Rumor has it that the Varsity maybe turned into a performing arts center. That at least will bring back the thriving business that was located in Downtown Chapel Hill.
It is sad to see it close its doors as a popular Chapel Hill landmark.
“The Last Picture Show At The Varsity Theatre"
From the Independent Magazine Site: July 1, 2009. http://www.indyweek.com
“The Varsity Theatre leaves Franklin Street Dark"
From the Daily Tar Heel,Thursday July 2, 2009.
The Daily Tar Heel is the student newspaper for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.dailytarheel.com
“The Last Picture Show at the Varsity Theatre"
Independent Magazine from July 1, 2009. http://www.indyweek.com
“The Varsity Theatre leaves Franklin Street Dark"
The Daily Tar Heel Newspaper,Thursday,July 2, 2009.
Read Jonathan Pattishall’s report at this site: http://www.dailytarheel.com
As of June 26, 2009,the Chelsea on Weaver Dairy Road at Timberlyne Shopping Center remains the only independently owned and operated movie house in Chapel Hill.
As of June 26, 2009,the Varsity Theatre on East Franklin Street in Downtown Chapel Hill has closed its doors forever,leaving the Downtown area without a movie house. The theatre has been rumored to be turned into a performing arts center. No word on that will be mentioned.
I remember also seeing Kevin Costner’s Oscar winning epic “Dances With Wolves” in the early 1990’s…..
The seating was horrible,but the movie drew large crowds with it played here. The auditorium looked like a classroom setting instead of movie theatre.
Features a section of Chapel Hill Road and also the construction of the Lakewood Shopping Center which opened its doors to the public in early 1963. Notice the main anchoring stores: Winn-Dixie(Grocery);
W.T. Grants(Department Store), Woolworth’s(Department Store), Kerr Discount Drugs(Pharmacy and Restaurant),
and Kroger(Grocery).
Also the construction of the Center Theatre from mid-1966 when it was just a single screen theatre. The cinema opened in December of that year.
“Urban renewal” during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s resulted in the destruction of the entire block where the cinema once stood. The Rialto closed its doors in 1969. The Criterion Theatre,located on Church Street closed its doors in 1974. The destruction of several buildings were demolished during the early to mid 1970’s between 1970 and 1976.
The Durham County Judicial Building open its doors to the public in 1978 where the Rialto Theatre once stood.
The main entrance to the Durham County Courthouse is facing Main Street(across from the old courthouse),while the backside entrance to the building is on Parrish Street right at the intersection of Church Street and South Roxboro Street.
Wasn’t this theatre part of the Civil Rights Movement since the Alabama at the time was segregated at the time Birmingham was catching hell during the 1950’s and early 1960’s.
Excellent history of General Cinema Theatres operating here in the state of North Carolina,including some photos of several GC Theatres located in the Triad Area. One of them was the Four Seasons Mall Cinemas and the other looks like the Hanes Mall Cinemas IV.
Excellent history of General Cinema Theatres operating in North Carolina,including some photos of one cinema here in Winston-Salem(GC Hanes Mall Cinema IV).
Excellent history site of General Cinema Theatres which also includes the marquee for the showings for Four Seasons Mall Cinemas IV off High Point Road,which was the first GC theatre to operated in the Greensboro area.
Excellent history of General Cinema Theatres located in the greater Charlotte area..which includes the Southpark Mall Cinemas I-II-III along with the Eastland Mall Cinemas,Charlottetown Mall Cinemas,and Tower Place Cinemas.
The drive-in theatre has been demolished. The entrance for the Super Wal-Mart has been built where the Starlite Drive-In Theatre once stood.
Rumor has it that the Varsity maybe turned into a performing arts center. That at least will bring back the thriving business that was located in Downtown Chapel Hill.
It is sad to see it close its doors as a popular Chapel Hill landmark.
Rumor has it that it will be converted into a performing arts center.
Was this part of the United Artists Theatres chain? I was reading this and the cinema had a UA logo.
“The Last Picture Show At The Varsity Theatre"
From the Independent Magazine Site: July 1, 2009.
http://www.indyweek.com
“The Varsity Theatre leaves Franklin Street Dark"
From the Daily Tar Heel,Thursday July 2, 2009.
The Daily Tar Heel is the student newspaper for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
http://www.dailytarheel.com
“The Last Picture Show at the Varsity Theatre"
Independent Magazine from July 1, 2009.
http://www.indyweek.com
“The Varsity Theatre leaves Franklin Street Dark"
The Daily Tar Heel Newspaper,Thursday,July 2, 2009.
Read Jonathan Pattishall’s report at this site:
http://www.dailytarheel.com
I highly remember coming to this drive-in as a kid during the 1970’s….The drive-in was located between highways N.C. 200,and U.S. 601 and U.S. 74.
As of June 26, 2009,the Chelsea on Weaver Dairy Road at Timberlyne Shopping Center remains the only independently owned and operated movie house in Chapel Hill.
As of June 26, 2009,the Varsity Theatre on East Franklin Street in Downtown Chapel Hill has closed its doors forever,leaving the Downtown area without a movie house. The theatre has been rumored to be turned into a performing arts center. No word on that will be mentioned.
I remember also seeing Kevin Costner’s Oscar winning epic “Dances With Wolves” in the early 1990’s…..
The seating was horrible,but the movie drew large crowds with it played here. The auditorium looked like a classroom setting instead of movie theatre.
As of June 26, 2009……
The Varsity Theatre has closed its doors forever,marking the only movie theatre in Downtown Chapel Hill for more than 80 years.
The last two picture shows that played here were:
“The Hangover” and “The Brothers Bloom”.
See this website:
View link
Features a section of Chapel Hill Road and also the construction of the Lakewood Shopping Center which opened its doors to the public in early 1963. Notice the main anchoring stores: Winn-Dixie(Grocery);
W.T. Grants(Department Store), Woolworth’s(Department Store), Kerr Discount Drugs(Pharmacy and Restaurant),
and Kroger(Grocery).
Also the construction of the Center Theatre from mid-1966 when it was just a single screen theatre. The cinema opened in December of that year.
“Urban renewal” during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s resulted in the destruction of the entire block where the cinema once stood. The Rialto closed its doors in 1969. The Criterion Theatre,located on Church Street closed its doors in 1974. The destruction of several buildings were demolished during the early to mid 1970’s between 1970 and 1976.
The Durham County Judicial Building open its doors to the public in 1978 where the Rialto Theatre once stood.
The main entrance to the Durham County Courthouse is facing Main Street(across from the old courthouse),while the backside entrance to the building is on Parrish Street right at the intersection of Church Street and South Roxboro Street.
The only operating moviehouse in town that serves the areas of Person County,Northern Durham County,Granville County and Southeastern Virginia.
The theatre does have a excellent bargain matinee policy which is fairly good.
Was this part of the General Cinema Theatres chain?
Wasn’t this theatre part of the Civil Rights Movement since the Alabama at the time was segregated at the time Birmingham was catching hell during the 1950’s and early 1960’s.
Photo of the Pleasant Valley Cinemas is on this site from 1992….
View link
The photo contains the only General Cinema Theatre operating in the Triangle area(Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill)
Other photos of General Cinema Theatres in North Carolina.
View link
Photos of General Cinema Theatres operating in North Carolina.
View link
Includes the marquee for the Charlottetown Mall Cinemas from either 1981 or 1982.
Other photos of General Cinema Theatres in North Carolina.
View link
Other General Cinema Theatres located in North Carolina.
View link
Excellent history of General Cinema Theatres operating here in the state of North Carolina,including some photos of several GC Theatres located in the Triad Area. One of them was the Four Seasons Mall Cinemas and the other looks like the Hanes Mall Cinemas IV.
View link
Photo taken of a General Cinema Theatre located in Greensboro that has the marquee showing for Four Seasons Mall Cinemas off High Point Road.
See the photo at this site:
View link
Excellent history of General Cinema Theatres operating in North Carolina,including some photos of one cinema here in Winston-Salem(GC Hanes Mall Cinema IV).
View link
Excellent history site of General Cinema Theatres which also includes the marquee for the showings for Four Seasons Mall Cinemas IV off High Point Road,which was the first GC theatre to operated in the Greensboro area.
The site is at:
View link
Excellent history of General Cinema Theatres located in the greater Charlotte area..which includes the Southpark Mall Cinemas I-II-III along with the Eastland Mall Cinemas,Charlottetown Mall Cinemas,and Tower Place Cinemas.
Here is the website:
View link