Bunnell Theatre
State Street and Moody Boulevard,
Bunnell,
FL
32110
State Street and Moody Boulevard,
Bunnell,
FL
32110
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The second of two theatres to grace the landscape of Bunnell, the first being the Biddle Theatre which closed just prior to the opening of the Bunnell Theatre on February 28, 1946. The Bunnell Theatre was both a community center and a cinema. It remained in operation throughout the 1960’s and was demolished in the early-1970’s.
Contributed by
Emmett J Coursey
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This item is from the “Theatre Deals” column of Film Daily for February 8, 1946: “Chambers Buys the Flagler Bunnell, Fla. — F. J. Chambers who is constructing the new Bunnell Theater, has purchased the Flagler from Earl M. Fain, of Leesburg. Fain recently bought the theater from L. E. Lamboley. Jim Camp, who will also run the Bunnell theater after its opening late in February, will assume management.”
Flagler was an aka for the Biddle Theatre, as revealed in this item from the March 1 FD: “Bunnell, Fla. —The Flagler Theater, erected by J. M. Biddle about 20 years ago and used ever since as a theater, has been sold and the new owner, Ernest Decker of Smyrna Beach, plans to convert the building into a modern garage. Theater will continue to operate until completion of the Bunnell theater, now under construction.”
Mr. Decker’s plans for the Flagler must have fallen through, as the August 19 FD had this item: “Camp Sells to Dole. Bunnell, Fla.—The Flagler has been sold by G. M. Camp to H. A. Dale of Lake City. Dale is already owner of the Lake Theater in Lake City.”
In 1948, the April 10 issue ofBoxoffice noted that the Bunnell Theatre had been sold to Weldon S. Bristow, former manager of the Schine Theatres houses at Mayville, Kentucky. This item said the Bunnell had 400 seats.
The Bunnell was remodeled in 1949. According to the July 2 issue of Boxoffice, the house had been closed for two months, the building was lengthened and the front replaced, and new projection and sound equipment installed. At this time the Bunnell was owned by Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Dale.
A page about Flagler County history says that “[t]he Flagler Theater operated as such until 1946 when it was closed down when the new Bunnell Theater, adjoining the Holden building on the northwest corner of Moody Blvd and U.S. 1, began operations on 28 Feb 1946. Ernest R (Ernie) Decker bought the Flagler Theater building from F J Chambers in Feb 1946 with the intention of making it an automotive garage. The building was still standing in April 2007 and was being used as an apartment building.” It also notes that the Biddle/Flagler Theatre, located on U.S. 1 (aka State Street,) opened in 1926.
The northwest corner of State Street (U.S. 1) and Moody Boulevard is now occupied by a Citgo filling station and convenience store. Citgo uses the address 100 W. Moody Blvd., but the Bunnell Theatre must have had a State Street address.