I have rewritten the very poor initial listing, and added a Sanborn view. Although the photo in the clipping is very poor quality, it does not show the building at 219. In addition, the entry to the theater pictured is in the center, whereas the 1912 and 1921 maps both show it on the left. The Times-Mirror was definitely a Warren, PA paper, so it’s a bit confusing. It may be that the building currently at 219 is a fake of an older building (and it is 4 stories, not 3), but it appears to be higher quality than the very weak effort to the east.
The photo indicates this was open in 1977. Perhaps there was a short-lived attempt to revive it? The theater is marked as permanently closed on streetview, but the community theater group is definitely active, and their FB page shows them holding a bake sale in front of the theater during a festival this past week.
The 2015 streetview shows the building vacant. At some point afterward, the brickwork on the upper part of the facade was covered in a slovenly coat of concrete.
This may have initially been the Gem, which is listed in the 1914-15 AMPD. The building first appears on the 1924 map, while the 1912 map shows a wooden house and some sort of outbuilding on the site. Like most of the rapidly dwindling downtown, this building is very grubby, and in disrepair. It appears to have been vacant for quite a while.
I’ve added a Sanborn view to show the general plan. The brownstone entry is still there as a gate to the lot behind the rather drab replacement building.
It looks like this was indeed renumbered to 109 at some point. It may be a residence of some sort. The door is blocked, but it might be a privacy screen. Looks very shabby.
This building does not appear on the Nov. 1909 Sanborn. The site was then a collection of tiny wooden shacks. The theater was in one storefront of a large 4 bay, two story stone building with a brick front. I’m not sure what replaced it initially, but the site today is a parking lot and dumpy 1960s grocery store. It appears that two other two story buildings were lost in the fire.
I’ve added some more information to this very poor listing. This does not appear in the 1914-15 AMPD, nor in the 1926 Yearbook. Did it ever show movies?
The theater was likely a remodel of an older commercial building constructed sometime between 1899 and 1905. The 1943 Sanborn shows the building ending well short of the alley, so it must have been remodeled at some later point.
Probably. There’s no way you could have fit almost 900 people in that space. Unfortunately, the later Yearbooks, which often have addresses, don’t give any for San Angelo.
Note that the Yearbooks all list this incorrectly as the ‘Star’ (the Burford is also rendered ‘Burkford’ for much of the ‘30s). The KHRI entry is here, with some historic photos: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=035-0210-00081
The address of the building in the photo is 16. There is no 24. It’s unclear whether it was demolished, or the derelict second story removed. The ad says it was at the corner of Chadbourne and Harris, in which case it was demolished many years ago.
Thanks. I’m almost sure the Gem was the unnamed theater I added on Mahoning.
Walked right past this and didn’t take a picture for some reason. I’ve added a map view.
Theater was on the right
Joe - The Library was a smaller theater located where the Rex is today. Did it ever show movies? It’s not listed in the 1914-15 AMPD.
I’ve added a map view. I did not get a picture of this one on our recent stop in town.
There likely was a remodel in 1919, but the theater is listed in the 1914-15 AMPD.
I have rewritten the very poor initial listing, and added a Sanborn view. Although the photo in the clipping is very poor quality, it does not show the building at 219. In addition, the entry to the theater pictured is in the center, whereas the 1912 and 1921 maps both show it on the left. The Times-Mirror was definitely a Warren, PA paper, so it’s a bit confusing. It may be that the building currently at 219 is a fake of an older building (and it is 4 stories, not 3), but it appears to be higher quality than the very weak effort to the east.
The photo indicates this was open in 1977. Perhaps there was a short-lived attempt to revive it? The theater is marked as permanently closed on streetview, but the community theater group is definitely active, and their FB page shows them holding a bake sale in front of the theater during a festival this past week.
The 2015 streetview shows the building vacant. At some point afterward, the brickwork on the upper part of the facade was covered in a slovenly coat of concrete.
This may have initially been the Gem, which is listed in the 1914-15 AMPD. The building first appears on the 1924 map, while the 1912 map shows a wooden house and some sort of outbuilding on the site. Like most of the rapidly dwindling downtown, this building is very grubby, and in disrepair. It appears to have been vacant for quite a while.
I’ve updated the entry with more information, and added a map view.
I’ve added a Sanborn view to show the general plan. The brownstone entry is still there as a gate to the lot behind the rather drab replacement building.
I’ve rewritten this entry to provide more information, and corrected the address. This building does not appear on the 1906 map.
It looks like this was indeed renumbered to 109 at some point. It may be a residence of some sort. The door is blocked, but it might be a privacy screen. Looks very shabby.
DMT had added a picture of the Palace to the Novelty listing. I’ve asked that it be moved here. I’ll add the AKA.
This is the opera house. Please add this picture to that listing.
Showing lots of older movies, possibly some performing arts as well.
This building does not appear on the Nov. 1909 Sanborn. The site was then a collection of tiny wooden shacks. The theater was in one storefront of a large 4 bay, two story stone building with a brick front. I’m not sure what replaced it initially, but the site today is a parking lot and dumpy 1960s grocery store. It appears that two other two story buildings were lost in the fire.
I’ve added some more information to this very poor listing. This does not appear in the 1914-15 AMPD, nor in the 1926 Yearbook. Did it ever show movies?
If the opening date is accurate, this must be the ‘New’ listed in the 1926 Yearbook with 250 seats.
The theater was likely a remodel of an older commercial building constructed sometime between 1899 and 1905. The 1943 Sanborn shows the building ending well short of the alley, so it must have been remodeled at some later point.
Thanks. This originally said 1912, which I was sure was wrong.
Probably. There’s no way you could have fit almost 900 people in that space. Unfortunately, the later Yearbooks, which often have addresses, don’t give any for San Angelo.
Note that the Yearbooks all list this incorrectly as the ‘Star’ (the Burford is also rendered ‘Burkford’ for much of the ‘30s). The KHRI entry is here, with some historic photos: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=035-0210-00081
The address of the building in the photo is 16. There is no 24. It’s unclear whether it was demolished, or the derelict second story removed. The ad says it was at the corner of Chadbourne and Harris, in which case it was demolished many years ago.