All that remained of the Cameron Auditorium Opera House in 1972 after it was razed was this cool time capsule filled with treasures or, perhaps more appropriately, near-treasures.
This was opened by Sam Hefley in 1910 as the Wonderland likely with a 20-year lease. In 1916, presentation improved with the addition of a Style “K” Wurlitzer Photoplayer that automated playback. In 1920, Helfley built a new-build facility called the New Hefley Theatre which became the “A” theatre and the Wonderland was downgraded to the “B” theatre. A projection booth fire at the New Hefley 1927 led to “A” bookings going to the Wonderland while the other theater was repaired. In 1928, the Wonderland was modernized with a new look.
In 1930, Hefley sold both theaters to Stanley H. Swift of Waco, Texas. The theatre was likely on a 25-year lease. The house got a major refresh including a new Vitaphone sound system in 1930. The Depression was a challenging time and the Wonderland closed in March of 1931. However, business conditions improved and, after a refresh, it was rebranded as the Cameron Theatre re-opening September 2, 1933 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in “Morning Glory”.
A second fire that almost destroyed the Milam Theatre in 1941 led to the Wonderland becoming the “A” house until the Milam rebuilding project was completed. On October 15, 1944, Rowley Theatre Circuit took on both the Milam and the Cameron theaters from Swift. The Milam then all but burned down in its third major fire on May 13, 1948 leading to the Wonderland being the “A” house again until the New Milam was opened in November of 1948.
In the television age, the town couldn’t support both hardtop theatres and the new 77-Drive-In. At end of lease, the Wonderland closed in March of 1955. Its bookings were essentially booked at the 77 Drive-In for the Spring. The Cameron got one last chance reopening in August of 1955 very briefly before closing permanently on August 14, 1955 with Dane Clark in “Thunder Pass.”
An unrelated, New Cameron Theatre came about a block away essentially replacing the Milam Theatre whose fourth major fire proved to be a theater-ender. The New Cameron showed both English language and Spanish language films and stayed at 118 South Houston Street until closing in the video age in 1984.
Sam Hefley announced this project in June of 1920 to replace Avera’s Drug Store and the new-build facility would cost $15,000. He opened the New Hefley Theatre at the address on November 15, 1920. It had a well-placed neighbor in the Palace of Sweets confectioner. In December of 1929, Hefley installed Vitaphone to show sound films at the New Hefley. But at the end of a 10-year lease, he sold it to Stanley H. Swift. Under his new operation, it changed names to the Milam Theatre late in 1930 named after the Texas Revolution military leader Benjamin Rush Milam. A fire in 1941 that almost destroyed the entire theater led to a major change that brought the theatre its streamlined modern look and new signage. On October 15, 1944, Rowley Theatre Circuit took on both the Milam and the Cameron Theatre.
The facility burned down on May 13, 1948 taking down the long-running Palace of Sweets in the process. However, a new Milam Theatre reopened on the spot likely using some elements of its foundation for a grand reopening of a New Milam Theatre on November 27, 1948. That Milam was gutted by fire on July 27, 1961 ending its run. The building stood gutted until tornado-like winds toppled one of its walls in March of 1972. It was razed shortly thereafter.
The Marcus Safari 7 Cinema closed March 17, 2020 along with the rest of the Marcus' locations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtually every discount, sub-run theatre was closed permanently in the United States during the pandemic due to both lack of product and very uncertain marketplace for second-run theaters in a streaming world. Marcus dropped the cinema from its webpage and disconnected its telephone permanently closing the theater in October of 2020 followed by an announcement that the theatre was sold to Ignite Church.
The Waco Square Premiere Cinema 6 closed March 16, 2020 along with the rest of the Premiere Cinemas' locations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtually every discount, sub-run theatre was closed permanently in the United States during the pandemic. Premiere dropped the cinema from its webpage and disconnected its telephone almost assuredly leading to the location’s permanent closure.
Thanks much! BTW: The Montwood was also part of the Silver Cinemas Circuit as Montwood Movies 7 with $1 movies and even $1 concessions for a period. They got it when Movies One went bankrupt. Silver closed up in January of 2003. Interstate Theatres took on the venue after Silver on on March 12, 2004 with $1.75 / $1.25 discount, sub-run pricing. It also took on the East Pointe 12 with a slightly more expensive sub-run $2 policy ($1 on Tuesdays).
On December 8, 2006, the same company now was doing business as Starplex Theatres Montwood Movies 7 and also rebranded its East Pointe slightly, as well. Starplex would close the Montwood Movies 7 on June 19, 2007. Premiere Cinemas then took on the operation giving it a major refresh. It relaunched with an invitation-only relaunch on November 15, 2007 and a grand opening on November 16, 2007.
Premiere mad a name change but continued the discount house to March 16, 2000 when Premiere closed this and all of its locations for COVID-19. But the discount houses had no product when theaters reopened and most, including the Premiere Montwood Movies 7.
And this wasn’t ever associated with Premier Theaters. It never had the Premier in its name (just Premiere) and was part of the Premiere Cinemas Circuit.
On May 11, 1998, Silver Cinemas bought the venue at the Movie One bankruptcy proceeding for $3.4 million taking over on this date. That gave Silver three discount houses with the Montwood and the University Cinema. The Movie One signage remained and the theater continued until changing names to the Eastpoint Village Theaters 12. It would shed the University Cinema in 2000. Silver closed the theatre likely opting out at the ten-year point of a least on August 4, 2002.
Interstate Theatres took on the venue beginning on March 12, 2004 with a sub-run $2 policy ($1 on Tuesdays) operating as East Pointe Movies 12. It also acquired the Montwood Movies 7 which it ran at even lower prices (50 cents on Tuesdays). On December 8, 2006, the same company now was doing business as Starplex Theatres. Starplex would close the Montwood Movies 7 on June 19, 2007. AMC took on the venue buying out Starplex for $172 million in July of 2015.
After a refresh which included a McGuffin’s Bar, it was rebranded as the AMC Classic East Pointe 12 in 2017 with AMC taking the theater to a first-run policy after 19 years of discount operation. The theatre closed along with the rest of the circuit’s location on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The AMC Classic East Pointe 12 then resumed operations on September 3, 2020.
The three-year old, El Paso-based American Star Cinemas Circuit was founded by Chris Cummings, E.G. Emmett and Robert Simpson. In addition to its flagship American Star Cinema, the trio added the westside University Cinema 4 on May 9, 1980 and the eastside Vista Hills also in 1980. Commonwealth Amusement Circuit bought out the theaters in December of 1981. United Artists took over the units in a late 1988 buyout operating them officially beginning in 1989.
United Artists began to pare down twin and quads moving to 6- and 8-screen multiplexes. It shed the former American Star locations. Movie One Theaters, Inc. took on the venue as a sub-run, discount location adding it to the discount Montwood operation. Silver Cinemas took on the venue continuing it as discount location in November of 1996. Silver even went to all $1 concessions in May of 1999 here and at Montwood to generate foot traffic. Silver closed the University Cinema venue as a sub-run discount house on March 23, 2000 at the end of a 20-year leasing agreement. The last film to finish that night was “Sleepy Hollow.”
Located in the former S.S. Kresge’s spot in Northgate turned NorthPark mall was a family fun center known as the NorthPark 4 Theatre and sometimes Boomerangs Theatre, and sometimes Northeast 4 Theatre, and sometimes North Park 4 Theatre. Well, you get the idea. It was a sub-run discount theatre that launched August 31, 1990 and was the replacement for the UA Northgate Theatre, itself a sub-run discount house on the mall’s exterior. UA was playing out its lease and leaving in 1990. But surprise, surprise to Boomerangs, UA was enticed to stay with likely a near rent free option. That left two discount houses in ostensibly the same complex. It was not uncommon to have two movie houses in the same mall complex, especially an interior and an exterior… but both with discount policies was a bit strange. Obviously, one of the two theaters had to go.
The first to blink was the exterior theater. UA left the Northgate in 1994 citing lack of audiences. But Take One came on board to operate the discount house. In 1995, Boomerangs sold the interior theatre to Hollywood Entertainment Circuit. The theatre closed March 31, 1996 with unpaid bills. The theatre was vacant but was said to have been undergoing some remodeling as the fledgling Take One / Unicomm planned to reopen the theatre as a ten-screen, first-run house. Signs went up in 1996 with the coming soon announcement for Fall 1996. But 1996 passed, as did 1997, and so did 1998. That’s the year that the company announced bankruptcy. Not surprisingly, the company closed its outdoor complex (the former Northgate turned Take One) and stopped its remodeling plans on the interior there in 1999.
A video shot in 2011 shows that virtually no remodeling appears to have taken place other than possibly the concession area as the final 1996 movie showings were still listed on the four auditoriums' signage overhangs some 15 years after the theater had closed. The entire mall was razed in 2011/2012 ending the “coming soon” dreams at the NorthPark 4.
The Morningside Mall was announced in February of 1973 by Browne and Kink Company. One of the original 60 tenants signed on was a new Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema by Network Theatre Corporation and franchisee Lou Johns. It was to have been the second Lewis Cinema in El Paso. But, as was the case with many of the Jerry Lewis locations, some of them just never opened and others were taken over by other circuits. As the Lewis concept was cratering and lawsuits piling up, Johns was taking Lewis' parent company to court in 1972 saying he got nothing for $50,000 in franchising costs. He was likely to deep in line to collect as Network Cinema hastily terminated operations leaving Johns and El Paso Jerry Lewis-less.
ABC Interstate Theatres was next in court over the location in 1973 trying to get permission to take on the Morningside cinema project. Because the circuit was in violation of antitrust / anti-competitive practices, they needed clearance from a federal judge to add a new theater in El Paso. The court said “yes” and the Morningside project moved forward with Dallas-based architect, La Vere Brooks of Brooks and Orendain, drawing the plans. The theatre opened along with many merchants on March 28, 1974 as the ABC Cinema Twin 1 & 2 - Morningside Mall. Opening films were “The Sting” and “The Way We Were.” And the Morningside Mall celebrated its grand opening on August 1, 1974 with virtually all of the other original merchants, which had dwindled to just 40, then ready to go.
The theatre had two screens with Auditorium 1 having 500 seats and Audi 2 with 300 seats for a total count of 800. Norelco Rotomatic automation with Century projectors using RCA soundheads and Technikote screens were among the features there. In September of 1979, the facility became the Plitt Cinema Twin 1 & 2 - Morningside Mall when Plitt acquired the ABC Theatres. Unlike major malls that might request 20- and 30-year leasing agreements, the Morningside was a minor mall and only had 10-year leasing agreements. In May of 1982, Commonwealth Amusements had the unfortunate timing in acquiring the Cinema Twin in addition to Towne East, Northgate, and Pershing. That summer, the Morningside Mall’s air conditioning failed - not good in El Paso - and many vendors had seen enough and simply bolted. Then foreclosure occurred in November of 1982 and the Mall was essentially all done prior to reaching its 10th Anniversary. The Cinema Twin lasted until September 29, 1983 closing with “The Outsiders” and “Porky’s II.”
The city acquired the property for the School District’s administration staff and facility for the Ysleta Independent School District.
The $4.5 million Bassett 6 theatre replaced the Fox Bassett exterior twin. The Bassett 6 had auditoirums ranging from 210 to 450 seats for a total of 1,723 seats at opening. The concession stand cost $60,000, alone.
As the theatre was reaching the end of its 20 year lease as an outparcel, Commonwealth created a $4.5 million, six-screen interior Bassett seating 1,723 patrons that launched December 13, 1985. The exterior Fox Basset Twin closed December 11, 1985 with “Santa Claus-The Movie” and “King Solomon’s Mines.” Both films were moved to the interior six-screen theater’s projection booth.
It did close permanently (in addition to being removed from website, its content has been removed from Facebook and its phones are disconnected). Sadly, virtually every discount cinema that was still operating prior to COVID-19 has been permanently closed.
Sunland Mall opened on August 31, 1988 and General Cinema signed on early in the project and announced that same year. Once completed, General Cinemas held an open house from May 12 to May 16, 1990 prior to the Grand Opening of its Sunland Mall 6 on May 18, 1990. But General Cinema hit the skids in the 1990s when AMC and Cinemark started building megaplexes and General Cinema mainly stuck to its aging multiplexes.
GCC folded and AMC took over their Sunland Park facility and the Cielo Vista 7 and Park Cinema 6 on April 5, 2002. AMC didn’t care much for its El Paso portfolio closing each of the theaters. It closed the Cielo Vista on August 24, 2003. The Park closed October 23, 2003. The Sunland held on the longest closing September 26, 2004. Cinemark revamped the facility in 2013 and operating it six-plus years.
General Cinema Corp. (GCC) opened The Park 6 on March 21, 1986. GCC lost its competitive edge a year later when theatre chains such as Carmike, AMC, UA, and Cinemark started building megaplexes with GCC mainly sticking to its aging multiplexes. AMC took over the remnants of the GCC portfolio officially on April 5, 2002 that, in El Paso, included Cielo Vista 7, the Park 6 and Sunland Park 6.
AMC didn’t care much for its El Paso portfolio closing each of the theaters. It closed the Cielo Vista on August 24, 2003. The Park closed October 23, 2003. The Sunland held on the longest closing September 26, 2004.
The Cielo Vista Mall became marketed as the Cielo Vista Mall 10 in 1985 screens to make it look more impressive than two aging facilities - one a triplex in the mall and the other a carved up facility that had expanded to seven screens in December of 1985. It still listed the Cielo 3 and Cielo 7 showtimes for clarity. But on September 6, 1998, with General Cinema in free-fall economic collapse having been outflanked by theatre circuits building megaplexes, it closed the interior mall cinema. That left this facility as the General Cinema Cielo Vista 7 solo.
AMC took over the facility and the Sunland Mall and Park Cinema 6 on April 5, 2002. AMC didn’t care much for its El Paso portfolio closing each of the theaters. It closed the Cielo Vista on August 24, 2003. The Park closed October 23, 2003. The Sunland held on closing September 26, 2004. It was razed and a Hooter’s and a Cinemark megaplex took its spot.
Northgate Shopping Center was announced in 1959. Nesmith and Lane were the architects of the Center which launched on May 1, 1960 and called Northgate Mall. Expansion in 1965 led to Interstate getting a prime spot for a new theater also architected by Nesmith and Lane. It also brought the Northgate Popular Department Store. Ground was broken on February 23, 1966. The $325,000 suburban theatre opened June 24, 1966 with “Doctor Zhivago”. It was on an outparcel strip making parking easy with 500 spots. It was just across the way from the Northgate - later turned NorthPark Mall.
Interstate became part of ABC Interstate and then, simply, ABC Theatres causing some slight tweaks to the theater’s official name. It was twinned in 1978 and became the Plitt Northgate Twin 1 & 2 in September of 1979 when Plitt took over ABC Theatres. In 1983, it became the Commonwealth Northgate Twin when Commonwealth Amusements . UA took on Commonwealth officially becoming the UA Northgate 2 in 1989. Boomerangs opened across the lot in the NorthPark Mall beginning as a four-plex and extending to six screens.
UA began to shed older twins and quadplexes in its portfolio in favor of 6- and 8-screen multiplexes. It had threatened to close the Northgate in 1990 at the end of a 25-year lease. A new four-screen theater, the Northeast (later NorthPark 4) opened inside the NorthPark Mall in 1990 in anticipation of the closure. However, an additional leasing period of ten years was arranged likely at exceedingly favorable terms to UA and its Northgate. A slight oddity was that - though having two theaters in a mall area was common - it was rather unusual for both to be discount houses. But citing few customers, UA closed the Northgate as a $1 discount, subrun house on September 24, 1994 with “Wagons East” and “Speed.”
But Take One Cinemas took on the lease and it was the interior Boomerangs theatre that closed in 1996. A rumored 10-screen replacement to the Boomerangs fun center and cinema was advertised but never was completed. Take One eventually closed this location on February 28, 1999 (technically as the Take One Cinema - though nobody likely new that since the Northgate signage remained until closure. It did so maintaining discount status and running summer “camps” for kids. The retail strip was later demolished followed by the entire NorthPark Mall in 2011 after being purchased by the City of El Paso.
The fledgling American Star Cinemas Circuit started right here on May 27, 1977 as the American Star Theater. The circuit was founded by Chris Cummings, E.G. Emmett and Robert Simpson. It would be all suburban strip shopping centers. The trio added the University and the westside University Cinema and the eastside Vista Hills in 1980. Commonwealth bought out the theaters in December of 1981. United Artists took over the units in a late 1988 buyout operating them beginning in 1989.
United Artists began to pare down twin and quads moving to 6- and 8-screen multiplexes. It shed the former American Star locations. Bommerangs Theatres operated by Steve Lown took on the Country Club and Vista Hills locations in 1992. The Country Club Twin closed at the end of lease on August 29, 1993 with “Dennis the Menace” splitting with “So I Married an Axe Murderer” and “Cliffhanger.”
The Town & Country appears to have closed on August 10, 1986 with double-features of “Club Paradise” and “Wildcats” on one screen and “Ruthless People” and “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” on the other.
Grand opening of the new Washita Theatre took place August 1, 1941 with Ginger Rogers in “Tom, Dick and Harry” with Abbott and Costello in “Hold That Ghost.”
All that remained of the Cameron Auditorium Opera House in 1972 after it was razed was this cool time capsule filled with treasures or, perhaps more appropriately, near-treasures.
This was opened by Sam Hefley in 1910 as the Wonderland likely with a 20-year lease. In 1916, presentation improved with the addition of a Style “K” Wurlitzer Photoplayer that automated playback. In 1920, Helfley built a new-build facility called the New Hefley Theatre which became the “A” theatre and the Wonderland was downgraded to the “B” theatre. A projection booth fire at the New Hefley 1927 led to “A” bookings going to the Wonderland while the other theater was repaired. In 1928, the Wonderland was modernized with a new look.
In 1930, Hefley sold both theaters to Stanley H. Swift of Waco, Texas. The theatre was likely on a 25-year lease. The house got a major refresh including a new Vitaphone sound system in 1930. The Depression was a challenging time and the Wonderland closed in March of 1931. However, business conditions improved and, after a refresh, it was rebranded as the Cameron Theatre re-opening September 2, 1933 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in “Morning Glory”.
A second fire that almost destroyed the Milam Theatre in 1941 led to the Wonderland becoming the “A” house until the Milam rebuilding project was completed. On October 15, 1944, Rowley Theatre Circuit took on both the Milam and the Cameron theaters from Swift. The Milam then all but burned down in its third major fire on May 13, 1948 leading to the Wonderland being the “A” house again until the New Milam was opened in November of 1948.
In the television age, the town couldn’t support both hardtop theatres and the new 77-Drive-In. At end of lease, the Wonderland closed in March of 1955. Its bookings were essentially booked at the 77 Drive-In for the Spring. The Cameron got one last chance reopening in August of 1955 very briefly before closing permanently on August 14, 1955 with Dane Clark in “Thunder Pass.”
An unrelated, New Cameron Theatre came about a block away essentially replacing the Milam Theatre whose fourth major fire proved to be a theater-ender. The New Cameron showed both English language and Spanish language films and stayed at 118 South Houston Street until closing in the video age in 1984.
Sam Hefley announced this project in June of 1920 to replace Avera’s Drug Store and the new-build facility would cost $15,000. He opened the New Hefley Theatre at the address on November 15, 1920. It had a well-placed neighbor in the Palace of Sweets confectioner. In December of 1929, Hefley installed Vitaphone to show sound films at the New Hefley. But at the end of a 10-year lease, he sold it to Stanley H. Swift. Under his new operation, it changed names to the Milam Theatre late in 1930 named after the Texas Revolution military leader Benjamin Rush Milam. A fire in 1941 that almost destroyed the entire theater led to a major change that brought the theatre its streamlined modern look and new signage. On October 15, 1944, Rowley Theatre Circuit took on both the Milam and the Cameron Theatre.
The facility burned down on May 13, 1948 taking down the long-running Palace of Sweets in the process. However, a new Milam Theatre reopened on the spot likely using some elements of its foundation for a grand reopening of a New Milam Theatre on November 27, 1948. That Milam was gutted by fire on July 27, 1961 ending its run. The building stood gutted until tornado-like winds toppled one of its walls in March of 1972. It was razed shortly thereafter.
It appears to have closed after the March 27, 1983 with “Time Rider.” It was then listed as for sale in the local paper’s classifieds.
Landmark closed the River Oaks closed on March 25, 2021 with Oscar contenders, “Minari,” “The Father,” and “Nomadland.”
The Marcus Safari 7 Cinema closed March 17, 2020 along with the rest of the Marcus' locations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtually every discount, sub-run theatre was closed permanently in the United States during the pandemic due to both lack of product and very uncertain marketplace for second-run theaters in a streaming world. Marcus dropped the cinema from its webpage and disconnected its telephone permanently closing the theater in October of 2020 followed by an announcement that the theatre was sold to Ignite Church.
It closed as the the Marcus Safari 7 Cinema.
The Waco Square Premiere Cinema 6 closed March 16, 2020 along with the rest of the Premiere Cinemas' locations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtually every discount, sub-run theatre was closed permanently in the United States during the pandemic. Premiere dropped the cinema from its webpage and disconnected its telephone almost assuredly leading to the location’s permanent closure.
Thanks much! BTW: The Montwood was also part of the Silver Cinemas Circuit as Montwood Movies 7 with $1 movies and even $1 concessions for a period. They got it when Movies One went bankrupt. Silver closed up in January of 2003. Interstate Theatres took on the venue after Silver on on March 12, 2004 with $1.75 / $1.25 discount, sub-run pricing. It also took on the East Pointe 12 with a slightly more expensive sub-run $2 policy ($1 on Tuesdays).
On December 8, 2006, the same company now was doing business as Starplex Theatres Montwood Movies 7 and also rebranded its East Pointe slightly, as well. Starplex would close the Montwood Movies 7 on June 19, 2007. Premiere Cinemas then took on the operation giving it a major refresh. It relaunched with an invitation-only relaunch on November 15, 2007 and a grand opening on November 16, 2007.
Premiere mad a name change but continued the discount house to March 16, 2000 when Premiere closed this and all of its locations for COVID-19. But the discount houses had no product when theaters reopened and most, including the Premiere Montwood Movies 7.
And this wasn’t ever associated with Premier Theaters. It never had the Premier in its name (just Premiere) and was part of the Premiere Cinemas Circuit.
On May 11, 1998, Silver Cinemas bought the venue at the Movie One bankruptcy proceeding for $3.4 million taking over on this date. That gave Silver three discount houses with the Montwood and the University Cinema. The Movie One signage remained and the theater continued until changing names to the Eastpoint Village Theaters 12. It would shed the University Cinema in 2000. Silver closed the theatre likely opting out at the ten-year point of a least on August 4, 2002.
Interstate Theatres took on the venue beginning on March 12, 2004 with a sub-run $2 policy ($1 on Tuesdays) operating as East Pointe Movies 12. It also acquired the Montwood Movies 7 which it ran at even lower prices (50 cents on Tuesdays). On December 8, 2006, the same company now was doing business as Starplex Theatres. Starplex would close the Montwood Movies 7 on June 19, 2007. AMC took on the venue buying out Starplex for $172 million in July of 2015.
After a refresh which included a McGuffin’s Bar, it was rebranded as the AMC Classic East Pointe 12 in 2017 with AMC taking the theater to a first-run policy after 19 years of discount operation. The theatre closed along with the rest of the circuit’s location on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The AMC Classic East Pointe 12 then resumed operations on September 3, 2020.
The three-year old, El Paso-based American Star Cinemas Circuit was founded by Chris Cummings, E.G. Emmett and Robert Simpson. In addition to its flagship American Star Cinema, the trio added the westside University Cinema 4 on May 9, 1980 and the eastside Vista Hills also in 1980. Commonwealth Amusement Circuit bought out the theaters in December of 1981. United Artists took over the units in a late 1988 buyout operating them officially beginning in 1989.
United Artists began to pare down twin and quads moving to 6- and 8-screen multiplexes. It shed the former American Star locations. Movie One Theaters, Inc. took on the venue as a sub-run, discount location adding it to the discount Montwood operation. Silver Cinemas took on the venue continuing it as discount location in November of 1996. Silver even went to all $1 concessions in May of 1999 here and at Montwood to generate foot traffic. Silver closed the University Cinema venue as a sub-run discount house on March 23, 2000 at the end of a 20-year leasing agreement. The last film to finish that night was “Sleepy Hollow.”
Located in the former S.S. Kresge’s spot in Northgate turned NorthPark mall was a family fun center known as the NorthPark 4 Theatre and sometimes Boomerangs Theatre, and sometimes Northeast 4 Theatre, and sometimes North Park 4 Theatre. Well, you get the idea. It was a sub-run discount theatre that launched August 31, 1990 and was the replacement for the UA Northgate Theatre, itself a sub-run discount house on the mall’s exterior. UA was playing out its lease and leaving in 1990. But surprise, surprise to Boomerangs, UA was enticed to stay with likely a near rent free option. That left two discount houses in ostensibly the same complex. It was not uncommon to have two movie houses in the same mall complex, especially an interior and an exterior… but both with discount policies was a bit strange. Obviously, one of the two theaters had to go.
The first to blink was the exterior theater. UA left the Northgate in 1994 citing lack of audiences. But Take One came on board to operate the discount house. In 1995, Boomerangs sold the interior theatre to Hollywood Entertainment Circuit. The theatre closed March 31, 1996 with unpaid bills. The theatre was vacant but was said to have been undergoing some remodeling as the fledgling Take One / Unicomm planned to reopen the theatre as a ten-screen, first-run house. Signs went up in 1996 with the coming soon announcement for Fall 1996. But 1996 passed, as did 1997, and so did 1998. That’s the year that the company announced bankruptcy. Not surprisingly, the company closed its outdoor complex (the former Northgate turned Take One) and stopped its remodeling plans on the interior there in 1999.
A video shot in 2011 shows that virtually no remodeling appears to have taken place other than possibly the concession area as the final 1996 movie showings were still listed on the four auditoriums' signage overhangs some 15 years after the theater had closed. The entire mall was razed in 2011/2012 ending the “coming soon” dreams at the NorthPark 4.
The Morningside Mall was announced in February of 1973 by Browne and Kink Company. One of the original 60 tenants signed on was a new Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema by Network Theatre Corporation and franchisee Lou Johns. It was to have been the second Lewis Cinema in El Paso. But, as was the case with many of the Jerry Lewis locations, some of them just never opened and others were taken over by other circuits. As the Lewis concept was cratering and lawsuits piling up, Johns was taking Lewis' parent company to court in 1972 saying he got nothing for $50,000 in franchising costs. He was likely to deep in line to collect as Network Cinema hastily terminated operations leaving Johns and El Paso Jerry Lewis-less.
ABC Interstate Theatres was next in court over the location in 1973 trying to get permission to take on the Morningside cinema project. Because the circuit was in violation of antitrust / anti-competitive practices, they needed clearance from a federal judge to add a new theater in El Paso. The court said “yes” and the Morningside project moved forward with Dallas-based architect, La Vere Brooks of Brooks and Orendain, drawing the plans. The theatre opened along with many merchants on March 28, 1974 as the ABC Cinema Twin 1 & 2 - Morningside Mall. Opening films were “The Sting” and “The Way We Were.” And the Morningside Mall celebrated its grand opening on August 1, 1974 with virtually all of the other original merchants, which had dwindled to just 40, then ready to go.
The theatre had two screens with Auditorium 1 having 500 seats and Audi 2 with 300 seats for a total count of 800. Norelco Rotomatic automation with Century projectors using RCA soundheads and Technikote screens were among the features there. In September of 1979, the facility became the Plitt Cinema Twin 1 & 2 - Morningside Mall when Plitt acquired the ABC Theatres. Unlike major malls that might request 20- and 30-year leasing agreements, the Morningside was a minor mall and only had 10-year leasing agreements. In May of 1982, Commonwealth Amusements had the unfortunate timing in acquiring the Cinema Twin in addition to Towne East, Northgate, and Pershing. That summer, the Morningside Mall’s air conditioning failed - not good in El Paso - and many vendors had seen enough and simply bolted. Then foreclosure occurred in November of 1982 and the Mall was essentially all done prior to reaching its 10th Anniversary. The Cinema Twin lasted until September 29, 1983 closing with “The Outsiders” and “Porky’s II.”
The city acquired the property for the School District’s administration staff and facility for the Ysleta Independent School District.
The $4.5 million Bassett 6 theatre replaced the Fox Bassett exterior twin. The Bassett 6 had auditoirums ranging from 210 to 450 seats for a total of 1,723 seats at opening. The concession stand cost $60,000, alone.
As the theatre was reaching the end of its 20 year lease as an outparcel, Commonwealth created a $4.5 million, six-screen interior Bassett seating 1,723 patrons that launched December 13, 1985. The exterior Fox Basset Twin closed December 11, 1985 with “Santa Claus-The Movie” and “King Solomon’s Mines.” Both films were moved to the interior six-screen theater’s projection booth.
It did close permanently (in addition to being removed from website, its content has been removed from Facebook and its phones are disconnected). Sadly, virtually every discount cinema that was still operating prior to COVID-19 has been permanently closed.
Sunland Mall opened on August 31, 1988 and General Cinema signed on early in the project and announced that same year. Once completed, General Cinemas held an open house from May 12 to May 16, 1990 prior to the Grand Opening of its Sunland Mall 6 on May 18, 1990. But General Cinema hit the skids in the 1990s when AMC and Cinemark started building megaplexes and General Cinema mainly stuck to its aging multiplexes.
GCC folded and AMC took over their Sunland Park facility and the Cielo Vista 7 and Park Cinema 6 on April 5, 2002. AMC didn’t care much for its El Paso portfolio closing each of the theaters. It closed the Cielo Vista on August 24, 2003. The Park closed October 23, 2003. The Sunland held on the longest closing September 26, 2004. Cinemark revamped the facility in 2013 and operating it six-plus years.
General Cinema Corp. (GCC) opened The Park 6 on March 21, 1986. GCC lost its competitive edge a year later when theatre chains such as Carmike, AMC, UA, and Cinemark started building megaplexes with GCC mainly sticking to its aging multiplexes. AMC took over the remnants of the GCC portfolio officially on April 5, 2002 that, in El Paso, included Cielo Vista 7, the Park 6 and Sunland Park 6.
AMC didn’t care much for its El Paso portfolio closing each of the theaters. It closed the Cielo Vista on August 24, 2003. The Park closed October 23, 2003. The Sunland held on the longest closing September 26, 2004.
The Cielo Vista Mall became marketed as the Cielo Vista Mall 10 in 1985 screens to make it look more impressive than two aging facilities - one a triplex in the mall and the other a carved up facility that had expanded to seven screens in December of 1985. It still listed the Cielo 3 and Cielo 7 showtimes for clarity. But on September 6, 1998, with General Cinema in free-fall economic collapse having been outflanked by theatre circuits building megaplexes, it closed the interior mall cinema. That left this facility as the General Cinema Cielo Vista 7 solo.
AMC took over the facility and the Sunland Mall and Park Cinema 6 on April 5, 2002. AMC didn’t care much for its El Paso portfolio closing each of the theaters. It closed the Cielo Vista on August 24, 2003. The Park closed October 23, 2003. The Sunland held on closing September 26, 2004. It was razed and a Hooter’s and a Cinemark megaplex took its spot.
Should be the AMC Cielo Vista 7 formerly….
Northgate Shopping Center was announced in 1959. Nesmith and Lane were the architects of the Center which launched on May 1, 1960 and called Northgate Mall. Expansion in 1965 led to Interstate getting a prime spot for a new theater also architected by Nesmith and Lane. It also brought the Northgate Popular Department Store. Ground was broken on February 23, 1966. The $325,000 suburban theatre opened June 24, 1966 with “Doctor Zhivago”. It was on an outparcel strip making parking easy with 500 spots. It was just across the way from the Northgate - later turned NorthPark Mall.
Interstate became part of ABC Interstate and then, simply, ABC Theatres causing some slight tweaks to the theater’s official name. It was twinned in 1978 and became the Plitt Northgate Twin 1 & 2 in September of 1979 when Plitt took over ABC Theatres. In 1983, it became the Commonwealth Northgate Twin when Commonwealth Amusements . UA took on Commonwealth officially becoming the UA Northgate 2 in 1989. Boomerangs opened across the lot in the NorthPark Mall beginning as a four-plex and extending to six screens.
UA began to shed older twins and quadplexes in its portfolio in favor of 6- and 8-screen multiplexes. It had threatened to close the Northgate in 1990 at the end of a 25-year lease. A new four-screen theater, the Northeast (later NorthPark 4) opened inside the NorthPark Mall in 1990 in anticipation of the closure. However, an additional leasing period of ten years was arranged likely at exceedingly favorable terms to UA and its Northgate. A slight oddity was that - though having two theaters in a mall area was common - it was rather unusual for both to be discount houses. But citing few customers, UA closed the Northgate as a $1 discount, subrun house on September 24, 1994 with “Wagons East” and “Speed.”
But Take One Cinemas took on the lease and it was the interior Boomerangs theatre that closed in 1996. A rumored 10-screen replacement to the Boomerangs fun center and cinema was advertised but never was completed. Take One eventually closed this location on February 28, 1999 (technically as the Take One Cinema - though nobody likely new that since the Northgate signage remained until closure. It did so maintaining discount status and running summer “camps” for kids. The retail strip was later demolished followed by the entire NorthPark Mall in 2011 after being purchased by the City of El Paso.
1998 - The Northgate 1 & 2 and still open.
The fledgling American Star Cinemas Circuit started right here on May 27, 1977 as the American Star Theater. The circuit was founded by Chris Cummings, E.G. Emmett and Robert Simpson. It would be all suburban strip shopping centers. The trio added the University and the westside University Cinema and the eastside Vista Hills in 1980. Commonwealth bought out the theaters in December of 1981. United Artists took over the units in a late 1988 buyout operating them beginning in 1989.
United Artists began to pare down twin and quads moving to 6- and 8-screen multiplexes. It shed the former American Star locations. Bommerangs Theatres operated by Steve Lown took on the Country Club and Vista Hills locations in 1992. The Country Club Twin closed at the end of lease on August 29, 1993 with “Dennis the Menace” splitting with “So I Married an Axe Murderer” and “Cliffhanger.”
The Town & Country appears to have closed on August 10, 1986 with double-features of “Club Paradise” and “Wildcats” on one screen and “Ruthless People” and “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” on the other.
5G Studio architects
AKA Dabel Cinema
AKA Dabel Theatre
Grand opening of the new Washita Theatre took place August 1, 1941 with Ginger Rogers in “Tom, Dick and Harry” with Abbott and Costello in “Hold That Ghost.”