Cardinal Theatres I-II-III

630 Executive Place,
Fayetteville, NC 28303

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At the time of its opening, the Cardinal Theatre in Fayetteville opened to the public as the town’s second suburban cinema and Eastern North Carolina’s first and only Ultravision theatre. Located in the Fayetteville Shopping Center at the corner of Raeford Road and Owen Drive, the Cardinal Theatre opened as a 782-seat single screen cinema with James Garner in “The Skin Game” on November 24, 1971. The following attaction was “Gone With the Wind”

By the mid-1970’s it was twinned, and by the 1980’s a third screen was added. under Cineplex Odeon, who operated the theatre until its closing in 1994.

Contributed by raymond

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

raysson
raysson on March 27, 2012 at 11:13 am

This was one of several “Ultravision” theatres under ABC Theatres. In closed in 1994 when it last operated under Carmike Cinemas as a three-screen cinema.

raysson
raysson on April 10, 2012 at 8:41 am

It was also known as the Cardinal Triple in the 1990’s under Carmike Cinemas.

raysson
raysson on April 10, 2012 at 8:45 am

The cinema opened on November 24,1971 with the premiere attraction of “SKIN GAME” starring James Garner.

The coming attractions during its grand opening were the exclusive Fayetteville engagement showings of: “GONE WITH THE WIND” “BEN-HUR” “DOCTOR ZHIVAGO” “2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY”

Also coming attractions as well:
Walter Matthau in “KOTCH”
Yul Brenner in “CATLOW”
David Lean’s “RYAN’S DAUGHTER”

raysson
raysson on April 10, 2012 at 8:54 am

I saw STAR TREK II:THE WRATH OF KHAN here first-run at the Cardinal Twin in DOBLY STEREO!

apostcardlife
apostcardlife on April 23, 2012 at 8:06 pm

raysson: Thank you for the clarification about it being acquired by Carmike as part of its purchase from Cineplex-Odeon before the closing! That was my suspicion, so, it is good to have confirmation!

raysson
raysson on May 14, 2012 at 1:31 pm

The Premiere Attraction for the Cardinal Theater’s grand opening in 1971 “SKIN GAME” was gone within a week. This was a horrible way to open a movie with one of the worst James Garner films ever made.

The Following Week,it was definitely replaced by a slew of exclusive engagement MGM Classics(all were presented in 70MM)from “Doctor Zhivago” to “Ben-Hur”, “ 2001”, and “Gone With The Wind”.

ctwrenn
ctwrenn on May 23, 2012 at 9:25 pm

actually raysson not to bust you bubble but when Star Wars opened there in fayetteville it did so at the King theatreI remember cause i was there opening weekend

Coate
Coate on May 23, 2012 at 9:49 pm

ctwrenn… The first-run booking of STAR WARS (1977) in Fayetteville was at the Cross Creek Mall Cinema I-II-III.

raysson
raysson on May 25, 2012 at 10:59 am

ctwrenn: actually I hate to bust your bubble(and your pride),but I have the original dates and original ads from the Fayetteville Observer to where STAR WARS played first-run. It did NOT, I repeat it did NOT played at the King Theatre!!! NOR did STAR WARS played at neither the King Theatre nor the Cardinal Theatres I & II during it’s re-release.

The first-run booking and the original engagement showing of STAR WARS played at the Cross Creek Mall Cinema I-II-III in Fayetteville on June 17,1977. It played there for 27 weeks!!!

raysson
raysson on May 22, 2013 at 3:49 pm

ctwrenn: Actually the original STAR WARS movie played first-run at the Cross Creek Mall Cinema I-II-III in Fayetteville on June 17,1977 and played there for 27 weeks. It did not play anywhere at the Cardinal.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK played first-run at Fayetteville’s Bordeaux Cinema I-II-III on May 18,1980. It was one of five cities in the state of North Carolina that played it first-run in 70mm Dobly Stereo.

THE RETURN OF THE JEDI played first-run at Fayetteville’s Cross Creek Mall Cinemas I-II-III on May 25,1983. It played on 2 screens at Cross Creek Mall and it DID NOT play first-run at neither the Cardinal NOR the Bordeaux.

I have the ads:

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