Cardinal Theatres I-II-III
Fayetteville,
NC
28303
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Opened in 1969 under the Wilby-Kincey Theatre Corporation as a single screen theatre. Was twinned in the mid-1970’s when it was under ABC Southeastern Theatres Group, which owned and operated the Cardinal Theatres 1 & 2 from 1975 until 1979. ABC Southeastern folded in the mid-1970’s when the Cardinal was acquired by Plitt Southern Theatres, who operated it until 1986.
By 1990, the cinema had expanded to three screens when it was acquired by Cineplex Odeon. In 1990 it was operated by Carmike Cinemas, and it remain that way until its closing in 1994.
Contributed by
raymond
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
FYI:
“Star Wars” during its North Carolina engagement,did not play at the Cardinal Theatre in 1977. “Star Wars” however played during its engagement at the Cross Creek Mall Cinemas in June,1977 . Cross Creek Mall was part of General Cinema Theatres. In June of 1977,“Star Wars” played as an exclusive engagement in these North Carolina cities of Fayetteville,Greensboro,Asheville and Winston-Salem. Repeat: It did not play at the Cardinal Theatre.
“The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Return of the Jedi”,did not play at the Cardinal. Both movies during their theatrical run,played at the Bordeaux Cinemas during their Fayetteville engagement.
This will be corrected very soon. I ad in my possession the original ad for the Cardinal Theatre’s Official Grand Opening from November 24,1971. The Cardinal did not open in 1969,but it opened in 1971. The feature attraction for it’s grand opening was the James Garner western “Skin Game”.
From the November 24,1971 Fayetteville Observer: THE COMING ATTRACTIONS TO EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA’S FIRST ULTRAVISION THEATRE…. 1. The 70MM-6 Track Engagement Re-Releases of the following: “2001: A Space Odyssey” “Ben-Hur” “Doctor Zhivago” “Gone With The Wind”
Walter Matthau in “KOTCH”
Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in “MY FAIR LADY” in 70MM!
The Cardinal Theatre upon its official grand opening in 1971 got a lot of the MGM product of re-release classics. These films were presented in 70MM and it was the first in Eastern North Carolina and the Greater Fayetteville area. These movies were presented as the MGM four-pack of re-release classics that were a first in the Fayetteville area. Movies ranging from “Gone With The Wind”, to “Ben-Hur”,“Doctor Zhivago”,and “2001: A Space Odyssey” all presented in 70MM and 6 Track Stereophonic Sound as a Eastern North Carolina Exclusive Engagement Showing at the Cardinal Theatre in 1971.
*Not only did this ULTRAVISION theatre get the MGM product of re-release classics presented for the first time in Eastern North Carolina in 70MM,but also the Cardinal Theatre also got the re-releases of other exclusive engagements presented for the first time in Fayetteville,when the Cardinal was a single screen cinema with a seating capacity of 789 back in 1971.
The exclusive 70MM engagement showing of other re-releases as a Eastern North Carolina first were:
“MY FAIR LADY”, “LAWRENCE OF ARABIA”, “WEST SIDE STORY”,
and “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS”.
HISTORY:
1971-1978
ABC Southeastern Theatres
1978-1986
Plitt Southern Theatres
1986-1990 Cineplex Odeon Corporation
1990-1994
Carmike Cinemas