A little about the Eastland Mall Theatre “back-in-the-day”: It was always a dark theatre, with the dark blue walls and dark blue carpet and it’s narrow layout. Being on the lower level was not a plus. Heavy rains (or even just an all day steady rain) usually caused backups into the theatre since apparently it was the lowest point of the mall. What a headache for the management! Fun things: The midnight movies were a great success at Eastland, the pairing with the old 95Q rock station worked well and the atmosphere during these was always like a bit of a ‘party’.
Worth – I remember you – my father, Edward Marks, was always impressed with your talent with horror make-up and effects.
By the way, in the opening history of this theatre at top of page I notice the writer describes the seats as rocking chair seats – I do not remember the seats as such. The only theatre in Charlotte that I knew of with rocking chair seats was the Park Terrace.
Friday/Saturday nights at the Capri – still boggles my mind that during The Exorcist (1974) we’d sell out (can you imagine selling 900+ tickets for one show these days?) – the crowd at the concession stand could get a bit impatient but once you got a rhythm going back there it would go pretty smooth (well, most of the time anyway).
Oops – can’t revise comments? And I see I’ve now misspelled his last name in above post. Alright, 100 times, Erle Stillwell…anyway, do check out the architectural drawings – great stuff – all of them!
Sorry about misspelling Stilwell’s first name. Will correct! You’ll find many of his architectural drawings at UNC-Chapel Hill’s “Going to the Show”. Here is link to one for The Center at Monroe, NC. http://docsouth.unc.edu/gtts/content/2868/
The Delta 6 was owned & operated by Eastern Federal. They also owned The Regency Theatres just around the corner on Albemarle Road when they built The Delta 6. (named for the road it was built on—Delta Road—which has since been renamed W. T. Harris Boulevard)
I was wrong! My mother insisted that The Bailey was never owned by Stewart & Everett and she was right in that it was never owned by them when she lived in Wilmington. At some point, I do not know when, The Bailey was operated (but probably not owned) by Stewart & Everett as I have seen it listed in some promotional literature for the managers of this chain from the 1970s.
Visited Wilmington last spring (2008). It looked like The Manor was still there. “Hill’s Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory 1958” shows The Manor at 208 Market St. The business at 208 Market Street in 2008 was “The Rox” – some sort of entertainment venue. The facade looks different but it appears to be the same building that housed The Manor.
Also, The Manor would have been one of four downtown movie houses in 1958 per that city directory with the other three being The Bailey, The Colony and The Ritz (810 N. 4th St).
My two cents: Stewart & Everett never owned The Bailey. Stellings & Gossett owned four drive-ins (Starway, North 17, Wrightsville Rd. & Skyland) and The Manor in Wilmington. I don’t know who owned The Colony but when Stewart & Everett bought Stellings & Gossett they also purchased (or possibly leased) The Colony about 1960-61. Per Beverly Tetterton’s book “Wilmington: Lost But Not Forgotten” the three names of this theatre beginning in 1913: Victoria, Carolina, Colony. However, Beverly gets the year wrong as to when Stewart & Everett came into The Colony’s history. Mr. Roe – kiddy shows were a huge draw and Daddy (Edward Marks) played those up big! (He painted all the banners & did many of the cut-out letters on the marquee) They gave away nice prizes at some of the kids shows (like a bicycle, record player, camera) and often tied in with local soft-drink bottlers/distributers for discount (or free) admission (like bring 6 Royal Crown bottle caps & get in free). I have so many pictures (mostly of the marquee) from this time period. I hope to scan at least a few more & get them to my flickr site soon.
I’m confused. As far as I know, General Cinema Corporation opened the Westgate Cinemas in February 1984. Six screens. See three photos of this Westgate that I refer to at my flckr site: View link
The theatre was sold to Litchfield in September of 1989. After that I do not know. Perhaps there was another earlier theatre at this same mall? I’ve always heard it called “Litchfield Theatres” but this might not be the correct name of that chain.
It was part of a small row of buildings & this was typical of Eastern Federal – building a theatre as well as some other store fronts to rent out. The theatre did have a second story where the manager’s office and restrooms were & I would guess a balcony too. It was often plagued with flooding problems due to its neighbor, Little Sugar Creek. I do have a photo of my father counting the money in the manager’s office. Will try to post it to my flickr account sometime within the next week. Thanks for the info about the architect!
Union Square Cinemas are indeed located across from the mall, only across Dickerson Boulevard instead of 74. (in other words, across from the ‘side’ of the mall) I never attended the Union Village Cinema but remembered seeing it in 1989. I was going by the 1977 Mullin-Kille Monroe City Directory which has it as “Village Twin I and II”. Actually, looking at an ad for the theatre from 1984 shows 4 screens! Must have started as a twin and then each auditorium split??
Opening date for The Capri was set to be October 16, 1964. Some newspaper research at the local library should verify that it did open then. Here is a link to a photo of the marquee in 1975: View link
I’m not positive, but I believe there was an art department downstairs (basement?) in the Imperial. They were responsible for the lobby cards and other signs for directing/informing theatre patrons.
There was a Brevard Drive-In around 1950 owned by a Mr. Montieth and his son-in-law, Edward Marks. I do not know if it was brand new then but imagine so. I wish I knew more but alas do not. Would love to see at least an old advertisment from this drive-in (I believe a picture would be too much to hope for).
A little about the Eastland Mall Theatre “back-in-the-day”: It was always a dark theatre, with the dark blue walls and dark blue carpet and it’s narrow layout. Being on the lower level was not a plus. Heavy rains (or even just an all day steady rain) usually caused backups into the theatre since apparently it was the lowest point of the mall. What a headache for the management! Fun things: The midnight movies were a great success at Eastland, the pairing with the old 95Q rock station worked well and the atmosphere during these was always like a bit of a ‘party’.
Worth – I remember you – my father, Edward Marks, was always impressed with your talent with horror make-up and effects.
By the way, in the opening history of this theatre at top of page I notice the writer describes the seats as rocking chair seats – I do not remember the seats as such. The only theatre in Charlotte that I knew of with rocking chair seats was the Park Terrace.
Friday/Saturday nights at the Capri – still boggles my mind that during The Exorcist (1974) we’d sell out (can you imagine selling 900+ tickets for one show these days?) – the crowd at the concession stand could get a bit impatient but once you got a rhythm going back there it would go pretty smooth (well, most of the time anyway).
Oops – can’t revise comments? And I see I’ve now misspelled his last name in above post. Alright, 100 times, Erle Stillwell…anyway, do check out the architectural drawings – great stuff – all of them!
Sorry about misspelling Stilwell’s first name. Will correct! You’ll find many of his architectural drawings at UNC-Chapel Hill’s “Going to the Show”. Here is link to one for The Center at Monroe, NC. http://docsouth.unc.edu/gtts/content/2868/
The Delta 6 was owned & operated by Eastern Federal. They also owned The Regency Theatres just around the corner on Albemarle Road when they built The Delta 6. (named for the road it was built on—Delta Road—which has since been renamed W. T. Harris Boulevard)
2009 photo of Marquee at: View link
I was wrong! My mother insisted that The Bailey was never owned by Stewart & Everett and she was right in that it was never owned by them when she lived in Wilmington. At some point, I do not know when, The Bailey was operated (but probably not owned) by Stewart & Everett as I have seen it listed in some promotional literature for the managers of this chain from the 1970s.
Unable to get to first link so didn’t try 2nd one. Were these photos just before it was demolished?
Sorry, I see I’m still putting that “e” on the end of Everett! Gotta stop that!
Posted image of marquee from the 1967 newspaper ad at flickr:
View link
Visited Wilmington last spring (2008). It looked like The Manor was still there. “Hill’s Wilmington (New Hanover County, NC) City Directory 1958” shows The Manor at 208 Market St. The business at 208 Market Street in 2008 was “The Rox” – some sort of entertainment venue. The facade looks different but it appears to be the same building that housed The Manor.
Also, The Manor would have been one of four downtown movie houses in 1958 per that city directory with the other three being The Bailey, The Colony and The Ritz (810 N. 4th St).
My two cents: Stewart & Everett never owned The Bailey. Stellings & Gossett owned four drive-ins (Starway, North 17, Wrightsville Rd. & Skyland) and The Manor in Wilmington. I don’t know who owned The Colony but when Stewart & Everett bought Stellings & Gossett they also purchased (or possibly leased) The Colony about 1960-61. Per Beverly Tetterton’s book “Wilmington: Lost But Not Forgotten” the three names of this theatre beginning in 1913: Victoria, Carolina, Colony. However, Beverly gets the year wrong as to when Stewart & Everett came into The Colony’s history. Mr. Roe – kiddy shows were a huge draw and Daddy (Edward Marks) played those up big! (He painted all the banners & did many of the cut-out letters on the marquee) They gave away nice prizes at some of the kids shows (like a bicycle, record player, camera) and often tied in with local soft-drink bottlers/distributers for discount (or free) admission (like bring 6 Royal Crown bottle caps & get in free). I have so many pictures (mostly of the marquee) from this time period. I hope to scan at least a few more & get them to my flickr site soon.
Consolidated Theatres owned the Union Village Shopping Center theatres. As far as I know they also built the Union Square Cinemas.
I’m confused. As far as I know, General Cinema Corporation opened the Westgate Cinemas in February 1984. Six screens. See three photos of this Westgate that I refer to at my flckr site: View link
The theatre was sold to Litchfield in September of 1989. After that I do not know. Perhaps there was another earlier theatre at this same mall? I’ve always heard it called “Litchfield Theatres” but this might not be the correct name of that chain.
Here is link to photo of marquee (1968):
View link
Photo of Southpark Cinemas from 1985 at my flickr site:
View link
It was part of a small row of buildings & this was typical of Eastern Federal – building a theatre as well as some other store fronts to rent out. The theatre did have a second story where the manager’s office and restrooms were & I would guess a balcony too. It was often plagued with flooding problems due to its neighbor, Little Sugar Creek. I do have a photo of my father counting the money in the manager’s office. Will try to post it to my flickr account sometime within the next week. Thanks for the info about the architect!
Note – I keep putting an “e” on the end of Stewart & Everett – my apologies as that is not correct!
The Paramount, Carolina, and Alamance were owned by North Carolina Theatres, Inc. per ad in the 1940 “Doe Wah Jack”, Burlington High School annual.
Here is another photo, undated, of The Drake. Probably mid-late 1960s. View link
Union Square Cinemas are indeed located across from the mall, only across Dickerson Boulevard instead of 74. (in other words, across from the ‘side’ of the mall) I never attended the Union Village Cinema but remembered seeing it in 1989. I was going by the 1977 Mullin-Kille Monroe City Directory which has it as “Village Twin I and II”. Actually, looking at an ad for the theatre from 1984 shows 4 screens! Must have started as a twin and then each auditorium split??
Opening date for The Capri was set to be October 16, 1964. Some newspaper research at the local library should verify that it did open then. Here is a link to a photo of the marquee in 1975:
View link
I’m not positive, but I believe there was an art department downstairs (basement?) in the Imperial. They were responsible for the lobby cards and other signs for directing/informing theatre patrons.
Check out nice history about General Cinema theatres as well as some images at: View link
There was a Brevard Drive-In around 1950 owned by a Mr. Montieth and his son-in-law, Edward Marks. I do not know if it was brand new then but imagine so. I wish I knew more but alas do not. Would love to see at least an old advertisment from this drive-in (I believe a picture would be too much to hope for).