The projection booth for the small house (Cinema #3) that you entered by turning left from the main lobby. Note the rollers attached to the ceiling for interlocking projectors so you could show the same print in either of the other two (or both) theaters at the same time. Interlocking was done mainly for children’s matinees during the holiday season.
“Toga Party” for a showing of “Animal House” the weekend it opened in 1978. This is on the stage that was built in the “Big House” in front of the curtain that could be drawn in front of the screen.
WSL
commented about
House #4 on
Mar 11, 2017 at 4:43 pm
The screen in Cinema #4 on its last day in operation.
WSL
commented about
Cinemas Von
Mar 11, 2017 at 3:53 pm
I was hired before the theater opened in November of 1977 to be the assistant manager of the newly built theater owned by Manos Enterprises of Greensburgh, Pennsylvania. One indelible memory was holding onto the ceiling while helping to install the screens; it was a long way to the floor.
The design was unique because you entered from inside the Olean Center Mall instead of from outside as was the norm of the day. In other words, you could wait in line in climate controlled comfort!
The first film shown for the grand opening of the (then) Cinemas III was “Bobby Deerfield” starring Al Pacino. The “big” house seated 360 people, the middle house seated 235 and the small house seated 160. The big house had 4 track stereo processing by Eprad, with Eprad equipment used throughout the complex and all expansions. The first stereo film shown was “Grease” on a second run in 1978.
Bob LaCava of Manos Enterprises was the first manager followed by Dan Hughes and David Borton.
A fourth Cinema (seating 295) was added across the hall from the original three-plex around 1980, while the original “big” house was split around 1990 to make the complex into Cinemas V.
Around 1993 the owners decided to open a new theater on the west side of Olean near St. Bonaventure University where there was a major retail expansion. In the course of building the new theater (an eight-plex) they were approached by Carmike Cinemas, who took over the project and now run the Carmike 8 in Allegany, New York.
I visited the Park/Royal Cinemas in September of 2014. I was in town for a wedding and briefly visited since it happened to be open when I drove by. The staff members were wonderful and told me all about the history of the theater. All three houses have been converted to digital projection, while the entire building is lovingly maintained. This is a gem of which the citizens of Front Royal can be very proud.
I attended the Park Theatre on November 14, 2013 and was totally impressed with the operation of the theatre and the level of support it receives from the Cobleskill community. The admission prices are reasonable, the concession prices are extremely reasonable and the theatre itself has been lovingly maintained. The owner has recently installed digital equipment and…(drumroll please)…the theatre has an operating curtain in front of the screen! The entire presentation is a great example of what we used to call showmanship; the owner greets his patrons both before and after the performance while one-sheets decorate the lobby area.
Any reader of Cinema Treasures should make the trip to Cobleskill to show their families what theatres used to be like before being turned into parking lots all over the country.
Bravo Cobleskill residents on keeping this classic bit of Americana alive!
I stopped by this theater on a Monday afternoon on my way back home from Albany, NY when for some reason my Garmin sent me through Scotia, NY. It was locked, but I lucked out when the owner/manager came in to do some work and gave me a tour. This theater is GORGEOUS and is emblematic of what can be done with the “labor of love.” The auditorium and balcony sparkle, there is nary a sign of dirt anywhere, the screen is pristine and the projection booth is the cleanest one I have ever seen! I trust that the good people of Scotia know what a gem they have in their village and support the owner’s efforts. Every small town should have its own theater; this one is a model of how to do that and how to do it right.
I was part of the group, The Olean Community Theatre, that staged the play in July of 1989 to which redwards referred. The musical was “Man of La Mancha,” and I played the lead role. It was marvelous to be a part of fixing the place up and watching the shine come back to the Palace through the efforts of many volunteers. There was even one volunteer who personally cleaned every seat.
One day when we were rehearsing, a former stage hand (from when the Palace was a vaudeville house) stopped by and told us stories about the various artists who had played the Palace. One interesting story was when Roy Rogers and Trigger were there and Trigger got cut in an accident that left a scar on Trigger.
The stage hand also told us a story which I used in my performances. Every night when I sang “The Impossible Dream” I stood on a trap door that he had pointed out to us which had been installed by Harry Houdini. It was my hope, while singing that song, that the Olean Community Theatre’s dream of making the Palace into a community performing arts center would come to fruition. Unfortunately, there were too many windmills to fight.
I have finally scanned my pictures, but the Cinema Treasures website for adding pictures is offline. Whenever the site is back I will put them in.
Unfortunately, my pictures are of the theatre just before it was razed. I hope they bring back some memories for all of the people who were fortunate to have been raised in and/or lived in the wonderful village of Westfield, New York, for the Grand Theatre was most certainly a key part of life during the 40s, 50s and 60s.
The marquee was curved so that on the corner it actually covered 180 degrees. One end of it could be seen looking south on North Portage Street while the other end of the marquee could be seen on West Main Street looking east from on the viaduct. For years and years it just said “Blatt Bros” on those ends. The theater had a fire at one time (in the 40s I believe), so before then is probably when there was a different marquee. The only marquee I ever knew from my childhood until the end was the big one.
I knew Mr. Mascaro and I also know Mr. Tetreault. I started working there right about the time that Tom left as manager and Bill Gollnitz took over. It was owned by the Blatt Bros Theatres chain the entire time I was there.
I have not lived in Westfiled since 1977, but have returned on a few occasions. Before the theatre was razed I returned to visit it one last time and took my 11 year old daughter with me to show her the house of dreams from my childhood. I called Tom and he gave me the key so I could go in the place. There was no power, but with flashlights the place was able to bring a smile to my face.
I remember being disappointed that the wall fabric featuring the comedy and tragedy masks had been torn down, but the seats remained when I was there. It was also strange that the projectors had been removed. I remember Tom telling me that they wanted to put one in the town museum (the McClurg Mansion). That would have been nice.
I took pictures that I would be glad to share with you.
I grew up in Westfield and loved attending the Grand Theater. I ended up working there when I was in college during the early 70s, at which time it was owned by Blatt Brothers and was open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I ran the projectors, tore tickets and sold concessions.
One summer we scrubbed, cleaned and repainted the marquee. We even replaced all of the light bulbs in that HUGE marquee- cases and cases and cases of them! After finishing the multi-day job we all went over into Moore Park in the dead of night and watched as the “newly refurbished” marquee was turned on. We jumped up and down like little kids, for in that magic moment you could feel the excitement of our past and present fellow villagers as they, in their respective eras, were drawn to that magic palace in downtown Westfield; a place where everyone could escape the troubles of the world and dream for a couple of hours.
The year??????
1986
The projection booth for the small house (Cinema #3) that you entered by turning left from the main lobby. Note the rollers attached to the ceiling for interlocking projectors so you could show the same print in either of the other two (or both) theaters at the same time. Interlocking was done mainly for children’s matinees during the holiday season.
The projection equipment in House #2 (the one you went straight into from the main lobby.
The last concession purchase on the last day of the theater’s operation.
“Toga Party” for a showing of “Animal House” the weekend it opened in 1978. This is on the stage that was built in the “Big House” in front of the curtain that could be drawn in front of the screen.
The screen in Cinema #4 on its last day in operation.
Inside of Cinema #4
View of Cinema IV from inside the Olean Center Mall
Booth for Theater #4 (across the mall corridor)
“Big House” projector (after split)
Main concession stand
Main House Lobby Entrance
Staff “Grease” Promotion
Outside Marquee
I was hired before the theater opened in November of 1977 to be the assistant manager of the newly built theater owned by Manos Enterprises of Greensburgh, Pennsylvania. One indelible memory was holding onto the ceiling while helping to install the screens; it was a long way to the floor.
The design was unique because you entered from inside the Olean Center Mall instead of from outside as was the norm of the day. In other words, you could wait in line in climate controlled comfort!
The first film shown for the grand opening of the (then) Cinemas III was “Bobby Deerfield” starring Al Pacino. The “big” house seated 360 people, the middle house seated 235 and the small house seated 160. The big house had 4 track stereo processing by Eprad, with Eprad equipment used throughout the complex and all expansions. The first stereo film shown was “Grease” on a second run in 1978.
Bob LaCava of Manos Enterprises was the first manager followed by Dan Hughes and David Borton.
A fourth Cinema (seating 295) was added across the hall from the original three-plex around 1980, while the original “big” house was split around 1990 to make the complex into Cinemas V.
Around 1993 the owners decided to open a new theater on the west side of Olean near St. Bonaventure University where there was a major retail expansion. In the course of building the new theater (an eight-plex) they were approached by Carmike Cinemas, who took over the project and now run the Carmike 8 in Allegany, New York.
WSL
I visited the Park/Royal Cinemas in September of 2014. I was in town for a wedding and briefly visited since it happened to be open when I drove by. The staff members were wonderful and told me all about the history of the theater. All three houses have been converted to digital projection, while the entire building is lovingly maintained. This is a gem of which the citizens of Front Royal can be very proud.
I attended the Park Theatre on November 14, 2013 and was totally impressed with the operation of the theatre and the level of support it receives from the Cobleskill community. The admission prices are reasonable, the concession prices are extremely reasonable and the theatre itself has been lovingly maintained. The owner has recently installed digital equipment and…(drumroll please)…the theatre has an operating curtain in front of the screen! The entire presentation is a great example of what we used to call showmanship; the owner greets his patrons both before and after the performance while one-sheets decorate the lobby area.
Any reader of Cinema Treasures should make the trip to Cobleskill to show their families what theatres used to be like before being turned into parking lots all over the country.
Bravo Cobleskill residents on keeping this classic bit of Americana alive!
WSL
I stopped by this theater on a Monday afternoon on my way back home from Albany, NY when for some reason my Garmin sent me through Scotia, NY. It was locked, but I lucked out when the owner/manager came in to do some work and gave me a tour. This theater is GORGEOUS and is emblematic of what can be done with the “labor of love.” The auditorium and balcony sparkle, there is nary a sign of dirt anywhere, the screen is pristine and the projection booth is the cleanest one I have ever seen! I trust that the good people of Scotia know what a gem they have in their village and support the owner’s efforts. Every small town should have its own theater; this one is a model of how to do that and how to do it right.
I was part of the group, The Olean Community Theatre, that staged the play in July of 1989 to which redwards referred. The musical was “Man of La Mancha,” and I played the lead role. It was marvelous to be a part of fixing the place up and watching the shine come back to the Palace through the efforts of many volunteers. There was even one volunteer who personally cleaned every seat.
One day when we were rehearsing, a former stage hand (from when the Palace was a vaudeville house) stopped by and told us stories about the various artists who had played the Palace. One interesting story was when Roy Rogers and Trigger were there and Trigger got cut in an accident that left a scar on Trigger.
The stage hand also told us a story which I used in my performances. Every night when I sang “The Impossible Dream” I stood on a trap door that he had pointed out to us which had been installed by Harry Houdini. It was my hope, while singing that song, that the Olean Community Theatre’s dream of making the Palace into a community performing arts center would come to fruition. Unfortunately, there were too many windmills to fight.
I have finally scanned my pictures, but the Cinema Treasures website for adding pictures is offline. Whenever the site is back I will put them in.
Unfortunately, my pictures are of the theatre just before it was razed. I hope they bring back some memories for all of the people who were fortunate to have been raised in and/or lived in the wonderful village of Westfield, New York, for the Grand Theatre was most certainly a key part of life during the 40s, 50s and 60s.
WSL
The marquee was curved so that on the corner it actually covered 180 degrees. One end of it could be seen looking south on North Portage Street while the other end of the marquee could be seen on West Main Street looking east from on the viaduct. For years and years it just said “Blatt Bros” on those ends. The theater had a fire at one time (in the 40s I believe), so before then is probably when there was a different marquee. The only marquee I ever knew from my childhood until the end was the big one.
I knew Mr. Mascaro and I also know Mr. Tetreault. I started working there right about the time that Tom left as manager and Bill Gollnitz took over. It was owned by the Blatt Bros Theatres chain the entire time I was there.
I have not lived in Westfiled since 1977, but have returned on a few occasions. Before the theatre was razed I returned to visit it one last time and took my 11 year old daughter with me to show her the house of dreams from my childhood. I called Tom and he gave me the key so I could go in the place. There was no power, but with flashlights the place was able to bring a smile to my face.
I remember being disappointed that the wall fabric featuring the comedy and tragedy masks had been torn down, but the seats remained when I was there. It was also strange that the projectors had been removed. I remember Tom telling me that they wanted to put one in the town museum (the McClurg Mansion). That would have been nice.
I took pictures that I would be glad to share with you.
I grew up in Westfield and loved attending the Grand Theater. I ended up working there when I was in college during the early 70s, at which time it was owned by Blatt Brothers and was open only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. I ran the projectors, tore tickets and sold concessions.
One summer we scrubbed, cleaned and repainted the marquee. We even replaced all of the light bulbs in that HUGE marquee- cases and cases and cases of them! After finishing the multi-day job we all went over into Moore Park in the dead of night and watched as the “newly refurbished” marquee was turned on. We jumped up and down like little kids, for in that magic moment you could feel the excitement of our past and present fellow villagers as they, in their respective eras, were drawn to that magic palace in downtown Westfield; a place where everyone could escape the troubles of the world and dream for a couple of hours.