The Crest 3 is the yellow building on the left at 112 N. Washington Street and was designed as a new-build theater by Robert Boller of Kansas City opening in 1947. It adjoins the (Otto) Gerhardt Building which - technically - is a different building with a different lineage built 15 years earlier. (Noting the roof-line of each structure, you see a difference in style between the two.)
As the Heartland Community Theatre has really aligned itself with 108 North Washington / the Gerhardt Building, technically, it should be decoupled from the New Uptown (in planning stages) / Go-Sho Theatre / Crest Theatre and this entry should be retitled as the Crest Cinema 3 at 112 N. Washington in my opinion.
Circling back to the entry here and this may be much ado about nothing but I’d argue that the venue’s entry should be the Crest Cinema 3 closing on March 2, 2003. I’m adding in that its address was at 112 N. Washington (the first number is off above). Technically, the Heartland Community Theatre’s address is 108 N. Washington.
I’ve put a picture in photos that shows the distinction of the Robert Boller-designed Crest III at left (the yellow building) at 112 N. Washington created and launching in 1947; technically, the building housing the Heartland Community Theatre is in a different building at 108 N. Washington known as the (Otto) Gerhardt Building built in 1932. It has a different and interesting lineage.
The Crest III was replaced here by the Missouri Cinema 6 that opened on March 14, 2003 ending downtown cinema exhibition in the town. It’s a reach in the entry to say this was one of the original five theaters that lined the street (technically, the theater it replaced was one of those venues but not this one).
The Heartland live venue took on the 108 N. Washington storefront and, in my estimation, should be decoupled from the entry until such time that it expands fully into the 112 N. Washington spot. And since the Boller reference was not added, I did double-check and Robert Boller definitely designed the venue at left though as the “New Uptown” with name changed at launch. It is my opinion that he should be added to this entry. The entry could also mention that this venue was a post-War theater replacing the original Uptown Theatre which was on the square and burned down on July 11, 1946. In fact, it was on the drafting table as the New Uptown Theatre before the operator personalized its original name.
The Flat River Movies 2 launched July 30, 1982 with “Six Pack” and “Firefox.” The venue replaced the Roseland Theatre which had been closed on October 15, 1981 and demolished. Kerasotes sold out to AMC Theatres on January 18, 2010 and this one had its name changed to the AMC Flat River 2. It closed as the AMC Flat River 2 later that year on November 28, 2010.
A little late. A query asks about dates (above) re: Malcolm X. The theatre did close in 1965 (July 18th) and X was assassinated that year (Feb. 21st). The entry is a byproduct of what can happen when research is unclear. Malcolm X never visited this theater. There would have been no point. But the Broadway Theatre is listed on the National Register as of 2025 - and I would say for little discernible reason.
Malcolm X visited Buffalo on April 9, 1963, yes, and at the Muhammad Mosque No. 23 of Islam - true. One problem - the Broadway Theatre was operating full-time showing movies at that time. In 1963, Muhammad Mosque No. 23 was located at 292 Glenwood at Glenwood Hall and that’s where Malcolm X held his “Current Problems” rally. Malcolm X returned to Buffalo at the University at Buffalo on April 24, 1963, where he was scheduled to debate the Rev. Clarence L. Hilliard (though that turned out to be more speech and not the proposed debate format). At neither stop did Malcolm X go to the Broadway Theatre.
Despite Malcolm X lack of connection to Buffalo’s Broadway Theatre, ChatGPT happily tells folks that he did and so did Cassius Clay. And the source? Cinema Treasures. And just to clear out some of the other guessy date dates provided above, here are some other facts that are verifiable about the venue known as the Broadway Theatre (aka Sattler):
June 26, 1914: Permission was granted to build a $35,000 theater at 512-516 Broadway. That would be considered a low-cost theater in a metropolitan setting with a 1,200 seat capacity in that era. It was built in the first era of movie theater palaces when a wave of storefront / store-show nickelodeons succumbed to specially-built movie and movie/vaudeville houses. Eight new theaters were built in Buffalo as movie venues in 1914, alone.
December 27, 1914: The Sattler Theatre opens with a silent photoplay film and Professor J.E. Nichol as its orchestra leader. (“The Will o' the Wisp” was the first advertised title but likely was not the December 27th feature.) The theater’s admission price for some shows was a nickel and others a dime (with nickel admission for kids). In 1915, it would get the East Side exhibition zone’s exclusive Paramount Pictures contract but the Sattler would not find its audience in a crowded Buffalo marketplace.
July 20, 1916: On June 2, 1916, the Sattler showed “The Mysteries of Myra (Part 5 of 15)” but was padlocked thereafter for non-payment. The Sattler Theatre was a dud and was to be sold off in a foreclosure sale scheduled for June 26th but moved a month. George S. Metcalfe repossessed the property likely indicating no buyers at auction. It goes dormant as he offers it for lease beginning in December of 1916.
October 12, 1917: The venue reopens as the Broadway Theatre showing Gail Kane in “Souls in Pawn” supported by newsreels, a comedy short and live music.
March 17, 1929: After a brief closure, the Broadway Theatre is equipped for Vitaphone playing sound films to remain viable.
January 1930: The theater is picketed when the operator serves as projectionist against the desires of the Motion Picture Operators Union Local 233. That appears to have been resolved in mid-February.
1934: Basil Brothers Theatres Circuit takes on the Broadway very likely on a 30-year leasing agreement and the venue is marketed as Basil’s Broadway Theatre as the theatre hits its stride in Golden Age Hollywood.
(Here’s a guess - It appears that Basil Bros. moved on in 1964 at the expiry of its lease and the theater soldiers on as an independent simply as the Broadway Theatre.)
July 18, 1965: The Broadway goes down for the theatrical count as an independent showing “First Men in the Moon” and “The Outlaws is Coming.” It is repurposed as a house of worship. And there in lies the Malcolm X misguided facts as it hosts a variety of denominations.
The venue was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 2024 announced in 2025. The folks who are conducting a potential renovation of the property - a project proposed back in the first decade of the 2000s - said that they would ostensibly begin their restoration work likely in later 2025.
In the area of unwanted advice, I would advise the renovation group to simply button up the property and clean the front. There is no historic value inside the theater as it is neither original nor - if it had been original - of significant value architecturally, historically, cinema industry-wise, or otherwise in my estimation. It was a low-cost theater when built that’s been retrofitted a lot over time and suffered great damage through dormancy. End of story other than thanks for saving the former movie house. The good news: a low-fi restoration should save a lot of bucks!
Charles Borg launched the new-build New Civic Theatre on Oct. 3, 1946 with “One More Tomorrow”. It replaced Borg’s New Osceola Theatre which he bought in 1931. It had previously been the Electric Theatre - a silent operation from 1910 to 1930. The theatre ran into 1995 but appears to have stalled prior to its 50th Anniversary when new operators weren’t finding new patrons.
Charles Borg bought the Electric Theatre and retrofitted it as the Osceola Theatre in 1931. After two upgrades, he decided that Post-War Osceola needed a new build theater which he created with the Civic Theatre launching in 1946.
Opened on July 23, 1937 with “Swing Low, Swing High.” It was damaged by fire Aug. 1, 1937 closing until repairs were made. It relaunched December 11, 1937.
H.E. Miller opened the Idle Hour in 1911. It closed after his new streamlined Miller Theatre opened in late December of 1936. The Idle Hour was idled closing on December 31, 1936 with “After the Thin Man” which had opened the Miller days prior. The Idle Hour was used for sporadic live events thereafter.
Miller’s Gem Theatre was a reboot of the Idle Hour Theatre nicknamed Miller’s Junior Theatre. It was relaunched to counter the new Highway Theatre close by in Crystal City. The new Idle Hour opened on April 24, 1947 with “Lone Hand Texan” and “A Boy, A Girl and a Dog.” It was a dud and by year’s end was reduced to just twice a week operation. A policy change allowed African Americans in the balcony on Friday nights (only). That didn’t help and the Gem was no diamond in the rough so Miller simply bought out the competing Highway Theatre in Crystal City and closed the Gem on May 13, 1948 with “Pursued” and “Their First Mistake.” It was used for sporadic live events into 1950. Co-Ed Garments overhauled the property for special machinery work and for storage ending its cinematic operations (and was decidedly not still open in 1958).
The Cortez Plaza was built in 1958 as a mall for Eastern Shopping Centers of Yonkers, New York and designed by architect Edward Dean Wyke. It was one of many suburban mall/centers being developed by Eastern all across Southern Florida. The Cortez Plaza would serve as an anchor spot for Belk-Lindsey Stores. Featuring Kresge’s and Grand Union Grocers, it opened theatre-less on February 16, 1959.
In 1968, a major expansion took place which would eventually bring a cinema to the location. A franchisee of Network Cinemas' Jerry Lewis Circuit built here. The Jerry Lewis Cortez Plaza Twin Cinema launched on December 23, 1971 with “Peter Rabbit” and “Tales of Beatrix Potter” on Screen 1 and “An Elephant Called Slowly” and “Darling Lili” on Screen 2 next to Woolworth’s big box Woolco store.
The Plaza’s expansion led the Woolco/Lewis Cinema to be part of Cortez Plaza “East”. The Lewis chain beat Woolco to dissolution with Lewis leaving the chain in 1972 and Network Cinemas disconnecting the phones in bankruptcy in 1973. So franchisee Suncoast Cinemas Inc. rebranded the venue here as the Cortez Plaza Twin I & II on March 17, 1973.
Florida West Amusements took on the venue. It was sued by Warner Brothers over a $25,000 clearance to play “Barry Lyndon” in 1975. Florida West sold it to Cobb Theatres on July 15, 1976. As for the Cortez Plaza, Woolco went bankrupt in early 1983 with Wal-Mart moving in. Retaining the Cortez Plaza East namesake, formally, it was marketed as the Wal-Mart Plaza. As further expansions were taking place - though I’m no expert - it appears that there weren’t enough addresses doled out to the center so the 3633 Cortez Road was placed in its proper locale and a new set of numbers created within the Plaza. The theater, for example, was now listed at 701 Cortez Road West which it remains to this day (and looking unchanged externally into the mid 2020s).
In the meantime, Plitt Theatres took on the cinema venue followed by Floyd Theatres. Wal-Mart bolted for newer Supercenter with self-standing digs while Carmike Cinemas took over the Cinema for its final stretch on March 17, 1995. Carmike started up with deep discount, 99-cent double-features. Not a ringing endorsement but - in the age of megaplexes - not surprising. Carmike dropped back to just single-title discount sub-runs before closing permanently on April 17, 1997 with “Star Wars” and “Fargo.” In 2023, the vacant storefront still had its box office that looked to be the same as the 1971 cinema. The storefront became a kids trampolining activity center after a major re-design.
The Twin City Cinema was opened on March 22, 1974, by the Mid-America Cinema Corp. with “The Laughing Policeman” and “The Paper Chase.“ Mid-America Theatres was struggling financially during the rise of the multiplex era and sold its dwindling operations. Following the sale of this venue, the theater became the RKO Twin City Cinema after RKO Century’s parent company, the Almi Group, announced the acquisition of Mid-America’s cinemas on April 11, 1984.
On December 8, 1984, the venue became the Commonwealth Twin City Cinema for Commonwealth Theatres when it purchased four of the RKO Century theaters in Missouri. Commonwealth didn’t see much foot traffic closing the venue briskly on January 6, 1985. Wherenberg Theatres took on the venue renaming it as the Wherenberg Twin City Ciné with “Heaven Help Us” and “Mischief” on February 8, 1985. The only mischief viewed by the locals took place just seven months later.
Arsonists doused the interior of the Twin City Ciné hoping to destroy the venue in the wee hours of September 19, 1985. They simply destroyed much of the interior of the theatre with the building standing firm. The Ciné’s screenings on September 18, 1985 were “Back to the Future” and “Rambo First Blood: Part II.” Wherenberg listed the low-performing venue as “Closed for Repairs.” As the town awaited potential Doc Brown intervention with the Delorean for those repairs, a new-build CVS was built on the site of the former Ciné. With Doc having the Twin City Ciné quite low on the priority list for potential historic tinkering, its Status should be “Demolished (for now).”
Opened on February 14, 1973, by Mid-America Theatres of St. Louis with Barbra Streisand in “What’s Up, Doc?” & Omar Sharif in “Doctor Zhivago”. It was designed by Martin Bloom Associates costing $350,000 and had twin 300-seat auditoriums at opening for 600 total capacity. On December 19, 1977, the Bonne Terre was purchased by Kerasotes Cinemas with Mid-America scuffling. Kerasotes moved on from the Bonne Terre Cinema on September 8, 1994 when it opened its Kerasotes Maple Valley 4 on September 9, 1994.
The Flat River Movies 2 launched July 30, 1982 with “Six Pack” and “Firefox.” The venue replaced the Roseland Theatre which had been closed on October 15, 1981 and demolished. Kerasotes sold out to AMC Theatres on January 18, 2010 and this one had its name changed to the AMC Flat River 2. It closed as the AMC Flat River 2 later that year on November 28, 2010.
The Kerasotes Maple 4 Theatre opened on September 9, 1994 with “Forrest Gump,” “Tue Lies,” “In the Army Now,” and “The Mask.” It became the the Kerasotes Showplace Farmington after a refresh. On January 18, 2010, Kerasotes was purchased by AMC and it was renamed as the Kerasotes Showplace Farmington 4. When AMC purchased Carmike Cinemas in 2016, the vast majority of inherited cinemas from Kerasotes, Carmike, Starplex and other chains were rebranded as AMC Classics. In 2017, this venue became the AMC Classic Farmington 4.
The Crest 3 is the yellow building on the left at 112 N. Washington Street and was designed as a new-build theater by Robert Boller of Kansas City opening in 1947. It adjoins the (Otto) Gerhardt Building which - technically - is a different building with a different lineage built 15 years earlier. (Noting the roof-line of each structure, you see a difference in style between the two.)
As the Heartland Community Theatre has really aligned itself with 108 North Washington / the Gerhardt Building, technically, it should be decoupled from the New Uptown (in planning stages) / Go-Sho Theatre / Crest Theatre and this entry should be retitled as the Crest Cinema 3 at 112 N. Washington in my opinion.
Circling back to the entry here and this may be much ado about nothing but I’d argue that the venue’s entry should be the Crest Cinema 3 closing on March 2, 2003. I’m adding in that its address was at 112 N. Washington (the first number is off above). Technically, the Heartland Community Theatre’s address is 108 N. Washington.
I’ve put a picture in photos that shows the distinction of the Robert Boller-designed Crest III at left (the yellow building) at 112 N. Washington created and launching in 1947; technically, the building housing the Heartland Community Theatre is in a different building at 108 N. Washington known as the (Otto) Gerhardt Building built in 1932. It has a different and interesting lineage.
The Crest III was replaced here by the Missouri Cinema 6 that opened on March 14, 2003 ending downtown cinema exhibition in the town. It’s a reach in the entry to say this was one of the original five theaters that lined the street (technically, the theater it replaced was one of those venues but not this one).
The Heartland live venue took on the 108 N. Washington storefront and, in my estimation, should be decoupled from the entry until such time that it expands fully into the 112 N. Washington spot. And since the Boller reference was not added, I did double-check and Robert Boller definitely designed the venue at left though as the “New Uptown” with name changed at launch. It is my opinion that he should be added to this entry. The entry could also mention that this venue was a post-War theater replacing the original Uptown Theatre which was on the square and burned down on July 11, 1946. In fact, it was on the drafting table as the New Uptown Theatre before the operator personalized its original name.
Not that any of this matters that much…
The Flat River Movies 2 launched July 30, 1982 with “Six Pack” and “Firefox.” The venue replaced the Roseland Theatre which had been closed on October 15, 1981 and demolished. Kerasotes sold out to AMC Theatres on January 18, 2010 and this one had its name changed to the AMC Flat River 2. It closed as the AMC Flat River 2 later that year on November 28, 2010.
The downtown Crest Cinema III closed on March 2, 2003. It was replaced here by the Missouri Cinema 6 that opened on March 14, 2003.
A little late. A query asks about dates (above) re: Malcolm X. The theatre did close in 1965 (July 18th) and X was assassinated that year (Feb. 21st). The entry is a byproduct of what can happen when research is unclear. Malcolm X never visited this theater. There would have been no point. But the Broadway Theatre is listed on the National Register as of 2025 - and I would say for little discernible reason.
Malcolm X visited Buffalo on April 9, 1963, yes, and at the Muhammad Mosque No. 23 of Islam - true. One problem - the Broadway Theatre was operating full-time showing movies at that time. In 1963, Muhammad Mosque No. 23 was located at 292 Glenwood at Glenwood Hall and that’s where Malcolm X held his “Current Problems” rally. Malcolm X returned to Buffalo at the University at Buffalo on April 24, 1963, where he was scheduled to debate the Rev. Clarence L. Hilliard (though that turned out to be more speech and not the proposed debate format). At neither stop did Malcolm X go to the Broadway Theatre.
Despite Malcolm X lack of connection to Buffalo’s Broadway Theatre, ChatGPT happily tells folks that he did and so did Cassius Clay. And the source? Cinema Treasures. And just to clear out some of the other guessy date dates provided above, here are some other facts that are verifiable about the venue known as the Broadway Theatre (aka Sattler):
June 26, 1914: Permission was granted to build a $35,000 theater at 512-516 Broadway. That would be considered a low-cost theater in a metropolitan setting with a 1,200 seat capacity in that era. It was built in the first era of movie theater palaces when a wave of storefront / store-show nickelodeons succumbed to specially-built movie and movie/vaudeville houses. Eight new theaters were built in Buffalo as movie venues in 1914, alone.
December 27, 1914: The Sattler Theatre opens with a silent photoplay film and Professor J.E. Nichol as its orchestra leader. (“The Will o' the Wisp” was the first advertised title but likely was not the December 27th feature.) The theater’s admission price for some shows was a nickel and others a dime (with nickel admission for kids). In 1915, it would get the East Side exhibition zone’s exclusive Paramount Pictures contract but the Sattler would not find its audience in a crowded Buffalo marketplace.
July 20, 1916: On June 2, 1916, the Sattler showed “The Mysteries of Myra (Part 5 of 15)” but was padlocked thereafter for non-payment. The Sattler Theatre was a dud and was to be sold off in a foreclosure sale scheduled for June 26th but moved a month. George S. Metcalfe repossessed the property likely indicating no buyers at auction. It goes dormant as he offers it for lease beginning in December of 1916.
October 12, 1917: The venue reopens as the Broadway Theatre showing Gail Kane in “Souls in Pawn” supported by newsreels, a comedy short and live music.
March 17, 1929: After a brief closure, the Broadway Theatre is equipped for Vitaphone playing sound films to remain viable.
January 1930: The theater is picketed when the operator serves as projectionist against the desires of the Motion Picture Operators Union Local 233. That appears to have been resolved in mid-February.
1934: Basil Brothers Theatres Circuit takes on the Broadway very likely on a 30-year leasing agreement and the venue is marketed as Basil’s Broadway Theatre as the theatre hits its stride in Golden Age Hollywood.
(Here’s a guess - It appears that Basil Bros. moved on in 1964 at the expiry of its lease and the theater soldiers on as an independent simply as the Broadway Theatre.)
July 18, 1965: The Broadway goes down for the theatrical count as an independent showing “First Men in the Moon” and “The Outlaws is Coming.” It is repurposed as a house of worship. And there in lies the Malcolm X misguided facts as it hosts a variety of denominations.
The venue was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 2024 announced in 2025. The folks who are conducting a potential renovation of the property - a project proposed back in the first decade of the 2000s - said that they would ostensibly begin their restoration work likely in later 2025.
In the area of unwanted advice, I would advise the renovation group to simply button up the property and clean the front. There is no historic value inside the theater as it is neither original nor - if it had been original - of significant value architecturally, historically, cinema industry-wise, or otherwise in my estimation. It was a low-cost theater when built that’s been retrofitted a lot over time and suffered great damage through dormancy. End of story other than thanks for saving the former movie house. The good news: a low-fi restoration should save a lot of bucks!
Charles Borg launched the new-build New Civic Theatre on Oct. 3, 1946 with “One More Tomorrow”. It replaced Borg’s New Osceola Theatre which he bought in 1931. It had previously been the Electric Theatre - a silent operation from 1910 to 1930. The theatre ran into 1995 but appears to have stalled prior to its 50th Anniversary when new operators weren’t finding new patrons.
Charles Borg bought the Electric Theatre and retrofitted it as the Osceola Theatre in 1931. After two upgrades, he decided that Post-War Osceola needed a new build theater which he created with the Civic Theatre launching in 1946.
The New Civic launched on Oct. 3, 1946 with “One More Tomorrow”
Opened on July 23, 1937 with “Swing Low, Swing High.” It was damaged by fire Aug. 1, 1937 closing until repairs were made. It relaunched December 11, 1937.
The original Logan Theatre had a Pilcher pipe organ
Opened August 19, 1994.
H.E. Miller opened the Idle Hour in 1911. It closed after his new streamlined Miller Theatre opened in late December of 1936. The Idle Hour was idled closing on December 31, 1936 with “After the Thin Man” which had opened the Miller days prior. The Idle Hour was used for sporadic live events thereafter.
Miller’s Gem Theatre was a reboot of the Idle Hour Theatre nicknamed Miller’s Junior Theatre. It was relaunched to counter the new Highway Theatre close by in Crystal City. The new Idle Hour opened on April 24, 1947 with “Lone Hand Texan” and “A Boy, A Girl and a Dog.” It was a dud and by year’s end was reduced to just twice a week operation. A policy change allowed African Americans in the balcony on Friday nights (only). That didn’t help and the Gem was no diamond in the rough so Miller simply bought out the competing Highway Theatre in Crystal City and closed the Gem on May 13, 1948 with “Pursued” and “Their First Mistake.” It was used for sporadic live events into 1950. Co-Ed Garments overhauled the property for special machinery work and for storage ending its cinematic operations (and was decidedly not still open in 1958).
The Cortez Plaza was built in 1958 as a mall for Eastern Shopping Centers of Yonkers, New York and designed by architect Edward Dean Wyke. It was one of many suburban mall/centers being developed by Eastern all across Southern Florida. The Cortez Plaza would serve as an anchor spot for Belk-Lindsey Stores. Featuring Kresge’s and Grand Union Grocers, it opened theatre-less on February 16, 1959.
In 1968, a major expansion took place which would eventually bring a cinema to the location. A franchisee of Network Cinemas' Jerry Lewis Circuit built here. The Jerry Lewis Cortez Plaza Twin Cinema launched on December 23, 1971 with “Peter Rabbit” and “Tales of Beatrix Potter” on Screen 1 and “An Elephant Called Slowly” and “Darling Lili” on Screen 2 next to Woolworth’s big box Woolco store.
The Plaza’s expansion led the Woolco/Lewis Cinema to be part of Cortez Plaza “East”. The Lewis chain beat Woolco to dissolution with Lewis leaving the chain in 1972 and Network Cinemas disconnecting the phones in bankruptcy in 1973. So franchisee Suncoast Cinemas Inc. rebranded the venue here as the Cortez Plaza Twin I & II on March 17, 1973.
Florida West Amusements took on the venue. It was sued by Warner Brothers over a $25,000 clearance to play “Barry Lyndon” in 1975. Florida West sold it to Cobb Theatres on July 15, 1976. As for the Cortez Plaza, Woolco went bankrupt in early 1983 with Wal-Mart moving in. Retaining the Cortez Plaza East namesake, formally, it was marketed as the Wal-Mart Plaza. As further expansions were taking place - though I’m no expert - it appears that there weren’t enough addresses doled out to the center so the 3633 Cortez Road was placed in its proper locale and a new set of numbers created within the Plaza. The theater, for example, was now listed at 701 Cortez Road West which it remains to this day (and looking unchanged externally into the mid 2020s).
In the meantime, Plitt Theatres took on the cinema venue followed by Floyd Theatres. Wal-Mart bolted for newer Supercenter with self-standing digs while Carmike Cinemas took over the Cinema for its final stretch on March 17, 1995. Carmike started up with deep discount, 99-cent double-features. Not a ringing endorsement but - in the age of megaplexes - not surprising. Carmike dropped back to just single-title discount sub-runs before closing permanently on April 17, 1997 with “Star Wars” and “Fargo.” In 2023, the vacant storefront still had its box office that looked to be the same as the 1971 cinema. The storefront became a kids trampolining activity center after a major re-design.
The Twin City Cinema was opened on March 22, 1974, by the Mid-America Cinema Corp. with “The Laughing Policeman” and “The Paper Chase.“ Mid-America Theatres was struggling financially during the rise of the multiplex era and sold its dwindling operations. Following the sale of this venue, the theater became the RKO Twin City Cinema after RKO Century’s parent company, the Almi Group, announced the acquisition of Mid-America’s cinemas on April 11, 1984.
On December 8, 1984, the venue became the Commonwealth Twin City Cinema for Commonwealth Theatres when it purchased four of the RKO Century theaters in Missouri. Commonwealth didn’t see much foot traffic closing the venue briskly on January 6, 1985. Wherenberg Theatres took on the venue renaming it as the Wherenberg Twin City Ciné with “Heaven Help Us” and “Mischief” on February 8, 1985. The only mischief viewed by the locals took place just seven months later.
Arsonists doused the interior of the Twin City Ciné hoping to destroy the venue in the wee hours of September 19, 1985. They simply destroyed much of the interior of the theatre with the building standing firm. The Ciné’s screenings on September 18, 1985 were “Back to the Future” and “Rambo First Blood: Part II.” Wherenberg listed the low-performing venue as “Closed for Repairs.” As the town awaited potential Doc Brown intervention with the Delorean for those repairs, a new-build CVS was built on the site of the former Ciné. With Doc having the Twin City Ciné quite low on the priority list for potential historic tinkering, its Status should be “Demolished (for now).”
The Twin City Cinema was opened on March 22, 1974, by the Mid-America Cinema Corp. with “The Laughing Policeman” and “The Paper Chase”
December 22, 1922 opening program with “East is West” on the big screen
Opened on February 14, 1973, by Mid-America Theatres of St. Louis with Barbra Streisand in “What’s Up, Doc?” & Omar Sharif in “Doctor Zhivago”. It was designed by Martin Bloom Associates costing $350,000 and had twin 300-seat auditoriums at opening for 600 total capacity. On December 19, 1977, the Bonne Terre was purchased by Kerasotes Cinemas with Mid-America scuffling. Kerasotes moved on from the Bonne Terre Cinema on September 8, 1994 when it opened its Kerasotes Maple Valley 4 on September 9, 1994.
The Flat River Movies 2 launched July 30, 1982 with “Six Pack” and “Firefox.” The venue replaced the Roseland Theatre which had been closed on October 15, 1981 and demolished. Kerasotes sold out to AMC Theatres on January 18, 2010 and this one had its name changed to the AMC Flat River 2. It closed as the AMC Flat River 2 later that year on November 28, 2010.
The Kerasotes Maple 4 Theatre opened on September 9, 1994 with “Forrest Gump,” “Tue Lies,” “In the Army Now,” and “The Mask.” It became the the Kerasotes Showplace Farmington after a refresh. On January 18, 2010, Kerasotes was purchased by AMC and it was renamed as the Kerasotes Showplace Farmington 4. When AMC purchased Carmike Cinemas in 2016, the vast majority of inherited cinemas from Kerasotes, Carmike, Starplex and other chains were rebranded as AMC Classics. In 2017, this venue became the AMC Classic Farmington 4.
The Ritz Theatre launches April 9, 1928 with “Old Ironsides”
Grand opening ad from June 8, 1949 with “Three Little Girls Blue” opening the Hilltop Drive-In
A zoning change request to church is posted for potentially reducing the property’s taxing liability.
Architect: David Rockwell.
Architect: David Rockwell
Architect: David Rockwell