I grew up around the corner from the State Theater and remember when it was renovated for CinemaScope. The screen was touted as being 40 feet wide, the six track magnetic stereo was as close to surround as the 50’s could come, and a glittery sign stretched over the box office proclaiming, “Acclaimed one of the nation’s most outstanding theaters for CinemaScope."
The original marquee was a work of art, with five alternating lighting cycles: neon only, incandescent bulbs only, neon only, bulbs "running,” and then neon and running bulbs together.
In the mid-60’s the theater reduced the size of the screen, moved the lobby into a former store front, offered foreign films and demi-tasse coffee, and changed its name to “Cinema.” That art house phase didn’t last long, and the theater went second run.
Endicott also had a drive-in: The Tri-Cities Drive In was operated by the Deitrich family that also ran the old Lyric and State Theaters. When the Tri-Cities Drive In was converted for CinemaScope, the screen was a 100 foot, curved screen slightly tilted down for good projection.
I grew up around the corner from the State Theater and remember when it was renovated for CinemaScope. The screen was touted as being 40 feet wide, the six track magnetic stereo was as close to surround as the 50’s could come, and a glittery sign stretched over the box office proclaiming, “Acclaimed one of the nation’s most outstanding theaters for CinemaScope."
The original marquee was a work of art, with five alternating lighting cycles: neon only, incandescent bulbs only, neon only, bulbs "running,” and then neon and running bulbs together.
In the mid-60’s the theater reduced the size of the screen, moved the lobby into a former store front, offered foreign films and demi-tasse coffee, and changed its name to “Cinema.” That art house phase didn’t last long, and the theater went second run.
Endicott also had a drive-in: The Tri-Cities Drive In was operated by the Deitrich family that also ran the old Lyric and State Theaters. When the Tri-Cities Drive In was converted for CinemaScope, the screen was a 100 foot, curved screen slightly tilted down for good projection.