11-01-2009
( Reply#: 3884 ) |
wvcogs |
Hello Jim,
It's good to have an old friend on Sheptalk. I don't have a lobby photo of the Ace; and, you probably have already seen this shot of the outside that was taken sometime in the '50s. This one is from the Purdue Calumet Archives. Notice those old Kennedy Avenue businesses in the background.
Ken
[img]http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/wvcogs72/Archives/TheAce.jpg[/img] |
11-03-2009
( Reply#: 3886 ) |
seejay2 |
All I remember about that owner was it was a Greek name....Cj |
11-03-2009
( Reply#: 3887 ) |
Jim Plummer |
What a great photo! I assume that it must have been the free cartoon show after Santa's arrival in Hessville. I'm guessing the merchants sponsored this so parents could start shopping without the kids underfoot! Do we know what year this was taken?
Speaking of which, has anyone been to the current Kennedy theater lately? I saw some pictures of it and I recognized the snak counter as being unchanged. |
11-03-2009
( Reply#: 3890 ) |
wvcogs |
According to the Purdue Archives' catalog information, the picture was taken in 1951. I wouldn't accept that as fact, but it could be a few years later. So many of the dates on other archives pictures are wrong based upon the cars and other items in them. For example, a picture of the 1959-60 Morton High School band is labeled 1951. I know the date of that one because I'm in it. |
11-03-2009
( Reply#: 3891 ) |
wvcogs |
Jim,
Take a look at this picture of the Ace and downtown Hessville. (This is another photo from the Purdue Calumet Archives.)
Here's some information another member of Sheptalk posted regarding it about a year ago.
"This great shot of the old Ace Theatre was taken sometime during the week beginning Friday, November 25, 1955. How do I know? I came across it in the Hammond Times theater listings in the Hammond Public Library's old microfilm collection (while doing some research). As another reader notes, there were TWO films entitled "High Society" released around this time; the one which played at the Ace on this double-bill was the Leo Gorcey version."
Because of the date, this one must have coincided with Santa's arrival. But, I think we can tell the two pictures were not taken on the same day. Notice the difference in lighting and that in this one some of the stores have their awnings down, but none of them do in the other one. My guess is that the other picture was taken a couple years earlier.
Ken
[img]http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g268/wvcogs72/Archives/SCP443HessvilleBusinessDistrict-Mar.jpg[/img] |
11-04-2009
( Reply#: 3892 ) |
Jim Plummer |
I agree Santa has just arrived on the far left in the parking lot north of the A&P store. Anchors Away was a reissue from 1945 but High Society was front run in 1955. I'm sure that I saw that double feature at the time. Somebody in Hammond could check the micro filmed Hammond Times at the library to double check the date. I would bet it was the day after thanksgiving. That double feature would have played thurs,fri& sat. |
11-04-2009
( Reply#: 3893 ) |
Jim Plummer |
I forgot to mention, one photo has Christmas tree decorations on the poles, the other one doesn't. |
11-04-2009
( Reply#: 3894 ) |
wvcogs |
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
....Somebody in Hammond could check the micro filmed Hammond Times at the library to double check the date. I would bet it was the day after thanksgiving. That double feature would have played thurs,fri& sat.
Thursday, November 24, would have been the fourth Thursday of November in 1955 and, therefore, Thanksgiving day. |
11-05-2009
( Reply#: 3896 ) |
Pro2am |
Jim,
I'm not sure what era you're referring to here, but from at least the early 1960s the owner's name was Hennesey. I think he passed away sometime in the late 1990s-early 2000s.
I remember him pretty well; a tall guy with a kind of stern countenance. He was the manager for many years, including the theater's transition from the name "Ace" to "Kennedy".
The theater is still in existence and still functioning.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
=========================
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
My favorite theater was the Ace. It was the only one I could walk to.
Does anyone know the name of the manager?
He was a dapper man with a pencil moustache. At one point he also owned the Lans theater. Anyone have any photos of the Lobby?
|
11-06-2009
( Reply#: 3897 ) |
seejay2 |
It was the guy before Hennesey. He had black hair, moustache and a pretty thick accent. It was a Greek name, but I don't remember it off hand.
When Jack decided to leave, somehow Don Hipp entered into the picture and dumped a small fortune into the place, but Jack's kids got into the deal some way or another and acquired the place. It is not a good subject to bring up with Don Hipp as he took a pretty stiff hosing on the deal. Jack returned from Florida and ran the place for a while then died in the late 90's or early 2000.....Cj |
11-07-2009
( Reply#: 3899 ) |
Jim Plummer |
This is the one I'm speaking aboutquote:
Originally posted by seejay2
It was the guy before Hennesey. He had black hair, moustache and a pretty thick accent. It was a Greek name, but I don't remember it off hand.
When Jack decided to leave, somehow Don Hipp entered into the picture and dumped a small fortune into the place, but Jack's kids got into the deal some way or another and acquired the place. It is not a good subject to bring up with Don Hipp as he took a pretty stiff hosing on the deal. Jack returned from Florida and ran the place for a while then died in the late 90's or early 2000.....Cj
|
11-07-2009
( Reply#: 3900 ) |
Pro2am |
Thanks for the info, Chris. I can't remember the first time I went to the Ace (late 1950s?). But I do recall the beginning of our long relationship with the theater: 1962. This was the year my family moved to Hessville (from Woodmar). So I have no recollection of the owner before Mr. Hennesey. I also can't remember what year the theater's name was changed to Kennedy from Ace. 1964? I'm thinking that it was renamed in honor of JFK after his assassination.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
=================================
quote:
Originally posted by seejay2
It was the guy before Hennesey. He had black hair, moustache and a pretty thick accent. It was a Greek name, but I don't remember it off hand.
When Jack decided to leave, somehow Don Hipp entered into the picture and dumped a small fortune into the place, but Jack's kids got into the deal some way or another and acquired the place. It is not a good subject to bring up with Don Hipp as he took a pretty stiff hosing on the deal. Jack returned from Florida and ran the place for a while then died in the late 90's or early 2000.....Cj
|
11-07-2009
( Reply#: 3901 ) |
S C Jones |
Hey all you guys and gals with memories of the Ace Theater on Kennedy Ave. in Hessville, IN., go to the following site and see why and when the Ace Theater of Hessville, Indiana, made it in an issue of BOXOFFICE
issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_032860 -[:)]
when you get to the above site, input ACE in the upper right hand corner
|
11-07-2009
( Reply#: 3902 ) |
S C Jones |
Hey, and i may have found "HIS" name---the early manager?? Looks Greek to me!
Poulos also has the Ace in Hessville and the Aida in Oglesby. 111., as well as the Center in ...... In 2-Theaire Billing DALLASÑ Theatre history was made ...
issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_113046 - Cached - Similar
Grand Park Subdivision 1940-1961 Boondocks of Hessville! |
11-08-2009
( Reply#: 3903 ) |
seejay2 |
The first time I can really recall going there was with our entire class to see The Song of Bernadette with Jennifer Jones in the title role. The movie was made in '43 so I don't really remember what year it was when we went there; some time around '60 (maybe even before that). I do recall though it was the Greek who had the place then. He filed us all in and seated us.
If I remember right, Hennesey alway maintained that the theater was named for Kennedy Ave, and not the prez. But wasn't that place renamed "JFK" for a while or am I wrong about that?
quote:
Originally posted by Pro2am
Thanks for the info, Chris. I can't remember the first time I went to the Ace (late 1950s?). But I do recall the beginning of our long relationship with the theater: 1962. This was the year my family moved to Hessville (from Woodmar). So I have no recollection of the owner before Mr. Hennesey. I also can't remember what year the theater's name was changed to Kennedy from Ace. 1964? I'm thinking that it was renamed in honor of JFK after his assassination.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
=================================
quote:
Originally posted by seejay2
It was the guy before Hennesey. He had black hair, moustache and a pretty thick accent. It was a Greek name, but I don't remember it off hand.
When Jack decided to leave, somehow Don Hipp entered into the picture and dumped a small fortune into the place, but Jack's kids got into the deal some way or another and acquired the place. It is not a good subject to bring up with Don Hipp as he took a pretty stiff hosing on the deal. Jack returned from Florida and ran the place for a while then died in the late 90's or early 2000.....Cj
|
11-08-2009
( Reply#: 3904 ) |
wvcogs |
Here's a fairly recent -- May 2008 -- NWI Times article about the Kennedy Theater. Have any of you seen it? However, it still doesn't identify the "Greek" owner from the '50s.
Ken
[url="http://nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/article_d4b5a1e4-f869-51b9-b03f-79ab7eba6b3a.html"]Ace/Kennedy Theater[/url] |
11-08-2009
( Reply#: 3905 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by S C Jones
Hey all you guys and gals with memories of the Ace Theater on Kennedy Ave. in Hessville, IN., go to the following site and see why and when the Ace Theater of Hessville, Indiana, made it in an issue of BOXOFFICE
issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_032860 -[:)]
when you get to the above site, input ACE in the upper right hand corner
Got to the site, S.C., but the only box was in the middle at the top of the page, not the upper right, and when I typed "ace" and searched, several articles came up, but nothing about the Ace in Hessville.
Tom |
11-08-2009
( Reply#: 3906 ) |
S C Jones |
The first show I remember at the Ace, though I saw others before, is THE LONG, LONG, TRAILER--Lucille Ball movie..
Google the following: History of Ace Theater in Hessville, IN.
Scroll down to the two sites that begin with a date 1960...Boxoffice
1946...Boxoffice
Click on one of them. When the Boxoffice page comes up there will be a box in the upper right hand corner that says History---type Ace or Hessville in that box.
then when the page comes up, click on it to zoom in there are two different issues, so go back to the other date in google and click on it.....
The name Poulos is in the 1946 issue. |
11-09-2009
( Reply#: 3910 ) |
MrRazz |
Remember the ACE well. Got busted by Mr. Hennesy for smuggling in my own refreshments...was mortified. Remember seeing a "Three Stooges" movie, one of the first "007" movies, and maybe a 3-D'er with the glasses? Wasn't exactly Cinemax, but you are right, Jim, we could walk to it...did a lot of that back then. I remember the Drive-In movie on Ridge Road too...very few left and a shame.quote:
Originally posted by wvcogs
Here's a fairly recent -- May 2008 -- NWI Times article about the Kennedy Theater. Have any of you seen it? However, it still doesn't identify the "Greek" owner from the '50s.
Ken
[url="http://nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/article_d4b5a1e4-f869-51b9-b03f-79ab7eba6b3a.html"]Ace/Kennedy Theater[/url]
|
11-11-2009
( Reply#: 3923 ) |
S C Jones |
Well, did I kill the topic when I found the name Poulos? I remember him, though I did not know his name at the time. When I made a noise with the Boston Baked Bean container after I had finished them, he came in with a flashlight and demanded to know who did that.
When I confessed and showed him the box, he warned us all we would be out if he heard another peep from us. Luckily my friends had had time to hide their bottles of Pepsi before he flashed the light on them...
You guys who love movies might find the Box Office reference I gave interesting. It is a sight with historical copies of the trade magazine and you can read background on old movies.
|
11-13-2009
( Reply#: 3937 ) |
cmann20@cox.net |
Oh my - does this topic let the memories flow! I was so afraid of that theatre guy! What a bully. I was young, like 2nd grade at Caldwell. I was so intimidated by him. Who was he again? Owner or managed the place? He scared me. I still have nightmares from seeing my first 3-D movie there "The Mask". What were my parents thinking?! My babysitter took my older sister and I with her to the Beatles movie, "Hard Days Night", I think. Every teenage girl was on her feet SCREAMING. I saw and heard nothing. Why was I there?! Can anyone tell me the name of the diner on the corner (I think)? |
11-13-2009
( Reply#: 3938 ) |
S C Jones |
Welcome to the site, Cmann.
Yes, the man-- last name Poulos, believe--was a scary dude. As I remember him, he had black, Brylcreemed hair and a thin (pencil, I think they called it.) mustache.
The teens were beginning to get rowdy in the Ace, and he acted like a tyrant. I heard that sometime in the mid-sixties the lights were left on inside the theater while the movies were shown because of that. I left the area in 1960, so I missed that "delightful" development.
|
11-13-2009
( Reply#: 3940 ) |
Bill Bucko |
I'm not sure which owner it was, but one of them hosted (for at least a short while, around the early '60s) a radio program called "Saturday Afternoon at the Ace." He had a lot of trouble getting us kids to quiet down so he could record the program. Think there was a raffle for a bike (like in one of Shep's stories ... the one where a girl wins, and Flick stands up to pitch a taffy apple at the stage, in a gesture of defiance -- till the usher catches him with his flashlight).
I didn't go too often. I remember seeing "Run Silent, Run Deep" on a double bill with "Tammy," "The Brain from Planet Arous," "The Mask," "Help!," and, when I was a bit older, "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
11-26-2009
( Reply#: 3988 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
I'm the guy who posted a year ago with the info on this picture. I had, in fact, come across the "Anchors Aweigh/High Society" listing in Hammond Times microfilm archives; the double-bill began its week-long run on Friday, Nov. 25th, 1955, so that's definitely the week this pic was taken....probably on Saturday the 26th.
I've spent tons of time scrolling through the old Hammond Times microfilms, especially looking for the movie listings, which are very useful in assembling a time-line of old memories. When we still lived in Woodmar, we occasionally went to the ACE--- I had the sh__ scared out of me there when we saw the Roger Corman "Pit and the Pendulum" on November 2, 1961 (thanks again to the Times' microfilms). That silly German 3-D film "The Mask", which is mentioned in a couple of posts, played at the RIDGE ROAD Drive-in during the week of Nov 10, 1961 (where we saw it)--so it must have played at the Ace right around the same time. After we moved to Hessville (March, 1962) we attended the Ace far more regularly (the great "Jack the Giant Killer" and "5 Weeks in a Balloon" on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in October of '62.....what a treat!).
I recall that the theater was renamed THE KENNEDY in honor of the recently-assasinated president, and not becuase it's on Kennedy Ave. In fact, didn't they use a little logo of Pres. Kennedy's ROCKING CHAIR in their print ads for a couple of years after that.....and call it the "Rocking Chair" Theater?? I'll have to check the Times' microfilms next time I'm in the main library.
Larry r
PS--DOES ANYONE REMEMBER anything about The MOONLITE DRIVE-IN THEATER at Michigan and Cline Ave?? I've only seen their ads in the old 50's-era Hammond Times microfilms.
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
I agree Santa has just arrived on the far left in the parking lot north of the A&P store. Anchors Away was a reissue from 1945 but High Society was front run in 1955. I'm sure that I saw that double feature at the time. Somebody in Hammond could check the micro filmed Hammond Times at the library to double check the date. I would bet it was the day after thanksgiving. That double feature would have played thurs,fri& sat.
|
11-27-2009
( Reply#: 3989 ) |
BobK |
I remember going there occasionally with my parents. Much like the 41 and Ridge Road.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 3996 ) |
Jim Plummer |
In the fifties the Ace didn't show 3-d films. I remember seeing them at the Parthenon and The Lans. I don't remember the manager at the Ace being a tyrant but he did complain to my mother about kids ripping up his seats. I think about 1959 they closed and replaced all the seats and reopened with Operation Petticoat at double the old box office price. At one time he told my mom that he was thinking of buying the property on the corner of 165th and Kennedy to open a new theater but a Grocery store opened there instead.
The Moonlight drive in was the first drive-in to close when they widened Cline Ave. We use to go there every Saturday as a family. |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4000 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
According to two previous posts (both from Nov 13), the cheesey 3-D "The Mask" was shown at the Ace. My dad, older brother and I saw it on Wednesday, Nov 15th, 1961 at the Ridge Road Drive-in, which wasn't equipped to show 3-D either, but screened it nonetheless. During the freak-out dream sequences, the screen turned blurry and sort of a purplish-pink color---both signs that 3-D glasses were needed!
I remember the exact date because a.) the Hammond Times microfilm theatre listings confirm the week it ran at Ridge-Road and b.) Wednesday was the week-night when my mother's "Bunco" club got together---they alternated which house they would meet at, and when it was our turn, the men of the house were expected to get the hell out for the evening. Since we were too young to hit the local bars, we usually ended up at a movie. It was weird to be sitting in our car on a cold November night watching this piece-of-dreck film, which was a German import, I believe.
Once again, the Times microfilm listings could confirm when it was shown at the Ace--- probably within a week or two of the Ridge Road's showing.
Larry r |
11-28-2009
( Reply#: 4022 ) |
Bill Bucko |
quote:
Originally posted by HassoBenSoba
According to two previous posts (both from Nov 13), the cheesey 3-D "The Mask" was shown at the Ace. ... ...Larry r
I definitely saw it at The Ace. I still remember that portentous voice from the screen ordering us: "Put on ... THE MASK! ... Put on ... THE MASK!" at intervals during the movie. As far as I recall, they gave us kids a cardboard mask (not just glasses), with red and blue cellophane lenses. I don't remember taking my mask home, so they may have collected them at the end of the movie, for the next show. I seem to vaguely remember some scuffles as the management struggled to pry them loose from us kids.
Also remember seeing "The Brain from Planet Arous," and hearing about (but not seeing) "Frankenstein 1970" and "Spacemaster X-7."
At least I DO have 3-D glasses from the '50s, for use with Tarzan 3D bubblegum cards--a little small for me, now.
Bill
Warren G. Harding Class of '63 |
12-21-2009
( Reply#: 4244 ) |
nitti |
I lived on Carolina and walked to and from the Ace almost every saturday in the late fifties/early sixties. (it was safe for grade schoolers in those days).
I definitely saw 13 Ghosts in 3D at the Ace.
Also at Xmas, after the movie, Santa would give out the big "straight" candy cane sticks up by the stage and we'd exit into the alley out back.
Does anyone remember the quiz show from the early Hennessey era called "The Ace is On"? On Saturday, between features, they'd turn the lights on and ask random kids questions. If they guessed right, they'd get a number of boxes of candy from the machines out front. (I loved the greenish boxes of jaw breakers - also good to throw)
Later that evening, WJOB would broadcast that day's "Ace is On" as a half hour feature. |
12-22-2009
( Reply#: 4250 ) |
Jim Plummer |
13 Ghosts wasn't a 3-d film. you had a ghost viewer card which allowed you to see the ghosts or not if they were too scary. The card had an above and below red and green view port. I saw the film at the Parthenon and it was a major dissapointment as were most of Wm. Castles films. Anybody remember EMERGO from House On Haunted Hill? A plastic squeaking skeleton on wires rolled over the top of the audience at a critical part of the movie!quote:
Originally posted by nitti
I lived on Carolina and walked to and from the Ace almost every saturday in the late fifties/early sixties. (it was safe for grade schoolers in those days).
I definitely saw 13 Ghosts in 3D at the Ace.
Also at Xmas, after the movie, Santa would give out the big "straight" candy cane sticks up by the stage and we'd exit into the alley out back.
Does anyone remember the quiz show from the early Hennessey era called "The Ace is On"? On Saturday, between features, they'd turn the lights on and ask random kids questions. If they guessed right, they'd get a number of boxes of candy from the machines out front. (I loved the greenish boxes of jaw breakers - also good to throw)
Later that evening, WJOB would broadcast that day's "Ace is On" as a half hour feature.
|
12-22-2009
( Reply#: 4267 ) |
HassoBenSoba |
Whatever the technical differences, the Ace DID show these occasional films that used a technique that was basically the same as 3-D; they definitely showed the "The Mask" in November 1961, as well as "13 Ghosts", probably in fall of 1960.
Let's all welcome this new "nitti" guy to Sheptalk-- who in real life happens to be my oldest pal from the OLPH era---and who can share MUCH info about da' Region in the 1950's-60's with us.
Larry r
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Plummer
13 Ghosts wasn't a 3-d film. you had a ghost viewer card which allowed you to see the ghosts or not if they were too scary. The card had an above and below red and green view port. I saw the film at the Parthenon and it was a major dissapointment as were most of Wm. Castles films. Anybody remember EMERGO from House On Haunted Hill? A plastic squeaking skeleton on wires rolled over the top of the audience at a critical part of the movie!quote:
Originally posted by nitti
I lived on Carolina and walked to and from the Ace almost every saturday in the late fifties/early sixties. (it was safe for grade schoolers in those days).
I definitely saw 13 Ghosts in 3D at the Ace.
Also at Xmas, after the movie, Santa would give out the big "straight" candy cane sticks up by the stage and we'd exit into the alley out back.
Does anyone remember the quiz show from the early Hennessey era called "The Ace is On"? On Saturday, between features, they'd turn the lights on and ask random kids questions. If they guessed right, they'd get a number of boxes of candy from the machines out front. (I loved the greenish boxes of jaw breakers - also good to throw)
Later that evening, WJOB would broadcast that day's "Ace is On" as a half hour feature.
|
12-23-2009
( Reply#: 4269 ) |
Tom J |
Well, Larry, I welcomed your good buddy, Mr. Nitti, in another thread, but I will gladly welcome him again.
Welcome, Nitti! Share those memories with us.
Tom |
