Blue Hen Mall Cinema

655 S. Bay Road,
Dover, DE 19901

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Circuit

Functions: Concerts

Previous Names: Dover Cinema

Nearby Theaters

Blue Hen Mall Cinema

Built in 1971 as a shopping center showplace by Schwartz Theatres of Dover, Delaware, the Blue Hen Mall Cinema had a giant 60' screen and stadium seating. There were about 200 seats on the main floor and the other 1,000 were all stadium. It had a cry room as well as a seperate deluxe skybox seating (with bar) for special customers. The cry room and skybox had special piped in sound with its own amplicification.

The Blue Hen Mall itself was passed by when the interstate moved. Competition from the better located Dover Mall eventually forced the entire Blue Hen Mall itself to be converted into office space.

The theater stopped showing movies in the early-1980’s after the Schwartz chain was sold to Fox Theatres of Reading, Pennsylvania. The theater itself is still intact and is used sporadically for concerts (usually county and western).

Contributed by Jonathan M. Crist

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

muviebuf
muviebuf on October 12, 2009 at 1:21 pm

This theatre was actually built and known formally as the Dover Cinema but more popularly referred to as the Dover Cinema at the Blue Hen Mall or the Blue Hen Mall Cinema.

johngleeson
johngleeson on March 8, 2012 at 6:56 pm

Story and photo link here:

http://deadmalls.com/malls/blue_hen_mall.html

TheBurristheater
TheBurristheater on June 5, 2012 at 8:33 pm

if you go to the Mall and look at the sign closely , you will notice the concert hall sign is painted over the original Dover Cinema sign. I talked to a gentleman the other day and he said that a church is possibly renting the theater for their church. no more news as of now.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on August 22, 2016 at 1:41 am

Why is itcalled Blue Hen, hens aren’t blue!?

notthatold
notthatold on November 12, 2016 at 9:12 pm

Actually, there is a variety of chicken called the “blue hen”. The blue hen is Delaware’s official state bird.

When Earl Teat Music was at the mall, I believe they sponsored a few music concerts at the mall’s theater, including a few Cash family members in concert.

mcfddj74
mcfddj74 on July 18, 2018 at 11:36 am

Just got inside and took brand new photos of the inside & theater. Would be happy to upload the photos if im allowed to. Grew up going here. Saw Goonies, Return of the Jedi & 2010 the year we make contact there …..Was a lot smaller than I remember….lol

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