Mickey Rooney

RIP Mickey Rooney

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 6, 1940.

Queue outside Loew's State to see Mickey Rooney, September 1940. From Cinema Treasures.

From Film Daily, September 18, 1939.

From Film Daily, February 8, 1940.

From Motion Picture Daily, January 7, 1942.

Nay Aug Falls

Nay Aug Falls this morning.

Nay Aug Park Treehouse

The Nay Aug Park treehouse this morning.

Jacobs Field Opening: April 4, 1994

Today is the 20th anniversary of the opening of Jacobs Field. It was a sunny and cool day, our seats were in the last row in the upper deck in left field. They were so far away the people next to us were interviewed on TV, they were the furthest from home plate. Considering how hard it was to get ducats for this game, we were lucky to be there. President Clinton was there to throw out the first pitch, upon which, my wife screamed out "You throw like a girl."  Some turned and laughed, some turned and glared. This wasn't the most riveting game we'd been too, and we were so far away it was hard to see what was going on. However it was quite the spectacle.

The wind that was whipping through the back was rather intense at times.

I didn't care for the way they used the Erie Street Cemetery for overflow parking.

The Tribe won the game in 11 innings beating Seattle 4-3. That was probably rthe best Tribe team in my lifetime, of course they went on strike with the Tribe in 1st place in mid-August. The rest of the season was cancelled.

A complete recap here.

Delaware & Hudson

A Delaware & Hudson bridge over the Lackawanna River, just south of Depot Street.

All views looking south.

Nay Aug Gorge

Looking down into Nay Aug Gorge on Sunday morning.

Allen Theatre

Today is the 93rd anniversary of the opening of the Allen Theatre.

Allen Theatre rotunda, from Architectural Record, November 1921.

 Allen Theatre stage and procenium, from Architectural Record, November 1921.

The opening attraction.

A couple weeks after the Allen opened S. Barret McCormick was brought in from the Circle in Indianapolis to run the Allen. His slogan at the Allen was "The Dominant Theatre." From Exhibitor's Trade Review, November 26, 1921.

McCormick brought along Philip Spitalny from the Circle as Music Director. Years later Spitalny would rise to fame as the director of the Hour of Charm all girl orchestra. From Exhibitor's Trade Review, November 26, 1921.

Together McCormick and Spitalny staged their own prologues at the Allen. From Exhibitor's Trade Review, September 24, 1921.

The Allen Theatre Orchestra, from Exhibitor's Trade Review, November 4, 1922. 

Some of the early attractions at the Allen, from Exhibitor's Trade Review, December 17, 1921.

Allen projection room, from Exhibitor's Trade Review, June 17, 1922. 

Eventually both McCormick and Spitalny would move on. Their spectacular prologues replaced by Publix prologues. A few years later talking pictures would kill off prologues all together.

From Motion Picture News, July 8, 1927.

Over the years changes to the industry would bring talkers, 3-D, and CinemaScope. The erosion of the market due to television and suburban theatres would spell doom for downtown theatres across the country, including the Allen.

From The Plain Dealer, April 25, 1968.

But a rebirth was around the corner.

The first Playhouse Square Association attraction. From The Plain Dealer, November 19, 1971.

Another early Playhouse Square Association attraction, from the Plain Dealer, December 24, 1971.

First show I worked on, from the Plain Dealer, March 24, 1972.