Westwood Twin Theatre
3440 North First Street,
Abilene,
TX
79603
3440 North First Street,
Abilene,
TX
79603
2 people
favorited this theater
Located on First at Willis just off Highway 355, The Westwood opened on July 28, 1966 as a single screen house seating 800. The Westwood was twinned in July 1977. It is a very pleasant and well maintained thesatre. It has a large rectangular marquee over a blonde brick building. It is more or less the anchor of the small shopping plaza that it is located in.
The front wise walk is unique in that it is a terazzo and highly polished marble granite lines the lower portion of the front of the building. A large double window box office to the right side of the entrance.
Ther lobby is nice even though it is small. The auditorium are narrow with eight seats on each side of the center aisle. One auditorium is done in a burnt orange and one is done in yellow. The walls are lined with sound draperies in these respective colors. The floors of the auditoriums are sloped for rather good site lines. The sets are comfortable but seem to be the original seats. (No cup holders).
Great sound and all in all a visit to the Westwood Twin is really an enjoyable night out to the movies.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
I think the Westwood opened in the early 70’s as a single theater, and was subsequently split. I saw Star Wars there many times (1977). A few of us in the local astronomy club brought telescopes to the theater a few times to show various sky sights to the crowds as they exited from Star Wars. The news even showed up to cover it once.
I’m pretty sure the 1978 opening date is incorrect. I would guess more like 72 or 73. 1978 could be the date when it was split.
I can’t tell you when the Westwood opened, but I saw Paper Lion there in October 1968. I saw 2001, A Space Odyssey there and I was very impressed with the magnetic stereo sound system. I still think Hal’s voice was in the surround speakers. Paint Your Wagon was another great magnetic stereo presentation. I was always amazed that Funny Girl, Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof and Ben-Hur weren’t stereo. I believe the theater was part of the Interstate chain as was The Paramount. When the Westwood was twinned the screen was acquired by a Cooper High School teacher to be installed in the school auditorium.
1984 Photo
It continues to amaze me how much information on this website (and the Internet in general) is just plain wrong!
For the record…Interstate’s Westwood opened on July 28, 1966. The debut feature was “Stagecoach.” The theater was twinned in the summer of 1977. The debut attractions upon becoming the Westwood 1 & 2 on July 1, 1977 were “A Bridge Too Far” and “Star Wars.” Source: Abilene Reporter-News.
You are right, Mr. Coate, ad (with picture of the theatre) at View link
The Dallas Public Library’s Interstate Theatres Collection includes 16 sheets of plans for the Westwood Theatre by architects Bridges, Campbell & Associates, dated March 24, 1966. John M. Bridges, Jr and George F. Campbell, Jr, were the principals of the firm, according to the 1962 AIA Directory.
You mean people saw Star Wars in that teeeeny tiny bowling alley theatre???
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/4644.html