Great shots, Mr.C. You've really captured some local history very nicely.
Unfortunately this turn of events is the outcome of over 50 years of neglect...the damage was done long ago. In some respects, it's a wonder that they made it this far.
Thank you MrC. You've captured a lot of our history and have certainly taught me a lot. Sadly enough, some of your "work" on here has been of more value to me than what some of our councillors do. (And that's not a shot but a compliment! :))
I wonder if the Colonial Theatre that stood between the Starland and the Regent was as magnificent looking as its 2 neighbors, it must have been something to see if the Colonial was as nice. And what of the Oak Theatre across the street? Oh to go back in time to stand on the corner of Logan and Main for just a few minutes....:-)
The stories I read about both the Starland and the Rex were that they were luxury theatres. With the problems with fires etc. that they had in the early 1900's theatres had to "up the game" for people to want to come to them. Safety and luxury became top priorities vs. rickety old wooden boxes. Also, the Rex being purpose built for movies instead of a live theatre had a lot to prove that movie houses were every bit as grand and high end as catching a live show. If the Colonial was of the same era the same era - I imagine it was to be located sandwiched between two other theatres like that it likely would have had "luxury status"
Neither the Colonial or the Oak would have been classed as luxury theaters. I don't know about their early history but in their later years they were true flea pits. The Oak was a small theater with a single aisle. Seating was all on one floor. It was on the northeast corner of Main across from the Occidental Hotel. The building that housed it is still there. The Colonial was located between the Starland and the Regent (Epic).
Actually a few former theater buildings in town have survived in one form or another to serve a different purpose today. e.g. the former Tivoli on Maryland and Westminster is a Food Fare. The Osborne theater in the middle of the bottleneck became an Elks Club, then a night club of sorts. The awning was taken down recently and I'm not sure what the building is being used for currently.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: MR_Point</cite>conceitedjerk... you get that shot? thats me with the loprobag...</blockquote>
Yup, I took that one. I had a feeling one of those guys was you, just wasn't sure which one! (I was the thirtysomething redhead in the long brown coat!)
Good timing - you got the 'money shot' ! <br> <br> When I was photographing it that day someone also taking pics said he overheard workers saying that they would likely tear the whole thing down now that they had started as they were concerned about weaknesses and cracks that might be in the facade. All the whacking the guy did to try to get big chunks of the wall down didn't work - the walls swayed a bit but, in the end, he had to pick them apart little bit at a time. <br> <br> I was surprised when I came out at dinner time and the machine was parked off to the side for the night leaving that bit standing. Guess they should have gone with their original plan.
I came through on a pretty good shot of that block, though from 1970 (I would still like to see it around the 20s or 30s). But unfortunately I can't leave it up because it's top secret information.