Thruway Theater
310 S. Stratford Road,
Winston-Salem,
NC
27103
310 S. Stratford Road,
Winston-Salem,
NC
27103
2 people
favorited this theater
I worked at this theater in my senior year of high school back in 1984-1985 (“Beverly Hills Cop” and “Thief of Hearts” were playing). Worked there as a projectionist in years following high school. Largest theater, must have had 600 plus seats.
Many great memories….scraping toast off the ceiling after “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” midnight runs, seeing “Billy Jack” as a kid there (my first ‘walk in’ theater experience), that VERY spooky basement that had a casket stashed amid the popcorn bags and cups, making out with concession stand girl’s sister in broom closet, hearing that our old box office guy, Mr. Poplin, ‘expired’ while in the box office booth, taking crap from a cantankerous manager with a runny eye (ewwww!), changing the marquee in snowstorms and rainstorms, and SOOOOO many other memories.
Since closing in around 1994, it is now a Party City store. It was also situated next to a trendy bar and steakhouse so it was not unusual to see golddiggers dressed to the nines to attract Winston-Salem’s wealthiest at all hours of the evenings. One of the former projectionists painted the projection room to resemble the cover of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon!
There is a time capsule (or WAS a time capsule) outside of the theater from the year theater was built in 1969 that supposedly contains artifacts from that day it opened.
Contributed by
Michael Hicks
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
The Winston-Salem first-run engagement of the original “Star Wars” was not at the Thruway; it was at Parkview Twin. Perhaps, Chip, you’re recalling seeing it at Thruway during one of its many re-releases.
I saw the movies ‘The Hand That Rocks The Cradle’ and ‘Jungle Fever’ at this theatre in the early 90’s with my dad. Probably not very appropriate choices for a kid, but oh well, fond memories all the same.
I saw Star Wars at Parkway Twin, but worked at Thruway many years later on and off. I sold an ungodly number of tickets to Top Gun in the summer of 86. Loved working with that group and especially loved the Tron machine in the lobby!
I saw a lot of films here at the Thruway. Not only all “The Empire Strikes Back”,and “Return of the Jedi” played here,but I do remember seeing “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” in the summer of 1984.
The line to get in was wrapped all the way around the building. Once inside,every seat was packed to capacity and the rest were standing room only since the movie was shown in 70MM.
I think the first movie I saw at the Thruway was Bullitt with Steve McQueen. It seems like this might have been its first movie. Never one to pass on 70MM, I also remember seeing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom here.
Arby is correct about “Bullitt” being the first movie shown at the Thruway Theatre. According to the book “Winston-Salem,” by Molly Grogan Rawls, the house opened in February, 1969.
Irwin Mumford was managing here June 3 1983.
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.
I graduated from NC school of the arts in the summer of 79. Which put me about 5 years older than the author. I remember being there that day in 1969 when they planted that time capsule. I don’t remember it as being the opening of the theatre, which it very well may have been, but as an 8yrs old I was fascinated with the concept of how old I would be when it was opened. Strangely enough, I think that it was a 45yr capsule, because I think that the open date is 2014. Neither my older sister nor mother remembers the event as it held little interest for them, but for me it was a foundation stone. I live in California now and for the past 32 years, but I would gladly fly to Winston-Salem to view the opening if anyone will confirm its existence and open date which I remember being inscribed on a copper plaque.
February 14, 2019, is the open date: http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/428323_10150590260539570_610159569_8774187_1080429158_n.jpg