Downtown Orlando, BD (Before Disney)

Word is folks older than me used to roller skate there.

The Park Theater on Bergen Street in Newark NJ

we had the Cochise Theater, for first-run films that families went to. And the Knox Theater. An old cinder block building from World War II, painted bright mint green. It played second run films, B-movies, and monster flicks on the weekends.

The Knox was the big Saturday afternoon hangout for all the kids spending their weekly allowance. My brother and sister and I could see a movie, have a soda each, and share a tub of popcorn all with our meager allowances.

This was in the early 1970’s. I don’t imagine either theater exists anymore.

the Michigan, and the Bijou. They were great, downtown was just a couple blocks from my high school, saw a lot of great flicks at the Bijou. The theaters had huge screens, lots of ornate details, plush curtains, fancy lights. Then came the 80's, and the multiplexes on the outskirts of town, and a mall, with a multiplex there, too. Downtown became a ghost town, both theaters closed. Downtown has made a comeback, but no theaters.

Living on the Naval Air Station in Millington, TN, in the early 60s, we'd go the the base theater for movies. After my dad retired in Coronado, CA., in the mid-60s, we'd go to the base theater where movies were only a dime. I now live here and I still go to that base theater but now the movies are free. Most of the movies run are about 2 - 3 weeks after their initial release dates but often we get a first run movie or a premiere.

In our small city, we have a movie theater for decades and then it closed for about 10 years until a new owner bought it, refurnished it, and reopened it. The theater's decor is Art Deco and the inside of each theater is beautiful. It used to be a single screen but now has three screens; one main screen and two small screens and it's reasonably priced.

The big deal back in the days was to sneak into the lounge chairs once the film began



Used to be a glorious theater, but they sliced it into two and it lost all its charm

Theater in downtown East Moline Illinois in the late 50's to early 70's

It was recently torn down, after being abandoned for many years. I have a great many good memories of the place.

Dick Van Dyke worked here as an usher.

https://www.fischertheatre.com/historic-fischer-theatre

to fund raise to restore this landmark theater.

Remember Donald O'Connor Francis the talking Mule?

Gene Hackman

Dick Van Dyke

Jerry Van Dyke

https://www.news-gazette.com/news/whatever-happened-to-the-fischer-theatre/article_0a5ee5f6-7908-5df4-b6de-cd344e430e62.html

Almost all of them worked at this theater during high-school.

Albany NY

Now, it's the Elkin, and not only was it the neighborhood theater, it was the only theater in town.

It was located on Blue Hill Avenue opposite Franklin Park.

When I was a kid, it was repurposed into a community center.

It has since been demolished.

https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/18848

https://www.facebook.com/groups/513744017561133/posts/970163098585887/

EDIT: p.s. The active theater was the Neponset Drive-In in Dorchester.

In Glen Cove, NY. I remember seeing Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein, Woody Allen double feature Sleeper/Everything You Want to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask. The weekends they had double feature Disney movie matinees. This was early 70’s. I was born in 1965 so I was young. Yes I went with my parents to see the Woody Allen double feature. Grew up in a liberal household without all those sexual hangups a lot of people had. I really enjoyed Young Frankenstein. For years me and my friend would walk around saying”my brain hurts”. Its fun being a kid. I also remember seeing Earthquake in 1974 with another friend. It scared him to death but not me. I thought is was so cool.