The theatre closed December 23, 1999 as an independent by the operator of the Park Plaza Cinema with “Superstar,” “Deep Blue Sea,” “Inspector Gadget,” “Light It Up” and “The Fight Club.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
The theatre closed December 23, 1999 as an independent by the operator of the Park Plaza Cinema with “Superstar,” “Deep Blue Sea,” “Inspector Gadget,” “Light It Up” and “The Fight Club.”
Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG
Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG
Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG
Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG
Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG
Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG
Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
The lot doesn’t sit vacant - it became a car dealership.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.