This is topic Las Vegas Theatres in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-07-2001, 01:14 AM:
I'm goin on a trip to Las Vegas next week -- of course I'll end up drunk and poor (like a good theatre employee 
) and I'll most likely be uninterested in renting a car or taking a cab to look around -- BUT -- my question is:Other than the Century, Regal and UA Multi-plexes -- are there any OLD theatres in Las Vegas, dead or alive? Or were they all raised to make room for casinos?
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Scott D. Neff
"Biding My Time"
Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 06-07-2001, 02:21 AM:
Funny, you should ask...I have lived in Vegas for almost a year and yet to find any old theatres. The oldest one that I know of is The Paradise 6 on the corner of Pecos and Tropicana. It is a second run dollar house now. Last October, I had the chance to see Rocky Horror there. Other than that, all of the theatres are newer multi's now. My theatre is on South Eastern Ave. and Pebble near the 215 exit which is on the south east side of town (very close to Henderson). 3 of the 5 Regals are in Station Casinos and the other 2 are stand alones(Like mine). Century has a couple in casinos and their newest ones are at Sam's Town and SunCoast casinos. There is a UA on the strip and I know of another on Sunset Road. You should try Hollywood.com or Fandango. They might give a more complete listing than I can. ------------------
Chris Duvall
General Manager
Regal Cinemas Colonnade14
Las Vegas, NV
Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 06-07-2001, 03:18 AM:
Odly enough I'm planning a trip there myself and was about to post the same question!
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 06-07-2001, 12:22 PM:
The Huntridge Theatre was designed by S. Charles Lee and opened in 1944. It is now a Performing Arts Center.
www.huntridgetheatre.com That's really the only one I have found so far. The spreading of Las Vegas seems to have consumed all of the good ones. 
A few others may still be operating as night clubs, though I doubt that they still resemble theatres.
Let us know what you find!
Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 06-07-2001, 12:56 PM:
I'm thinking that Vegas didn't get going before the dam was built at Boulder. There could still be the building from an old theatre there? It wouldn't be a palace, but I'd bet there must have been at least one to entertain the worker's families.
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 06-07-2001, 11:23 PM:
It's been a few years since I lived there; as far as I know the Huntridge is the only original theater still operating as a theater of sorts (the previously mentioned Performing Arts Center). It was the place where I got to run my first (and only) four-track mag show (Funny Girl)... well, other than the Liberace and Ann Margret clips in the showroom at the LV Hilton... 
I don't know if the Redrock is still operating (about a half-mile west of the corner of Charleston and Decatur). It started in the late '50s as a single and under Horst Schmidt's ownership gradually expanded to 11 screens with the original screen left intact. Eventually Horst sold out to Syufy (Century). Last I heard Century had closed the place.
The only other original theater buildings I can think of that are still standing in the Las Vegas metro area are the Bookstar book store on Maryland Parkway--it used to be the Boulevard (single, later twined), Four Star downtown (may still be operating as a porn house) and the Cinema 123 (still standing but closed?). The rest of 'em have been bulldozed (Fremont, El Cortez, Fox Charleston Plaza Mall, Cinerama Dome, Parkway, The Flick, The Guild...). Same with the drive-ins (Stardust, Sunset, Nellis, Skyway...) all gone except for the Century Las Vegas 5.
Boulder City has grown slowly over the years (they have had an active slow-growth policy) so I don't know if they have a multiplex now. There were two single screens, one run by the Bureau of Reclamation showing the Hoover Dam construction film, and the Boulder Theater. Don't know if either are still there. In the '80s I helped out at the Boulder when it was run by Art Schruhl, my mentor. At that time we added a 16mm booth downstairs to augment the 35mm upstairs--it was easier to get some titles on 16 in those days (30-day delay house that ran classics on the weekends, hence the 16).
Actually Dave Huskinson would know the current situation. Yo! Davie!
Paul
As of yesterday an ex-PanAmSat software engineer
Member SMPTE Hollywood Section
Long Beach, CA USA
New email address in a few days...
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 06-08-2001, 07:07 AM:
Check out "Race for Atlantis" at Caesars Palace. A two-strip 3D IMAX ride film (motion control seats) presented on a dome theatre screen. Very effective use of 3D, where the CGI image "surrounds" you on a dome screen:
http://www.imax.com/raceforatlantis/ The pre-show "film" is 3D video, which although well done, pales in comparison.
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-10-2001, 12:54 PM:
Thanks for the info on everything. I doubt I'll even get a chance to go lookin around downtown or TRACES of theatres, but I do have 9 hours without my friends there -- so who knows -- if I still have $$$ left I'll go rent a car and do a little exploring.I'm trying to remember now -- I know that Century owned the Boulevard (the Cine Boulevard as they called it...) I think that they might've even had another one the Buena Vista and the Parkway. They were either in Vegas or Reno - I forget.
Either way -- if anybody here runs a theatre in Vegas - don't be surprised if there's some 'geeky lookin guy' asking to see the projection booth on Thursday evening.
Sometimes it can be so embarassing gettin a manager to let you look around, especially at UA. Most managers are "Why on EARTH would you WANT to?"
Anyway -- thanks for the help.
Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 06-10-2001, 08:32 PM:
You are more than welcome to stop my place...------------------
Chris Duvall
General Manager
Regal Cinemas Colonnade14
Las Vegas, NV
Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-15-2001, 03:17 PM:
I managed to make it to almost EVERY theatre in Las Vegas except yours. I probably spent a little too much time trying to figure out where the Cinedome Las Vegas was/is (I know it's closed - but I wanted to see it with my own two eyes!!)Of course then it takes so much time to PARK the car - get out and walk inside every flippin casino just to take a peek at the theatres inside. What is with that anyway? Do local residents really want to go inside a casino to see a movie? Or are they just numb to the whole casino thing by now?
Anyway -- next time I'm in the area I'll get down to your corner of Vegas and have a gander. But thanks for the invite.
I didn't get any booth shots anywhere - but I got plenty of pics for Adam over at Cinematour.com ---
I'm gonna go find out what happened to my money now -- damn blackjack...
-Scott
Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 06-15-2001, 05:08 PM:
From what I understand, there is 2 Cinedomes here. One is still open in the Henderson area. The closed one was on Boulder highway. I have heard rumors that it has been leveled already. Gotta build more casinos...As for the theatres in casinos, the locals don't even pay mind to them. You are right..numb is the right word. Anyhoo, most of them do have a side entrance for those that are not old enough to walk in casinos. I know most locals actually use the side entrances as well now that I think of it.
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Chris Duvall
General Manager
Regal Cinemas Colonnade14
Las Vegas, NV
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 06-15-2001, 05:52 PM:
Sweet ...Is it just me, or was that a really short vacation? Or did you just not sleep and double your time?!
Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-16-2001, 07:33 PM:
Eh - 4 days was plenty for Las Vegas --- I still had a few days to loiter about the house.
Posted by Rory Burke (Member # 512) on 06-19-2001, 02:03 AM:
Scott!!Did you make it to the new all THX theater at Sam's Town Casino on east of the strip? If you didn't you missed some great screens!!!
Rory
Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 06-20-2001, 07:31 PM:
I made it to Sam's Town -- but I didn't feel like making the staff there feel uncomfortable -- and since the GM wasn't in that night -- I decided to settle for the lobby. I assume the screens there are similar to all of the new ones that Century is building -- which are quite nice.I however -- am going to miss the Cinedomes -- those puppies are IMPRESSIVE. I've got some pics waiting for development -- and then I'll post them -- so people can see these things -- they're HUGE.
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 05-19-2002, 04:26 PM:
Just doing some updating:
The folks running the Huntridge Theatre as a performing arts center decided to not renew their lease on the place (financial problems). Because of its historical status, the building will be preserved (sorta) but it will now be a furniture store instead of a theatre.
The Paradise 6 dollar/art house has closed, but will reopen shortly as a Spanish-language house.
There was another Cinedome on the west side (well it was the west side back then--that area is central now) of town on the northeast corner of Decatur and Desert Inn. It's a shopping center now. That Cinedome was built as revenge against Horst Schmidt, the owner of the Redrock 11 who initially refused to sell his place to Century (Syufy back then). Once the Cinedome was in place it took away the Redrock's bidding power--eventually Horst caved in and sold the place to Century. A few years later Century closed both places.
As for the Redrock 11 (originally a single, then a 4, then a 6, then a 11 ), which was the next oldest theatre extant in the LV area--it was razed this month. More 'Vegas history crumbles under the bulldozer's treads...
Paul
Gimpy Staff Projectionist, Senior Vidiot
Crown Neonopolis 14
Neon National Forest, NV USA
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 09-19-2002, 10:00 PM:
Finally, something happened to an old theatre here that didn't suck. Turns out the Huntridge did not become a furniture store after all! Though now owned by a furniture store owner, the Huntridge has been cleaned up and will re-open as a live venue next month.
http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/2002/MERC-Sep-19-Thu-2002/19615434.html And a related note, an article about Lloyd Katz, the Huntridge's original owner. Those were the days...
http://www.lasvegasmercury.com/2002/MERC-Sep-19-Thu-2002/19655476.html
Paul
SMPTE Hollywood Section
Unemployed mercenary video/16/35/70mm/IMAX Dome projectionist
"Otaku wa tsurai yo" <-- Yeah I know, bad pun. Sue me.
It's tough being a fan!
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-02-2002, 05:55 PM:
Now it's my turn! I'll be in Las Vegas December 15-19 for research purposes. Las Vegas Library, Clark County Museum, possibly UNLV. I also plan on driving up to St. George one day and I'm undecided on the Laughlin/Riviera area.
Posted by Justin West (Member # 920) on 12-02-2002, 08:53 PM:
Adam: If you're heading to St. George, UT, please see if you can find out any info on the old drive-in that once operated there. Thanks. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 12-02-2002, 10:04 PM:
Of the libraries Adam mentioned, UNLV's is the biggest--it is a designated Federal Reserve library. Clark County main branch would be next in quality, and it's within walking distance of UNLV. The main city library is downtown, a few blocks north of Casino Center and not far from Dennis and the gang at the Crown Neonopolis 14.
Don't know anything about St. George these days. Laughlin has two multiplexi, one inside Laughlin's Riverside Casino and one across the street inside an outlet mall. In Overton (sorta on the way to St. George) there's the Pioneer Movie Theater, recently renovated and now up for sale. There may also be a theatre over the hump in Pahrump, the land of Art Bell in the Kingdom of Nye (county that is).
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-03-2002, 12:21 AM:
Thanks for mentioning the theater in Pahrump, Paul. Yes, there's a theater there and it wasn't in my info. There's an 11,000-ft peak nearby, so I wonder what the drive there will be like this time of year? Do you think there will be any winter weather between LV and Pahrump?
Overton is on the list, as is Mesquite, on the way to St. George. I don't have any info on the Starlite D/I in St. George, but I'll probably try and stop in at the library there, too.
Speaking of libraries, which library is more likely to have historical information on local LV theaters, including city directories? In places with major universities, it's a 50/50 tossup whether the university or the local library will have more complete local history information.
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 12-03-2002, 12:57 PM:
Adam, regarding our weather so far, it's been very dry. Even for the desert it's been dry--about a half an inch this year instead of the usual four. Mt. Charleston and now Mt. Potosi have snow, but the mountain passes to SoCal and Pahrump are wide open and I expect they'll remain that way through the time you're going to be here. The sucking sound you hear is coming from Lake Mead, currently at levels not seen since the '60s and dropping about a foot a month. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
For the kind of research you're planning, I think the Las Vegas/Clark County libraries may be better. UNLV has a lot of stuff on Nevada and local history, but not much on what might be termed "pop culture" like local movie theatre history. I'm not sure about the status of the Las Vegas Review Journal or Sun archives these days. The ones available online to the public only go back to the late '90s. The last time I checked the rest were in private hands, not cataloged, not on-line, and not available to researchers unless lots of hoops got jumped through. It's funny, UNLV has lots of LA and NY Times on microfilm/fiche but not much of the RJ or Sun.
If you need a oldtimer local guide, let me know. I'm working the National Finals Rodeo through the afternoon of the 15th and a UNLV Rebels basketball game on the evening of the 17th, but would be free to help out otherwise.
Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 12-04-2002, 10:31 PM:
As far as the theatre in Pahrump -it is defunct. I visited that place about a month ago. What a bad situation that was, the current status - the building has a $500,000 lein against (from the US Government). The building isn't even worth ten thousand. The former owner lost his life savings on that one.
Anyways, come and visit me at the Neonopolis when you are in town. We are the only theatre in downtown Las Vegas.
Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 12-10-2002, 11:51 PM:
Oh man,
I went to tour the now defunct Pahrump Valley Twin. I told the real estate guy that I was 'interested in buying it" (no way!). Anyways - we went inside - and what I saw made my stomach turn. Apparently some kids broke into the building and vandalized it - no, no - they did worse than vandalize it. They completely trashed the entire place - equipment and all. I have never seen anything worse in my life. Not only was the theatre not worth the money before the vandalism- now it is completely useless as a theatre.As a guy who has worked at so many theatres in my life - what I saw today made me wonder about teenagers in our modern society.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-11-2002, 12:30 AM:
You didn't happen to take any photos, did you? If you did, I won't bother driving out there.
Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 12-11-2002, 07:42 PM:
No, I did not take pictures. I thought the real estate guy was going to cry - so I thought it inappropriate.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-20-2002, 10:28 PM:
A big thanks to Paul Mayer for spending a day with me! And apologies to Dennis ... I just ran out of time. I'll be back, though!
Photos are being worked on and Cinematour should get a big update this weekend.
I didn't make it to Pahrump or Cedar City [Utah] , but did make it to Boulder City and Laughlin and Saint George [Utah].
As far as the Starlite Drive-In in Saint George goes, here's what I got from scouring the newspaper. The library didn't have any city directories to cross-reference, so it's entirely possible I missed something.
The Starlite was opened on April 21, 1960. It was located on Santa Clara Drive, which is Highway 91 west of Saint George near the town of Santa Clara. The theater was last operated by Westates Theatres and closed after the 1989 season.
Now I just need to figure out if the St. George Opera House (pre-1911 to 1929), the Wadsworth (12/5/29 - 1946) and the Dixie (1946 - still standing as retail) were all the same theater.
Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 01-11-2003, 01:17 PM:
I have a follow-up trip tentatively scheduled for March sometime after ShoWest. I was hoping to make it to the Film-Tech Drink this year, but we are opening Grand Canyon on March 7. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)