Uploaded three photos which appear in The Royal Theatre Story by Ernie Bies: the updated facade, the original facade, location of the theatre on George Street.
According to rumor there is a Civil War jail cell in the basement where Sam Davis, “the child hero of the Confederacy”, spent his last 7 days before being hanged by Union troops.
Being listed as closed in the 1941-43 FDY is appropriate since the Vernon, built on this site, opened in 1938. Any sort of listing in the 1950 edition was surprising. Question would be if the Vernon were listed in the 1950 edition or the 1941-43 one.
Being listed as closed in the 1941-43 FDY is appropriate since the Vernon, built on this site, opened in 1938. Any sort of listing in the 1950 edition was surprising. Question would be if the Vernon were listed in the 1950 edition or the 1941-43 one.
Began life as the Strand in 1920. Rechristened the Chief after an inside/out makeover in the Pueblo Deco style in 1936 by Griffith’s Theatres. The house had a racked floor and a balcony.
The original vertical and marquee were destroyed by lightning.
Uploaded a photo as the Concert Hall from the 1850s and an image as the Atlas at the time of demolition in 1937 from the North Adams Historical Society.
Snipes- Century Circuit and Century Theaters are one in the same. Just a matter of how things are referred to differently although they are the same. Just look at CT itself. Most of the Century Theaters are just listed by their marquee names. A handful, such as the Floral are listed as Century’s …….
I believe the closing date was in the late 1980s. At the end of its run it was a dollar house taking over from the Bellerose in the adjacent village which then closed. Subsequently the Bellerose reopened as the dollar house, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
Was 1987 the final closure? For a time it was closed and the Floral, in the next community was the local dollar house. Then reverted back to the Bellerose, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
According to the State of Iowa Historical Society Site Inventory the Scharf Building at 110-112 North 2nd Street West was constructed in 1892. The Strand was housed from the 1920s until 1939 when it reverted to retail. The building is still viable.
The overview says the theater was once operated by Century Theatres. I question that because I used to get the mailed Century Guide and never saw it listed there or in any of their ads. (I was a Century Theatres nerd.) Got all their guides; regular, Brooklyn, Northern Queens.
It was called the Chapmanville Drive-In per the 1966 ad I have uploaded.
Uploaded three photos which appear in The Royal Theatre Story by Ernie Bies: the updated facade, the original facade, location of the theatre on George Street.
According to rumor there is a Civil War jail cell in the basement where Sam Davis, “the child hero of the Confederacy”, spent his last 7 days before being hanged by Union troops.
Marquee of the Strand can be seen below the Coca Cola sign.
The marquee is visible midway down the photo, on the right, in the photo I’ve uploaded.
Being listed as closed in the 1941-43 FDY is appropriate since the Vernon, built on this site, opened in 1938. Any sort of listing in the 1950 edition was surprising. Question would be if the Vernon were listed in the 1950 edition or the 1941-43 one.
Being listed as closed in the 1941-43 FDY is appropriate since the Vernon, built on this site, opened in 1938. Any sort of listing in the 1950 edition was surprising. Question would be if the Vernon were listed in the 1950 edition or the 1941-43 one.
Closed n 1942 because it was destroyed by fire.
Uploaded a 1950s image in which the “Harper” vertical can be seen.
Theatre was actually built in 1923 but didn’t get the “Warner Bros. Classics of the Screen” contract until February 1924.
The theatre closed in May 1968.
I have uploaded current pictures of the full exterior and also of the entrance.
Now houses a bed and breakfast.
To be called the Mora Mainstreet Arts & Cultural Compound. Some controversy about misuse of funds. See photo.
Began life as the Strand in 1920. Rechristened the Chief after an inside/out makeover in the Pueblo Deco style in 1936 by Griffith’s Theatres. The house had a racked floor and a balcony.
The original vertical and marquee were destroyed by lightning.
As of 2024 houses City Electric Shoe Shop.
Uploaded a photo as the Concert Hall from the 1850s and an image as the Atlas at the time of demolition in 1937 from the North Adams Historical Society.
Snipes- Century Circuit and Century Theaters are one in the same. Just a matter of how things are referred to differently although they are the same. Just look at CT itself. Most of the Century Theaters are just listed by their marquee names. A handful, such as the Floral are listed as Century’s …….
Bomber City was a massive temporary boomtown created to house many of the 42,000 workers at the Willow Run manufacturing complex during WWII.
Can’t believe they put a theatre in an airlines terminal building in the first place.
I believe the closing date was in the late 1980s. At the end of its run it was a dollar house taking over from the Bellerose in the adjacent village which then closed. Subsequently the Bellerose reopened as the dollar house, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
Was 1987 the final closure? For a time it was closed and the Floral, in the next community was the local dollar house. Then reverted back to the Bellerose, presumably when the Floral building was sold.
I have uploaded a photo from the State of Iowa Site Inventory.
According to the State of Iowa Historical Society Site Inventory the Scharf Building at 110-112 North 2nd Street West was constructed in 1892. The Strand was housed from the 1920s until 1939 when it reverted to retail. The building is still viable.
dallas- to quote from one of your photos “Over the top”.
More commonly referred to as the Sunset Cinema.
Uploaded an interior image by Jeffery Johnson.
The overview says the theater was once operated by Century Theatres. I question that because I used to get the mailed Century Guide and never saw it listed there or in any of their ads. (I was a Century Theatres nerd.) Got all their guides; regular, Brooklyn, Northern Queens.
I have uploaded a photo of the historical marker which has an image of the facade.