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The '''Waters Theater Company''' was a [[List of former cinemas|cinema chain]] founded by [[Newman Waters, Sr]], who also owned the [[Lyric Building]] downtown. It was later managed by his sons [[J. R. Waters|J. R.]] and [[Newman Waters, Jr|Newman Jr]].
The '''Waters Theater Company''' was a [[List of former cinemas|cinema chain]] founded by [[Newman Waters, Sr]] in [[1932]] with his purchase of the [[North Birmingham Theater]]. By [[1936]] he had added the [[Gary Theater]] in [[Fairfield]], [[Ensley Theater]], [[Woodlawn Theater]], [[East Lake Theater]], [[Norwood Theater]], [[Five Points Theater]], [[Homewood Theater]], [[Central Park Theater]], [[Pratt City Theater]], [[Tarrant City Theater]], [[Leeds Theater]], [[Cullman Theater]] and [[Hartselle Theater]] to his portfolio.


The company built the [[Roebuck Drive-In]], [[Shades Mountain Drive-In]], [[Fair Park Drive-In]] and [[Starlite Drive-In]] cinemas and also operated 12 neighborhood and suburban theaters in the [[Birmingham District]], including the [[Newmar Theater]] ([[1948]]–) downtown.
In [[1943]] the company branched out into real estate with the purchase of the [[Watts Tower]], [[Lyric Building]] and [[Phoenix Building]]. In the mid-1940s, Waters' son, [[Newman Waters, Jr]], became president of the newly-formed '''Downtown Properties, Inc.''', which also employed his brother [[J. R. Waters|J. R.]]. The firm exchanged the Watts Tower for the old [[Jefferson County Courthouse]] building, then owned by [[Southern Natural Gas Company]] in [[1949]]. A year later, with a long-term lease from the [[Bellsouth|Southern Bell Company]], they expanded the Phoenix Building. The company also remodeled the [[1928]] [[Birmingham Police Headquarters|Drug Co. Building]] as modern office space.


In [[1950]] the Waters Company took control of five suburban theaters formerly operated by the [[Community Theaters]] circuit. These included the [[East Lake Theater]], [[Woodlawn Theater]], [[Tarrant Theater]], [[North Birmingham Theater]] and the [[Gary Theater]]. At the same time, the chain announced construction of two new 600-car drive-ins, one on [[Jasper Highway]] near [[East Thomas]] and one on [[Cullman Highway]].
Beginning in [[1948]], the company built the [[Roebuck Drive-In]], [[Shades Mountain Drive-In]], [[Fair Park Drive-In]] and [[Starlite Drive-In]] cinemas and also operated 12 neighborhood and suburban theaters in the [[Birmingham District]], including the [[Newmar Theater]] ([[1948]]–) downtown. In [[1950]] the Waters Company announced construction of two new 600-car drive-ins, one on [[Jasper Highway]] near [[East Thomas]] and one on [[Cullman Highway]].


On [[January 1]], [[1951]] the Waters company ended its lease of the [[Lyric Theatre]] to Paramount Theaters and Wilby-Kincey chain of Atlanta, which had been in effect since [[1932]], and leased it instead to the [[Acme Theaters]] chain, which also operated the [[Melba Theater]], [[Empire Theater]], [[Galax Theater]] and [[Royal Theater]].
On [[January 1]], [[1951]] the Waters company ended its lease of the [[Lyric Theatre]] to Paramount Theaters and Wilby-Kincey chain of Atlanta, which had been in effect since [[1932]], and leased it instead to the [[Acme Theaters]] chain, which also operated the [[Melba Theater]], [[Empire Theater]], [[Galax Theater]] and [[Royal Theater]].


Later Waters was instrumental in developing the [[Office Park]] in [[Mountain Brook]] and [[Eastwood Mall]], adjacent to his Starlite Drive-In.
As a real-estate developer, Waters led the development of the [[Belview Heights]], [[Oak Hills]], [[Crestwood]] and [[Killough Springs]] subdivisions. Later Waters partnered with [[Ervin Jackson]] to develop [[Office Park]] in [[Mountain Brook]]. Waters was the sole developer of [[Eastwood Mall]], which opened in [[1960]] near his Starlite Drive-In.


==References==
==References==
* "[http://books.google.com/books?id=Fh4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA52&ots=2ao6NU_AU3&dq=%22Waters%20Theater%20Company%22%20birmingham&pg=PA52#v=onepage&q&f=false Drive-In Boom On in South: Ala., Tenn., Locations Set]" (November 20, 1948) ''Billboard''
* "[http://books.google.com/books?id=Fh4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA52&ots=2ao6NU_AU3&dq=%22Waters%20Theater%20Company%22%20birmingham&pg=PA52#v=onepage&q&f=false Drive-In Boom On in South: Ala., Tenn., Locations Set]" (November 20, 1948) ''Billboard''
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Waters(8-50).jpg Waters announces theaters' merger]." (August 1950) ''Birmingham News'' - via [[Birmingham Rewound]]
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/Waters(8-50).jpg Waters announces theaters' merger]." (August 1950) ''Birmingham News'' - via [[Birmingham Rewound]]
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/EWM50/Eastwood50-2.jpg With mall opening— Tomorrow will climax career of civic leader]" (August 24, 1960) ''Birmingham News''


[[Category:Developers]]
[[Category:Cinema chains]]
[[Category:Cinema chains]]
[[Category:Newman Waters developments|*]]

Revision as of 21:06, 5 August 2010

The Waters Theater Company was a cinema chain founded by Newman Waters, Sr in 1932 with his purchase of the North Birmingham Theater. By 1936 he had added the Gary Theater in Fairfield, Ensley Theater, Woodlawn Theater, East Lake Theater, Norwood Theater, Five Points Theater, Homewood Theater, Central Park Theater, Pratt City Theater, Tarrant City Theater, Leeds Theater, Cullman Theater and Hartselle Theater to his portfolio.

In 1943 the company branched out into real estate with the purchase of the Watts Tower, Lyric Building and Phoenix Building. In the mid-1940s, Waters' son, Newman Waters, Jr, became president of the newly-formed Downtown Properties, Inc., which also employed his brother J. R.. The firm exchanged the Watts Tower for the old Jefferson County Courthouse building, then owned by Southern Natural Gas Company in 1949. A year later, with a long-term lease from the Southern Bell Company, they expanded the Phoenix Building. The company also remodeled the 1928 Drug Co. Building as modern office space.

Beginning in 1948, the company built the Roebuck Drive-In, Shades Mountain Drive-In, Fair Park Drive-In and Starlite Drive-In cinemas and also operated 12 neighborhood and suburban theaters in the Birmingham District, including the Newmar Theater (1948–) downtown. In 1950 the Waters Company announced construction of two new 600-car drive-ins, one on Jasper Highway near East Thomas and one on Cullman Highway.

On January 1, 1951 the Waters company ended its lease of the Lyric Theatre to Paramount Theaters and Wilby-Kincey chain of Atlanta, which had been in effect since 1932, and leased it instead to the Acme Theaters chain, which also operated the Melba Theater, Empire Theater, Galax Theater and Royal Theater.

As a real-estate developer, Waters led the development of the Belview Heights, Oak Hills, Crestwood and Killough Springs subdivisions. Later Waters partnered with Ervin Jackson to develop Office Park in Mountain Brook. Waters was the sole developer of Eastwood Mall, which opened in 1960 near his Starlite Drive-In.

References

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