TeePee Drive-In’s former operator resurfaces in Pennsylvania May 11, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Theaters.add a comment
Last year, you may remember Russell Brannan, who leased the long-closed TeePee Drive-In along Route 66 in Sapulpa, Okla., but never reopened it after a Route 66 News report revealed him using several aliases, leaving several theaters after operating them for a short time, and disappointed owners in his wake.
Now it appears Brannan, now calling himself Glen Brannon, has resurfaced with the Mahoning Drive-In in Lehighton, Pa.
WNEP-TV filed this report:
He said Brannon claimed he had a record of saving other old theaters.
“He wanted to lease it, and then buy the (Mahoning) Drive-in,” said Danchak. “My only hope was that he would save the drive-in.” [...]
Brannan claims he was pointing the Mahoning Drive-in toward profitability, but said he had disagreements with manager Mike Danchak over ticket prices, fund-raising plans, and promotions.
Danchak said Brannan almost cost the Mahoning Drive-in dearly, by selling 250 season passes for $59 a car load.
“If we accepted them, we would go bankrupt,” said Danchak, “because we would have nothing but passes all summer.”
Danchak said Brannan’s money-losing offer forced the theater to buy the tickets back, leaving the Mahoning Drive-in with just $5,000, and time is running out to get the $60,000 projector.
A pattern has emerged with Brannan:
- Using aliases while conducting business as a theater operator. So far, we’re up to four names and as many as six.
- Leasing a theater instead of buying it.
- Theater owners becoming dismayed or disappointed with Brannan’s methods and cutting him loose.
Given the disillusionment with Brannan — and the lack of any documented successes by him — all theater owners should probably be very cautious with him if he comes to your town.
UPDATE: Check out the posts from the Mahoning Drive-In’s official Facebook page to get an idea about the problems Brannan allegedly caused for the theater.
Two historic theaters near Route 66 corridor are coming back April 23, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Theaters.add a comment
Historic theaters in the Route 66 towns of Winslow, Ariz., and Santa Fe, N.M., have reopened or soon will reopen, according to news reports.
The Winslow Movie Theater, known as the Rialto in downtown Winslow, held its grand opening March 29, reported the Tribune-News in Winslow. Stephen and LuAnne Hancock of nearby Joseph City recently took over operations.
The Hancocks have plans to further improve the theater. Even though they have painted the inside, reconfigured the concession stands and installed new speakers that feature surround sound, they also plan to open an ice cream shop to enhance their current offerings.
At present, the concession stands provide popcorn, barbecued pulled pork, nachos, hot dogs, cotton candy and pretzels. [...]
There are no grants available at this time to continue the restoration of this historic building and purchase a new digital projector, so the Hancocks plan to hold a number of fundraisers. Soon they will be selling donation tiles, with the donor’s name printed on a tile to be used for reflooring. Another idea in the works is to hold a triathlon in the very near future.
John Sharpe, chef at La Posada’s Turquoise Room restaurant, also promoted the theater in his newsletter.
For you the visitor it offers an opportunity to see a recent movie in a Music Hall – Movie Theater that was built in the 1920s! Also keep in mind this is a single screen only.
7.00 pm screenings so an early dinner and off to the movies may be a nice option when staying with us.
We suggest 5.30 dinner reservations so you can have a leisurely dinner and then walk over to see the movie. We will have dessert ready for you when you return. This is as long as you have not eaten a bucket of popcorn. Anyway the bar will be open until 10.00pm so you have relaxed here with a nightcap before heading back to your room.
The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper reports that George R.R. Martin, who wrote the novels on which the HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is based, has bought the long-closed Jean Cocteau Cinema in the Santa Fe Railyard.
According to the owner of a hair salon in the building, Martin is “interested” in reviving the theater.
The theater is only a couple of blocks west of Route 66.
(Hat tip to John Sharpe and Jeffrey Short)
A look back at the 66 Park In Theatre February 4, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, Motels, Theaters.2 comments
The YouTube account of hudson501 posted another gem in the past week. This one features a look at the long-gone 66 Park In Theatre in Crestwood, Mo., from September 1991.
The poster explains how this remarkable footage was obtained:
I stopped along the south side of Watson Road (old Missouri US 66) to take some shots of this drive-in theater. The manager (the older gentleman seen in the view of the concession stand) noticed my taping and asked if I’d like to come onto the grounds to get some shots there. Naturally, I said “yes” and here are the three minutes of shooting I came away with. [...]
In the shot of the theater speaker you can hear a radio spot for Famous Barr. For those of you unfamiliar with this name, it’s an upscale department store in the St Louis area that goes back many years (much like Macy’s or Marshall Field’s). The west side of the marquee along Watson Road no longer had any working neon. However, the east side still had the green neon “66″ clinging to life on this date.
More images of the 66 Park In are collected here.
According to Quinta Scott’s excellent book, “Along Route 66,” the drive-in theater was razed in 1996 and is now the site of a grocery store. An excerpt:
The Flexor Corporation built the 66 Park In Theater in 1948 and sold it to Paul Krueger the following year. To obtain the steel for the screen tower after the war, Flexor had to apply for a building permit for a billboard. To attract business from the busy suburban strip, Flexor used the screen tower itself as the sign, outlining 66 PARK IN THEATRE in neon tubing. Krueger added a glass-block ticket booth and the signboard in the modernistic vernacular of the 1950s.
As a bonus, the clip includes night footage of the long-gone Coral Court Motel. Check out the neon lightning and the peaceful chirping of crickets. Hudson501 also posted a separate video of the Coral Court in daylight.
Memories of the Sky View Drive-In January 5, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, Movies, People, Theaters.1 comment so far
As part of the “Route 66 Stories” series, Walter “Chick” Bishop tells about the many fun things that have happened through the years at the Sky View Drive-In theater on Route 66 in Litchfield, Ill.
The Sky View is still operating, as it has since 1950.
Vince Gill video showcases Rialto Square Theater January 4, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Music, Theaters.2 comments
I didn’t know this until a few days ago — country singer Vince Gill’s official video for his 1992 hit, “I Still Believe In You,” was shot entirely at the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet, Ill.
Music videos are meant to showcase the artist and the song. But this one shows off that historic theater very well, too:
The Rialto not only sits next to Route 66, but it’s a stone’s throw from the Lincoln Highway, which marks its centennial this year.
Gill, an Oklahoma native with a keen sense of history, has been a part of Route 66 lore before. He shot part of his No. 1 hit, “Never Knew Lonely,” at the now-closed Vega Motel on Route 66 in Vega, Texas.
And a more recent song, “The Lucky Diamond Motel,” was inspired by Route 66 motels in the Oklahoma City area:
Circle Cinema in Tulsa is opening a second screen November 18, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Movies, Preservation, Theaters.add a comment
The historic Circle Cinema in Tulsa finally is opening a second screen, reported the Tulsa World. And a third screen should be showing movies by July 2013.
The nonprofit Circle Cinema is unique in its mandate to offer the community art-house indie-movie favorites, documentaries and foreign films. It often juggles showtimes for up to four or five films in its 105-seat theater, which limits showtimes for the most popular movies.
With the second screen adding 122 seats – and a third and larger one, with 268 seats, planned to open next July – the Circle will now broaden its scope to also show even more high-profile films like the upcoming awards-season favorite “Silver Linings Playbook,” starring Bradley Cooper of “The Hangover” and Jennifer Lawrence of “The Hunger Games.”
The theater, located on Lewis Avenue near Admiral Place, opened on Route 66 in 1928, and remains the oldest theater still standing in Tulsa. The Circle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater closed for nearly a decade, then reopened in 2004 as a venue for independent films.
The Circle’s management had planned to restore the entire theater after reopening it, but fundraising for that effort took time. Also, a contractor botched the work on the main theater, and it took time to resolve that mistake.
The Circle recently received a $23,000 cost-share grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to renovate its facade.
Here’s a very good Tulsa World video from 2008, when the theater marked its 80th year:
“Lincoln” at the Lincoln in Lincoln November 10, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Movies, Theaters.add a comment
Talk about a triple play — the upcoming Steven Spielberg film “Lincoln” will premiere Friday at the historic Lincoln Theatre in the Route 66 town of Lincoln, Ill.
One of the characters in the movie is Robert Latham (played by John Hawkes), who was the original developer of the town of Lincoln, worked with Lincoln in plotting the town, and helped christen it.
Chris Hotz and Deborah Senge as Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln.
According to a news release about the Friday evening screening from Logan County Tourism:
The opening night of “Lincoln” in Lincoln, IL will be a grand red carpet affair, as movie goers attending the 5 p.m. show are greeted by Lincoln and the Lady, portrayed by Chris Hotz and Deborah Senger with Timeless Presentations.
Timeless Presentations was created by Chris and Deb in 2008, originally as Abe and Mary Lincoln featuring walks, step-on tours, presentations and appearances as an avenue to provide historic entertainment for central Illinois. Together they share a striking resemblance to the famous couple, greeting guests as they enter the historic Lincoln Theater 4.
Everyone is invited to dress in period attire, with photo opportunities available with President Lincoln and the first lady along the red carpet, prior to their entrance into the theater to enjoy the movie. Lincoln and the Lady will also be on hand to greet guests and snap photos prior to the 8:00 p.m. showing as well.
The Lincoln Theatre was built in downtown Lincoln in 1923 — predating the Mother Road by three years.
UPDATE 11/17/2012: The Springfield State Journal-Register filed a story about the event. County tourism director Geoff Ladd said:
“I still go back to the fact that, while people here visit Route 66, they’re going to get a dose of Lincoln. It seems odd that Abe wouldn’t be the big draw here, but he plays second fiddle to 66. But not tonight. Tonight, Abe rules.”
(Photos courtesy of Logan County Tourism)