Park 11 Theatre

501 N. Orlando Avenue,
Winter Park, FL 32789

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Wometco Theatres

Architects: A. Herbert Mathes

Previous Names: Park Theatre, Park Triple Theatre

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Park 11 Theatre

The Park Theatre opened April 7, 1965. Walt Disney built this theatre on the outskirts of town in nearby Winter Park. It was originally a two-screen theatre, operated by Wometco Theatres. It was triplexed on October 30, 1981 and then became 11 screens on May 24, 1991 before evolving into a discount house. It was closed in October 2007.

Contributed by Dave Bonan

Recent comments (view all 15 comments)

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on March 21, 2011 at 5:39 pm

What killed thsi theater is Regal opened a 20 screen stadium theater right across the street.

Marlon Martinez
Marlon Martinez on September 13, 2015 at 4:49 am

This was the theater where Walt Disney presented the “Florida Project.” He did so from the grave, as he filmed it seven years before his death.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 18, 2016 at 10:00 pm

The East screen opened on April 7th, 1965 and the west screen opened on April 23rd, 1965. April 7th, 1965 grand opening ad in the photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 19, 2016 at 8:30 pm

3 screens on October 30th, 1981. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 20, 2016 at 9:36 pm

11 screens on May 24th, 1991. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on September 7, 2023 at 11:05 pm

The Park Triple Theatre is also the first movie theater in Florida to have the installations of THX on May 25, 1983, just on time for its 70mm presentation of “Return Of The Jedi”.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 8, 2023 at 12:29 am

Just had an look at the Sentinel on the date that you provided, No mention of THX on the ad.

THX screen ? no mention on this ad. THX screen ? no mention on this ad. 25 May 1983, Wed The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida) Newspapers.com

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on September 8, 2023 at 1:36 am

I know but I recently read an article about THX before the film came out, and said that only one Orlando area location installed THX on the film’s release day, which comes along with a couple of Los Angeles and Dallas locations. I don’t know any projection/sound status the GCC Fashion Square had when the film came out, but with its 70mm (6-Track) logo shown on the Park Triple Theatre’s showtime section, my best bet has to be the Park Triple Theatre.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on September 10, 2023 at 2:44 am

THX was a noise cancellation process gimmick that did not require any “installation”. It was just insulation guidelines for noise from the outside, projection booth, and HVAC units. If the cinema failed the test, it was not THX ‘certified’. I ran several cinemas that failed for legitimate reasons. A few months later we received certificates for the failed cinemas from THX anyway. THX also advertised failed locations in the trades as passed months after they failed, so cinema chains did the same. THX was a con job.

MSC77
MSC77 on September 18, 2023 at 7:41 pm

The Orlando THX certification, at Fashion Square (not the Park), for the release of RETURN OF THE JEDI did not happen as originally planned. Ultimately, the initial THX certifications in May 1983 were only at the Avco in Los Angeles and Northpark and Prestonwood Creek in Dallas. The JEDI 70mm release (with THX locales noted) is documented here. The Orlando 70mm presentations history is documented here.

The first THX certification in Florida was GCC’s Northdale Court 6 in Tampa in 1985. The first THX certification in the Orlando market was at Cineplex Odeon’s Sand Lake 7 in 1987. The Park in the Orlando suburb of Winter Park finally got THX certified during its 1991 renovation.

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