on February 5, 1913 with the film “Mr. Dave Marlowe” along with a musical number by the names of Marnane and Grenier, and a performances by a trio simply named as “Tenor, Baritone, and Boy Soprano”. The Premier Theatre became the Please-U Theatre on December 16, 1914, and closed on May 31, 1923 after being destroyed by a massive fire which destroyed many places. It is massive that I cannot list all of the places the fire had destroyed so far. The fire destroyed the Please-U, a music store, a market, and many tenants, among others. Luckily enough, nobody was hurt.
It actually first opened as the Star Theatre on November 23, 1905 with some attraction I cannot think which one goes first. It reads “The Bigamist or Ten Wives To One Hundred” but I consider it as a double feature, along with other comedies and performances, before becoming the Gem Theatre on March 15, 1906.
Opened On May 20, 1907 With Performances By James Conner, Leah B. Dancourt, And 2 Guys Simply Named As Stanley And LeRoy.
Opened On December 30, 1914 With “Salomy Jane” (7 Reels).
Built On April 25, 1911. There’s A Lot To Say On Its Opening Day. The Anton Opened On February 17, 1912 With A Very Shocking, Long, Interesting And Confusing Lineup. I Looked At The Photoplay Attraction Very Closely And It Actually Reads “Selig-Western”, But I’m Totally Not Sure What That Film Is Originally Titled. This Also Includes An Illustrated Song By A Name Simply Termed As “Rosenbaum”, A Musical Performance By Ola Edeburn, Comedy Routines Including Roller Skating Artists By 2 Guys Simply Named As Barry And Barton, Another Musical Performance, This Time By 2 Guys Simply Named As Morton And Hahn Including Some Other Producers, The Greater City Quartette, And Another Photoplay, Vitagraph, And A Comedy Reel.
There are a few fires that occurred at the Fine Arts Theatre, the earliest one being on November 14, 1957, caused by the projector while in a middle of one out of 3 Charlie Chaplin films. This forced an evacuation of 25 patrons, nobody injured. It caused an estimated $800 in damage.
The projection booth was once devastated by a fire for only a few seconds on December 14, 1944, caused by the projector where a brittle piece of film which was caught in one of the 2 machines and ignited from the heat of the lense. This happened during an intermission, but it didn’t close at all due to the fire being easily extinguished very quickly by Thomas P. Abbott, the projectionist for the Lucille Theatre. The fire destroyed a film, and damaged the 2 projectors, but seemed to work afterward.
The actual closing date is March 11, 1986.