Comments from dallasmovietheaters

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Northwoods Stadium Cinemas on Oct 28, 2021 at 7:08 am

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

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dallasmovietheaters commented about AMC Sheridan Plaza 12 on Oct 28, 2021 at 7:02 am

The AMC Sheridan 7 opened with 2,000 seats on December 12, 1980. Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group (or TAG) in Mobile, Alabama. The theatre was re-imagined as the AMC Sheridan Plaza 12 with a soft launch reopening on November 10, 1992. The theatre closed 15 years later at the exit point of a leasing agreement on October 25, 2007 with one of the last films screened as “Gone, Baby, Gone.” The theater was demolished in favor of a Kohl’s retail store.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Crossroads Movies 8 on Oct 28, 2021 at 4:38 am

General Cinemas launched its General Cinema Crossroads 8 as an outparcel building on the Southeast section of the expansive Crossroads Mall which had opened theatre-less in 1974. The project was announced in March of 1987 with the plans by The Architects Group of Mobile Alabama or TAG. Those plans were based off of the prototype General Cinema Town East 5 in Dallas and the 8-plex version could be found all over the country where General Cinemas began adding 8-plexes in the late 1980s.

The theatre opened with 2,500 seats on August 4, 1988 with “A Fish Called Wanda,” “Batteries Not Included.” “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Dirty Dancing,” and “An American Tail.” The theatre boasted of a million dollars in concession sales over an undisclosed period. But by the late 1990s, the multiplex world was ending and was being replaced by megaplexes.

Regal Cinemas announced its first stadium-seating 16-screen megaplex in 1997 to be located at the Crossroads Mall. GCC bailed on the Crossroads 8 as groundbreaking began for that project on August 14, 1997. It became the Hollywood Theatres' Crossroads 8 on August 15, 1997. Regal’s delayed Crossroads 16 finally launched on February 26, 1999 and the Crossroads 8 business dropped 70%. Hollywood closed down the multiplex on June 7, 2001 and everyone knew that the theatre would not make it even close to the end of its 30-year lease.

Or would it? The theatre staged on unlikely comeback when Dallas-based InterState Theatres repositioned it as a sub-run dollar house that became a hit with local moviegoers. It relaunched as Crossroads Movies 8 on March 15, 2002 with “Jimmy Neutron,” “Ocean’s 11,” and “Behind Enemy Lines.” It was two-year old InterState’s second location attempt after it had closed the discount Northpark Mall cinema.

Starplex Cinemas took on the InterState locations in 2007 with the venue becoming Starplex Cinemas Crossroads Movies 8. The Crossroads Mall went into free-fall collapse reaching greyfield status as it struggled to find new retailers after original 30-year leases holders sprinted away from the property. Outparcel retailers also began to bail and the area looked haggered.

In 2013, the mall was reconceptualized as Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads - a fitting name - as the Mall was at its own crossroad. There was too much square footage inside to keep the mall vibrant or, to some, safe. Best Buy closed as an outparcel location, Starplex closed up the 8-screen location. With discount movie theater moving closer to extinction, one might have thought that was it especially with AMC running the 16-screen Crossroads theater nearby. But the Crossroads Movies 8 soldiered on as a discount house renting digital equipment showing DCP versions of second-run features to remain marginally viable all the way to a September 25, 2015 closing. That was just two years shy of the theatre’s 30th anniversary and lease’s end. Josh and Marty Evans then took the rented equipment from the Crossroads to the Robinson Crossing 6.

The Mall was demolished after years of sitting virtually vacant in 2021 and the Crossroads Movies 8 sat graffiti-covered and bashed-in after years of vacancy awaiting the wrecking ball. It was a fate that took out a number other outparcel buidlings in 2021. But somehow the building was saved and remodeled no longer resembling the 8-screen theatre and looking pretty vibrant.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Dude Ranch Drive-In on Oct 26, 2021 at 6:43 pm

Phil March opened the Dude Ranch Drive-In Theatre likely on a 30-year lease on June 5, 1952 with Rory Calhoun in “Rogue River.” The screen was 37' by 54' with a 205' throw from the projection booth with the ozoner accommodating up to 300 cars. March also operated the hard top Gay Theatre in downtown.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Pender Theatre on Oct 24, 2021 at 5:29 am

The Thelma Theatre launched in downtown Pender at 322 Main Street in 1914 co-existing with the Covered Dome (aka Tent) Theatre which operated in the warm summer months. The Thelma had fans at launched but installed an air conditioning system in 1921 which would effectively end the summer tent shows. The theatre was remodeled by operator Mrs. M.C. Freed in late 1929 including a sound system bringing talking pictures to town.

On February 13, 1931, the Thelma was renamed under new operator Buzz Thacker as the Pender Theatre. The Thackers sold the venue in October of 1940 to Arnold Meierdierks. He immediately had plans drawn for a new theatre. Technically, the final show at Thelma turned Pender was on October 5, 1940 with Bob Burns in “In Old Missouri.” The theatre was razed days later.

The equipment was then moved to the Opera House renamed temporarily as the Pender Theatre which operated until June 22, 1941 ending its run with Betty Grable and Don Ameche in “Down Argentine Way.” The new Pix Theatre opened on June 27, 1941 on the former spot of the Thelma.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Pix Theatre on Oct 24, 2021 at 4:54 am

The Pix Theatre closed after 23 years of continuous operation on August 2, 1964 with “The Wonderful World gf the Brothers Grimm.” However, there were more events and even some sporadic special events at the venue after that time until its conversion to retail.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about California Theatre on Oct 21, 2021 at 7:34 pm

The California Theatre closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 21, 2021, Landmark Theatre Circuit announced the closure would be permanent making the March 16, 2020 date as its final date of operation by the circuit.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Lyric Theater on Oct 21, 2021 at 7:20 pm

Will Batterson and H.P. Soule opened the Lyric Theatre as a movie house on June 30, 1908. It closed just shy of its 60th Anniversary in December of 1967

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Village Theatre on Oct 18, 2021 at 7:30 pm

The Village Theatre closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The operators believed that they would reopen and move “Onward” harkening the venue’s final new film bookings entitled, “Onward” and “I Still Believe.” At the 10th year of the lease came and went along with the village’s 85th Anniversary, the theater’s phone was disconnected and the venue did not show any signs of reopening.

No posts had been placed in social media since the March 2020 closure leading movie lovers to say, “I No Longer Believe…” that the lightly-attended yet venerable movie location was reopening. The Village Theatre clientele was forced to move onward for their moviegoing.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Maine Mall Cinema 7 on Oct 18, 2021 at 6:42 am

The lot doesn’t sit vacant - it became a car dealership.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Maine Mall Cinema 7 on Oct 17, 2021 at 8:07 pm

General Cinema built the General Cinema Maine Mall I, II, III in 1975. In 1984, the circuit expanded the venue becoming the General Cinema Maine Mall I-VII. The theater’s arcade was apparently a big hit in the 1980s and 1990s.

In March of 2002, AMC Theatres officially took on the General Cinema locations. AMC closed its AMC Maine Mall Cinema 7 on November 3, 2002 after 27 years. It was subleased to the Eastpointe Christian Church in the Spring of 2004 which appears to have finished out the final three years on the leasing period. The church moved on and the theatre was demolished in 2007. CarMax later built a car dealership on the former cinema site.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Apple Cinemas Westbrook on Oct 17, 2021 at 5:48 pm

In 2006, the Westbrook became Zyacorp Entertainment’s Cinemagic Theaters fourth location. In 2007, the theater switched to all-digital projection. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium Theaters locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Westbrook location.

Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Apple Cinemas Saco IMAX on Oct 17, 2021 at 5:45 pm

Zyacorp Entertainment opened its 12-screen Cinemagic Saco in 2001. It added Maine’s first IMAX Theatre in a refresh in May of 2009 when it expanded. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Saco location.

Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021. Also, the link on the 2014 comment is no longer valid.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Las Colinas on Oct 13, 2021 at 3:54 am

The Alamo Drafthouse closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened for three weeks in late August and into September of 2020. It then closed for another year reopening in October of 2021.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Wahoo Theatre on Oct 12, 2021 at 4:35 am

The Rex Theatre was one of the town’s two silent-era theaters. Fred Smith of Smith & Crawford operated it for many years before selling out to Charles Prokop. Prokop had run the Wahoo Opera House since 1909 and the other silent theater in town since 1913. Both theaters were sold by Prokop to the Interstate Theatre Circuit late in 1929. Interstate closed the Rex for a week to install Vitaphone for sound films reopening it as the Wahoo Theatre on November 17, 1929 with Ted Lewis in “Is Everybody Happy?”

The Wahoo at 556 Linden Street was joined by the Chief Theatre opened in 1947 at 445 Linden Street. The Wahoo closed at the end of a 30-year lease in 1959. It may have reopened under new operators thereafter without advertising. The building was auctioned off in 1972. It is still standing as a converted retail building. The Chief continued as a movie house until controversy closed it in 1982 although briefly relaunching with repertory fare in 1986. The town has not had a movie house since.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Chandler on Oct 9, 2021 at 7:17 pm

Flix Brewhouse Chandler close March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on September 10, 2020 only to close again on October 13, 2020. Flix made the closure permanent later. The fledgling Look Cinema Circuit took on the venue reopening a year later on October 14, 2021 as the Chandler, AZ LOOK Dine-in Cinema.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Midway Drive-In on Oct 8, 2021 at 4:14 am

The Midway Drive-In Theatre was built by Charles Handy launching for Mrs. W.C. Handy and Sons on July 3, 1953 with “Ruby Gentry” and “Blackbeard, the Pirate.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Auditorium Theatre on Oct 8, 2021 at 4:01 am

The first use of the 507-seat auditorium occurred on April 11, 1931 with the live play, “Meet Uncle Sally” with the first film playing less than a month later with “The Great Meadow” playing on May 6, 1931. The venue was designed with a Colonial style with 430 floor seats and 79 balcony seats. The back curtain had a view of Willoughby Lake. It was still operating - though just twice a week - with movies in the 1950s.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Village Cinema on Oct 1, 2021 at 7:17 pm

Grand opening was May 18, 1949 with Jennifer Jones starring in “Portrait of Jennie.” It closed at the end of lease with John Cusack at the end of a second 20-year leasing period shortly after its 40th Anniversary on July 1, 1989 with John Cusack in “Say Anything.”

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Cinema North on Sep 28, 2021 at 6:22 am

Herbert Norman Slotnick of Syracuse had worked in his father’s theaters after he returned from active duty in World War II including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. With his wife, Joan, they expanded Slotnick Enterprises building suburban theaters and drive-ins under Drive In Management, then Carrol’s Drive-Ins, Carrol’s Cinema’s, and Cinema National branded locations. This project was announced simultaneously with a theatre in DeWitt in 1965.

The Kmart Plaza housing the proposed theatre had opened November 7, 1963. An addition to the plaza was announced in 1965 - and on the boards of Todd & Giroux Architects - as the Northway Cinema, promising 70mm projection, roadshow presentations, and stereo sound. The venue opened as the new Cinema North on December 25, 1965 on a 25-year lease with the feature, “Do Not Disturb.” It was operated by Carrol’s Development Corporation, Cinema National, and USA Cinemas. It was closed at end of lease by its final operator in 1990. It was used for other purposes briefly but remained vacant for a prolonged period falling into disrepair. It was mercifully razed in 2017.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Woodlawn Theatre on Sep 27, 2021 at 1:35 pm

The Woodlawn Theatre launched on May 16, 1914 originally with 367 seats. Prior to the address renumbering of 1925, the theatre was located at 2211-2213 Main Street just off of the corner of Oregon Street. It remained there until closing although it was renumbered as 1011-1013 Main Street.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Niobara Theatre on Sep 26, 2021 at 7:06 pm

Harry Koster launched the new Koster Theatre in July of 1930 as a talkie with 240 seats. Citing the combination of drought and grasshoppers that hurt the agricultural community, the theater was closed just over one year later. (It is one of the few theaters in the database to list “grasshoppers” as an official reason for closure.)

New operators took on the venue in July 1932 with shows on Saturday and Sunday and with a change of program for Wednesday and Thursday. Walter Krall was one of three local business persons to take on the venue. They operated until selling it in 1938. Joe B. Liska took on the venue and renamed it as the Niobrara Theater. He operated from 1938 to November of 1963 when it was badly damaged by fire. We believe that was the end of the theater’s run although the building remained until its demolition in 1977. The reason was not grasshoppers or drought but a flood which caused the town to be demolished and moved.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Flagship Premium Cinemas Palmyra on Sep 23, 2021 at 6:59 am

Martro Theatres Inc. of Millersburg announced the Cinema Center to be located in a former Jamesway retail store in 1997. It was designed as a $2.5 million 12-screen theatre which opened 2,300 seats. The architects were Fountainhead Associates. The North Londberry Square had opened theatre-less in 1989 and ran into financial issues. Martro went into the project after also taking over a former Ames Department store in Bloomsburg and converted it to an 8-plex.

It closed on July 29, 2009. Since being reopened in October of 2014, it has reduced seat count with recliner seating.

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Cinema 1 & 2 on Sep 23, 2021 at 6:21 am

The Carmike Cinema 2 closed March 2, 2000 following showings of “Pokemon” and Duece Bigelow."

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Howard Twin on Sep 23, 2021 at 6:13 am

Trans-Lux closed the Howard Twin on October 1, 1998 as a sub-run discount house playing Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon 4” and Eddie Murphy in “Dr. Doolittle.”