Name was changed to the Royal on November 19, 1918 w/ Will Rogers in “Laughing Bill Hyde” supported by Harold Lloyd in “Kicking the Germ out of Germany” and a live orchestra.
The $75,000 Wilcoxson Opera House opened elsewhere in town on April 22, 1898 with Clay Clement in “The New Dominion.” That was an above average price for an opera house as it vied for major acts after Kansas City playdates about 70 miles away. The theatre was beautiful by all reports and pictures. By World War I, Opera Houses were under financial pressure in smaller cities such as Carrollton. The Wilcoxson burned down on February 23, 1912 avoiding what was certain demise business-wise. And yet, the town decided it needed a new Opera House and built right here.
The New Opera House had iron support beams and, learning from its predecessor, was built to last more than a thing of beauty. In its opening ad, the second line under New Opera House was “Absolutely Fire-Proof.” Its opening programming on Nov. 9, 1914 was a hybrid live vaudeville with The Aerial Kesters of Ringling Circus fame and the three-reel film, “Shadows of the Past.” It didn’t work out well for the New Opera House. At a dime a head (a nickel for kids), the economics didn’t work out.
The venue had one full year of operation and then scuffled under two other operators not able to come close to filling a single season - combined. Percy Jones took the venue on November 19, 1918 renaming it as the Royal Theatre with Will Rogers in “Laughing Bill Hyde” supported by Harold Lloyd in “Kicking the Germ out of Germany” and a live orchestra. In 1929, the Royal was adding Western Electric sound-on-film to present talking pictures. And then it was subject to liens and back mortgage issues - which at the outset of the Depression - the end of the line for the Royal.
However, the first woman exhibitor in Carrollton’s movie industry, Ethel Jones, took on the mess that was the Royal late in 1929. She got help from beyond in Tip-Top Theatre operator’s Mr. Jarboe’s will about the building’s purpose as a theatre. So Ethel Jones installed the Western Electric sound on film technology for Thanksgiving of 1929. It was an expensive undertaking as the more expensive of the options at that time. And she put the family name on the building calling it the Jane Johnson Theatre in honor of her actress daughter who had moved to New York City.
Johnson was no pushover as she was mugged by two men as she carried the box office take to the bank. They got no money for their efforts. And she gave money to save the City Park from further dilapidation. People called it the Ethel Johnson Theatre in her honor although it went by Johnson Theatre. (Ethel claimed that the venue was always the Jane Johnson Theatre.) The Johnson Theatre closed on December 7, 1936 with Shirley Temple in “Dimples” as it was sold to Commonwealth Amusement two weeks earlier on November 26, 1936. Commonwealth had the entire face of the theatre removed to make a new, streamline moderne front as the Uptown Theatre. Old seats were donated to the high school.
Commonwealth launched the Uptown Theatre on December 19, 1936 with “Banjo On My Knee” supported by Popeye in “I’m In The Army Now”, an Our Gang comedy short, and “Hills Of Old Wyoming” with Robert Benchley. It was converted to widescreen in the 1950s. Additionally, Commonwealth took over the drive-in in 1969. They appears to have given up regular film exhibition in 1972 although the venue was used for Christmas screening in 1972, 1973, and 1974 to eke out a 60th Anniversary of operation. And it was demolished after its 100th birthday. Not bad.
The Bosworth Community Hall / Bosworth Theatre opened April 5, 1935. It was a new build facility costing all of $7,000. The first advertised show was Jean Arthur in “Have a Heart” supported by an Our Gang short, “Mike Fright.” Harold Wright was the final operator and appears to have closed it in December of 1954. The building was purportedly still around in 1988.
Opened June 1, 1955 with “Tonight’s the Night” starring Yvonne DeCarlo supported by Ralph Staub’s “Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Fathers” and the UPA cartoon, “Baby Boogie.” Its last advertised show was October 1, 1983: “Private School” and “Hot Dreams.”
Cyril E. Thomas launched the Star Theatre on December 8, 1910. Under new operators, it changed names to the Strand Theatre on January 16, 1918. The Strand added sound to remain competitive. Jess Remington and Kevin Dangerud closed it for the season on April 1, 1979 with “Carrie” while reopening the drive-in. The Strand didn’t reopen and was offered for sale.
Two ads for the Hettinger Drive-In. The one on the left addresses the question that everyone was apparently asking, “Is Tonight the Night?” And it is answered on the June 1, 1955 ad at left as the ozoner opens as tonight’s the night. The opening feature: “Tonight’s the Night” with Yvonne DeCarlo supported by Ralph Staub’s “Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Fathers” and the UPA cartoon, “Baby Boogie.”
That’s 1 W. Washington and 5 W. Washington as the first two buildings and still around in the 2020s. The Opera House is at the right - 15 W. Washington - which went down in a major fire in 1912.
A.B. Cantwell opened the Cantwell Theatre in Bucklin on February 15, 1923 with “In the Name of the Law” and “Detective.” Cantwell spent his money on a new theatre in nearby Marceline. The Bucklin Cantwell basically closed for movie on July 27, 1929 unable to convert to sound. The theatre scheduled live event programming until October 17, 1930. It was then converted on October 24, 1930 for a retail store and a dentist office.
The Isis and the Russell are two different theaters. The first movie house in town opened as the Isis Theatre with a benefit for the local football team on November 1, 1913 followed by its regular opening on March 4, 1913 with Barney Gilmore as “Kelly From Emerald Island.” The Isis closed April 4, 1925 with “Baffled” and was converted to a retail store.
This entry covers the Russell Theatre turned Roxy. The Russell opened on July 4, 1923 with “Safety Last” with Harold Lloyd. It was hailed as “the biggest picture ever shown in a country town” according to the proprietors. W.S. Owen was deliberate converting to sound to remain viable on February 28, 1930 - behind some of the nearby theaters in other communities.
Elmer and Jonnie Bills bought the Russell in 1935 from H.T. Till. It received a streamline makeover and relaunched on August 3, 1935 as the Roxy Theatre with W.C. Fields in “The Man on the Trapeze.” Just prior to showtimes on November 24, 1943, an explosion took out the Roxy and five adjacent buildings with “So Proudly We Hail” showtimes not taking place that night.
The theatre moved to temporary digs across the street in the Myer Building while the New Roxy - renamed the El-Jon prior to opening after a contest - was prepped for an early 1945 launch. I’d lean for status as mega-demolished.
Mr. Elmer and Mrs. “Jonnie” Bills got approval to transform the Myer Building to a short-term, new theatre after their Roxy burned on November 24, 1943. The naming is a bit confusing in that the temporary theatre opened January 5, 1945 with “The Singing Sheriff” and “Murder in the Blue Room” named as “The Theatre Across the Street” just until a naming contest was completed. The theatre “across the street” was delayed due to Wartime material shortages. The temporary venue became the El-Jon on January 24, 1945 with Mrs. Ben Kinkhorst winning a prize for the moniker - a fusion of the Bills' first names.
That name was then moved to the new theatre - whose architectural plans by Al Hauetter carried the name of the New Roxy. However, the venue opened as the “new” El-Jon Theatre on March 23, 1945 with “Thunderhead.” In the mid-1950s, it was converted to widescreen presentation to present CinemaScope titles. At the 15-year leasing point, the El-Jon closed with “It Started with a Kiss” on January 31, 1960.
The facility was converted to a bowling alley called the El-Jon Bowl on April 8, 1960 - undoubtedly utilizing the same marquee. (It’s not clear if Mrs. Ben Kinkhorst received a second prize for the El-Jon bowling alley name or, perhaps, considered launching a trademark lawsuit.) The lanes were sold off in December of 1966 signaling the end of the operation.
Mrs. Allen Glore and Henry I. Smiley launched the Royal Theatre on January 17, 1927 with “The King of the Turf” in an existing commercial building in downtown. Glore sold the Royal Theatre in October 15, 1927 and it would soon reopen as the Plaza Theatre two weeks later by Alva A. Sharer. The venue was rewired for sound on May 19, 1930 with RCA Photophone sound with Will Rogers in “They Had to See Paris" and renamed as the New Plaza Theatre (with sound).
Fox, which operated the DeGraw, took over the competing New Plaza on Halloween 1931 as the Fox Plaza Theatre with “The Concentratin' Kid” supported by “The Indians Are Coming: Chapter 1.” They promoted it as a family discount operation but they likely wanted to root out competition. That seems to be borne out as the Fox Plaza closed weeks later on December 4, 1931. The vacant building suffered a roofline fire and was repaired and retrofitted as a retail store. (It was said to have been home to JC Penney.) On March 16, 2022, the building and its neighboring structure burned to the ground in a spectacular final act.
November 2, 1927 opening ad for the Plaza Theatre with the Duncan Sisters in “Topsy and Eva” supported by a Lupino Lane short, “A Half Pint Hero.” The venue had opened earlier in the year as the Royal Theatre.
It’s treat as Fox takes over the competing New Plaza on Halloween 1931 as the Fox Plaza Theatre with “The Concentratin' Kid” supported by “The Indians Are Coming: Chapter 1.”
The Strand operated for 60 years in downtown Mount Vernon launching in 1917. It added sound to remain viable and improved presentations with widescreen equipment to present CinemaScope titles. The Strand’s consecutive operation ended briefly when it closed on Labor Day, September 5, 1960 with “The Bramble Bush.” But it reopened under new operators in January of 1961. They closed it on March 25, 1967 with “Ride Beyond Vengeance.”
Jess Ruble of the Ruble Drive-In bought the theatre on November 2, 1967 with “Doctor, You’ve Got to Be Kidding!” It operated seasonally when the family’s Drive-In was closed.
The Strand played “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” on February 28, 1972 promising a comeback that Fall. That didn’t transpire until January of 1974 when it did reopen with a new front / new look. Its final ad was for the February 19, 1977 showing of “Jaws” - very likely the end of the line there.
Jesse “Jess” Ruble opened the new-build Ruble’s Drive-In Theatre on May 1, 1964. The Rubles had purchased the Rollers Airway Drive-In equipment which was further demolished for the 1-44 onramp. Mother nature had taken care of the screen tower that closed that operation on May 26, 1963. The Ruble’s operation lasted to the end of its 30-year leasing agreement.
Name was changed to the Royal on November 19, 1918 w/ Will Rogers in “Laughing Bill Hyde” supported by Harold Lloyd in “Kicking the Germ out of Germany” and a live orchestra.
The $75,000 Wilcoxson Opera House opened elsewhere in town on April 22, 1898 with Clay Clement in “The New Dominion.” That was an above average price for an opera house as it vied for major acts after Kansas City playdates about 70 miles away. The theatre was beautiful by all reports and pictures. By World War I, Opera Houses were under financial pressure in smaller cities such as Carrollton. The Wilcoxson burned down on February 23, 1912 avoiding what was certain demise business-wise. And yet, the town decided it needed a new Opera House and built right here.
The New Opera House had iron support beams and, learning from its predecessor, was built to last more than a thing of beauty. In its opening ad, the second line under New Opera House was “Absolutely Fire-Proof.” Its opening programming on Nov. 9, 1914 was a hybrid live vaudeville with The Aerial Kesters of Ringling Circus fame and the three-reel film, “Shadows of the Past.” It didn’t work out well for the New Opera House. At a dime a head (a nickel for kids), the economics didn’t work out.
The venue had one full year of operation and then scuffled under two other operators not able to come close to filling a single season - combined. Percy Jones took the venue on November 19, 1918 renaming it as the Royal Theatre with Will Rogers in “Laughing Bill Hyde” supported by Harold Lloyd in “Kicking the Germ out of Germany” and a live orchestra. In 1929, the Royal was adding Western Electric sound-on-film to present talking pictures. And then it was subject to liens and back mortgage issues - which at the outset of the Depression - the end of the line for the Royal.
However, the first woman exhibitor in Carrollton’s movie industry, Ethel Jones, took on the mess that was the Royal late in 1929. She got help from beyond in Tip-Top Theatre operator’s Mr. Jarboe’s will about the building’s purpose as a theatre. So Ethel Jones installed the Western Electric sound on film technology for Thanksgiving of 1929. It was an expensive undertaking as the more expensive of the options at that time. And she put the family name on the building calling it the Jane Johnson Theatre in honor of her actress daughter who had moved to New York City.
Johnson was no pushover as she was mugged by two men as she carried the box office take to the bank. They got no money for their efforts. And she gave money to save the City Park from further dilapidation. People called it the Ethel Johnson Theatre in her honor although it went by Johnson Theatre. (Ethel claimed that the venue was always the Jane Johnson Theatre.) The Johnson Theatre closed on December 7, 1936 with Shirley Temple in “Dimples” as it was sold to Commonwealth Amusement two weeks earlier on November 26, 1936. Commonwealth had the entire face of the theatre removed to make a new, streamline moderne front as the Uptown Theatre. Old seats were donated to the high school.
Commonwealth launched the Uptown Theatre on December 19, 1936 with “Banjo On My Knee” supported by Popeye in “I’m In The Army Now”, an Our Gang comedy short, and “Hills Of Old Wyoming” with Robert Benchley. It was converted to widescreen in the 1950s. Additionally, Commonwealth took over the drive-in in 1969. They appears to have given up regular film exhibition in 1972 although the venue was used for Christmas screening in 1972, 1973, and 1974 to eke out a 60th Anniversary of operation. And it was demolished after its 100th birthday. Not bad.
The Bosworth Community Hall / Bosworth Theatre opened April 5, 1935. It was a new build facility costing all of $7,000. The first advertised show was Jean Arthur in “Have a Heart” supported by an Our Gang short, “Mike Fright.” Harold Wright was the final operator and appears to have closed it in December of 1954. The building was purportedly still around in 1988.
Opened June 1, 1955 with “Tonight’s the Night” starring Yvonne DeCarlo supported by Ralph Staub’s “Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Fathers” and the UPA cartoon, “Baby Boogie.” Its last advertised show was October 1, 1983: “Private School” and “Hot Dreams.”
Cyril E. Thomas launched the Star Theatre on December 8, 1910. Under new operators, it changed names to the Strand Theatre on January 16, 1918. The Strand added sound to remain competitive. Jess Remington and Kevin Dangerud closed it for the season on April 1, 1979 with “Carrie” while reopening the drive-in. The Strand didn’t reopen and was offered for sale.
Two ads for the Hettinger Drive-In. The one on the left addresses the question that everyone was apparently asking, “Is Tonight the Night?” And it is answered on the June 1, 1955 ad at left as the ozoner opens as tonight’s the night. The opening feature: “Tonight’s the Night” with Yvonne DeCarlo supported by Ralph Staub’s “Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Fathers” and the UPA cartoon, “Baby Boogie.”
The Rainbow Drive-In Theatre opens with “Al Jennings of Oklahoma (Not a Western)” with supporting short subjects on June 17, 1951
December 15, 1950 grand opening of the New Belfield Theatre with “Duchess of Idaho” in photos.
December 15, 1950 grand opening of the New Belfield Theatre
That’s 1 W. Washington and 5 W. Washington as the first two buildings and still around in the 2020s. The Opera House is at the right - 15 W. Washington - which went down in a major fire in 1912.
A.B. Cantwell opened the Cantwell Theatre in Bucklin on February 15, 1923 with “In the Name of the Law” and “Detective.” Cantwell spent his money on a new theatre in nearby Marceline. The Bucklin Cantwell basically closed for movie on July 27, 1929 unable to convert to sound. The theatre scheduled live event programming until October 17, 1930. It was then converted on October 24, 1930 for a retail store and a dentist office.
The Isis and the Russell are two different theaters. The first movie house in town opened as the Isis Theatre with a benefit for the local football team on November 1, 1913 followed by its regular opening on March 4, 1913 with Barney Gilmore as “Kelly From Emerald Island.” The Isis closed April 4, 1925 with “Baffled” and was converted to a retail store.
This entry covers the Russell Theatre turned Roxy. The Russell opened on July 4, 1923 with “Safety Last” with Harold Lloyd. It was hailed as “the biggest picture ever shown in a country town” according to the proprietors. W.S. Owen was deliberate converting to sound to remain viable on February 28, 1930 - behind some of the nearby theaters in other communities.
Elmer and Jonnie Bills bought the Russell in 1935 from H.T. Till. It received a streamline makeover and relaunched on August 3, 1935 as the Roxy Theatre with W.C. Fields in “The Man on the Trapeze.” Just prior to showtimes on November 24, 1943, an explosion took out the Roxy and five adjacent buildings with “So Proudly We Hail” showtimes not taking place that night.
The theatre moved to temporary digs across the street in the Myer Building while the New Roxy - renamed the El-Jon prior to opening after a contest - was prepped for an early 1945 launch. I’d lean for status as mega-demolished.
Mr. Elmer and Mrs. “Jonnie” Bills got approval to transform the Myer Building to a short-term, new theatre after their Roxy burned on November 24, 1943. The naming is a bit confusing in that the temporary theatre opened January 5, 1945 with “The Singing Sheriff” and “Murder in the Blue Room” named as “The Theatre Across the Street” just until a naming contest was completed. The theatre “across the street” was delayed due to Wartime material shortages. The temporary venue became the El-Jon on January 24, 1945 with Mrs. Ben Kinkhorst winning a prize for the moniker - a fusion of the Bills' first names.
That name was then moved to the new theatre - whose architectural plans by Al Hauetter carried the name of the New Roxy. However, the venue opened as the “new” El-Jon Theatre on March 23, 1945 with “Thunderhead.” In the mid-1950s, it was converted to widescreen presentation to present CinemaScope titles. At the 15-year leasing point, the El-Jon closed with “It Started with a Kiss” on January 31, 1960.
The facility was converted to a bowling alley called the El-Jon Bowl on April 8, 1960 - undoubtedly utilizing the same marquee. (It’s not clear if Mrs. Ben Kinkhorst received a second prize for the El-Jon bowling alley name or, perhaps, considered launching a trademark lawsuit.) The lanes were sold off in December of 1966 signaling the end of the operation.
Christmas 1938 New Greenway flyer.
They Royal / Plaza were two blocks away.
Mrs. Allen Glore and Henry I. Smiley launched the Royal Theatre on January 17, 1927 with “The King of the Turf” in an existing commercial building in downtown. Glore sold the Royal Theatre in October 15, 1927 and it would soon reopen as the Plaza Theatre two weeks later by Alva A. Sharer. The venue was rewired for sound on May 19, 1930 with RCA Photophone sound with Will Rogers in “They Had to See Paris" and renamed as the New Plaza Theatre (with sound).
Fox, which operated the DeGraw, took over the competing New Plaza on Halloween 1931 as the Fox Plaza Theatre with “The Concentratin' Kid” supported by “The Indians Are Coming: Chapter 1.” They promoted it as a family discount operation but they likely wanted to root out competition. That seems to be borne out as the Fox Plaza closed weeks later on December 4, 1931. The vacant building suffered a roofline fire and was repaired and retrofitted as a retail store. (It was said to have been home to JC Penney.) On March 16, 2022, the building and its neighboring structure burned to the ground in a spectacular final act.
Closed May 23, 2004 - with “Laws of Attraction” and “Along Came Polly.” The screen was toppled by a storm the next day ending things at the Macon D-I.
March 6, 1935
Fox Plaza - last ad on December 4, 1931. The building would be transformed back to retail.
November 2, 1927 opening ad for the Plaza Theatre with the Duncan Sisters in “Topsy and Eva” supported by a Lupino Lane short, “A Half Pint Hero.” The venue had opened earlier in the year as the Royal Theatre.
It’s treat as Fox takes over the competing New Plaza on Halloween 1931 as the Fox Plaza Theatre with “The Concentratin' Kid” supported by “The Indians Are Coming: Chapter 1.”
Look who’s talking: it’s the New Plaza Theatre rebooting on May 19, 1930 with RCA Photophone sound and Will Rogers in “They Had to See Paris.”
The Strand operated for 60 years in downtown Mount Vernon launching in 1917. It added sound to remain viable and improved presentations with widescreen equipment to present CinemaScope titles. The Strand’s consecutive operation ended briefly when it closed on Labor Day, September 5, 1960 with “The Bramble Bush.” But it reopened under new operators in January of 1961. They closed it on March 25, 1967 with “Ride Beyond Vengeance.”
Jess Ruble of the Ruble Drive-In bought the theatre on November 2, 1967 with “Doctor, You’ve Got to Be Kidding!” It operated seasonally when the family’s Drive-In was closed.
The Strand played “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” on February 28, 1972 promising a comeback that Fall. That didn’t transpire until January of 1974 when it did reopen with a new front / new look. Its final ad was for the February 19, 1977 showing of “Jaws” - very likely the end of the line there.
No reason to celebrate - October 4, 2026 is the last day for Studio C! as the venue declines a leasing renewal after 40 total years.
Jesse “Jess” Ruble opened the new-build Ruble’s Drive-In Theatre on May 1, 1964. The Rubles had purchased the Rollers Airway Drive-In equipment which was further demolished for the 1-44 onramp. Mother nature had taken care of the screen tower that closed that operation on May 26, 1963. The Ruble’s operation lasted to the end of its 30-year leasing agreement.