As I had stated on Sunday, Salisbury News has the Exclusive Photos of the old Theater coming down. While the Construction Company made every attempt to pull the face of the Main Street side of the building inwards towards the inside of the building, the structure was simply too weak. Once they started taking down the cinder block, the outer shell started leaning forward and I just knew the building would fall forward into the street, I was right. It's a shame the rest of the Media chose not to participate because this would have made for some great video. I have photos of the back side of the building being torn down and I'll post some of those later. There's some cool shots of the old balcony seats still in place on the upper level before they tore it down.
Nevertheless, I hope you've enjoyed these pictures. It's just a shame that Arts Group refused to reinvest in this property and keep it maintained. Like I said, they won't see a penny out of me no matter how many times they change their name.
31 comments:
WOW!
Another memory erased from years past. What a shame
Awesome pictures, Joe. Thanks for sharing.
Great pix, Joe!
Be sure to follow up on copyrights.
While I wish I could have seen them sooner, this was worth the wait. Great shots Joe.
Joe-
Thanks for the great pictures no matter how hard it is for me to look at them. I grew up going the the Boulevard to see countless movies as a kid and then got to work there my first year of college and I had a blast- best job I ever had!!! It may be gone now but not my memories of all the great times I spent there. I hope we do not ever let the "Arts Council" completely rot and destroy another building in Salisbury like they did here.
When the more pressing issues settle down, perhaps a closer look at the Art Group would be warranted. ?????
What a shame, felt my heart skip as you showed frame by frame it coming down. Sad but once the hub of movies in Salisbury now just a pile of rumble and memories....
Nice. I do hope the owners of that building are going to pay to repair the curbing and street if it needs it?
I'm so old I saw Woodstock there, at the time that was like the "Exorcist" coming to town : P
Thanks Joe. The Arts Council may of destroyed a place worth investing in...but they can't take away the memories we have of growing up there. The first movie I can remember seeing there was Bambi. I recall seeing Friday the 13th there...and when it was time to go upstairs for a bathroom break...well, I was scared out of my mind. That place upstairs was so pretty. Once the movies started playing out at K-mart I didn't go to the Boulevard as much because it was better parking at K-mart. I think the last movie I saw at the Boulevard was The Apple Dumpling Gang. Thanks for the memories!
Everything and everyone dies, its part of the forward motion of life.
You cant stop change, all you can do is reconize the Moments of Grace while you have them. Thats the best it gets.
Unbelievable photos Joe.
Thanks for the pictures Joe. I too, as many have quite a few memories of going there and I've always been saddened that someone didn't keep that building up on needed repairs.
With the price of movies now out at the mall (which I refuse to go to now due to price), this place may have been able to be restored to offer a more affordable option once again.
So sad. Now someone will probably come in and build something else in that location which will have no community value whatsoever.
I'm with you on the Arts Council, as I see it it's mostly just do-gooders (or atleast ones who think they are better than others) who head that up anyway so they'll never see any of my money either!
I'm so sick of those types of people in Salisbury. If you're not in THEIR little group, you're nobody, no matter how much good you do and they will do everything they can to shut you down and run you out of town. I know this because I've experienced it!
Dur. Ya can't stop change. Shut up, Doug Wilkerson. That's not the argument. The argument is that you need to preserve community treasures, in concert with growth, progress, change.
What's important now, however, is that we invest appropriately on this site. There has to be an increase in density downtown/in town. There also has to be a maintenance of the street wall (build to the sidewalk and to the neighboring buildings... no setback or parking lot on the street). There also must be retail on the ground floor. Period. I don't care what the next 3-4 or more floors are... housing, hotel, office, whatever.
oopsy someones is going to have to replace a few parking meters. The city should have taken them down instead of just covering them.
10:13 You sure you want to go with me today? I simply say what I believe and you tell me to shut up. Real mature attitude you have there. My point may have flown right over your head. Perhaps I exsist on differant plane then you do. My point was that a lot of the people that were born and raised here have lots of memories in that building, memories are inside you forever and by simply taking this building down in no way erases those memories. Those memories are a permanate Moment of Grace that some notice and some dont. Notice all your Moments of Grace because tommorow may never come for some of us. Grow up & Grow in is my advise to you Mr/Mrs anon.
10:13 38278 Providence church rd Delamr DE, I am more than willing to continue this conversation, then again you dont have the balls to sign your own name, you damn sure cant handle me.
But Doug... there may be memories, but the place has been vacant for how many years?? What's the point? Put something useful in that spot.
I agree, it was a mold infested dead building. The term "USEFUL" will probably mean differant things to differant people. I am not a city planner or an economic consultant. I do not know what the owner will or wants to do with this property, maybe he doesnt know yet. Everything is in constant change, everything continually spins, maybe this change(whatever it ends up being) will make Moments of Grace for the next generation. That would be nice, if you can also make money from it, all the better.
The picture of the couple arms around each other is particularly poignant.
While we have to move on, it is a disgrace that this building was allowed to go to hell.
Preserved, it could have been a wonderful attraction to downtown. Boo to all who neglected it and delayed its preservation past the point of no return.
Yes, we the people have our selves to blame for letting the building go. I have memories of this place and others that are gone, like the oaks drive in, Carols home of the 25 cent hamburger. Wow I'm shutting up showing my age. lol No really like anything else, times a changing and so is all around it. Look at what happened to the old mall. Can't stop change.
OAKS, way back buddy.
what's the thing the guy in the next to the last pic in the first string holding? Ticket dispenser?
It's a Projector Reel, (sp?). It holds the film you attach to the motion picture projector.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF SMALL TOWNS LIKE POCOMOKE CITY AND CAPE CHARLES CAN TRANSFORM OLD MOVIE HOUSES INTO BEAUTIFUL ART-DECO ART CENTERS, WHY CAN'T SALISBURY? IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO CATCH A MOVIE OR SHOW AT THE MARVA IN POCOMOKE, DO SO. IT'S WORTH THE TRIP TO SEE WHAT THEY DID TO THAT ONCE CLOSED DOWN, MOLD FILLED THEATER.
Don't forget the necking and touchy feely with your girlfriend in the balcony ; )
It is a shame the arts guild allowed this landmark to deteriorate. Imagine how many tickets a homeowner would have accumulated from code & compliance by now. Wonder exactly where the "guild" has spent their money.
Wish I had known it was coming down. I'd like to have one of those glass blocks.
So can't wait to see the shots of the upper level. There was some great memories made in that building. Joe these pictures are great!
Thank you for posting this photo's, it's so sad to see another old theater coming down.
Does anyone know if this one was ever operated by Fox Theaters from Reading, PA during the late 1980's or 90's? I worked for that chain and believe they had a 6 screen located there.
These are awesome shots! I'm from Philly and I know all too well the pain of losing sentiment landmarks, especially theaters. We have exactly ONE vacant art-deco movie left in our downtown area and its future is still in limbo (The Boyd). I pray something good arises from all this mostly unnecessary demolition.
I also worked at the Boulevard Theater (and the Bowl Drive-in Theatre) before it became Movies 6. It was in 1974 I believe when I started working for R/C Theaters, which managed this theater at the time. I really do miss those days at the Boulevard. They were great times. Hated to see it torn down and have often wondered why no one attempted to save it, perhaps I should have tried, but, it is so hard to fight such things. Have some really good memories of it from working there. I see someone else here also worked there, wondering who you are, and if we worked there together ? Really, perhaps I should have tried ! ! !
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