I worked at the Palm in the early 70s when I was stationed at Eglin AFB the address for Suds n Cinema/ Cinema Plus is the same as I remember for the Tringas Theater
I recall seeing a newspaper photo of the Time theater after it was gutted by fire. I do not know if it was reopened after the fire but I think not. The current building housing Skelly’s Pub does not match the hight and architecture of the photo of the Olympia theater on the Greetings from Sioux Falls website. I have been in Skelly’s and none of the theater architecture survives. According to a longtime projectionist I knew, the theater was “a shootin' gallery”, a very long and narrow storefront turned movie palace.
if you have a quonset, it is no doubt long and narrow. If so and you have a high gain aluminum or silver surface screen with no stage curtian, your screen masking and surrounding auditorium would be good with a flat gray paint that closely approximates the color of the screen. If you have a traveler curtian in front of the screen, I would still go with the gray masking and walls, the screen will have a definite darker outline that will carry on into the walls/ceiling blendiing the stage into the auditorium. Further back from the stage area decorative/contrasting panels or designs can add interest to the auditorium and vertical elements can soften the length of the auditorium
I grew up in the neighborhood, my Dad worked at Lee’s Supervalu across the street and watched the theater being built. I am a year older than the theater and I and my sister spent a lot of Saturday afternoons at the Riverview for the 7 color cartoons, the latest chapter of a serial and a feature with popcorn all for less than 25 cents. I visited the theatre several years ago and the wonderful staff let me in before showtime to tour the building, it was smaller than I rememberd from when I was 6 years old but exactly as I remember it. The owners are doing a great job of keeping the Riverview vibrant and looking great. I urge everyone visiting the twin cities to take some time to visit the Riverview, you won’t regret it.
This theater was taken over by Midcontinent Theaters in the late 1980’s and the stadium balcony was walled off and divided making a three screen theater. Midco also moved their corporate offices to the Terrace building from the Foshay Tower at that time. The TV lounge was used as an office for the accounting department. Midcontinent Theaters and the Terrace were sold to Carmike Cinemas in October of 1995.
Sharon. my email is on my profile. Click on my name and send me a message. Would love to see the photos you have. I am working on getting my photos in digital format so they can be posted. Hello to Arlene!!!
The Granada was the first theater in Sioux Falls that Joe L Floyd managed. He later built the Hollywood Theater and Kelo radio and Kelo-land TV and he had a Hudson car dealership on the side. In his own words “I’m Joe Floyd and I’m one Helluva Salesman!”
I did manage the Palace Theater in Luverne MN 1974-76. The movie was Return of the Pink Panther that your mother came to see. I think. But then I thought you worked at the Hollywood and it was some time ago.
I worked in the theaters in Sioux Falls starting in 1965, I never heard of a Soo-Del Drive in or any Drive in on Highway 77 in the Sioux Falls area. I did work (1965-68) at the East Park Drive In which was owned by Drive-in Theaters Inc. (H.E. Hanson, D. Nalgren, H. Boyd.) and operated by Welworth Theaters, which later became MidContinent Theaters. The theater was located on E Hwy 38 on land which is now occupied by a K-mart and had a capacity of 350 cars. it did open in 1947. The late Larry Hanson who went on to become an executive with Essaness (Excellence) Theaters was manager of the East Park in 1968-69
It was operated by Midcontinent theaters and had a capacity of over 600 cars when I worked there in 1975, I was projectionist and checked every one of the 600+ speakers each week. the original 40'x60' screen blew down in 1967 and was replaced by a 50x110 screen. A second screen was added in the early 1980’s
The K-cinema opened in August 1968, seating capacity of 880 and boasted a “living screen” (27'x64' deeply curved) that seemingly floated in front of a sea of blue velour drapes. although designed for 70mm presentations, the theater was equipped only with 35mm projection and featured one of the first installations of Strong Xenon lamphouses using 6000 watt bulbs. The Lutherans remodled it for a school in the mid 1980’s before threats to “twin” it were carried out. One of the jobs of the ushers was to keep kids from litterally climbing the walls of the auditorium, portions of which were cinderblock laid on its side so the holes were part of the decor and perfectly sized for the placement of small hands and feet.
Sharon, I have fond memories of working with your Mom and you and your sister at the Hollywood and with your Mom at the Empire 6. and the pop machine! remember Ray B who camped outside the front door on weekends just to be on hand to restock and keep it running and count the dimes!
prior to the remodeling as the Egyptian, the theater was known as the Colonial Theater. Also after the theater became the Egyptian the local projectionists of Local 556 of the IATSE had a meeting and recreation room under the balcony of the theater. The theater was demolished in the early 60’s (to make way for a parking lot, of course) and sadly was no longer around when I moved to Sioux Falls in 1965.
I believe that Williston is in North Dakota, South Dakota zip codes begin with 57—— I know of no town called Williston in SD but I do know there is one in North Dakota
The Dakota was a storefront theater located across the street from the Granada and ran a steady program of westerns and B movies. It closed sometime in the late 40’s early 50’s and was reconverted to retail space.
Also known as the Strand, Cinema and Downtown Cinema. In the mid'60s the Strand was remodled and renamed Cinema and ran a program of foreign movies at the then pricey admission of all seats $1.00. On Dec 25 1965 it became the home of ‘The Sound of Music’ for 44 weeks.It was on the southeast corner of 8th street and Phillips Ave, a spot now graced by an old horse watering trough.
this theater originaly seated 800+ patrons. in the 50’s seating was reduced to 765 to accomodate the 44 foot CinemScope screen. In 1970, 601 rocking chair seats were installed and it became a roadshow house for a brief period. the land where it stood is now a parking lot.
I drove through Harlowton on April 1st of this year, 2011, and the State Theater still stands… no foolin'
I worked at the Palm in the early 70s when I was stationed at Eglin AFB the address for Suds n Cinema/ Cinema Plus is the same as I remember for the Tringas Theater
I recall seeing a newspaper photo of the Time theater after it was gutted by fire. I do not know if it was reopened after the fire but I think not. The current building housing Skelly’s Pub does not match the hight and architecture of the photo of the Olympia theater on the Greetings from Sioux Falls website. I have been in Skelly’s and none of the theater architecture survives. According to a longtime projectionist I knew, the theater was “a shootin' gallery”, a very long and narrow storefront turned movie palace.
more info and photos of the hollywood can be found here View link
if you have a quonset, it is no doubt long and narrow. If so and you have a high gain aluminum or silver surface screen with no stage curtian, your screen masking and surrounding auditorium would be good with a flat gray paint that closely approximates the color of the screen. If you have a traveler curtian in front of the screen, I would still go with the gray masking and walls, the screen will have a definite darker outline that will carry on into the walls/ceiling blendiing the stage into the auditorium. Further back from the stage area decorative/contrasting panels or designs can add interest to the auditorium and vertical elements can soften the length of the auditorium
I grew up in the neighborhood, my Dad worked at Lee’s Supervalu across the street and watched the theater being built. I am a year older than the theater and I and my sister spent a lot of Saturday afternoons at the Riverview for the 7 color cartoons, the latest chapter of a serial and a feature with popcorn all for less than 25 cents. I visited the theatre several years ago and the wonderful staff let me in before showtime to tour the building, it was smaller than I rememberd from when I was 6 years old but exactly as I remember it. The owners are doing a great job of keeping the Riverview vibrant and looking great. I urge everyone visiting the twin cities to take some time to visit the Riverview, you won’t regret it.
This theater was taken over by Midcontinent Theaters in the late 1980’s and the stadium balcony was walled off and divided making a three screen theater. Midco also moved their corporate offices to the Terrace building from the Foshay Tower at that time. The TV lounge was used as an office for the accounting department. Midcontinent Theaters and the Terrace were sold to Carmike Cinemas in October of 1995.
Sharon. my email is on my profile. Click on my name and send me a message. Would love to see the photos you have. I am working on getting my photos in digital format so they can be posted. Hello to Arlene!!!
The Granada was the first theater in Sioux Falls that Joe L Floyd managed. He later built the Hollywood Theater and Kelo radio and Kelo-land TV and he had a Hudson car dealership on the side. In his own words “I’m Joe Floyd and I’m one Helluva Salesman!”
I did manage the Palace Theater in Luverne MN 1974-76. The movie was Return of the Pink Panther that your mother came to see. I think. But then I thought you worked at the Hollywood and it was some time ago.
I worked in the theaters in Sioux Falls starting in 1965, I never heard of a Soo-Del Drive in or any Drive in on Highway 77 in the Sioux Falls area. I did work (1965-68) at the East Park Drive In which was owned by Drive-in Theaters Inc. (H.E. Hanson, D. Nalgren, H. Boyd.) and operated by Welworth Theaters, which later became MidContinent Theaters. The theater was located on E Hwy 38 on land which is now occupied by a K-mart and had a capacity of 350 cars. it did open in 1947. The late Larry Hanson who went on to become an executive with Essaness (Excellence) Theaters was manager of the East Park in 1968-69
It was operated by Midcontinent theaters and had a capacity of over 600 cars when I worked there in 1975, I was projectionist and checked every one of the 600+ speakers each week. the original 40'x60' screen blew down in 1967 and was replaced by a 50x110 screen. A second screen was added in the early 1980’s
The K-cinema opened in August 1968, seating capacity of 880 and boasted a “living screen” (27'x64' deeply curved) that seemingly floated in front of a sea of blue velour drapes. although designed for 70mm presentations, the theater was equipped only with 35mm projection and featured one of the first installations of Strong Xenon lamphouses using 6000 watt bulbs. The Lutherans remodled it for a school in the mid 1980’s before threats to “twin” it were carried out. One of the jobs of the ushers was to keep kids from litterally climbing the walls of the auditorium, portions of which were cinderblock laid on its side so the holes were part of the decor and perfectly sized for the placement of small hands and feet.
Sharon, I have fond memories of working with your Mom and you and your sister at the Hollywood and with your Mom at the Empire 6. and the pop machine! remember Ray B who camped outside the front door on weekends just to be on hand to restock and keep it running and count the dimes!
prior to the remodeling as the Egyptian, the theater was known as the Colonial Theater. Also after the theater became the Egyptian the local projectionists of Local 556 of the IATSE had a meeting and recreation room under the balcony of the theater. The theater was demolished in the early 60’s (to make way for a parking lot, of course) and sadly was no longer around when I moved to Sioux Falls in 1965.
I believe that Williston is in North Dakota, South Dakota zip codes begin with 57—— I know of no town called Williston in SD but I do know there is one in North Dakota
The Dakota was a storefront theater located across the street from the Granada and ran a steady program of westerns and B movies. It closed sometime in the late 40’s early 50’s and was reconverted to retail space.
Also known as the Strand, Cinema and Downtown Cinema. In the mid'60s the Strand was remodled and renamed Cinema and ran a program of foreign movies at the then pricey admission of all seats $1.00. On Dec 25 1965 it became the home of ‘The Sound of Music’ for 44 weeks.It was on the southeast corner of 8th street and Phillips Ave, a spot now graced by an old horse watering trough.
this theater originaly seated 800+ patrons. in the 50’s seating was reduced to 765 to accomodate the 44 foot CinemScope screen. In 1970, 601 rocking chair seats were installed and it became a roadshow house for a brief period. the land where it stood is now a parking lot.
The 3rd floor theater is in the old ballroom. a virtual tour is available Elkstheatre.com
http://www.loganmovie.com for information and possibly pictures of the roxy 4 mitchell sd.