We don’t have a comment of the week feature here, but if we did, this one from Inked would win, hands down. In it, he gives us a bit of background on the Plaza Theatre, which is set to close next Tuesday.
I grew up in that theatre – My father managed it and was the projectionist – I started as an usher when it was the Dipson’s Plaza Theatre – Then it was owned by the Cinemette Corporation – I then worked the concession stand back when you had to add all the items together in your head for each customer – We had to mix the coke products because the syrup came in wax cardboard gallon containers and we had to pour it into the tanks so it could combine – then I was an apprentice projectionist -
The theatre was beautiful. Art deco themed throughout the place. The balcony was really wonderful, but was rarely used. Cove lighting – velvet seats and beautiful carpets. The original box office was the little cove that is outside to the left of the front door – The original concession stand was where the video games are on the north west corner inside.
Then the company decided that it should be made into a four-plex similar to Cinema World on Pittsburgh avenue. I worked on the crew that cut up the theatre and turned it into four theatres. (Cinema World is now offices and light industrial space i believe)
All the seats were torn out. I wish I had kept a few. The front walls and screen were taken out – hundreds of wheelbarrow loads of concrete were taken outside to dumpsters. Many large holes were dug to place the support catwalks that make up the second floor hallways and projectionist booths. Then walls were built and dry walled – new screens, seats – a new concession stand…
I then continued as an apprentice projectionist for a while – the original theatre had carbon arc projectors which were similar to the one’s the Warner had – then they were changed in favor of a zenon bulb unit – When the theater was remodeled into the four-plex – it was decided to update the existing projectors for new “platter” systems – each movie was assembled on a platter and then wound through the projector and back to a second platter and wound again – this eliminated the need for rewinding reels of movies.
I spent many wonderful days in that building – I knew the building as good or better than anyone alive from the roof to behind the screen – I am sad that I did not get to keep anything from the building as a memento.
It was going to close once before – and was given a small reprieve – it is sad – It never should have been cut up – It was every bit as glamorous as its cousin downtown. Many events could have happened there if it was not destroyed just to make more money -
It will be sad to see what it is turned into.
Wow. This was a staple back when I was growing up. No multiplexes, no Millcreek Mall. You went to a movie downtown at The Strand, The Warner or if you were lucky enough to get a ride, all the way out there to Dipson's. What great memories of a great theater.
I am sorry to see it will no longer be there.
I was sad to hear that it's closing. :( I had my first date with my husband there 13 years ago. We're hoping to take the kids there one more time before the theater closes.
Another sad event for the Erie community. I saw Gone with the Wind for the first time at the Dipson and many many Disney features like Tomasina and Sleeping Beauty and Born Free and ….
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Thank you 'Inked ' for the memorial to a great theater. Soemtimes “NEW and Improved ” may be the former but especially in this case was not ever the latter!
We miss all that the West Erie Plaza with its Halle's, Trasks, small stores and restaurants had to offer. Maybe someday they'll return… People were too quick to flock to Upper Peach Street and the Millcreek Mall. If you do not patronize the businesses in your area then this is what befalls them.
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Agreed, if you don't support the business, it closes. Many people are lamenting the closing of the theatre but how many people supported it while it was open? I can honestly say I did not. It's one of those things, you don't miss it until it's taken away from you.
Here's my idea for the theatre: Turn it into a “Brew & View”
What's a Brew & View? It's a theater you go to which shows second run movies. Instead of the traditional movie theater style seats, there are tables which make it ideal to drink a beer or eat some food.
Another store that many people forget about in the west erie plaza was Candyworld Book City –
You went in and the whole left side of the store was candy and they had this rack that ran the entire depth of the store that held baskets of candy and you filled a bag and they weighed it to tell you the price – They sold the best root beer barrels in the city – My grandmother always bought her candy there and had jars of candy all over the house –
The entire right side of the store was books, magazines and comics – I would spend hours in there and as long as you were polite and well behaved and didn't destroy any thing, you could look through any number of magazines or comics until you found the one you wanted –
It was a great place – I used to walk about a mile as a kid just to get to the West Erie Plaza and could spend the better part of a day there.
I used to cut through the old Star Drive In – the drive in was located where the Giant Eagle Plaza is now – but that is another story -
It's a shame to see it close, my wife and I would go there to see major blockbusters instead of braving the crowds on upper Peach. Someone should buy it and start showing indie films, documentaries, have some flicks well after they played at Tinseltown, ala the dollar theater, show the Steeler games when they are not televised on TV, get a license to serve alcohol for movies after 9:00. So many possibilities.
I'm liking all those ideas for what the theatre could be. Football on the bigscreen? AND a BEER? I'm there.
Too bad about the theatre. I remember seeing lots of movies there, most notably “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Later on I took girls on dates to see “chick flicks” like 'E.T.' and probably others I've mercifully long since erased from my memory [no doubt the ladies in question feel the same way too].
One little detail I remember about the original Dipson's Plaza Theatre is that there used to be a “TV Lounge” with chairs and a color TV set on the left side of lobby just after you entered from outdoors….never saw anyone in there or knew what it was used for…..maybe people could cool their heels in there while they waited for their movie to start if they got to the theatre early, or am I imagining that ? Does anyone else remember when Warner would show closed circuit TV of boxing matches and auto races on the big screen ? I recall going to movies at Warner, Columbia, Strand, Shea, Dipsons, and Roxie but I know there were others.
Wasn't there also a Candyworld Book City downtown at 8th and State next to Boston Store ?
I remember a Befwick's English Inn in the West Erie Plaza, and I think there was another one downtown on 9th Street between Peach & Sassafras in that little strip of stores where I. Michael Brown had his art supply shop.
Trask's was in the separate building across Pittsburgh Avenue from the West Erie Plaza at the corner of 8th Street that later housed Spectrum Control Inc. Boston Store had its own big building up towards 12th Street but where was Halle's ? (Halle's Downtown was at 10th and Peach)
Why doesn't someone document this kind of stuff ? John Claridge ?
What a shame. Another loss for erie residents. I went to see lawrence of arabia there with my future husband. The theater and the carpet was pale aqua and very beautiful. Even the staircase in the lobby had a theatrical look to it. You really felt like you were someone when you got escorted to your seat! And it was air conditioned. Wow. How lucky were are to have these memories. Oh—and that is when people would “dress” to go to a movie. No jeans or tee shirts. High heels and dresses and dress shirt and tie. Maybe we should get back to that.