Northgate Twin Theatres
1058 West Club Boulevard,
Durham,
NC
27701
1058 West Club Boulevard,
Durham,
NC
27701
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thanks raysson. I didn’t include COLUMBIA Pictures,But we played alot of Columbia Pictures at Columbia Square 1 and 2.I hate we never played UA because I WAS such a big 007 fan.We would pick them up sometimes third run after the Georgia Theatres Drive-ins in town would finish.By then the prints were not the best for a first run Twin in the seventies.
Mike Rogers:
Speaking of certain movies or theatre chains that got them,in Durham the only ABC/Plitt movie chain(the Lakewood Center)was the outlet for Warner Bors.,Columbia, and Twentieth Century-Fox.
The Carolina Theatre(Downtown Durham)was the outlet for not only United Artists films,but was also the outlet for Universal too. A lot of the James Bond 007 films(1962-1974)played here.
The Yorktowne Theatre(Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.)was the outlet for a lot of films released through Paramount Pictures and sometimes catered to independent films.
The Northgate Theatre(Club Boulevard)was the outlet for Disney and MGM.
The Riverview Cinema(Roxboro Road)catered to blaxploitation, adult, and kung-fu flicks. All theatres mentioned are on this cinema treasures site.
CWalczak:
The Northgate Cinema 10 is not a expansion/renovation of the former Northgate Twin Theatres. The listing is on the cinema treasures site under “Phoenix Cinema 10” which will be updated. Due to my extensive knowledge of Durham movie theatres,the original Northgate Theatre was on the opposite end of the shopping center,next door to Sears facing Guess Road and Club Boulevard. The Northgate Cinema 10,which opened in 2005 is located on the opposite section of the mall. The cinema opened in what was the former Belk Leggett Department Store,former Hecht’s Department Store and former Thalhimers. The Northgate Cinema 10 is owned and operated by East Coast Entertainment Corporation and I heard that Regal Cinemas is set to take over operations which will be the first-ever Regal movie plex in Durham.
In our city certain Theatre chains got certain movies,ABC/Plitt got alot of Warner Bros. Georgia Theatres took all the United Artist product and Weis got Paramount.Sure it was the same way here in Durham.Time i got over to GCC in 1982 it seemed the product was split with everyone.
There was a fire on November 2, 2010 at a Northgate Cinema 10 at the West Club Boulevard Mall, resulting in a temporary closing: View link Does anyone know if this Northgate Cinema 10 is an expansion/renovation of the Northgate Twin or is it a new theater that should have its own listing?
For the record: The Northgate Theatre was the outlet for all of the Disney films that were showed as first-run features and later on Disney would re-released them as a double bill,which the Northgate showed too. Even when the cinema was twinned in 1975,it continue to show new and re-released Disney films.
It also became the outlet for MGM too. The Northgate showed a lot of the Elvis Presley films too that were released as a first-run in general release from 1962 until 1969 for MGM. However,MGM re-released these Elvis Presley films as a double bill too. Not only did it show the Elvis films,but a lot of MGM films were showed as first-run features and were re-released at the Northgate too,among them were “How The West Was Won”,“The Dirty Dozen”,and “Doctor Zhivago” to name a few.
All great Stories,thanks for taking the time to write them!
1985…the summer of some great movies playing on 2 screens at the Northgate Twin Theatres at Northgate Mall in Durham.
Screen 1: “BACK TO THE FUTURE"
Screen 2: "RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II”
WHO REMEMBERS….. seeing in long lines and capacity crowds…..
“Superman:The Movie”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Star Trek II”,
“Saturday Night Fever”, “E.T.”, and all of the Disney releases playing at this theatre?
From the December 24, 1962 article of the Durham Morning Herald:
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR ALL OF DURHAM
THE SOUTH’S MOST NEWEST AND MODERN THEATRE
NORTHGATE THEATRE IN DURHAM’S NORTHGATE SHOPPING CENTER
THE BEAUTIFUL NEE NORTHGATE THEATRE OPENS AT 2 P.M. CHRISTMAS DAY.
LOCATED IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF NORTHGATE SHOPPING CENTER,NEXT TO BALENTINE’S BUFFET AND REBEL ROOM.
3 FULL ACRES OF FREE PARKING!
FEATURING FIRST-RUN MOVIES, COLOR CARTOONS, NEWS REELS
-Luxurious Foam Cushioned Seats for utmost comfort
-Extra Wide 42" Spacing Between Rows of Seats
-Most Up-To-Date Sound And Projection Equipment
-Sensational Aqua Waterfall Contour Curtain
-Perforated Corrugated Aluminum Sidewalls for Beauty and perfect Acoustical Reproduction
-Revolutionary new box office in lobby-first in the Carolinas.
TO THE LEFT:
Spacious Lobby and Lounge Area Features Modern Concession Stand,
The Latest Built-In Vending Center and Indoor Box Office.
TO THE RIGHT:
800-seat auditorium equipped with Wide-Spaced Foam Cushioned Seats,
Extra Widescreen, Full Waterfall Curtain.
OUR GRAND OPENING ATTRACTION:
“JUMBO”
WITH FREE 1,000 GIANT JUMBO CIRCUS BALLOONS WHILE THEY LAST!!!
Radio Shack is actually still there. I miss Mayberry’s. We used to frequent them when they were at North Duke Mall which is another piece of history by itself. I remember the strip mall outside w/ Roses & the other stores as well as the part across where the bank is now.
Disney’s MARY POPPINS became a roadshow enagement at the Northgate in 1964,running continously during its run and also during it was re-released.
Other roadshow enagements when the Northgate became a single screen cinema were MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY,
CHEYENNE AUTUMN, THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE,just to name a few.
Disney’s MARY POPPINS became a roadshow enagement at the Northgate in 1964,running continously during its run and also during it was re-released.
Other roadshow enagements when the Northgate became a single screen cinema were MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY,
CHEYENNE AUTUMN, THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE,just to name a few.
A lot has changed at Northgate too,and it has become a breeding ground for a lot of crime activity and gangs that frequently roamed around the mall either looking for trouble or starting something. Just for safety if you ever there,be very careful of your surroundings!!!!
K&S Cafeteria moved to the location in the strip mall where the Harris Teeter grocery used to be(was also formerly a Big Star grocer and Colonial Stores)which replaced Morrison’s Cafeteria.
Sears hasn’t moved since it relocated from its old location on East Main Street Downtown to Northgate Mall where it has been since 1973. The other stores like Willis' Book and Stationary, Tharrington’s Men Store, Robbins', Burton’s Women Shop, Kerr Drugs,
Hahn Shoes,Morrison’s Cafeteria,Pappy’s,Radio Shack,
Spencer Gifts,and the Record Bar are G-O-N-E!!!!
Baskin-Robbins,which replaced Mayberry’s is GONE too!!!
Mayberry’s actually relocated to North Duke Mall for a brief spell,and that is gone too!!!
To MovieBuff11:
I too recall going to Morrison’s Cafeteria there which was a very good eating establishment. The Cafeteria was on the opposite side of the mall two or three doors down from the theatre. You probably remember another great restaurant that opened at Northgate Mall too called “Pappy’s” which was a pizzeria style family restaurant chain that also was a ice-cream parlor too
that replaced Mayberry’s in the mid-to-late 1970’s. They also had Baskin-Robbins inside the mall too.This was when Northgate became Durham’s first enclosed shopping center during the mid-1970’s,circa around 1974. Did you know that Chick-Fil-A was the first fast food establishment to opened at Northgate Mall? Its still there ever since it opened in 1974. I remember the stores like Hahn Shoes,Van Stratten’s,and Spencer Gifts,and Radio Shack.
It is quite sad,that Morrison’s is no longer in business and Northgate these days,looks pretty rundown.
Northgate has gotta to be a place for high crime and a lot of gang activity these days,so watch you back!!!!
Yes,Pappy’s and Baskin-Robbins are no longer there. So is Spencer Gifts and the Radio Shack(GONE)not to mention Kerr Drugs,which used to be in the strip mall back in the 1960’s moved inside the mall next to Sears during the 1970’s. The exclusive women’s store Robbins and Tharrington’s Men Store are a piece of Northgate history.
The theatre is still around,but it moved over to the other side of the mall,where it used to be Belk’s and a Thalhimers back in the day(it is now a 10-plex cinema owned by East Coast Entertainment).
Wow! It is nice to see someone write about this. I remember going to see ET at this theater…after we ate at Morrison’s Cafeteria. Those were the days! Thanks
The Northgate Theatre was twinned on June 12, 1975 with the opening features “The Other Side of the Mountain”,and the family feature “Pippi Goes On Board”.
It was owned and operated by Fuqua Theatres Group,which was a subsidiary of Consolidated Theatres before Martin Theatres took over operations in early 1976.
The Northgate Theatre was operated by Consolidated Theatres of Charlotte from 1962 until 1976.
Martin Theatres acquired it from 1976 until 1983
Last operated by Carmike Cinemas from 1983 until its closing in 1985
The Northgate Theatre was operated by Consolidated Theatres of Charlotte from 1962 until 1976.
Martin Theatres acquired it from 1976 until 1983
Last operated by Carmike Cinemas from 1983 until its closing in 1985
The Northgate Theatre was featured in an article in the January 21, 1963, issue of Boxoffice magazine. A preview of the house was held on December 21, 1962, with a screening of “Jumbo” for an audience of invited guests. The public opening of the theater took place on Christmas Day.
The Northgate Theatre was built and owned by the developers of the Northgate Shopping Center, and was first operated by Consolidated Theatres of Charlotte. The theater was designed by the Raleigh architectural firm Leif Valand & Associates.
Most of these Disney films were shown at the Northgate as double features,but when it was a single screen theatre show a LOT of Disney films. They cut it back when the Northgate became a twin cinema.
A lot of family-oriented films played here at the Northgate,including a lot of Disney movies. I remember seeing “The Apple Dumpling Gang” as a kid when it was a single screen theatre back in 1975. Other Disney films that played here were “The Black Hole”,“Return to Witch Mountain”,“The Devil and Max Devlin”,and “The Love Bug”. It also played reissued or re-released Disney classics like “Old Yeller”,“The Parent Trap”,
“Fantasia”,“Treasure Island”,“Fantasia”,“Robin Hood”,
“The Aristocats”,“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”,
“Cinderella”,“Alice In Wonderland”,“Peter Pan”,along
with “Lady and the Tramp”,and “Sleeping Beauty”. The Northgate also showed at one time the re-released of Disney’s “Song of the South”.
I remember other movies that played at the Northgate:
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”,“Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan”,“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”,“E.T.”,
“Back to the Future”,“Rambo:First Blood Part II”,
“The Outlaw Josey Wales”,“Every Which Way But Loose”,
“Smokey and the Bandit”,“Grizzly Adams”,“Ordinary People”,“All the Right Moves”,and at one time showed the controversial flick “Making Love”. It was also a showcase for grindhouse movies as well…My parents saw “Shaft In Africa” here back in 1973,and also the reissue of classics like “Doctor Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia” played here when they were re-re-released back in the 70’s and 80’s.
I do recall the lines snaked around the theatre all the way towards Sears Department Store one afternoon when the Northgate showed “Superman:The Movie” to record breaking crowds opening weekend in December of 1978. The same can said when “Saturday Night Fever” played at the Northgate to packed audiences in December of 1977.
FYI:
The Northgate Shopping Center in Durham opened in 1960 as a strip shopping plaza by W. Kenan Rand Jr.
The stores that it had was a Thalhimers Department Store, Roses,
Kerr Drugs,Robbins,The Young Men’s Shop,Tharrington’s Men Store,
Hahn Shoes,and the Record Bar. The strip island section consisted of the Northgate Barber Shop,NCNB Bank and Mayberry’s Ice Cream Parlor. It was anchored by Colonial Stores/Big Star Foods which was a full-service supermarket that was incredibly huge! All that change in 1974,when the Northgate Shopping Center became Durham’s first enclosed mall.
The Northgate Theatre was on the opposite end of the shopping center. It opened in 1962 as a single screen theatre and remain that way until 1976 when the original auditorium was split in two making it a twin cinema until it closed its doors in 1985 after more than 23 years in business,due to construction and expansion of Northgate Mall.
The auditorium when the Northgate Theatre was a single screen cinema was incredibly huge!!!
The Northgate Theatre open in 1962 as a single screen theatre with a huge widescreen auditorium and it remain that way until 1976 when the original auditorium was split in two making it a twin cinema.