Portage Cinema

Just to the east of the Portage Mall was the new-build Central Plaza Shopping Center housing the Jerry Lewis Cinema which opened in early-1973. The automated, 350-seat theatre was the city of Portage’s first movie theatre. The city was incorporated in 1959 with its population growing from around 2,000 people in 1950 to 20,000 or a growth of 1000% by the early-1970’s as steel became a big industry in the town. Ground breaking for the cinema was on September 6, 1972 with Mayor Robert Goin taking part in the ceremony.

The new Jerry Lewis Cinema followed the circuit’s pledge of promising only family friendly fare. It launched February 15, 1973 with a screening of “Gone With the Wind”. But by the time of the opening, Jerry Lewis was already at odds with the parent company of the chain, Network Cinema Corp., The chain was on the way to bankruptcy and dissolution. Less than a year later, the Lewis signage was removed with the theatre renamed the Portage Cinema on January 11, 1974.

The demise of the circuit turned out to the lesser of the Portage Cinema’s problems. The use of non-union projectionists in the steel town did not escape scrutiny and apparently led to a pipe bombing causing significant damage to the theatre on June 11, 1975. It made repairs and reopened July 11, 1975. But not before announcing a new operator in George McKenna and an advertisement from Local 125 pledging support for the new owners' policy of using union projectionists.

But the city remained indifferent to its local cinema. Advertisements ceased following shows on December 11, 1975 with the venue likely ceasing operations after “Walking Tall Part 2”. Sporadic religious and benefit screenings occur through January 29, 1977 at the location. The theatre was then retrofitted for other purposes and still stands in use as offices in 2020.

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