Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Big Wonder Show

Big Wonder Show at the Star, from The Plain Dealer, January 30, 1921.

Monday, January 30, 2017

Out A Window

Looking out a trainshed window, at Lackawanna Station over the weekend.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

South Scranton Skyline

View of South Scranton from behind the Walmart in Taylor, from a few weeks ago.

Lehigh Valley 414

Lehigh Valley 414 at Bridge 60 tower on Friday morning.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Knickerbocker Theatre Disaster

Today is the 95th anniversary of the Knickerbocker Theatre disaster in Washington DC. A huge two day snowstorm dumped about two feet of snow on the nations capitol which led to a roof collapse on the theatre. 98 patrons were killed and 133 were injured. The theatre at 1800 Columbia Road was less than five years old.
From Exhibitors Herald, February 11, 1922.
 From Exhibitors Herald, February 11, 1922.
From Motion Picture News, February 11, 1922.
 From Exhibitors Herald, February 11, 1922.
From Exhibitors Herald, February 11, 1922. Crandall along with architect Reginald Geare were both acquitted of any wrong doing. Both ultimately commited suicide.

Friday, January 27, 2017

Martz Bus

A Martz bus departing the new bus depot a couple weeks ago.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Erie Railroad: Wyoming Division

A few views of the Erie, between MP 13.3 and MP 12.6 from a couple weeks ago.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

River Street

River Street, looking west from South Webster Avenue last Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Jersey Central 1554

CNJ 1554 at the South Side Shops last week.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Harrison Avenue Bridge

A few views of the ongoing Harrison Avenue bridge replacement project.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Iron Horse Movie Bistro

Ongoing work on the Iron Horse Movie Bistro, on Lackawanna Avenue opposite the Steamtown Mall, which was supposed to open last fall, but now will open in a few weeks.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Delaware-Lackawanna 3007

A new loc has arrived at the South Side Shops, DL3007, don't know anything about it's background yet.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Union Pacific 4012

UP 4012 at Steamtown a couple weeks ago.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

South Washington

Looking south on South Washington Avenue last Saturday.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Jersey Central Freight Station

The CNJ freight station in Scranton from Saturday afternoon.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Monday, January 16, 2017

Lackawanna River

The Lackawanna River, looking upstream (top) and downstream (bottom) from Saturday afternoon on the Lackawanna Avenue bridge.

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Scranton Life

Scranton Life building, from last week.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Stage Door Canteen

74 years ago tonight, January 14, 1943, Cleveland's Stage Door Canteen formally opened. The Canteen was located on the second floor of the Loew Building at 1515 Euclid Avenue above Loew's State Theatre. This space was originally occupied by the Carlton Terrace, which later became Tucker's Terrace and then the Music Box Cafe. Following the war the second floor was occupied by an Arthur Murray dance studio which lasted until the end of 1972. The canteen ran mostly on donations, the space was donated by Loew's Inc, the entertainment by local theatres and niteclubs. On Mondays the stage show from the neighboring RKO Palace was recreated on the tiny canteen stage. Local restaurants donated food and kitchen help, with dozens of volunteers doing everything else. This was one of eight canteens in the country, all operated by the American Theatre Wing, they were places for servicemen to go when in a strange city. They provided food, entertainment and companionship, all for free. The canteen remained open until October 26, 1945.
A general view, undated photo from the New York Public Library.
From The Plain Dealer, January 14, 1943.
From The Plain Dealer, January 15, 1943.
 From The Plain Dealer, January 15, 1943.
From The Plain Dealer, January 15, 1943.
The opening came after months of planning and work.
From Variety, October 21, 1942. Much of this is incorrect. The building didn't exist in pre-World War 1 days. Sophie Tucker did invest money into the failing Carlton Terrace, which was renamed Tucker Terrace before it went bankrupt. Niki Burnette's wife was named Helen, and his first name is spelled several different ways. He later became a program director at CBS in New York. And the mid-November preem was overly optimistic.
 From The Plain Dealer, December 29, 1942.
From The Plain Dealer, December 29, 1942.
From The Plain Dealer, January 10, 1943.
From The Plain Dealer, January 31, 1943.
From Motion Picture Herald, March 6, 1943.
Bob Hope and Jerry Colonna on the Canteen stage, undated photo from the New York Public Library.
From Motion Picture Daily, June 16, 1943.
From Variety, June 14, 1944.
From The Plain Dealer, August 3, 1944.
Undated postcard from the Cleveland Memory Project.