Opened on December 27, 1974 as the Marco Island Cinema 1 & 2 with the ribbon cut by Frank Mackle, Jr. of the family that developed Marco Island, Florida, with assistance from Miss Marco Island. The films were “The Longest Yard” and “Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.”
When the Valley Circle Cinema became the Valley Circle 1 & 2 Cinema on March 29, 1974, the operators called Dr. Bombay. Ribbon cutting prior to the first shows were performed “In Person! (by) Bernard Fox, Dr. Bombay of "Bewitched.”
The Northside Cinema Twin I & II launched with a benefit show on September 19, 1974 and with a grand opening for Gulf States Circuit on September 20, 1974. The opening films were a double feature of Walt Disney’s “The Castaway Cowboy” and “The Absent-Minded Professor” and in Cinema II with was Clint Eastwood in “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.” The theatre had lipstick red draperies, seats and floors.
Gulf States Theatres opened the Twin Cinema on March 27, 1974 with Greenville Mayor Charles Sively on hand and the films, Walt Disney’s “The Castaway Cowboy” with Cinema I and its 314 seats and “The Sting” on Cinema II with its 238 seats.
Two investors started a cinema that likely was a Jerry Lewis Cinema franchise at one point in development. The 350-seat theater launched July 11, 1973 with “Paper Moon.” It was then shut down by the city. It had a relaunch with “Paper Moon” again. The theater owners eventually sold the property to more experienced operators.
Cinemark began showing X-Rated films on February 15, 1979 which wasn’t well received. It closed with X-rated films on March 31, 1979. It was reopened by Texas National Theaters Circuit on April 1, 1979 with the Spanish language films starring Cantinflas, “El Extra” and “Bajo el Imperio del Hampa.” In April of 1991, it became a live venue under the same name. On November 5, 1993, it became Stage West continuing as a live venue.
On April 8, 2005, it became the Frog Theatre as a live venue, second run movie house, and alcohol-free coffee shop showing the film, “Napoleon Dynamite.” It closed in May 2005 and was torn down in August of 2006. Because it was the TCU Theatre neighbor to Texas Christian University (TCU) from 1946 to 1993 (47 years) and was the Frog Theatre for one month, I would make a suggestion that the theater really should be the TCU Theatre (aka T.C.U. Theatre, Stage West Theatre, and Frog Theatre)
The R & X Mini-Cinema launched with R and X rated films in 1973. It was rebranded later that year as the Atlantic Mini Cinema celebrating its re-grand opening with a double-feature of Charlotte’s Web" and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” The mini cinema was a sub-run, discount 99 cent and 49 cent (kids) that stumbled out of the gate.
On September 14, 1973 it became The Backdoor Cinema with double-features of X-Rated films. It switched back to the Atlantic Mini-Cinema with live shows added to the X-rated film content. On January 14, 1974, its policy changed under the name of the Atlantic Mini-Cinema Theatre Club. Under new operators, it rebranded as the Front Door Adult Theatre featuring three hours of adult film content. The theatre found its audience and became a mainstay.
This was an automated twin screen seating 700 that in formative stages was to be a Jerry Lewis Cinema. But plans changed and the Plaza Cinema 1 & 2 launched April 22, 1973 with “Soylent Green” featured in Plaza Cinema 1 and “Cabaret” featured in Plaza Cinema 2. Lewis had left the theater circuit by the time the Plaza launched and Network Cinema had disconnected its phones. The Plaza Cinema 1 & 2 appears to have ceased operations on July 27, 1978
The Vineyard Twin Cinema was built by United General Theatres Herb Bilton and Al Cooper. The two identical, automated auditoriums seated 250 patrons each.
The Salem Plaza Twin Cinema was built for franchisees of the United General Theatres Circuit of Los Angeles. The mini-theaters were built with two identical auditoriums seating 200 each. The circuit advertised their automatic, family-friendly theaters using the likenesses of stars including Debbie Reynolds, Glenn Ford, and Agnes Morehead. They were situated within 1972’s new-build Salem Plaza with W.T. Grant’s as the anchor. The theatre didn’t launch until April 11, 1973 with “Funny Girl” and “Avanti.” The theater was still operating into the 2020s.
This entry buried the lede. The Summit Theatre went out of business in greater style than almost any other theater in film exhibition history rebranding as the Summit / Pandora Theatre for one week in late June of 1977. It brought back “2001: A Space Odyssey” which had run at the Pandora eight years previously. The cinema lovingly presented it with the “ultimate light show” in its “original Cinerama” roadshow concept. This is right up there with the Fox Theatre’s Grand Closing in San Francisco. And the Pandora Theatre nameplate lived on moving the Summit’s Arabic films to Taylor’s failed Jerry Lewis Cinema in 1978.
The Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema launched on March 24, 1972 in the Russell Plaza with “Welcome Home, Soldier Boys.” Peter Cerrone was the first-time operator of a one-button, automagically operating movie theater. And 15 people came to the opening of the theater. When the film’s follow-up, “A Man for All Seasons” played, Cerrone said that his weeknight attendance added up to one patron.
Typical of many operations, what seemed like a $20,000 investment automatically operated became a $60,000 investment and – added to that – was a cost of a union projectionist and a dozen other employees. Like each of the franchises, Cerrone got the bronze plaque with the caricature of Jerry Lewis on it. But when the cinema failed to attract an audience out of the gate, he hung his plaque upside-down in the concession stand area in a showing of derision. The theatre failed along with two other Jerry Lewis Cinemas in the market. Then Jerry Lewis left the company and its parent, Network Cinema Corp. The whole concept was dead in 1973.
The Jerry Lewis signage was removed in the Russell Plaza and the theater renamed under new operators as the West Peabody Twin Cinema on October 5, 1972. The West Peabody Twin closed in April of 1977. When the new King’s Discount Store opened in the Plaza, the plaza became known as the King’s Plaza. New operators took on the theater renaming it the King’s Plaza Cinema 1 & 2. It relaunched on July 21, 1978 as a discount, sub-run house with “Star Wars” on Screen #1 and Screen #2 was closed for repairs.
The King’s Plaza Cinema 1 & 2 closed on January 19, 1984 with “The Big Chill” and “All the Right Moves.”
The Moeser Lane Shopping Center was announced in the Fall of 1970 which would be anchored by Value Giant Discount.Department Store and Safeway launching in 1971. The theater was at the intersection of Moeser Lane and San Pablo Avenue. The Safeway’s future neighbor would be the first of what the company reported as twenty JLC locations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
The only Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema launched ever in Alameda County opened August 2, 1972 with “Hannie Caulder” and “Possession of Joe Delaney” in Cinema #1 and “Fuzz” with “The Anderson Tapes" in Cinema #2. On September 13, 1972 it became the El Cerrito Cinema I & II. It went out of business on April 3, 1973 and the Lewis Circuit folded.
The theatre made a spectacular return on August 27, 1975 as the Moeser Lane Cinema I & II named for the shopping center that housed it with Rudy Ray Moore appearing in person to promote “Dolemite” which was supported by “TNT Jackson.” In Cinema II was “Escape to Witch Mountain” and “Son of Flubber.” The theatre closed September 30, 1976.
The theatre came back again with a $185,000 makeover by Associated Theaters Inc. which added Dolby Stereo and larger screens. Now called the El Cerrito Cinemas, it relaunched with “Excalibur” and “Alice in Wonderland” on June 26, 1981. But the investment didn’t pay out with the theatre going out of business within one year June 19, 1982 with a double-feature of “Death Trap” and “Wrong is Right” on Cinema I and “Some Kind of Hero” and “Fighting Back” on Cinema II. Sadly, after four operators, the El Cerrito Cinemas did not come fighting back again. It was chopped up into two retail operations – one of which was a laundromat.
The El Cerrito Jerry Lews Twin Cinema launched August 2, 1972 with “Hannie Coulter” and “Possession of Joe Delaney” in Cinema #1 and “Fuzz” with “The Anderson Tapes in Cinema #2.
On June 18, 1973, it relaunched as the Carmel Center Cinemas I & II. It closed March 7, 1995 as the Carmel Center Cinemas I & II. That’s likely when UA then Resort Theatres came in to change it to the Crossroads Cinema.
The Family Twin Cinema I & II launched on a 20-year lease with “1776” on Cinema I with “Snowball Express” and “The African Lion” on Cinema II. The theatre had two identical 240-seat auditoriums which featured automated equipment and promised family fare. American Family Theatres Circuit took on the operation in 1991 taking it to end of lease.
Family then spent $2 million converting the theatre to a six-plex called the Sterling Cinemas. It re-launched the venue with a benefit screening of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” on November 16, 1994 followed by a full slate of films at the grand opening to the public the two days later.
At the half-way point of the its second 30-year lease, Regency Theatres bought out the Sterling Cinemas location in November of 2009 giving it another modern refresh. It was still operating into the 2020s
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Lingg were the latest operators of a Jerry Lewis Theater and the circuit presented a plaque to the at a benefit opening on January 19, 1972 with “Star Spangled Girl” and also “Paint Your Wagon.” The Mayor was there along with Miss Chula Vista. The theatre opened to the public on January 20, 1972 with “Girl” and “Paint” continuing operations on Screen One and “Man on the Wilderness” and Play Misty for Me" on Screen Two. Family fun was also next door in the the retro Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour and Old-Time Restaurant.
The Linggs found out that movie ownership under the Lewis Circuit was not the one-button automagic fun and profits that were promised. The chain tanked a year later and the Linggs moved on. After the Lewis Chain dissolved, new theatre owner, Bob Ortega, had a naming contest. He announced the winning entry was Showcase Cinema but likely was dissuaded from that name as it was in use elsewhere.
On September 20, 1973, he renamed as the Fiesta Twin Cinema with Screen One as a discount, sub-run dollar house showing “Billy Jack” and house two at “regular;ar prices” with “The Legend of Hell House.” The Fiesta got a new owner, Jerry Willits in 1974 who also began screening foreign films at midnight in early 1992.
The neighboring Farrell’s teamed up in the 1990s for dinner and movie concept long before that trend hit. But Farrell’s was taken over by the Scripps Hospital which forced sold the ice cream shop at the end of 1991 and razed thereafter. They also were the owners of the theater which closed later on April 26, 1993. Willits teamed up with Nickelodeon Cinemas of San Diego moving to a new 10-plex operation launching April 27, 1993. The theatre was razed on November 1-3, 1993.
The Jerry Lewis Cinema launched on January 21, 1972 with “Kotch.” The address listed is 2232 Westborough Boulevard. The theatre struggled to find an audience and lowered pricing to 99 cents for adults (75 cents on weekdays) and 49 cents for kids as it became a sub-run discount operation. Technically, all advertised shows are listed as the Westborough Square Jerry Lewis Cinema – which should be its listing here.
That failed and the Jerry Lewis Cinema closed on December 8, 1972 with “Joe Kidd” and “Groundstar Conspiracy” splitting the single screen. The former theater was used by the Democratic Party in early 1973 and was converted to a Stretch and Sew fabric store.
This location closed in style as a sub-run discount house playing an Eastwood/Bronson double feature of “Tightrope” and “The Evil That Men Do” on Screen 1 and a Halloween spectacular, “Friday the 13th” triple feature on Screen 2 with parts 2, 3 and 4 on November 1, 1984.
Opened June 21, 1972 with “Song of the South” and “Bongo” adhering to the circuit’s family fare pledge. After the Jerry Lewis Cinema circuit dissolved, this was renamed the Spanish Lake Cinema on July 17, 1973.
On August 23, 1974, “Deep Throat” was on the big screen at the Spanish Lake Adult Cinema and controversy hounded the operation which had strayed from its original policy. However, the theatre displeased both the community for showing adult films and patrons felt ripped off as the version was heavily edited. The city intervened by twice raiding the theater and arresting the employees.
The theatre closed and reopened on September 7, 1974 with an ad that said, “Reopening with a new and different show. Call for title.” The Spanish LakeImprovement Association protested the establishment the next day. Police raided the theater again for showing, “Prostitution USA” and “Prostitution in the Orient.” It closed and reopened on November 11, 1974. The city placed the operator in jail for a year (though he was let out after 94 days) and closed down the operation.
The Spanish Lake Cinema reopened under new management on January 17, 1975 showing Hollywood films. On February 23, 1975, the theatre was renamed the Belle-Park Cinema and closed soon thereafter. The theatre was listed in the for lease classifieds regularly from May 1, 1975 to July of 1987. After its 30-year lease expiration, the theater came back on May 29, 1992 as PFX Theatres' Spanish Lake Ciné closing on September 2, 1993 as a discount house showing “Aladdin” splitting with “Menace 2 Society.”
Opened on December 27, 1974 as the Marco Island Cinema 1 & 2 with the ribbon cut by Frank Mackle, Jr. of the family that developed Marco Island, Florida, with assistance from Miss Marco Island. The films were “The Longest Yard” and “Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.”
When the Valley Circle Cinema became the Valley Circle 1 & 2 Cinema on March 29, 1974, the operators called Dr. Bombay. Ribbon cutting prior to the first shows were performed “In Person! (by) Bernard Fox, Dr. Bombay of "Bewitched.”
The Northside Cinema Twin I & II launched with a benefit show on September 19, 1974 and with a grand opening for Gulf States Circuit on September 20, 1974. The opening films were a double feature of Walt Disney’s “The Castaway Cowboy” and “The Absent-Minded Professor” and in Cinema II with was Clint Eastwood in “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.” The theatre had lipstick red draperies, seats and floors.
Gulf States Theatres opened the Twin Cinema on March 27, 1974 with Greenville Mayor Charles Sively on hand and the films, Walt Disney’s “The Castaway Cowboy” with Cinema I and its 314 seats and “The Sting” on Cinema II with its 238 seats.
Launched as Havre Cinema I & II, the theater opened with Paul Newman and Robert Redford in “The Sting” on the 300-seat Cinema I and “Cry of the Wild”
Two investors started a cinema that likely was a Jerry Lewis Cinema franchise at one point in development. The 350-seat theater launched July 11, 1973 with “Paper Moon.” It was then shut down by the city. It had a relaunch with “Paper Moon” again. The theater owners eventually sold the property to more experienced operators.
Address: 537 West Commerce Street
Kneer and Hamm architectural firm
William Kneer architect
Cinemark began showing X-Rated films on February 15, 1979 which wasn’t well received. It closed with X-rated films on March 31, 1979. It was reopened by Texas National Theaters Circuit on April 1, 1979 with the Spanish language films starring Cantinflas, “El Extra” and “Bajo el Imperio del Hampa.” In April of 1991, it became a live venue under the same name. On November 5, 1993, it became Stage West continuing as a live venue.
On April 8, 2005, it became the Frog Theatre as a live venue, second run movie house, and alcohol-free coffee shop showing the film, “Napoleon Dynamite.” It closed in May 2005 and was torn down in August of 2006. Because it was the TCU Theatre neighbor to Texas Christian University (TCU) from 1946 to 1993 (47 years) and was the Frog Theatre for one month, I would make a suggestion that the theater really should be the TCU Theatre (aka T.C.U. Theatre, Stage West Theatre, and Frog Theatre)
The R & X Mini-Cinema launched with R and X rated films in 1973. It was rebranded later that year as the Atlantic Mini Cinema celebrating its re-grand opening with a double-feature of Charlotte’s Web" and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” The mini cinema was a sub-run, discount 99 cent and 49 cent (kids) that stumbled out of the gate.
On September 14, 1973 it became The Backdoor Cinema with double-features of X-Rated films. It switched back to the Atlantic Mini-Cinema with live shows added to the X-rated film content. On January 14, 1974, its policy changed under the name of the Atlantic Mini-Cinema Theatre Club. Under new operators, it rebranded as the Front Door Adult Theatre featuring three hours of adult film content. The theatre found its audience and became a mainstay.
The Westwood Twin launched on March 30, 1973 with “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Cross and the Switchblade.”
This was an automated twin screen seating 700 that in formative stages was to be a Jerry Lewis Cinema. But plans changed and the Plaza Cinema 1 & 2 launched April 22, 1973 with “Soylent Green” featured in Plaza Cinema 1 and “Cabaret” featured in Plaza Cinema 2. Lewis had left the theater circuit by the time the Plaza launched and Network Cinema had disconnected its phones. The Plaza Cinema 1 & 2 appears to have ceased operations on July 27, 1978
The Vineyard Twin Cinema was built by United General Theatres Herb Bilton and Al Cooper. The two identical, automated auditoriums seated 250 patrons each.
The Salem Plaza Twin Cinema was built for franchisees of the United General Theatres Circuit of Los Angeles. The mini-theaters were built with two identical auditoriums seating 200 each. The circuit advertised their automatic, family-friendly theaters using the likenesses of stars including Debbie Reynolds, Glenn Ford, and Agnes Morehead. They were situated within 1972’s new-build Salem Plaza with W.T. Grant’s as the anchor. The theatre didn’t launch until April 11, 1973 with “Funny Girl” and “Avanti.” The theater was still operating into the 2020s.
Previous Name: McMillan Cinema I & II (not McMilland – sorry)
Also: It might have helped to add “in 1993” or…
“In a $7 million refresh in 1993,”
to the Mall’s conversion.
This entry buried the lede. The Summit Theatre went out of business in greater style than almost any other theater in film exhibition history rebranding as the Summit / Pandora Theatre for one week in late June of 1977. It brought back “2001: A Space Odyssey” which had run at the Pandora eight years previously. The cinema lovingly presented it with the “ultimate light show” in its “original Cinerama” roadshow concept. This is right up there with the Fox Theatre’s Grand Closing in San Francisco. And the Pandora Theatre nameplate lived on moving the Summit’s Arabic films to Taylor’s failed Jerry Lewis Cinema in 1978.
The Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema launched on March 24, 1972 in the Russell Plaza with “Welcome Home, Soldier Boys.” Peter Cerrone was the first-time operator of a one-button, automagically operating movie theater. And 15 people came to the opening of the theater. When the film’s follow-up, “A Man for All Seasons” played, Cerrone said that his weeknight attendance added up to one patron.
Typical of many operations, what seemed like a $20,000 investment automatically operated became a $60,000 investment and – added to that – was a cost of a union projectionist and a dozen other employees. Like each of the franchises, Cerrone got the bronze plaque with the caricature of Jerry Lewis on it. But when the cinema failed to attract an audience out of the gate, he hung his plaque upside-down in the concession stand area in a showing of derision. The theatre failed along with two other Jerry Lewis Cinemas in the market. Then Jerry Lewis left the company and its parent, Network Cinema Corp. The whole concept was dead in 1973.
The Jerry Lewis signage was removed in the Russell Plaza and the theater renamed under new operators as the West Peabody Twin Cinema on October 5, 1972. The West Peabody Twin closed in April of 1977. When the new King’s Discount Store opened in the Plaza, the plaza became known as the King’s Plaza. New operators took on the theater renaming it the King’s Plaza Cinema 1 & 2. It relaunched on July 21, 1978 as a discount, sub-run house with “Star Wars” on Screen #1 and Screen #2 was closed for repairs.
The King’s Plaza Cinema 1 & 2 closed on January 19, 1984 with “The Big Chill” and “All the Right Moves.”
The Moeser Lane Shopping Center was announced in the Fall of 1970 which would be anchored by Value Giant Discount.Department Store and Safeway launching in 1971. The theater was at the intersection of Moeser Lane and San Pablo Avenue. The Safeway’s future neighbor would be the first of what the company reported as twenty JLC locations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
The only Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema launched ever in Alameda County opened August 2, 1972 with “Hannie Caulder” and “Possession of Joe Delaney” in Cinema #1 and “Fuzz” with “The Anderson Tapes" in Cinema #2. On September 13, 1972 it became the El Cerrito Cinema I & II. It went out of business on April 3, 1973 and the Lewis Circuit folded.
The theatre made a spectacular return on August 27, 1975 as the Moeser Lane Cinema I & II named for the shopping center that housed it with Rudy Ray Moore appearing in person to promote “Dolemite” which was supported by “TNT Jackson.” In Cinema II was “Escape to Witch Mountain” and “Son of Flubber.” The theatre closed September 30, 1976.
The theatre came back again with a $185,000 makeover by Associated Theaters Inc. which added Dolby Stereo and larger screens. Now called the El Cerrito Cinemas, it relaunched with “Excalibur” and “Alice in Wonderland” on June 26, 1981. But the investment didn’t pay out with the theatre going out of business within one year June 19, 1982 with a double-feature of “Death Trap” and “Wrong is Right” on Cinema I and “Some Kind of Hero” and “Fighting Back” on Cinema II. Sadly, after four operators, the El Cerrito Cinemas did not come fighting back again. It was chopped up into two retail operations – one of which was a laundromat.
The El Cerrito Jerry Lews Twin Cinema launched August 2, 1972 with “Hannie Coulter” and “Possession of Joe Delaney” in Cinema #1 and “Fuzz” with “The Anderson Tapes in Cinema #2.
On June 18, 1973, it relaunched as the Carmel Center Cinemas I & II. It closed March 7, 1995 as the Carmel Center Cinemas I & II. That’s likely when UA then Resort Theatres came in to change it to the Crossroads Cinema.
The Family Twin Cinema I & II launched on a 20-year lease with “1776” on Cinema I with “Snowball Express” and “The African Lion” on Cinema II. The theatre had two identical 240-seat auditoriums which featured automated equipment and promised family fare. American Family Theatres Circuit took on the operation in 1991 taking it to end of lease.
Family then spent $2 million converting the theatre to a six-plex called the Sterling Cinemas. It re-launched the venue with a benefit screening of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” on November 16, 1994 followed by a full slate of films at the grand opening to the public the two days later.
At the half-way point of the its second 30-year lease, Regency Theatres bought out the Sterling Cinemas location in November of 2009 giving it another modern refresh. It was still operating into the 2020s
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Lingg were the latest operators of a Jerry Lewis Theater and the circuit presented a plaque to the at a benefit opening on January 19, 1972 with “Star Spangled Girl” and also “Paint Your Wagon.” The Mayor was there along with Miss Chula Vista. The theatre opened to the public on January 20, 1972 with “Girl” and “Paint” continuing operations on Screen One and “Man on the Wilderness” and Play Misty for Me" on Screen Two. Family fun was also next door in the the retro Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour and Old-Time Restaurant.
The Linggs found out that movie ownership under the Lewis Circuit was not the one-button automagic fun and profits that were promised. The chain tanked a year later and the Linggs moved on. After the Lewis Chain dissolved, new theatre owner, Bob Ortega, had a naming contest. He announced the winning entry was Showcase Cinema but likely was dissuaded from that name as it was in use elsewhere.
On September 20, 1973, he renamed as the Fiesta Twin Cinema with Screen One as a discount, sub-run dollar house showing “Billy Jack” and house two at “regular;ar prices” with “The Legend of Hell House.” The Fiesta got a new owner, Jerry Willits in 1974 who also began screening foreign films at midnight in early 1992.
The neighboring Farrell’s teamed up in the 1990s for dinner and movie concept long before that trend hit. But Farrell’s was taken over by the Scripps Hospital which forced sold the ice cream shop at the end of 1991 and razed thereafter. They also were the owners of the theater which closed later on April 26, 1993. Willits teamed up with Nickelodeon Cinemas of San Diego moving to a new 10-plex operation launching April 27, 1993. The theatre was razed on November 1-3, 1993.
The Jerry Lewis Cinema launched on January 21, 1972 with “Kotch.” The address listed is 2232 Westborough Boulevard. The theatre struggled to find an audience and lowered pricing to 99 cents for adults (75 cents on weekdays) and 49 cents for kids as it became a sub-run discount operation. Technically, all advertised shows are listed as the Westborough Square Jerry Lewis Cinema – which should be its listing here.
That failed and the Jerry Lewis Cinema closed on December 8, 1972 with “Joe Kidd” and “Groundstar Conspiracy” splitting the single screen. The former theater was used by the Democratic Party in early 1973 and was converted to a Stretch and Sew fabric store.
The Jerry Lewis Cinema launches on January 21, 1972 with “Kotch.”
This location closed in style as a sub-run discount house playing an Eastwood/Bronson double feature of “Tightrope” and “The Evil That Men Do” on Screen 1 and a Halloween spectacular, “Friday the 13th” triple feature on Screen 2 with parts 2, 3 and 4 on November 1, 1984.
Opened June 21, 1972 with “Song of the South” and “Bongo” adhering to the circuit’s family fare pledge. After the Jerry Lewis Cinema circuit dissolved, this was renamed the Spanish Lake Cinema on July 17, 1973.
On August 23, 1974, “Deep Throat” was on the big screen at the Spanish Lake Adult Cinema and controversy hounded the operation which had strayed from its original policy. However, the theatre displeased both the community for showing adult films and patrons felt ripped off as the version was heavily edited. The city intervened by twice raiding the theater and arresting the employees.
The theatre closed and reopened on September 7, 1974 with an ad that said, “Reopening with a new and different show. Call for title.” The Spanish LakeImprovement Association protested the establishment the next day. Police raided the theater again for showing, “Prostitution USA” and “Prostitution in the Orient.” It closed and reopened on November 11, 1974. The city placed the operator in jail for a year (though he was let out after 94 days) and closed down the operation.
The Spanish Lake Cinema reopened under new management on January 17, 1975 showing Hollywood films. On February 23, 1975, the theatre was renamed the Belle-Park Cinema and closed soon thereafter. The theatre was listed in the for lease classifieds regularly from May 1, 1975 to July of 1987. After its 30-year lease expiration, the theater came back on May 29, 1992 as PFX Theatres' Spanish Lake Ciné closing on September 2, 1993 as a discount house showing “Aladdin” splitting with “Menace 2 Society.”