The name of the hotel above the store fronts was the Hotel Rio. The Shafers used the old hotel as their offices until they sold all their theaters to Showcase Cinemas. I use to go up there every week with the payroll books and receipts, but for the lifelong me I can’t remember how many rooms there were. I don’t recall that any of the rooms had private baths
When I was a teenager I worked in the haunted house a few years. We were always told the fire was arson, that a woman and her husband who owned a hair salon that occupied one of the store fronts set fire to the salon for the insurance money. I do not know if this is true.
The name of the hotel above the store fronts was the Hotel Rio. The Shafers used the old hotel as their offices until they sold all their theaters to Showcase Cinemas. I use to go up there every week with the payroll books and receipts, but for the lifelong me I can’t remember how many rooms there were. I don’t recall that any of the rooms had private baths
My dad was a "pin boy" in the 30's. Got paid to reset the pins in the basement bowling alley.
My family ran one of the early theaters on Jefferson, in what was then river Rouge. Amuse-u/Lancaster theater.
Really enjoyed the video! Looking forward to more : )
My dad was a "pin boy" in the 30's. Got paid to reset the pins after being knocked down.
Awesome information!
Any speculation as to the why or who of the arson scenario?
When I was a teenager I worked in the haunted house a few years. We were always told the fire was arson, that a woman and her husband who owned a hair salon that occupied one of the store fronts set fire to the salon for the insurance money. I do not know if this is true.
Fireproof?
Ah, the old part of the theater actually survived the fire. Interesting.
What a total waste of history