Grove Art: Where many a South Florida cinethusiast caught the fever, building up huge carbon footprints from all those drives to the end of I-95. (Not to mention all the great trade-in music stores nearby, woe to the wallet but tremendous fun.)
Forget whether it was the Fendelman Brothers' first or second location that took over from a former post office. Either way, their permanent home may have seated fewer than 100, a space that could still accommodate fine paintings of RHPS characters (one may have been autographed by Richard O'Brien). Dolby Stereo installation coincided with the regional “Das Boot” premiere, leading one reviewer to liken the Grove Art’s tiny confines to that of the film’s submarine.
Its screen may have been ceiling-mounted; I remember it fluttering a little when the air conditioning kicked on.
Recall the time when the Fendelmans got into a bidding war with Nat Chediak (Cinematheque, Arcadia) over “Fitzcarraldo” (the Grove Art won). After Chediak featured “The Gods Must Be Crazy” in the first Miami Film Festival, the regular engagement went to the Grove Art, playing for more than a year.
After AMC made its run for the Gables/Grove alt film market in the late 80s, the Grove Art had a stint as a music video nightclub. An attempt to revive the cinema under a new name (think it was 97 Grand) lasted for bookings of “The Rapture” and an animation festival before calling it a day.
In more recent times, Richard Fendelman filmed the 2005/06 documentary “Don’t Box Me In – A Coconut Grove Story,” chronicling local activism against a proposed Home Depot warehouse. An abridged 10-minute edition can presently be found at You Tube.
K-B established one other twin theater in the area, Holiday Springs near the Margate/Coral Springs line. A low-price second-run house most of its life, it now hosts live performances as the Stage Door Theatre.
Born Jaded, the art film programming was what ended in 1987, and the Towne was briefly shuttered (as happened a few times before). As you note, successor management brought a final year or two of popular second-run fare. I even went there one more time before it closed permanently, think it was for “In the Mood” in late ‘87 or early '88.
Sorry you missed out on its alternative years. To be an art cinema enthusiast in South Florida anymore seems to mean a mile-long Netflix queue. If you’re ever in Lake Worth, check out the Stonzek Studio Theatre/Emerging Cinemas black box room next to the Lake Worth Playhouse. Digital projection, tiny screen, only seats 48, but they do have their act together and the audience (at least for “My Winnipeg”) had enthusiasts rather than scenesters.
Films (albeit digitally projected) have returned to the Lake Worth Playhouse. Its adjoining Stonzek Studio Theatre (opened 1995, looks like converted retail space) joined the Emerging Cinemas network, presenting current arthouse fare daily. A black box space with 48 seats, reminiscent of cine clubs and college film programs past.
Occasional special event screenings are being scheduled for Lake Worth Playhouse’s mainstage. They’re filling a void left by the demises of the Carefree/The Theatre, once the Palm Beaches' alt fare mainstays.
One goal of their post-hurricane restoration has been accomplished: they have their beautiful new marquee completed.
It may take a couple weeks, but I’m aiming to burrow at the main library’s newspaper microfilm section a while to gather specifics. I’ll then submit those three to CT. Thanks for your comprehensive work too, Al!
Al, be glad to give details about the three I spent time at (17th Street Causeway was once the edge of the universe, hence no time in Dania back then):
Gold Coast Drive-In (U.S. 1 near 10th St., Deerfield Beach)
Opened in the 1950s, reportedly accommodated 400 cars. Roadside marquee topped with an amusing cartoon gnome, pointing a star-topped wand toward the entrance. Many families (including mine) gave it frequent business in the 1960s (especially recall the double bill of “Yellow Submarine” for my Beatle-fan sister, followed by “The Good The Bad and The Ugly” for dad). Two indoor “mini theaters” were carved out in the base of the drive-in screen by the early 1970s (when the Ultra-Vision Twin opened nearby), told they had 16MM setups with folding chairs. Flea markets on weekends to benefit Deerfield Beach High School. Closed Thanksgiving weekend 1978 to make way for the Rivertowne Square shopping center.
Movie City 10 (Oakland Park Blvd. at Powerline Rd., Ft. Lauderdale)
Eight screens opened in the late 1970s, carved out of a short-lived department store (Grant City, an enlarged W.T. Grants, closed along with the rest of the company in the early 1970s). Presumed reason for the “10”: when first opened, 10 movies would be booked (piggybacked bookings on two screens). Each auditorium on the smallish side with no center aisles, but they did bring the likes of “The Marriage of Maria Braun” and other subtitled fare when no one else did so in Broward. Eventually leased out by then-fledgling Muvico Theatres. Closed by the mid 1990s, now replaced by a Lowe’s Home Improvement warehouse.
Southport Theatre (aka Southport Cinema & Drafthouse, 17th Street Causeway, Ft. Lauderdale)
Opened with a single screen late 1960s, adopted the Drafthouse format by the late 1970s/early 1980s. Broward’s longtime home for “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Twinned in its final years, briefly reopened as a stage theater. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll check on its current fate.
Haven’t set foot at Cocowalk in a decade. As with any destination in the Grove, major trial-and-error locating it. Finally figured out a back way from U.S. 1 to the Cocowalk garage and back (wouldn’t be surprised if it’s shut off by now).
Main reasons for my going there: limited releases (when the “windows” between theatrical and home video were most of a year), an early 1990s revival of “El Cid,” and the local premiere of the Miami-filmed, ill-fated “The Perez Family” with Marisa Tomei (and her ring of bodyguards) in attendance.
Architecture: AMC’s late 1980s/early 90s boilerplate, offering auditoriums of varying sizes (an improvement over their 70s “tube” format), as also found at the now-demolished Fashion Island, Sheridan, and Oceanwalk. Appreciated the larger rooms' accommodations for widescreen.
Opening date has since been postponed to Fall 2009. Cocowalk as a whole fell on hard times in recent years (now competing with other trendy destinations in Miami), hence new ownership and a new tenant mix.
The Lakes 6 was among three AMC venues in Broward/Palm Beach to be enclosed in malls with two major department store anchors, Britts (defunct late 1970s) and Jefferson (defunct mid 1980s). The others were Boca (Raton) Mall and Cross County Mall (West Palm Beach).
Some prime Broward county premieres/exclusives landed at the Lakes 6 in the 1970s, from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” to “Julia.”
As with its local competitors — the Reef Cinema across the street, Lauderhill Cinema, 16th Street Cinema, and Plantation Theater moments south, and the Inverrary a few miles west — the Lakes 6 was gone by the mid 1990s, and the mostly vacant mall demolished and replaced by several big box retailers. A Magic Johnson Cinema was briefly considered for the Lakes Mall property.
Opened by K-B Theaters on the verge of West Broward’s 1970s population boom, the Margate Twin originally ran first-run features, before a longer tenure as a second-run dollar (or dollar and change) bargain house. Tiny auditorums and screens, but occasional limited release fare (“Hester Street,” “Lies My Father Told Me”) and midnight movies were a draw.
Competition arrived in the late 1980s, when a former lawn/garden center a few blocks south became a six-screen Value Cinemas location.
Facing U.S. 441, the Margate Twin was once among numerous choices for local moviegoing, with the Lake Shore Drive In and Movies of Margate to the north, and Value Cinemas to the south. All are gone now. Last time I checked, a furniture store took over the Margate Twin space.
AMC is scheduled to vacate Cocowalk by year’s end. Muvico Theatres is poised to replace the theater space with one of their luxury megaplexes, targeting a late 2009 opening date.
Warner Bros. built and (very briefly) operated the Warnor (“e” replaced presumably out of antitrust concerns cropping up at the time) pre WWII. Reportedly closed for several years, before reopening under the Paramount/Sparks/Florida State banner. Think the former space may have become a print shop for the Ft. Lauderdale News (since demolished and replaced by the Sun-Sentinel office tower).
Pompano Fashion Cinema (probably named after the Pompano Fashion Square shopping mall a block north, now Pompano Citi Centre) opened as the Gamecock in the early 70s. The free-standing building was a former space for a short-lived restaurant chain.
Another short-lived effort by the management: free children’s matinees (heard it was Mr. Magoo compilations) on Saturday mornings. Recall the owner saying “no one does anything for kids around here” (and he promised any XXX posters would be taken down).
Closed in the late 80s or early 90s, since remodeled as a home furnishings store.
Drive-in movies ceased in 1984 (second-run 99 cent admission by then), but the Lake Shore (two words) site remained home to the Lake Shore Motel (guests once had free access to movies) and Margate Swap Shop (smaller complement to Henn’s Sunrise Blvd. colossus). Margate’s Community Redevelopment Agency acquired the property in 2006, as part of the Margate Town Center redevelopment corridor.
Primary memory: an early 70s revival of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” crammed onto the Lake Shore’s tiniest screen (of corrugated metal).
UA would open an eightplex around the corner a couple years later (Movies at Margate, itself long since demolished for a Wal*Mart).
Bell South (now AT&T) and Imperial Point Medical Center now occupy the acreage once held by the Federal Drive-In, not too far from the Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach city line. Nothing fancy about the place, just memories of seeing Don Knotts comedies (“The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” and “The Shakiest Gun in the West”) on first run. Drive-in worship services were held Sunday mornings in at least the Federal’s later years.
Thanksgiving weekend 1998 marked the end of Cinemas 4 Pompano, after two months' attempted survival against Muvico Pompano 18 about a mile south. Held on to extended engagements of “Saving Private Ryan” and “There’s Something About Mary” as long as they could, with an attempt at booking Sony Pictures Classics fare. Final sign on the door read, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will no longer be in business.”
Opening date was 1960, debuting with the original Oceans Eleven.
The last of Miami’s Florida State venues (Plitt by then) to close by the mid/late 80s, think a Luria’s (a Miami-based jewelry/luxury gift store chain) took the Suniland’s place. Luria’s itself went out of business in the 1990s.
Now closed, happened sometime during 2007. Haven’t been in the area for a while, but saw some mentions in the business news that a Kohl’s department store may be taking over the site. On at least one occasion, the abandoned theater was used for hazmat training exercises.
Quite a few exclusive engagements and preview screenings drew me to the Fountains in the late 80s/early 90s; as long as screenings were in one of the THX-certified auditoriums, worth the drive. Architecture was GCC’s standard blueprint from the late 80s, also as used at Deerfield Mall 8 (still open as of now) and Mission Bay 8 (Boca Raton, now LA Fitness).
So that just leaves Plantation CrossRoads (the former Mercede Cinema) for neighborhood moviegoers right now, but there’s now a third attempt going on to bring a megaplex to the Fashion Mall area.
Yes, that garage entrance ramp was doubly thrilling for those of us who drove a mid-80s Toyota Tercel with stick shift (but still nowhere near as heart-pounding as having to stop at the top of the former Centrust Tower garage ramp to make way for a slow-turning vehicle ahead, as a pickup truck barreled up behind me)…
One of Miracle Center’s first engagements was among the best afternoons I’ve ever spent at the movies: the 1989 “Lawrence of Arabia” restoration in 70MM. Excellent presentation in all aspects.
Also saw the restored “Spartacus” there, among other specialty fare.
Having a girlfriend in Coral Gables for a couple years led us to frequent visits. Remembering the crowds on weekend nights, I’m amazed Miracle Center had such a short shelf life.
If memory serves, AMC Omni started out with six screens, four more added later. I was there only once, for a “Chariots of Fire” press preview — the auditorium was the standard 1970s AMC tube/shoebox design, with standard-issue red wall treatments, as with the Lakes 6 and Boca Mall 6 further north.
Sheridan 12 saw extensive use for preview screenings well into the 90s, usually in one of the larger auditoriums well-fitted for widescreen.
Wondered how much longer they would last given the proximity to the Oakwood 18.
On second thought, opening may have been a little earlier. Just looked at the DVD box of “Fun With Dick and Jane,” the first movie I saw at the Inverrary, and its copyright was 1976.
And the revival of “The Glenn Miller Story” (c. 1984/85) marked the 40 years since his passing, not of the movie itself.
So, we have Bruce to thank for the excellent projection/presentation that first drew me to the Sunrise/Galleria back in the late 70s. The smaller original twin (west side) was a gem, especially for hosting numerous exclusives (the late 70s FANTASIA reissue, MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN, and many sneak preview screenings) — wrecked by twinning.
Vaguely recall a more than year-long engagement for the late 60s GONE WITH THE WIND rerelease, too. Last time I think they used (or advertised) the six-track magnetic equipment was for THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.
Loew’s opened the Inverrary 3 in 1977, departing just three years later when they debuted the Coral Springs Mall 6 (similar to the short tenures Loew’s had at the nearby Lauderhill Mall and Loew’s 2/16th Street in the late 60s/early 70s). Local independent operators took over from there.
International/limited release fare made the Inverrary attractive to Broward’s art movie fans, starting with a half-year run of “La Cage Aux Folles.” Also made the trip there for the likes of “Testament,” a 40th anniversary revivial of “The Glenn Miller Story,” the Broward premiere engagement of “Diner,” “Mona Lisa,” and one of the few theatre showings of 1982s “The Pirates of Penzance” (boycotted by major chains due to its simultaneous premiere on pay TV). Two widescreen-oriented auditoriums defintely went the other way from the prevalent 70s shoebox/tube style, with perfect acoustics for early Dolby Surround (especially delightful for “Victor/Victoria.”)
If memory serves, local resident Jackie Gleason may have made one of his last public appearances at the Inverrary, for the premiere of his final film “Nothing in Common.” Also recall a swank opening for “Yes, Giorgio,” featuring Luciano Pavorotti’s conductor (and another South Floridian at the time, portraying himself in the movie) Emerson Buckley. (Memory confirmation/correction encouraged.)
Just as the Coral Ridge Twin essentially replaced the downtown Ft. Lauderdale movie houses shuttered by Florida State in the 60s, AMC Coral Ridge 10 across the street (behind the mall) spelled its demise circa 1987/88 — along with FS sucessors Plitt/Cineplex Odeon’s simultaneous exit from the South Florida market. Second-run operators briefly took over, but not even 50 cent admission on a Friday night drew many takers.
A plain-looking box, to be sure, but home to quite a few premiere and exclusive engagements in its glory days. Briefly catered to alt fare audeinces in the mid 80s, even more so upon the closing of the nearby Manor Art Cinema in 1987.
The building and its adjoning retail area along U.S. 1 still stand, the theatre space since converted to nightclub use.
It’s curtains! Needless to say, they were gone* by the first time I checked out the Gateway some 20 years ago.
Thank you very much for the link; I remember seeing a sepia-tone repro of this in the Gateway lobby during their 50th anniversary celebrations. Sitting in the subdivided auditoria, I occasionally try to imagine what the place looked like in its early years.
after twinning in the 1970s by Wometco, I suspect — anyone know if they split the place in equal halves?
Grove Art: Where many a South Florida cinethusiast caught the fever, building up huge carbon footprints from all those drives to the end of I-95. (Not to mention all the great trade-in music stores nearby, woe to the wallet but tremendous fun.)
Forget whether it was the Fendelman Brothers' first or second location that took over from a former post office. Either way, their permanent home may have seated fewer than 100, a space that could still accommodate fine paintings of RHPS characters (one may have been autographed by Richard O'Brien). Dolby Stereo installation coincided with the regional “Das Boot” premiere, leading one reviewer to liken the Grove Art’s tiny confines to that of the film’s submarine.
Its screen may have been ceiling-mounted; I remember it fluttering a little when the air conditioning kicked on.
Recall the time when the Fendelmans got into a bidding war with Nat Chediak (Cinematheque, Arcadia) over “Fitzcarraldo” (the Grove Art won). After Chediak featured “The Gods Must Be Crazy” in the first Miami Film Festival, the regular engagement went to the Grove Art, playing for more than a year.
After AMC made its run for the Gables/Grove alt film market in the late 80s, the Grove Art had a stint as a music video nightclub. An attempt to revive the cinema under a new name (think it was 97 Grand) lasted for bookings of “The Rapture” and an animation festival before calling it a day.
In more recent times, Richard Fendelman filmed the 2005/06 documentary “Don’t Box Me In – A Coconut Grove Story,” chronicling local activism against a proposed Home Depot warehouse. An abridged 10-minute edition can presently be found at You Tube.
K-B established one other twin theater in the area, Holiday Springs near the Margate/Coral Springs line. A low-price second-run house most of its life, it now hosts live performances as the Stage Door Theatre.
Meant to say: “full-time art film programming,” courtesy of Carlos Cyrulnik (also of the Manor Art Cinema, recently listed on CT).
Born Jaded, the art film programming was what ended in 1987, and the Towne was briefly shuttered (as happened a few times before). As you note, successor management brought a final year or two of popular second-run fare. I even went there one more time before it closed permanently, think it was for “In the Mood” in late ‘87 or early '88.
Sorry you missed out on its alternative years. To be an art cinema enthusiast in South Florida anymore seems to mean a mile-long Netflix queue. If you’re ever in Lake Worth, check out the Stonzek Studio Theatre/Emerging Cinemas black box room next to the Lake Worth Playhouse. Digital projection, tiny screen, only seats 48, but they do have their act together and the audience (at least for “My Winnipeg”) had enthusiasts rather than scenesters.
Films (albeit digitally projected) have returned to the Lake Worth Playhouse. Its adjoining Stonzek Studio Theatre (opened 1995, looks like converted retail space) joined the Emerging Cinemas network, presenting current arthouse fare daily. A black box space with 48 seats, reminiscent of cine clubs and college film programs past.
Occasional special event screenings are being scheduled for Lake Worth Playhouse’s mainstage. They’re filling a void left by the demises of the Carefree/The Theatre, once the Palm Beaches' alt fare mainstays.
One goal of their post-hurricane restoration has been accomplished: they have their beautiful new marquee completed.
It may take a couple weeks, but I’m aiming to burrow at the main library’s newspaper microfilm section a while to gather specifics. I’ll then submit those three to CT. Thanks for your comprehensive work too, Al!
Al, be glad to give details about the three I spent time at (17th Street Causeway was once the edge of the universe, hence no time in Dania back then):
Gold Coast Drive-In (U.S. 1 near 10th St., Deerfield Beach)
Opened in the 1950s, reportedly accommodated 400 cars. Roadside marquee topped with an amusing cartoon gnome, pointing a star-topped wand toward the entrance. Many families (including mine) gave it frequent business in the 1960s (especially recall the double bill of “Yellow Submarine” for my Beatle-fan sister, followed by “The Good The Bad and The Ugly” for dad). Two indoor “mini theaters” were carved out in the base of the drive-in screen by the early 1970s (when the Ultra-Vision Twin opened nearby), told they had 16MM setups with folding chairs. Flea markets on weekends to benefit Deerfield Beach High School. Closed Thanksgiving weekend 1978 to make way for the Rivertowne Square shopping center.
Movie City 10 (Oakland Park Blvd. at Powerline Rd., Ft. Lauderdale)
Eight screens opened in the late 1970s, carved out of a short-lived department store (Grant City, an enlarged W.T. Grants, closed along with the rest of the company in the early 1970s). Presumed reason for the “10”: when first opened, 10 movies would be booked (piggybacked bookings on two screens). Each auditorium on the smallish side with no center aisles, but they did bring the likes of “The Marriage of Maria Braun” and other subtitled fare when no one else did so in Broward. Eventually leased out by then-fledgling Muvico Theatres. Closed by the mid 1990s, now replaced by a Lowe’s Home Improvement warehouse.
Southport Theatre (aka Southport Cinema & Drafthouse, 17th Street Causeway, Ft. Lauderdale)
Opened with a single screen late 1960s, adopted the Drafthouse format by the late 1970s/early 1980s. Broward’s longtime home for “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Twinned in its final years, briefly reopened as a stage theater. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll check on its current fate.
Haven’t set foot at Cocowalk in a decade. As with any destination in the Grove, major trial-and-error locating it. Finally figured out a back way from U.S. 1 to the Cocowalk garage and back (wouldn’t be surprised if it’s shut off by now).
Main reasons for my going there: limited releases (when the “windows” between theatrical and home video were most of a year), an early 1990s revival of “El Cid,” and the local premiere of the Miami-filmed, ill-fated “The Perez Family” with Marisa Tomei (and her ring of bodyguards) in attendance.
Architecture: AMC’s late 1980s/early 90s boilerplate, offering auditoriums of varying sizes (an improvement over their 70s “tube” format), as also found at the now-demolished Fashion Island, Sheridan, and Oceanwalk. Appreciated the larger rooms' accommodations for widescreen.
A PDF of Muvico’s original announcement from November 2007:
http://www.muvico.com/pdf/CocoWalkPR.pdf
Opening date has since been postponed to Fall 2009. Cocowalk as a whole fell on hard times in recent years (now competing with other trendy destinations in Miami), hence new ownership and a new tenant mix.
The Lakes 6 was among three AMC venues in Broward/Palm Beach to be enclosed in malls with two major department store anchors, Britts (defunct late 1970s) and Jefferson (defunct mid 1980s). The others were Boca (Raton) Mall and Cross County Mall (West Palm Beach).
Some prime Broward county premieres/exclusives landed at the Lakes 6 in the 1970s, from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” to “Julia.”
As with its local competitors — the Reef Cinema across the street, Lauderhill Cinema, 16th Street Cinema, and Plantation Theater moments south, and the Inverrary a few miles west — the Lakes 6 was gone by the mid 1990s, and the mostly vacant mall demolished and replaced by several big box retailers. A Magic Johnson Cinema was briefly considered for the Lakes Mall property.
Opened by K-B Theaters on the verge of West Broward’s 1970s population boom, the Margate Twin originally ran first-run features, before a longer tenure as a second-run dollar (or dollar and change) bargain house. Tiny auditorums and screens, but occasional limited release fare (“Hester Street,” “Lies My Father Told Me”) and midnight movies were a draw.
Competition arrived in the late 1980s, when a former lawn/garden center a few blocks south became a six-screen Value Cinemas location.
Facing U.S. 441, the Margate Twin was once among numerous choices for local moviegoing, with the Lake Shore Drive In and Movies of Margate to the north, and Value Cinemas to the south. All are gone now. Last time I checked, a furniture store took over the Margate Twin space.
AMC is scheduled to vacate Cocowalk by year’s end. Muvico Theatres is poised to replace the theater space with one of their luxury megaplexes, targeting a late 2009 opening date.
Warner Bros. built and (very briefly) operated the Warnor (“e” replaced presumably out of antitrust concerns cropping up at the time) pre WWII. Reportedly closed for several years, before reopening under the Paramount/Sparks/Florida State banner. Think the former space may have become a print shop for the Ft. Lauderdale News (since demolished and replaced by the Sun-Sentinel office tower).
Pompano Fashion Cinema (probably named after the Pompano Fashion Square shopping mall a block north, now Pompano Citi Centre) opened as the Gamecock in the early 70s. The free-standing building was a former space for a short-lived restaurant chain.
Another short-lived effort by the management: free children’s matinees (heard it was Mr. Magoo compilations) on Saturday mornings. Recall the owner saying “no one does anything for kids around here” (and he promised any XXX posters would be taken down).
Closed in the late 80s or early 90s, since remodeled as a home furnishings store.
Drive-in movies ceased in 1984 (second-run 99 cent admission by then), but the Lake Shore (two words) site remained home to the Lake Shore Motel (guests once had free access to movies) and Margate Swap Shop (smaller complement to Henn’s Sunrise Blvd. colossus). Margate’s Community Redevelopment Agency acquired the property in 2006, as part of the Margate Town Center redevelopment corridor.
Primary memory: an early 70s revival of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” crammed onto the Lake Shore’s tiniest screen (of corrugated metal).
UA would open an eightplex around the corner a couple years later (Movies at Margate, itself long since demolished for a Wal*Mart).
Bell South (now AT&T) and Imperial Point Medical Center now occupy the acreage once held by the Federal Drive-In, not too far from the Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach city line. Nothing fancy about the place, just memories of seeing Don Knotts comedies (“The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” and “The Shakiest Gun in the West”) on first run. Drive-in worship services were held Sunday mornings in at least the Federal’s later years.
Thanksgiving weekend 1998 marked the end of Cinemas 4 Pompano, after two months' attempted survival against Muvico Pompano 18 about a mile south. Held on to extended engagements of “Saving Private Ryan” and “There’s Something About Mary” as long as they could, with an attempt at booking Sony Pictures Classics fare. Final sign on the door read, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will no longer be in business.”
Opening date was 1960, debuting with the original Oceans Eleven.
Further details to follow…
The last of Miami’s Florida State venues (Plitt by then) to close by the mid/late 80s, think a Luria’s (a Miami-based jewelry/luxury gift store chain) took the Suniland’s place. Luria’s itself went out of business in the 1990s.
Now closed, happened sometime during 2007. Haven’t been in the area for a while, but saw some mentions in the business news that a Kohl’s department store may be taking over the site. On at least one occasion, the abandoned theater was used for hazmat training exercises.
Quite a few exclusive engagements and preview screenings drew me to the Fountains in the late 80s/early 90s; as long as screenings were in one of the THX-certified auditoriums, worth the drive. Architecture was GCC’s standard blueprint from the late 80s, also as used at Deerfield Mall 8 (still open as of now) and Mission Bay 8 (Boca Raton, now LA Fitness).
So that just leaves Plantation CrossRoads (the former Mercede Cinema) for neighborhood moviegoers right now, but there’s now a third attempt going on to bring a megaplex to the Fashion Mall area.
Yes, that garage entrance ramp was doubly thrilling for those of us who drove a mid-80s Toyota Tercel with stick shift (but still nowhere near as heart-pounding as having to stop at the top of the former Centrust Tower garage ramp to make way for a slow-turning vehicle ahead, as a pickup truck barreled up behind me)…
One of Miracle Center’s first engagements was among the best afternoons I’ve ever spent at the movies: the 1989 “Lawrence of Arabia” restoration in 70MM. Excellent presentation in all aspects.
Also saw the restored “Spartacus” there, among other specialty fare.
Having a girlfriend in Coral Gables for a couple years led us to frequent visits. Remembering the crowds on weekend nights, I’m amazed Miracle Center had such a short shelf life.
If memory serves, AMC Omni started out with six screens, four more added later. I was there only once, for a “Chariots of Fire” press preview — the auditorium was the standard 1970s AMC tube/shoebox design, with standard-issue red wall treatments, as with the Lakes 6 and Boca Mall 6 further north.
Sheridan 12 saw extensive use for preview screenings well into the 90s, usually in one of the larger auditoriums well-fitted for widescreen.
Wondered how much longer they would last given the proximity to the Oakwood 18.
On second thought, opening may have been a little earlier. Just looked at the DVD box of “Fun With Dick and Jane,” the first movie I saw at the Inverrary, and its copyright was 1976.
And the revival of “The Glenn Miller Story” (c. 1984/85) marked the 40 years since his passing, not of the movie itself.
So, we have Bruce to thank for the excellent projection/presentation that first drew me to the Sunrise/Galleria back in the late 70s. The smaller original twin (west side) was a gem, especially for hosting numerous exclusives (the late 70s FANTASIA reissue, MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN, and many sneak preview screenings) — wrecked by twinning.
Vaguely recall a more than year-long engagement for the late 60s GONE WITH THE WIND rerelease, too. Last time I think they used (or advertised) the six-track magnetic equipment was for THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.
Loew’s opened the Inverrary 3 in 1977, departing just three years later when they debuted the Coral Springs Mall 6 (similar to the short tenures Loew’s had at the nearby Lauderhill Mall and Loew’s 2/16th Street in the late 60s/early 70s). Local independent operators took over from there.
International/limited release fare made the Inverrary attractive to Broward’s art movie fans, starting with a half-year run of “La Cage Aux Folles.” Also made the trip there for the likes of “Testament,” a 40th anniversary revivial of “The Glenn Miller Story,” the Broward premiere engagement of “Diner,” “Mona Lisa,” and one of the few theatre showings of 1982s “The Pirates of Penzance” (boycotted by major chains due to its simultaneous premiere on pay TV). Two widescreen-oriented auditoriums defintely went the other way from the prevalent 70s shoebox/tube style, with perfect acoustics for early Dolby Surround (especially delightful for “Victor/Victoria.”)
If memory serves, local resident Jackie Gleason may have made one of his last public appearances at the Inverrary, for the premiere of his final film “Nothing in Common.” Also recall a swank opening for “Yes, Giorgio,” featuring Luciano Pavorotti’s conductor (and another South Floridian at the time, portraying himself in the movie) Emerson Buckley. (Memory confirmation/correction encouraged.)
Just as the Coral Ridge Twin essentially replaced the downtown Ft. Lauderdale movie houses shuttered by Florida State in the 60s, AMC Coral Ridge 10 across the street (behind the mall) spelled its demise circa 1987/88 — along with FS sucessors Plitt/Cineplex Odeon’s simultaneous exit from the South Florida market. Second-run operators briefly took over, but not even 50 cent admission on a Friday night drew many takers.
A plain-looking box, to be sure, but home to quite a few premiere and exclusive engagements in its glory days. Briefly catered to alt fare audeinces in the mid 80s, even more so upon the closing of the nearby Manor Art Cinema in 1987.
The building and its adjoning retail area along U.S. 1 still stand, the theatre space since converted to nightclub use.
It’s curtains! Needless to say, they were gone* by the first time I checked out the Gateway some 20 years ago.
Thank you very much for the link; I remember seeing a sepia-tone repro of this in the Gateway lobby during their 50th anniversary celebrations. Sitting in the subdivided auditoria, I occasionally try to imagine what the place looked like in its early years.