The Middlesboro Cinema 4 opened its doors in 1983 by Tri-State Theatres, and was the very first movie theater to be operated by Premium Cinemas (led by Mike Campbell). Cinemark took over the theater on October 27, 1989 and later by Carmike on November 9, 1995. AMC took over the theater after purchasing Carmike in December 2016.
General Cinema briefly operated the Hayden Plaza twice. First on June 28, 1972 when it took over from Loew’s Inc. and ending in December 1973 when the Century Circuit took over the theater. General Cinema took the theater over again from December 22, 1976 until March 2, 1977.
General Cinema operated the theater until August 31, 1989. Movies Incorporated took over the theater for its last 363 days of operation until its August 29, 1990 closure.
The Joy’s Robert E. Lee Theatre opened its doors by Joy’s Theatres on October 20, 1965 with “Doctor Zhivago”. It was then taken over by Fox Eastern Theatres shortly after opening, National General Theatres in 1968, Mann Theatres in 1973, and General Cinema on June 22, 1984. GCC operated the Robert Lee until its final closure on September 9, 1990. It was demolished on August 3, 2009.
General Cinema operated the Big Town Cinema until November 29, 1984. Cinemark then took the theater over for the rest of time until its January 31, 1999 closure.
The Bell Theatre opened its doors on January 30, 1941 with Kay Kyser in “You’ll Find Out” (unknown if extras added), and closed as a first-run movie theater on March 2, 2000 with “Next Friday”.
The Rialto Theatre opened its doors on December 31, 1927 with Laura LaPlante in “Silk Stockings” along with Fox News and an unnamed comedy. It originally housed 634 seats. It was renamed the Ohio Theatre in January 1938.
The Ohio Theatre closed for the final time on August 1, 1960 with Montgomery Cliff in “Wild River”, and its marquee was removed in March 1967.
River City Theatres, who also operated the nearby Starlite Drive-In, opened the Tell City Twin Cinemas in 1979. Both screens opened on two separate days within a span of several months. The Tell City Twin was later operated by Premiere Cinemas until Cinemark took over the theater in November 1989.
Screen 1 opened with “Superman” on April 13, 1979 featuring 350 seats, a 63x49-foot screen, and Dolby Stereo (three big speakers behind the screen and 36 smaller ones along the walls).
Screen 2 opened on November 2, 1979 with “Skatetown USA” (while Screen 1 was showing “10” that day). I cannot find any information about Screen 2.
The Starlite Drive-In (not Starlight) opened its gates on July 25, 1949 with Cary Grant in “The Bachelor And The Bobby-Soxer” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. It was closed on August 17, 1986 with “Ferris Buehler’s Day Off” and “Back to School”, and an auction was held in March 1987.
The Swiss Theatre opened on July 27, 1948 with Brenda Joyce in “Shaggy” along with a few unnamed shorts and a newsreel (and no, it did not open with a second feature nor a reissue of “The Great American Broadcast”. It was a live radio broadcast from inside the lobby.) The Swiss Theatre closed on December 10, 1981 with “Body Heat”.
This was first known as Irvin’s Theatre as early as 1923, and was later simply renamed Irvin Theatre a short time afterward. It was still open in the 1960s.
On December 6, 1985, USA Cinemas took the theater over, and was followed by Loews on April 20, 1989 after Loews bought all of Kentucky’s USA Cinemas theaters. Loews operated the Oxmoor until the Sony Theatres takeover in 1994, and the following year in 1995, National Amusements took the theater over.
Carmike took over the theater in July 1990 from United Artists.
The Middlesboro Cinema 4 opened its doors in 1983 by Tri-State Theatres, and was the very first movie theater to be operated by Premium Cinemas (led by Mike Campbell). Cinemark took over the theater on October 27, 1989 and later by Carmike on November 9, 1995. AMC took over the theater after purchasing Carmike in December 2016.
This closed on October 1, 1978 with “Stingray”, “Steel Arena” and “Breaker Breaker”.
Closed on February 20, 1978 with “Oh, God!” and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”.
Once operated by Cinemark.
General Cinema briefly operated the Hayden Plaza twice. First on June 28, 1972 when it took over from Loew’s Inc. and ending in December 1973 when the Century Circuit took over the theater. General Cinema took the theater over again from December 22, 1976 until March 2, 1977.
General Cinema operated the theater until August 31, 1989. Movies Incorporated took over the theater for its last 363 days of operation until its August 29, 1990 closure.
The Joy’s Robert E. Lee Theatre opened its doors by Joy’s Theatres on October 20, 1965 with “Doctor Zhivago”. It was then taken over by Fox Eastern Theatres shortly after opening, National General Theatres in 1968, Mann Theatres in 1973, and General Cinema on June 22, 1984. GCC operated the Robert Lee until its final closure on September 9, 1990. It was demolished on August 3, 2009.
General Cinema actually operated the theater until June 2, 1994.
General Cinema operated the theater until June 27, 1978.
General Cinema operated the Paradise Valley until April 16, 1995 when it was taken over by Hawkins.
General Cinema operated the theater from its start until July 31, 1981 when it was taken over by Sameric.
It was last known as GCC Southtown Theatre.
General Cinema operated the theater until November 22, 1991 when it was taken over by Cobb.
General Cinema operated the Big Town Cinema until November 29, 1984. Cinemark then took the theater over for the rest of time until its January 31, 1999 closure.
Actual closing date as a movie theater is January 5, 1992.
Opened with Alan Curtis in “The Enchanted Valley” (unknown if extras added).
Closed on March 24, 1963 with “Sodom And Gomorrah”.
The Bell Theatre opened its doors on January 30, 1941 with Kay Kyser in “You’ll Find Out” (unknown if extras added), and closed as a first-run movie theater on March 2, 2000 with “Next Friday”.
The Rialto Theatre opened its doors on December 31, 1927 with Laura LaPlante in “Silk Stockings” along with Fox News and an unnamed comedy. It originally housed 634 seats. It was renamed the Ohio Theatre in January 1938.
The Ohio Theatre closed for the final time on August 1, 1960 with Montgomery Cliff in “Wild River”, and its marquee was removed in March 1967.
River City Theatres, who also operated the nearby Starlite Drive-In, opened the Tell City Twin Cinemas in 1979. Both screens opened on two separate days within a span of several months. The Tell City Twin was later operated by Premiere Cinemas until Cinemark took over the theater in November 1989.
Screen 1 opened with “Superman” on April 13, 1979 featuring 350 seats, a 63x49-foot screen, and Dolby Stereo (three big speakers behind the screen and 36 smaller ones along the walls).
Screen 2 opened on November 2, 1979 with “Skatetown USA” (while Screen 1 was showing “10” that day). I cannot find any information about Screen 2.
Edited from my May 18, 2024 (1:17 PM) comment:
The Starlite Drive-In (not Starlight) opened its gates on July 25, 1949 with Cary Grant in “The Bachelor And The Bobby-Soxer” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. It was closed on August 17, 1986 with “Ferris Buehler’s Day Off” and “Back to School”, and an auction was held in March 1987.
The Swiss Theatre opened on July 27, 1948 with Brenda Joyce in “Shaggy” along with a few unnamed shorts and a newsreel (and no, it did not open with a second feature nor a reissue of “The Great American Broadcast”. It was a live radio broadcast from inside the lobby.) The Swiss Theatre closed on December 10, 1981 with “Body Heat”.
This was first known as Irvin’s Theatre as early as 1923, and was later simply renamed Irvin Theatre a short time afterward. It was still open in the 1960s.
On December 6, 1985, USA Cinemas took the theater over, and was followed by Loews on April 20, 1989 after Loews bought all of Kentucky’s USA Cinemas theaters. Loews operated the Oxmoor until the Sony Theatres takeover in 1994, and the following year in 1995, National Amusements took the theater over.