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Post by mikef6 on May 22, 2019 20:33:35 GMT
If you started going to the movies before Multiplexes, then you experienced the Neighborhood Theater. If you lived in a large city, they contrasted with the 1920s and 1930s movie palaces downtown. These smaller theaters could also be found in smaller towns, sometimes as the only movie house. They had a large street level auditorium (and maybe even a balcony) but just one screen. Some may still exist in small towns, e.g. the Wapa in Neil Armstrong’s home town, Wapakoneta, Ohio. I saw many a movie there in the late 1980s when we lived there for a job. Armstrong probably saw some great movies there, too. (The Wapa, built in 1904 for vaudeville, began showing movies in the 1930s, closed for a time early in the new century but has made a comeback and is open again.)  Growing up, my family lived within range of three neighborhood theaters in San Antonio, Texas where I got my first film education. First, the Woodlawn, opened in 1945, where I attended many a Saturday matinee double feature with six (at least) cartoons and a serial chapter followed by a double feature of (mix & match) a kids western, atomic monster thriller, comedy e.g. Abbot and Costello. For reasons unknown, John Wayne choose the Woodlawn, instead of a movie palace, to premiere “The Alamo” (1960). The Woodlawn is still in business as a live theater venue and meeting space. The Laurel, opened in 1945, and the Olmos, opened in 1949, were just about identical in format, both in architecture and programming. They both mostly offered second run double features. The Laurel closed in 1982 and was torn down in ’86. The Olmos hung on just a little bit longer by switching first to Spanish language films and finally Triple X porn. It closed late 1980s. Let’s see a bit of your past. What movie spaces hold nostalgic value for you? What do you remember about them?[/span] |
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Post by mattgarth on May 22, 2019 21:49:13 GMT
A memory-shaking thread, Mike.
As for me, my Bijou movie palace was called the Pelham Picture House in suburban New York (it's still there after all these years).
Our Saturday matinees were actually mid-morning viewings, starting at 10 am. After breakfast, Mom would push me and the brothers out the door so she could have at least a couple of hours of weekend peace and quiet.
Our entertainment consisted of 6 cartoons, a chapter serial (where I recall being introduced to THE MASKED MARVEL), and a Roy Rogers Western.
Ahhh, happy memories of happier times. Thanks, Mike.
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Post by bravomailer on May 22, 2019 21:59:31 GMT
The Silver Theater in suburban Washington, DC was my main place. Note the 30s art deco architecture. The Silver is now run by the American Film Institute.   |
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Post by Doghouse6 on May 22, 2019 22:09:54 GMT
Some of the neighborhood theaters of my youth:  The Encino Theater on Ventura Blvd in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, the site of my earliest movie-going memory: a re-release of The Greatest Show On Earth around '57 or '58.  Sherman Oaks's La Reina, just down the road from the Encino. The marquee and facade have been preserved, but it was converted to a bookstore and has since become a spa.  Fox Van Nuys Theater, where I saw my first Alfred Hitchcock picture on the big screen: North By Northwest.  Van Nuys Drive-In, where Mom and Dad would take us bundled into our jammies, and we'd usually fall asleep in the back seat before the double feature was over.  Panorama Theater, where all the early James Bond films would play when they went into wide release. As you can see, it's no longer a theater. At least, not for movies.  Americana Theater, which - unlike the Panorama - was actually in Panorama City about a mile south. Made the mistake of dropping acid and seeing Bullitt here when I was 16; it was those blood red curtains that freaked me out. There was a tacky 4-screen multiplex adjunct in 1970; no curtains on the screens, and if the film in the theater next door was loud, you could hear it through the wall.  Reseda Theater, at left in the postcard above. Into the 1970s, third-run double features for $.50. And the roof leaked: when it rained, the interior cinderblock walls became damp.  Only photo I could find of the Airport Theater (so named for its proximity to the Van Nuys Airport) located in what's now called North Hills. It's visible a little to the left of Batman's head. Railroad tracks ran directly behind it and, well, you can just imagine. Saw Harper here when the place was brand new (missed some of the dialogue, though; those were busy tracks). |
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Post by vegalyra on May 23, 2019 15:25:41 GMT
One of the theaters that we frequented when I was a kid was already about 15 years old by the time I really remember going there. The Northshore theater off of I-10 and Uvalde in Houston. It had already been converted into two screens by then as well, it was originally a 1 screen theater that sat about 800 or so people. There was an identical theater (Parkview) built across the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, TX that we went to once or twice as well. It was built the same year, 1966 and had the same architecture. Both are still there, but one is now a FedEx Office store and the other is vacant after a fabric store that was located inside shut down. The lobbies were very generously sized and by the early '80s had a long row of arcade games against the far wall with concessions on the other side. I saw quite a few movies at the Northshore theater, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the first two Back to the Future films among others. Here is an ad for the Parkview theater when it first opened.  My cousin lives "out in the sticks" near Livingston, Texas. The Fain Theater operated in town up until 2015 (I believe the present building was built in 1948 although there had been a theater there operated by the same family in the silent era). I saw a few movies there when I would stay at his house mostly during the summers. It was still a single screen theater and sat quite a few folks for a fairly small town.  At night:  |
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spiderwort
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@spiderwort
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Post by spiderwort on May 23, 2019 16:04:26 GMT
My family moved around a lot when I was young, and unfortunately I can't find (or in some cases remember) movie theaters. Arizona, California, Montana, Colorado, Texas -- you name it; too many homes for any kid to endure. But here's one I do remember and love, because we actually spent one whole year in this town: Ponca City, Oklahoma.
 This beauty was built in 1927, has been put on the historical register, and is still operating today, playing films and doing live productions as well. I especially remember seeing Old Yeller there. I remember seeing films in other places, too, but I can't find images of them. Especially drive-ins, which, alas, are no more.
Your pictures of the L.A. theaters are so familiar to me and bring back tons of memories (not childhood, of course). Love them! Thanks. (I was so disappointed when the La Reina was turned into a bookstore! I saw many fine movies there.)
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Post by teleadm on May 23, 2019 18:33:02 GMT
My memories might be a bit different, since we lived in a small town and sometines we went to a bigger town to see a movie on a Sunday.  I'm so glad I could find this pic, Malmö Palladium as it looks nowdays and is used for concerts and theatre. There on the leftside of the balcony there were single chairs way up to the next to last pillar, and there on that chair closest to the silver screen is were I sat when my father took the whole family to see The Jungle Book in 1968, my mother sat on the chair behind me. |
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Post by Doghouse6 on May 23, 2019 20:36:09 GMT
Your pictures of the L.A. theaters are so familiar to me and bring back tons of memories (not childhood, of course). Love them! Thanks. (I was so disappointed when the La Reina was turned into a bookstore! I saw many fine movies there.)
An additional memory about the Panorama: it had a crying room. Anyone remember those? Very appropriate for a house built in the family-friendly Valley during the baby boom year of 1949. If I'm candid, I'll admit that a teenaged friend and I once took advantage of it to smoke a little something that wasn't permitted even in the last ten rows.
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