Spanish Lake Cinema

dallasmovietheaters on April 18, 2020 at 8:53 pm

Opened June 21, 1972 with “Song of the South” and “Bongo” adhering to the circuit’s family fare pledge. After the Jerry Lewis Cinema circuit dissolved, this was renamed the Spanish Lake Cinema on July 17, 1973.

On August 23, 1974, “Deep Throat” was on the big screen at the Spanish Lake Adult Cinema and controversy hounded the operation which had strayed from its original policy. However, the theatre displeased both the community for showing adult films and patrons felt ripped off as the version was heavily edited. The city intervened by twice raiding the theater and arresting the employees.

The theatre closed and reopened on September 7, 1974 with an ad that said, “Reopening with a new and different show. Call for title.” The Spanish LakeImprovement Association protested the establishment the next day. Police raided the theater again for showing, “Prostitution USA” and “Prostitution in the Orient.” It closed and reopened on November 11, 1974. The city placed the operator in jail for a year (though he was let out after 94 days) and closed down the operation.

The Spanish Lake Cinema reopened under new management on January 17, 1975 showing Hollywood films. On February 23, 1975, the theatre was renamed the Belle-Park Cinema and closed soon thereafter. The theatre was listed in the for lease classifieds regularly from May 1, 1975 to July of 1987. After its 30-year lease expiration, the theater came back on May 29, 1992 as PFX Theatres' Spanish Lake Ciné closing on September 2, 1993 as a discount house showing “Aladdin” splitting with “Menace 2 Society.”

JAlex on December 26, 2010 at 12:09 pm

Not so in St. Louis! Only one of the three JL cinemas had two screens, and this wasn’t the one.

Disappointing to see how soon the switch from “single” to “twin” screen was made in the header.