Thruway Theater
310 S. Stratford Road,
Winston-Salem,
NC
27103
310 S. Stratford Road,
Winston-Salem,
NC
27103
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TOP GUN played here in DOBLY STEREO IN 1986.
THE RETURN OF THE JEDI
THE 70MM-6 TRACK DOBLY STEREO EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS:
Winston-Salem: Thruway 1 & 2
Charlotte: Park Terrace
These were the only two cities within North Carolina that was given the 70MM exclusive engagement showings.
www.in70mm.com/news/2008/jedi/index.htm
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
THE 70MM-6 TRACK DOBLY STEREO EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS:
Raleigh: Cardinal 1 & 2
Fayetteville: Bordeaux Triple
Charlotte: Park Terrace
Greensboro: Terrace
Winston-Salem: Thruway 1 & 2
www.in70mm.com/news/2003/empire/index.htm
filmbooks: from your comment on august 7,2010; STAR WARS played at the Parkview Twin first-run on June 16,1977. It was one of five exclusive engagement running of the film playing here in the Carolinas,and one of them was here in Winston-Salem. Other cities within North Carolina didn’t get the film until July 1,1977.
About it’s re-release: The Thruway was not one of the cinemas that played STAR WARS as a re-release. The re-release of the film STAR WARS played at two theatres in Winston-Salem from July 21,1978 until September 1,1978. There are listed below:
-Reynolda Cinema 1 & 2 -Parkview Twin -Bright Leaf Drive-In(Mount Airy) *I have the information.
February 14, 2019, is the open date: http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/428323_10150590260539570_610159569_8774187_1080429158_n.jpg
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.
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.
Irwin Mumford was managing here June 3 1983.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 grew up with this movie theater, and clearly remember going to see Star Wars (A New Hope), plus Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. I remember when ROTJ came out opening day, the line to get in was wrapped all the way around the building.
I saw many other films from the 1980’s besides the Star Wars Trilogy at this theater. I also remember many snow days spent watching movies here, when not much else in town was open. Seems like this theater closed in the later 1980’s when Market Place Six opened. Now Market Place Six is closed! The plaque indicating the time capsule is still present today.
raysson:
1) The web address cited in your post above was misspelled. The address is www.In70mm.com. Also, wouldn’t it make more sense if you had cited the exact page rather than that site’s homepage, requiring readers to needlessly hunt for the article? The specific page is: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2003/empire/index.htm
2) Despite your claim to the contrary on this site’s Bordeaux page, there was a fifth North Carolina engagement of “Empire” in Fayetteville.
The Thruway Theatres had the privilege of showing “The Return of the Jedi” in 70MM-6 Track Dobly Stereo when it had its premiere in the Triad in 1983. It was one of two theatres in the Carolina that had this equipped.
The other premiere of this was in Charlotte.