Homewood Theatre (cinema): Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Moved down to Downtown Homewood businesses)
No edit summary
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The '''Homewood Theatre''' was a small movie theater located at 2834 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]] in downtown [[Homewood]]. It's precise construction and opening dates are not known, but are believed to be in the 1930s.  The theater was later remodeled, reopening on [[April 3]], [[1941]].  It closed permanently in the mid to late 1950s.
[[File:Homewood Theatre 1940s.jpg|right|thumb|425px|Homewood Theatre in 1941, from the Alabama Department of Archives and History]]
[[Image:Homewood Theatre 1928.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Homewood Theatre c. 1928 {{BPL permission caption|http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/u?/p4017coll6,1643}}]]
:''This article is about the former cinema. For the community theater group, see [[Homewood Theatre]].''
The '''Homewood Theatre''' (once called the '''Royal Theater''') was a small movie theater located at 2834 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]] in downtown [[Homewood]]. Its precise construction and opening dates are not known, but it is believed to have opened shortly after the city was incorporated in [[1927]].


The building still stands, having been converted into a storefront. It has housed [[Homewood Cycle]] since at least the 1970s.
The theater was expanded and remodeled in [[1941]] by the [[Waters Theater Company]]. When it reopened on Thursday, [[April 3]], it could accommodate 750 patrons and boasted a streamlined opaque glass (Vitrolite) and stucco facade. [[Wilmot Douglas]] was the architect for the renovations, which were executed by contractor [[Thomas Brasfield]]. A highlight of the new auditorium was the provision of 2-person "love seats". Adult tickets were 20¢ and children were admitted for 10¢. The feature film screened on that first evening was "The Mark of Zorro" starring Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell.
 
The theater accommodated African-American patrons in the balcony. Blacks used a separate entrance to the single box office, then climbed stairs to the balcony. With no access to the concession stands, black customers would often come downstairs and ask white patrons to buy drinks and snacks for them.
 
The theater was closed in the late 1950s, then operated briefly as an "art theater" (playing more risqué European films) before it closed for good around [[1963]]. [[Walter Busenlehner]] purchased the vacant building for his [[Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop|Homewood Cycle & Hobby Shop]]. When Busenlehner divided that business, the former theatre remained the home of [[Homewood Cycle & Fitness]]. He sold the business to [[Faris Malki]] of [[Cahaba Cycles]] in [[2011]]. After Cahaba relocated to the redeveloped former [[Jim & Jim's Body Shop]], Busenlehner worked with [[Powers & Associates]] to restore the theater building's original interior proportions.
 
The Homewood Theatre was depicted in the sixth [[Homewood historic Christmas ornaments|commemorative ornament]] created by [[Don Stewart]] for the [[Homewood Chamber of Commerce]] in [[2008]].
 
{{Start box}}
{{Succession box | title=2834 [[18th Street South Homewood|18th Street South]] | years=c. [[1927]]–[[1963]] | before=? | after=[[Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop|Homewood Cycle & Hobby Shop]] }}
{{End box}}


==References==
==References==
*[http://hsvmovies.com/generated_subpages/cities/al_birmingham.html Movie Theatre Information - Historical Information: Alabama: Birmingham]. Accessed 25 July 2006.
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/HomewoodTheater(1-41).jpg Homewood Theater to open]" (January 1941) {{BN}} via [[Birmingham Rewound]] - accessed December 31, 2010
* "Grand Opening Show Of New Homewood Theater Is Scheduled" (April 2, 1941) {{BN}}
* {{Summe-2001}}
* Bryan, Kim (December 24, 2008) "Homewood's commemorative ornaments now relegated to history." {{BN}}
* Watson, Nathan (January 25, 2022) "Nadeau Furniture moving to former Cahaba Cycles space, opening Spring 2022." ''Bham Now''


{{stub}}
==External links==
* [http://cinematreasures.org/theater/9779/ Homewood Theater] at cinematreasures.org
* [http://hsvmovies.com/generated_subpages/cities/al_birmingham.html Alabama: Birmingham] historical information at http://hsvmovies.com


[[Category:18th Street Homewood|2834]]
[[Category:Downtown Homewood businesses]]
[[Category:Former cinemas]]
[[Category:Former cinemas]]
[[Category:18th Street South Homewood]]
[[Category:Homewood businesses]]
[[Category:1928 buildings]]
[[Category:1941 buildings]]
[[Category:Wilmot Douglas buildings]]
[[Category:1928 establishments]]
[[Category:1963 disestablishments]]

Latest revision as of 11:12, 9 November 2023

Homewood Theatre in 1941, from the Alabama Department of Archives and History
Homewood Theatre c. 1928 courtesy BPL Archives
This article is about the former cinema. For the community theater group, see Homewood Theatre.

The Homewood Theatre (once called the Royal Theater) was a small movie theater located at 2834 18th Street South in downtown Homewood. Its precise construction and opening dates are not known, but it is believed to have opened shortly after the city was incorporated in 1927.

The theater was expanded and remodeled in 1941 by the Waters Theater Company. When it reopened on Thursday, April 3, it could accommodate 750 patrons and boasted a streamlined opaque glass (Vitrolite) and stucco facade. Wilmot Douglas was the architect for the renovations, which were executed by contractor Thomas Brasfield. A highlight of the new auditorium was the provision of 2-person "love seats". Adult tickets were 20¢ and children were admitted for 10¢. The feature film screened on that first evening was "The Mark of Zorro" starring Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell.

The theater accommodated African-American patrons in the balcony. Blacks used a separate entrance to the single box office, then climbed stairs to the balcony. With no access to the concession stands, black customers would often come downstairs and ask white patrons to buy drinks and snacks for them.

The theater was closed in the late 1950s, then operated briefly as an "art theater" (playing more risqué European films) before it closed for good around 1963. Walter Busenlehner purchased the vacant building for his Homewood Cycle & Hobby Shop. When Busenlehner divided that business, the former theatre remained the home of Homewood Cycle & Fitness. He sold the business to Faris Malki of Cahaba Cycles in 2011. After Cahaba relocated to the redeveloped former Jim & Jim's Body Shop, Busenlehner worked with Powers & Associates to restore the theater building's original interior proportions.

The Homewood Theatre was depicted in the sixth commemorative ornament created by Don Stewart for the Homewood Chamber of Commerce in 2008.

Preceded by:
? 		2834 18th Street South
c. 1927–1963 		Succeeded by:
Homewood Cycle & Hobby Shop

References

  • "Homewood Theater to open" (January 1941) The Birmingham News via Birmingham Rewound - accessed December 31, 2010
  • "Grand Opening Show Of New Homewood Theater Is Scheduled" (April 2, 1941) The Birmingham News
  • Summe, Sheryl Spradling. (2001). Homewood: The Life of a City. Homewood, AL: Friends of the Homewood Public Library.
  • Bryan, Kim (December 24, 2008) "Homewood's commemorative ornaments now relegated to history." The Birmingham News
  • Watson, Nathan (January 25, 2022) "Nadeau Furniture moving to former Cahaba Cycles space, opening Spring 2022." Bham Now

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Homewood_Theatre_(cinema)&oldid=208454"