This data is based on newspaper advertising in respective markets.
ATLANTA
The double feature does not arrive widely in Atlanta until 1940. Stage shows are prominent at the Loew’s Grand, Howard, and Capitol throughout 1928, but shows tend to persist only at one venue at a time throughout the 1930s (the Loew’s Capitol is the outlet with shows from 1929–1930 and from 1934–1938, while the Fox has stage shows from 1930 to 1932). The Capitol continues as the only outlet in town with stage shows through 1944; by the following year it has taken up the double feature.
In 1928–1929 there are stage shows regularly running at Keith’s, Metropolitan, Scollay Square, Loew’s State, and the Orpheum. By 1933, Scollay Square has started showing double features. The other theaters continue with stage shows, including RKO-Boston as well, until 1934. RKO-Boston begins showing double features in August 1934, and by December of the following year the State, Keith’s, and the Orpheum have joined them. By 1938, stage shows have halted at the Orpheum, State, Metropolitan, and Keith’s. RKO-Boston continues with stage shows until 1952, though frequently coupled with double features. Stage shows appear to stop entirely by 1953.
CHICAGO
In the late 1920s, multiple palaces featured stage shows (the Oriental, Chicago, Tivoli, Uptown, Marbro, Granada, Paradise, Avalon, etc.). After the coming of sound, this pool constricted slightly. Stage shows continued regularly at the Chicago, Oriental, Uptown, State-Lake, Palace, and Stratford until 1935. Double features began to be regularly advertised in late 1936/early 1937 at neighborhood theaters. By the late 1930s, only the Chicago, Oriental, and Palace were still consistently featuring stage shows, with the Chicago and Oriental continuing to feature stage programs until 1954–1955.
HARTFORD
In the late 1920s the Allyn and Fox-Poli consistently featured stage shows. Double features are already in progress at the Majestic, Lowe’s, and Colonial by 1929–1930. The stage show at Fox-Poli disappears in 1933, replaced with double features. The Allyn resurfaces with stage shows briefly, but then moves to double features. By the mid-1930s, the Palace is the only outlet featuring stage shows, with all other first-run theaters showing double features. By 1937, the Palace has also joined their ranks.
MILWAUKEE
In 1928, the Wisconsin, Palace Orpheum, Riverside, and Strand all regularly featured stage shows. By the end of 1929, the Palace Orpheum and the Strand discontinued stage shows. The Wisconsin and Riverside continue with stage shows until the mid-1930s, occasionally joined by the Warner and Alhambra. By the end of 1935, the Wisconsin has also discontinued stage shows (in addition to the Warner and Alhambra). While the double feature began to appear at neighborhood theaters in late 1934, it didn’t appear at the palaces until 1935–1936. The Riverside continued as the only venue for stage shows into the 1940s, while virtually all other theaters had taken up double bills. By 1945, the Riverside had also discontinued its show in favor of double features.
PITTSBURGH
In 1928, the Harris, Penn, Davis, Enright, Sheridan Square, and Stanley all regularly feature stage shows. By the end of 1929, only the Stanley, Penn, Enright, and Harris were still consistently featuring shows. By the end of 1931, the first double feature arrives, at the Harris, and the stage show begins its decline. By mid-1935, the Penn has discontinued its stage show, while the Stanley remains the only outlet in the city with a stage show over the period from 1935–1940. The Stanley finally discarded its stage show in 1945, though it does not take up the double feature.
WASHINGTON
In early 1928, the Loew’s Palace, Fox, and Earle all feature stage shows. By the end of the year, the Earle has dropped out of the picture, only to resurface in late 1930. The three palaces continue with stage shows, but by the end of 1932 the Loew’s Palace has dropped out of the picture. Stage shows persist at the Fox and Earle until 1936. The Loew’s Capitol and Earle continue with stage shows until the 1940s. Double features finally replace the stage show at Earle in 1946.