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First 20 screen theatre to close
posted by
Twistr54
on
November 18, 2008 at 11:00 am
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Once the largest in the nation, the Studio 28 Theatres is set to close next week.
That’s why it is no exaggeration to call the closing of Studio 28 the end of an era. During 43 years in business, it was an industry-changing business model copied by companies nationwide.
“She’s a grand old lady,” said John Loeks, president and owner of Loeks Theatres, with a melancholy tone during Friday’s announcement of the closing. “We had a good run — we wish it were longer.”
Read the full story in MLive.
Comments (6)
The Studio 28 is one of the few 20-screen U.S. theatres to close, but not the first. An earlier example – but still not perhaps the first – can be found here: /theaters/5793/
What he meant was this is the first 20 screen theatre built, and now its closing.
There is a web site by Jack Loeks Theatres devoted to the closing Studio 28 at View link with a timeline at View link
The Studio 28 was built on a portion of the Beltline Drive-in Theatre site in 1965 as a single screen theater. Over the years it added more screen overtaking a putting golf course and eventually the drive-in itself to become the 20 screen megaplex which is now closing due to competition from glitzier megaplexes including their Celebration Cinemas.
I wonder how much the theatre will go for when it’s put up for sale. From looking at the pictures, it could make a good second-run theatre with alternative programming on the side.
This theatre used to play alternative and foreign films, I attened as offten as I could, I do not live in GR is why.Theatre #1 is a 1000 seat HUGE curved screen, THX. Im really sad this special place will go, the rest of the 19 theatres are just average, nothing special, but this started it off. I saw Titanic 3 times on it, was worth the drive.
Good News.Outta close them all down.