The Cardinal Theatre upon its official grand opening in 1971 got a lot of the MGM product of re-release classics. These films were presented in 70MM and it was the first in Eastern North Carolina and the Greater Fayetteville area.
These movies were presented as the MGM four-pack of re-release classics that were a first in the Fayetteville area. Movies ranging from “Gone With The Wind”, to “Ben-Hur”,“Doctor Zhivago”,and “2001: A Space Odyssey” all presented in 70MM and 6 Track Stereophonic Sound as a Eastern North Carolina Exclusive Engagement Showing at the Cardinal Theatre in 1971.
I also found the original ad from its grand opening from 1967 or early 1968 from the Fayetteville Observer. It was known as the King Theatre and the cinema was located off Bragg Boulevard in the King Shopping Center.
From the November 24,1971 Fayetteville Observer:
THE COMING ATTRACTIONS TO EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA’S FIRST ULTRAVISION THEATRE….
1. The 70MM-6 Track Engagement Re-Releases of the following:
“2001: A Space Odyssey”
“Ben-Hur”
“Doctor Zhivago”
“Gone With The Wind”
Walter Matthau in “KOTCH”
Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in “MY FAIR LADY” in 70MM!
This will be corrected very soon. I ad in my possession the original ad for the Cardinal Theatre’s Official Grand Opening from November 24,1971. The Cardinal did not open in 1969,but it opened in 1971.
The feature attraction for it’s grand opening was the James Garner western “Skin Game”.
I have found the original ads for the Audrey Hepburn-Rex Harrison film MY FAIR LADY from the January 27,1965 and January 28,1965 ad from the Charlotte Observer. The 1/27/65 ad was a special advance screening that was a reserved seat engagement. The official 1/28/65 run was also a reserved seat engagement. MY FAIR LADY when it played at the Capri in Charlotte was the ONLY roadshow engagement within the Carolinas where it played. The ONLY place where you got to see it between Atlanta and Washington,DC. Other cities in the Carolinas didn’t get MY FAIR LADY until mid-1966.
I have found the original ads for the Grand Opening of the Charlottetown Mall Cinemas,also known as the Cinema I & II from 1963. I wish someone would put this information out there,but I have the original ad from the Charlotte Observer newspaper.
George Lucas science-fiction blockbuster STAR WARS played here from July 21,1978 until September 1,1978 as many of its exclusive re-releases. I have the original ads for this too.
“LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” played at the Carolina Theatre as a Reserved Seat Engagement Presentation on September 25,1963. I have the original ads from the Charlotte Observer. Not only “LAWRENCE” played here as a Roadshow Presentation,but also “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”,and
“2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY” played here before capacity crowds at the Carolina Theatre.
Mike Rogers and Michael Coate:
I have found the original ad from the Greensboro News and Record on the Grand Opening of the Carolina Circle Mall Cinema 6 or the Circle 6. The ad was from November 12, 1976 of the News and Record and this information about this theatre will be posted later on this site. I also have the grand opening ads for the Janus Theatres and also the Terrace Theatre at Friendly Center.
FYI: Did you know that the Carolina Circle Mall Cinemas was the first AMC Theatre to be established in the state of North Carolina? AMC’s first multiplex foray in the greater Greensboro-Triad market in 1976.
Mike Rogers and Michael Coate:
I have found the grand opening advertisement on the date the Parkview Theatre originally opened. I will have the information re-posed on this site sometime before the end of this month. This information along with several other theaters in the greater Winston-Salem area will be reposted on the Cinema Treasures site. I have the original ads for the Thruway and the Parkway Theatres on the grand opening ads from the Winston-Salem Journal. Thank you.
P.S. I have the original grand opening ad for the Hanes Mall Cinemas too.
A Lot of Blockbuster movies played at the Tar Heel Drive In during the mid-1950’s through the early-to-mid 1970’s before the once great drive-in succumbed to the level of showing “XXX” rated films in the late-1970’s and early 1980’s.
STAR WARS played here at the Tar Heel Drive-In Theatre during many of it’s re-releases on July 21,1978. It was the only time that this movie played as a re-release in the greater High Point and Archdale areas.
Chuck 1231:
This theatre operated as a first-run movie house from its opening in 1940 until its closing in the early-to-mid 1980’s when it was under the Stewart & Everett chain. From 1940 thru 1955 it was the Harnett Theatre and from 1955 until its closing in 1987 or 1990 was the Stewart Theatre. From 1940 until 1975,it was in fact the only single screen indoor movie theatre in town,and the only movie house in all of Downtown Dunn and Harnett County. The Plaza Twin theatres changed all that by 1975,not to mention the town had the only drive-in theatre too which is NOT listed on the Cinema Treasures site. By the late-1980’s or mid-2000’s it changed hands with it became The Harnett Regional Theatre.
If you think “Passion of the Christ” was the only movie that was a sell-out,you may want to look back further into this cinema’s history. Since its opening in 1975,a lot of blockbuster movies that played here did very well,and were sell-outs in there own right. The original STAR WARS movie played here first-run as well as RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK as well. What else played at the Plaza? A lot of scary movies not to mention the run of Disney flicks too. But back in 1975,before the Plaza opened,the only theatres that were in town was the Stewart Theatre(now the Harnett Community Theater),and at one time to the town’s only drive-in theatre(which is not listed on the Cinema Treasures site) But when THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST played here,all boxoffice records at this cinema were broken in 2004..opening day when it sold-out all performances and even all matinee showings are packed to capacity(due to the audience of church groups and all the above,since this was at the time the only movie theatre in town). Since its closing in 2008,the only way to see a movie is to drive to the nearest towns for a movie screening..either going down I-95 towards Fayetteville or heading down South on U.S. 421 towards Clinton or even as far as Wilmington to catch a blockbuster movie.
Interesting. It reminds me of the Lakewood Center Theatre in Durham that opened in November of 1966,that was anchored by a W.T. Grant’s Department Store and was anchored by two supermarkets too(Winn-Dixie and Kroger!)
The Golden East Crossing Cinemas were located on the food court section of the shopping center and it also had a mall entrance accessible to the theatre. It was the only 4-plex cinema in town until 2003.
The Cardinal Theatres is NOT listed on this site. NOR is the Englewood Theatres I & II. Both theaters were located in Rocky Mount and NOT listed on the Cinema Treasures site(but will be soon)
The Cardinal was originally operated under ABC Southeastern Theatres,and later on was part of the Plitt Theatres chain before it was Cineplex Odeon and later under Carmike Cinemas.
The Englewood Cinemas I & II were owned and operated under Charlotte based Stewart and Everett(which controlled all of the movie houses in Eastern North Carolina)until 1986 when Carmike took over.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF when it played as a roadshow engagement at Charlotte’s Park Terrace Theatre on March 24,1972 was the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. It was a Reserved Seat Engagement with advance tickets on sale before performances.
Other cities didn’t get FIDDLER ON THE ROOF until late-1972 or early 1973,even though the film was originally released on November 3,1971.
Walt Disney’s MARY POPPINS played at the Park Terrace Theatre on January 22,1965 as its only Exclusive Engagement Showing in the Carolinas.It was one of the Reserved Seat Engagements in several theaters in the South.
Other cities wouldn’t get the film until April or June of 1965 as a general release in both the Carolinas.
Just like the Daniel Village Theatre in Augusta,Georgia…………
The Northgate Theatre in Durham, NC (which opened in X-Mas of 62) would play a lot of Disney movies as well,and basically was the market for both Disney and MGM. It also played “Mary Poppins” as a general release on April 13,1965.
The Cardinal Theatre upon its official grand opening in 1971 got a lot of the MGM product of re-release classics. These films were presented in 70MM and it was the first in Eastern North Carolina and the Greater Fayetteville area. These movies were presented as the MGM four-pack of re-release classics that were a first in the Fayetteville area. Movies ranging from “Gone With The Wind”, to “Ben-Hur”,“Doctor Zhivago”,and “2001: A Space Odyssey” all presented in 70MM and 6 Track Stereophonic Sound as a Eastern North Carolina Exclusive Engagement Showing at the Cardinal Theatre in 1971.
I also found the original ad from its grand opening from 1967 or early 1968 from the Fayetteville Observer. It was known as the King Theatre and the cinema was located off Bragg Boulevard in the King Shopping Center.
From the November 24,1971 Fayetteville Observer: THE COMING ATTRACTIONS TO EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA’S FIRST ULTRAVISION THEATRE…. 1. The 70MM-6 Track Engagement Re-Releases of the following: “2001: A Space Odyssey” “Ben-Hur” “Doctor Zhivago” “Gone With The Wind”
Walter Matthau in “KOTCH”
Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in “MY FAIR LADY” in 70MM!
This will be corrected very soon. I ad in my possession the original ad for the Cardinal Theatre’s Official Grand Opening from November 24,1971. The Cardinal did not open in 1969,but it opened in 1971. The feature attraction for it’s grand opening was the James Garner western “Skin Game”.
I have found the original ads for the Audrey Hepburn-Rex Harrison film MY FAIR LADY from the January 27,1965 and January 28,1965 ad from the Charlotte Observer. The 1/27/65 ad was a special advance screening that was a reserved seat engagement. The official 1/28/65 run was also a reserved seat engagement. MY FAIR LADY when it played at the Capri in Charlotte was the ONLY roadshow engagement within the Carolinas where it played. The ONLY place where you got to see it between Atlanta and Washington,DC. Other cities in the Carolinas didn’t get MY FAIR LADY until mid-1966.
I have found the original ads for the Grand Opening of the Charlottetown Mall Cinemas,also known as the Cinema I & II from 1963. I wish someone would put this information out there,but I have the original ad from the Charlotte Observer newspaper.
George Lucas science-fiction blockbuster STAR WARS played here from July 21,1978 until September 1,1978 as many of its exclusive re-releases. I have the original ads for this too.
“LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” played at the Carolina Theatre as a Reserved Seat Engagement Presentation on September 25,1963. I have the original ads from the Charlotte Observer. Not only “LAWRENCE” played here as a Roadshow Presentation,but also “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”,and “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY” played here before capacity crowds at the Carolina Theatre.
HISTORY: AMC Theatres(American Multi-Cinemas): 1976-1989 Carmike Cinemas: 1989-2001
Mike Rogers and Michael Coate: I have found the original ad from the Greensboro News and Record on the Grand Opening of the Carolina Circle Mall Cinema 6 or the Circle 6. The ad was from November 12, 1976 of the News and Record and this information about this theatre will be posted later on this site. I also have the grand opening ads for the Janus Theatres and also the Terrace Theatre at Friendly Center. FYI: Did you know that the Carolina Circle Mall Cinemas was the first AMC Theatre to be established in the state of North Carolina? AMC’s first multiplex foray in the greater Greensboro-Triad market in 1976.
Mike Rogers and Michael Coate: I have found the grand opening advertisement on the date the Parkview Theatre originally opened. I will have the information re-posed on this site sometime before the end of this month. This information along with several other theaters in the greater Winston-Salem area will be reposted on the Cinema Treasures site. I have the original ads for the Thruway and the Parkway Theatres on the grand opening ads from the Winston-Salem Journal. Thank you. P.S. I have the original grand opening ad for the Hanes Mall Cinemas too.
A Lot of Blockbuster movies played at the Tar Heel Drive In during the mid-1950’s through the early-to-mid 1970’s before the once great drive-in succumbed to the level of showing “XXX” rated films in the late-1970’s and early 1980’s.
STAR WARS played here at the Tar Heel Drive-In Theatre during many of it’s re-releases on July 21,1978. It was the only time that this movie played as a re-release in the greater High Point and Archdale areas.
Francis Ford Coppula’s THE GODFATHER played here first-run on March 22,1972 at the Cinema Theatre.
Chuck 1231: This theatre operated as a first-run movie house from its opening in 1940 until its closing in the early-to-mid 1980’s when it was under the Stewart & Everett chain. From 1940 thru 1955 it was the Harnett Theatre and from 1955 until its closing in 1987 or 1990 was the Stewart Theatre. From 1940 until 1975,it was in fact the only single screen indoor movie theatre in town,and the only movie house in all of Downtown Dunn and Harnett County. The Plaza Twin theatres changed all that by 1975,not to mention the town had the only drive-in theatre too which is NOT listed on the Cinema Treasures site. By the late-1980’s or mid-2000’s it changed hands with it became The Harnett Regional Theatre.
If you think “Passion of the Christ” was the only movie that was a sell-out,you may want to look back further into this cinema’s history. Since its opening in 1975,a lot of blockbuster movies that played here did very well,and were sell-outs in there own right. The original STAR WARS movie played here first-run as well as RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK as well. What else played at the Plaza? A lot of scary movies not to mention the run of Disney flicks too. But back in 1975,before the Plaza opened,the only theatres that were in town was the Stewart Theatre(now the Harnett Community Theater),and at one time to the town’s only drive-in theatre(which is not listed on the Cinema Treasures site) But when THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST played here,all boxoffice records at this cinema were broken in 2004..opening day when it sold-out all performances and even all matinee showings are packed to capacity(due to the audience of church groups and all the above,since this was at the time the only movie theatre in town). Since its closing in 2008,the only way to see a movie is to drive to the nearest towns for a movie screening..either going down I-95 towards Fayetteville or heading down South on U.S. 421 towards Clinton or even as far as Wilmington to catch a blockbuster movie.
Interesting. It reminds me of the Lakewood Center Theatre in Durham that opened in November of 1966,that was anchored by a W.T. Grant’s Department Store and was anchored by two supermarkets too(Winn-Dixie and Kroger!)
The Golden East Crossing Cinemas were located on the food court section of the shopping center and it also had a mall entrance accessible to the theatre. It was the only 4-plex cinema in town until 2003.
The Cardinal Theatres is NOT listed on this site. NOR is the Englewood Theatres I & II. Both theaters were located in Rocky Mount and NOT listed on the Cinema Treasures site(but will be soon)
The Cardinal was originally operated under ABC Southeastern Theatres,and later on was part of the Plitt Theatres chain before it was Cineplex Odeon and later under Carmike Cinemas.
The Englewood Cinemas I & II were owned and operated under Charlotte based Stewart and Everett(which controlled all of the movie houses in Eastern North Carolina)until 1986 when Carmike took over.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF when it played as a roadshow engagement at Charlotte’s Park Terrace Theatre on March 24,1972 was the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. It was a Reserved Seat Engagement with advance tickets on sale before performances. Other cities didn’t get FIDDLER ON THE ROOF until late-1972 or early 1973,even though the film was originally released on November 3,1971.
Walt Disney’s MARY POPPINS played at the Park Terrace Theatre on January 22,1965 as its only Exclusive Engagement Showing in the Carolinas.It was one of the Reserved Seat Engagements in several theaters in the South.
Other cities wouldn’t get the film until April or June of 1965 as a general release in both the Carolinas.
Just like the Daniel Village Theatre in Augusta,Georgia…………
The Northgate Theatre in Durham, NC (which opened in X-Mas of 62) would play a lot of Disney movies as well,and basically was the market for both Disney and MGM. It also played “Mary Poppins” as a general release on April 13,1965.
Wasn’t this theatre called “The Cinema”?
“Lawrence of Arabia” played at the Center Theatre on October 17,1963.
“West Side Story” also played here at the Center Theatre on October 18,1962.
“My Fair Lady” also played here around June or July of 1966 as a General Release.
Chuck1231:
Wasn’t this theatre also known as “The Cinema” which is NOT listed on this site.
The Thruway Theatre opened on February 16,1969 with the Steve McQueen feature “Bullitt”.
Speaking of “The Godfather”,that movie didn’t play at the Thruway. It played at the Reynolda Cinema.