Does anybody know if this was a Hoyts before Carmike operated it? 1989 articles discussing the development of Hoyts River Valley Mall in Lancaster, OH mentioned that they were also working with the mall same mall owners to develop similar theatre in the Morgantown Mall. From photos I see, the mall entrance has the off-center “CINEMA” sign which might have looked really nice with a HOYTS right up next to it.
Everything I can piece together from the Richmond newspapers suggests that this was originally a single screen theatre called “Cinema 2” which opened 12/25/1970. It was called Cinema 2 because it was built nearby the Gateway Mall Cinema (open 4/29/1970). In the late 70s' Cinema 2 became two screens, and shortly after Mall Cinema also became two screens.
In 1985 Cinema 2 became Cinema 5 (then Cinema 6 c1987 and then Cinema 11 in 1995. All the time the Gateway Mall 1 & 2 continued to operate, closing after 11/14/1996 when Kerasotes was able to acquire the Danbarry 10 discount theatre.
I always wondered how this place was even built. Seems to me that it was built at the height of drive-in theatres when every town wanted one. Its location between Reedley and Dinuba really doesn’t lend itself toward attracting crowds on a regular basis.
An article in the 7/14/2004 edition of the Lafayette Journal and Courier reported that Goodrich would be combining theatres three and four to make the largest screen in Lafayette. The same article said they planned to combine two more theatres to reduce the screen count to eight, which never appeared to take place.
In 2018 they added an IMAX screen which brought this back up to 10 screens.
Though I never visited the theatre myself, my coworkers told me (and the photos seem to suggest) that the original snack bar building was used as the lobby of the indoor theatre.
Sparks wouldn’t approve the walk-in theatre on the property, so they worked hard to bring the Century 14 to Victorian Square. Were it not for that, I’m sure the El Rancho property would have been divided similarly to the Capitol Drive-In/16 had been in San Jose, CA
The theatre appears to be similar in style to the Valley Cinemas in Gilroy, Lodi, and Manteca. One of the photos confirms it was branded “TDC” at one point for Theatre Development Corporation, similar to the theatres mentioned above.
An article in the 2/3/1980 edition of the Examiner reported that the main floor of the theatre had already been given over for use as a nursery/day care but “the balcony is reserved for film lovers in the evenings and on the weekends.”
Further searches of the Examiner show that the theatre was still in operation in 1990, operated by Frank Lee, now of Lee Neighborhood Theatres. The last listing I can find in the paper was SUN 10/14/1990.
Understanding that this is not the same theatre, does anybody know anything about the original Brick Plaza Cinema? Opened as a single in 1964… just curious if anybody knows where in the center this theatre was.
Which would mean this is also the Broadway 16 again.
The summary for this can be updated now that Cinema West operates the State Theatre in Woodland.
Should also be noted that B&B operated this theatre at the time of its closure.
Does anybody know if this was a Hoyts before Carmike operated it? 1989 articles discussing the development of Hoyts River Valley Mall in Lancaster, OH mentioned that they were also working with the mall same mall owners to develop similar theatre in the Morgantown Mall. From photos I see, the mall entrance has the off-center “CINEMA” sign which might have looked really nice with a HOYTS right up next to it.
I believe this was originally the Mounds Cinema, a single screen opened 12/25/1970 by Cinecom Theatres.
Everything I can piece together from the Richmond newspapers suggests that this was originally a single screen theatre called “Cinema 2” which opened 12/25/1970. It was called Cinema 2 because it was built nearby the Gateway Mall Cinema (open 4/29/1970). In the late 70s' Cinema 2 became two screens, and shortly after Mall Cinema also became two screens.
In 1985 Cinema 2 became Cinema 5 (then Cinema 6 c1987 and then Cinema 11 in 1995. All the time the Gateway Mall 1 & 2 continued to operate, closing after 11/14/1996 when Kerasotes was able to acquire the Danbarry 10 discount theatre.
I always wondered how this place was even built. Seems to me that it was built at the height of drive-in theatres when every town wanted one. Its location between Reedley and Dinuba really doesn’t lend itself toward attracting crowds on a regular basis.
An article in the 7/14/2004 edition of the Lafayette Journal and Courier reported that Goodrich would be combining theatres three and four to make the largest screen in Lafayette. The same article said they planned to combine two more theatres to reduce the screen count to eight, which never appeared to take place.
In 2018 they added an IMAX screen which brought this back up to 10 screens.
Opening was 10/20/1989
Though I never visited the theatre myself, my coworkers told me (and the photos seem to suggest) that the original snack bar building was used as the lobby of the indoor theatre.
The address as cited in a 6/5/1978 article in the Fort Collins Coloradoan gives the address as 601 E Stuart Ave.
Sparks wouldn’t approve the walk-in theatre on the property, so they worked hard to bring the Century 14 to Victorian Square. Were it not for that, I’m sure the El Rancho property would have been divided similarly to the Capitol Drive-In/16 had been in San Jose, CA
I’m sure people still complain that their kids can see adult content on the neighboring screens.
The theatre appears to be similar in style to the Valley Cinemas in Gilroy, Lodi, and Manteca. One of the photos confirms it was branded “TDC” at one point for Theatre Development Corporation, similar to the theatres mentioned above.
Available info suggests opening was 11/11/1988.
There are still six screens, Halloween is showing on two of them.
An article in the 2/3/1980 edition of the Examiner reported that the main floor of the theatre had already been given over for use as a nursery/day care but “the balcony is reserved for film lovers in the evenings and on the weekends.”
Further searches of the Examiner show that the theatre was still in operation in 1990, operated by Frank Lee, now of Lee Neighborhood Theatres. The last listing I can find in the paper was SUN 10/14/1990.
Also — was it really demolished? I don’t see any major changes to the shopping center when reviewing Historic Aerials.
An article in the 11/12/1977 edition of the Madisonville Messenger says that the drive-in closed on 10/16/1977 after showing “It’s Alive”.
This opened as the Martin Twin on 11/21/1974 and closed on 5/20/2007.
Aerial views from Google show what could be the original snack bar structure at the center of the property. So not entirely demolished?
Understanding that this is not the same theatre, does anybody know anything about the original Brick Plaza Cinema? Opened as a single in 1964… just curious if anybody knows where in the center this theatre was.
The last day of business appears to have been 12/7/1995.
An article in the 8/15/1999 edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times says that the theatre closed with nary a whimper on 8/5/1999.
This is not the portion of the center with the theatre.