I meant….
I saw “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” at the Laurel 30 Cinema in Latrobe in 1977. I was confusing it with Cinema 35 in Paramus, New Jersey (which itself has long since closed but patently not being renovated since there is already retail occupying that building).
Thanks very much, but I’m afraid I don’t subscribe to Facebook.
Are you able to post any of your pictures here? If so, that would be nice.
Will the Gem be turned back into a cinema again? That would be so cool, especially if all 9 “Star Wars” movies in the series would be rereleased for its 50th anniversary in 2027. I have never been inside the Gem when I visited my relatives in Derry when I was a kid (by 1977, when I was 15, the Gem was history, and my cousin and I saw the first “Star Wars” movie at Cinema 35 in Latrobe).
I remember seeing “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” for just the second time at this cinema on Sunday, October 22, 1977 with my younger sister (my folks went to see “Oh, God!,” playing in another cinema in the complex); I had seen it for the very first time on Wednesday, August 10, 1977 in Pennsylvania with my cousin at the Laurel 30 Cinema in Latrobe. By the time I saw “Star Wars” again, I had already bought the soundtrack album, and immediately proceeded to hear it again when I got home (I had the poster that was included with the album hanging on my bedroom wall. I was 15 then and we were living in Lansing).
Went through Royal Oak to visit some friends this afternoon. I couldn’t believe the Main Art has been totally demolished. What looks like an apartment complex is now being built on that site.
If the Eaton Theater in Charlotte was saved, something could - and should - have been done with the Rapids. On the occasions I drive through Eaton Rapids, I would drive by where the theater was and can only imagine if it were still open today; most likely as two screens, like the Eaton, but the Rapids could have possibly shown what the Eaton couldn’t get, if it was still here!
I made a return visit to Royal Oak a few weeks ago (I now live in Charlotte) and figured this theater closed, since I saw a homeless man sleeping by the door outside. Now what I just read here confirms it. Shame.
Among the films I saw at the Main Art were:
“JFK” (1991)
“Driving Miss Daisy” (1990; rereleased as part of Warner Bros.‘ 75th anniversary celebration in 1998)
“The Big Chill” (1983; rereleased in 1998 for the film’s 15th anniversary)
“A Hard Day’s Night” (1964; 1999 Miramax rerelease with restored mono soundtrack)
“Topsy Turvy”(2000)
I remember seeing “Hoosiers” at the Pix in the summer of 1987. if I remember correctly, they had a curved screen, most likely a holdover from the days of Cinemascope.
I finally got a subscription to Newspapers.com and discovered something contrary to what I first stated in the overview:
According to the Latrobe Bulletin, the Gem closed (i.e. stopped showing movies regularly) circa March 1970. From what I could gather, the final film shown was the 1970 rerelease of Disney’s “101 Dalmatians.”
After that, the Gem sat idle until approximately one year later, when a local theater group staged some productions there until 1972. Then the Gem became totally inactive.
One other “advent” the Gem experienced was widescreen movies from the late 50’s through the late 60’s; the theater had the ability to screen both Cinemascope and Vista Vision films. It is unknown whether or not there was the ability to play the stereo soundtracks for said films(most likely it was just mono).
(Still once again: Any pictures of the Gem’s interior? Thanks again, though, elmorovivo,for finding the picture of what the Gem looks like now. That supports my findings very well.)
I remember first seeing these films at the Bremen:
“Rocky II” (1979)
“Ordinary People” (1980)
(The original) “Clash of the Titans”(1981)
“The Toy” (1983)
“The Verdict” (1983)
I remember seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” with my dad (may he rest in peace) for the very first time ever at this theater in July 1981. We were visiting my grandparents in Vista (may they also rest in peace) for a week; during the middle of that week we went on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour, and I believe they showed a snippet of “Raiders,” which talked about special effects in the movies. The next day my dad and I went to see “Raiders” at this theater. Every time I see “Raiders” now, I always think of when my dad and I first saw it in California.
Pity it wasn’t shown in 70mm and Dolby Stereo at the Oceanside 8; that was remedied, however, when I got back home to Illinois (my family and I were then living in the Chicago suburb of Glenwood) and I saw “Raiders” three more times at the River Oaks Theaters in Calumet City (which I understand has since been closed and more
recently demolished – shame).
The Gem’s seating capacity is actually 300 seats, not 400 as originally thought. When I first submitted that info,that was only an estimate; I just checked the 1930 Film Daily Yearbook online,which shows the Gem as having 300 seats. So, the above should be changed to read “300 seats.”
One more time: Does anybody have any photos of the Gem’s interior? I’m still curious to see what it looked like! Thanks again!
The green sign that reads “Eaton” vertically above the marquee was taken down about two years ago. I asked one of the managers if it would possibly be replaced and she said no.
After my family and I moved to Saddle River in June 1983 (I now live in Charlotte, Michigan), I remember seeing “Jedi” in the upstairs auditorium on Wednesday, August 10, 1983 (the sixth anniversary of when I first saw the original).
I thought that was really cool how the film was projected from below the bottom row in 70mm (that soon got split up into two different auditoriums – shame!).
Moderator:
I was told the Gem has begun its renovation. So you might want to add “Restoring” to the above information.
Also, the theater’s correct address is 149 ½ First Avenue, Derry, PA. 15627.
I meant…. I saw “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” at the Laurel 30 Cinema in Latrobe in 1977. I was confusing it with Cinema 35 in Paramus, New Jersey (which itself has long since closed but patently not being renovated since there is already retail occupying that building).
Thanks very much, but I’m afraid I don’t subscribe to Facebook.
Are you able to post any of your pictures here? If so, that would be nice.
Will the Gem be turned back into a cinema again? That would be so cool, especially if all 9 “Star Wars” movies in the series would be rereleased for its 50th anniversary in 2027. I have never been inside the Gem when I visited my relatives in Derry when I was a kid (by 1977, when I was 15, the Gem was history, and my cousin and I saw the first “Star Wars” movie at Cinema 35 in Latrobe).
Would the Gem be twinned if it were reopened?
Please let me know. Thanks.
That makes me even more curious to see any photos of what the inside looked like!
This theater is indeed still open!
In fact, it’s only 1 of 2 Regal cineplexes in Michigan. The other surviving one is in Walled Lake.
I remember seeing “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” for just the second time at this cinema on Sunday, October 22, 1977 with my younger sister (my folks went to see “Oh, God!,” playing in another cinema in the complex); I had seen it for the very first time on Wednesday, August 10, 1977 in Pennsylvania with my cousin at the Laurel 30 Cinema in Latrobe. By the time I saw “Star Wars” again, I had already bought the soundtrack album, and immediately proceeded to hear it again when I got home (I had the poster that was included with the album hanging on my bedroom wall. I was 15 then and we were living in Lansing).
Went through Royal Oak to visit some friends this afternoon. I couldn’t believe the Main Art has been totally demolished. What looks like an apartment complex is now being built on that site.
I remember seeing “Gone With the Wind” at this theater in March 1984 (it originally opened in the 80’s).
I remember seeing that Entertainment Tonight story. Very interesting.
Thanks for clearing that up, RyanToDaF2044.
If the Eaton Theater in Charlotte was saved, something could - and should - have been done with the Rapids. On the occasions I drive through Eaton Rapids, I would drive by where the theater was and can only imagine if it were still open today; most likely as two screens, like the Eaton, but the Rapids could have possibly shown what the Eaton couldn’t get, if it was still here!
Shame! I feel sorry for the people who have to travel to Bryan or Wauseon now to see a movie.
The two movies I remember seeing at Northtowne were the original “Batman” and “The Abyss,” both in 1989.
I made a return visit to Royal Oak a few weeks ago (I now live in Charlotte) and figured this theater closed, since I saw a homeless man sleeping by the door outside. Now what I just read here confirms it. Shame.
Among the films I saw at the Main Art were: “JFK” (1991) “Driving Miss Daisy” (1990; rereleased as part of Warner Bros.‘ 75th anniversary celebration in 1998) “The Big Chill” (1983; rereleased in 1998 for the film’s 15th anniversary) “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964; 1999 Miramax rerelease with restored mono soundtrack) “Topsy Turvy”(2000)
RIP, Main Art. You will be missed
Thank you to whoever made the corrections on my above overview.
I remember seeing “Hoosiers” at the Pix in the summer of 1987. if I remember correctly, they had a curved screen, most likely a holdover from the days of Cinemascope.
TechDirector: Did the original “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” play at the Manos for its August 1979 rerelease?
I finally got a subscription to Newspapers.com and discovered something contrary to what I first stated in the overview: According to the Latrobe Bulletin, the Gem closed (i.e. stopped showing movies regularly) circa March 1970. From what I could gather, the final film shown was the 1970 rerelease of Disney’s “101 Dalmatians.”
After that, the Gem sat idle until approximately one year later, when a local theater group staged some productions there until 1972. Then the Gem became totally inactive.
One other “advent” the Gem experienced was widescreen movies from the late 50’s through the late 60’s; the theater had the ability to screen both Cinemascope and Vista Vision films. It is unknown whether or not there was the ability to play the stereo soundtracks for said films(most likely it was just mono).
(Still once again: Any pictures of the Gem’s interior? Thanks again, though, elmorovivo,for finding the picture of what the Gem looks like now. That supports my findings very well.)
I remember first seeing these films at the Bremen: “Rocky II” (1979) “Ordinary People” (1980) (The original) “Clash of the Titans”(1981) “The Toy” (1983) “The Verdict” (1983)
I remember seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” with my dad (may he rest in peace) for the very first time ever at this theater in July 1981. We were visiting my grandparents in Vista (may they also rest in peace) for a week; during the middle of that week we went on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour, and I believe they showed a snippet of “Raiders,” which talked about special effects in the movies. The next day my dad and I went to see “Raiders” at this theater. Every time I see “Raiders” now, I always think of when my dad and I first saw it in California.
Pity it wasn’t shown in 70mm and Dolby Stereo at the Oceanside 8; that was remedied, however, when I got back home to Illinois (my family and I were then living in the Chicago suburb of Glenwood) and I saw “Raiders” three more times at the River Oaks Theaters in Calumet City (which I understand has since been closed and more recently demolished – shame).
Also verified it with the Motion Picture Herald’s 1943 Yearbook on line:
The Gem does indeed have 300 seats, not 400!
So, moderator, if you could make that correction above, that wouldd be appreciated. Thanks again.
Correction!
The Gem’s seating capacity is actually 300 seats, not 400 as originally thought. When I first submitted that info,that was only an estimate; I just checked the 1930 Film Daily Yearbook online,which shows the Gem as having 300 seats. So, the above should be changed to read “300 seats.”
One more time: Does anybody have any photos of the Gem’s interior? I’m still curious to see what it looked like! Thanks again!
What was that painting on the ceiling of the auditorium? It looked like Tom and Jerry (and maybe Little Lulu?).
And also:
The green sign that reads “Eaton” vertically above the marquee was taken down about two years ago. I asked one of the managers if it would possibly be replaced and she said no.
Shame.
After my family and I moved to Saddle River in June 1983 (I now live in Charlotte, Michigan), I remember seeing “Jedi” in the upstairs auditorium on Wednesday, August 10, 1983 (the sixth anniversary of when I first saw the original).
I thought that was really cool how the film was projected from below the bottom row in 70mm (that soon got split up into two different auditoriums – shame!).
Maybe that was the original Cinerama auditorium?
The Henry Winkler and Sally Field movie was called “Heroes” (1977). Sometimes I come across the soundtrack album at record meets.
So I presume “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” first played there? (I live in Michigan, by the way. Just curious.)