CQ Smith (CQS) & Sons operated this location 1972. CQS suspended operations at the Union Deposit Twin Cinemas in June of 1976. Creative Entertainments Consultants Circuit ran it 15 years until June of 1991.
United Artists was up next running it for 5 years as the UA Union Deposit dropping it on June 30, 1996 after five years.
In November of 1997, it relaunched as the Harrisburg Cinema Grill. After being in service for about a full 30-year leasing period, it closed March 29, 2001 as the Harrisburg Cinema Grill and was retrofitted as a restaurant.
Grand opening ad as the MJ Carlisle Mall Cinema 3 on May 22, 1985 in photos. Shown were “Police Academy 2”, “Rambo: First Blood 2” and “A View to a Kill.” In January of 1987, the theatre expanded to 8 screens becoming the MJ Carlisle Mall Cinema 8.
In 2001, MJ Carlisle Mall began demolition of parts of the mall to create the Carlisle Commons. In 2003, the cinema’s name was changed to the Carlisle Commons Cinema 8. R/C Theatres wold sold the complex in 2005 to Regal Circuit. Regal updated the theatre to stadium seating and changed the theatre to the Regal Carlisle Commons Stadium 8.
Ten years later, Regal dropped the theatre. In August of 2015, R/C came back to operate the theatre under its present name of the Carlisle Commons Movies 8.
The official website is
http://rctheatres.com/location/943/Carlisle-Commons-Movies-8-Showtimes
A 1936 article discussed the opening of the Carlisle Barracks Theatre as part of a $1.8 million WPA expansion. Showtime website as of 2017 is at https://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/Movie-Guide/showtimes-Carlisle-Barracks.htm
Opened September 22, 1927 as the Royal Theatre. On November 19, 1930, the Royal converted to sound. The theatre stopped showing films late in 1931 and closed. It reopened April 7, 1932 as the El Rey Theatre with its grand opening ad with “Emma” in photos.
This venue’s name as the Starland Theatre began in 1912. In 1930, it converted to Vitaphone sound becoming the first full-time sound theatre. It closed after a 20-year lease in 1932. Frank Casey took on the venue and, after remodeling and reequipping it, change its name to the Golden Gate Theatre launching July 1, 1933. It closed before year’s end.
September 21, 1918 grand opening ad in photos. The Rialto showed X-rated films in its final years but was forced to close unable to get a new license to operate from the Racine City Council. The last week was an adult film festival with the final showing on September 2, 1974 with Marilyn Chambers in “Behind the Green Door.”
In January of 1978, the theatre was demolished by Sam Azarian Wrecking along with the Venetian for the Racine Motor Inn expansion project that didn’t utilize the properties.
The New Belle Opera House launched on February 11, 1890 with “The Pirates of Penzance.” It replaced the previous Belle Opera House which had ceased existing in 1883. On August 16, 1906, it became the Racine Theatre with legit live plays. It became the Rex Theatre on May 14, 1914 launching with live vaudeville prior to moving to films full-time.
In 1930, the theatre went dark on the delinquent tax list. It appears to reopen late in the 1930s with listings for the Rex are discontinued in 1939 with the property still on the tax list. In March of 1942, Dave Luby bought the property to convert it to the ten-lane Luby’s Bowling Lanes which – possibly due to war shortages – appears to have not opened until April of 1946. J&W Lanes took over from there in 1971 before moving to the Castle Lanes facility elsewhere in January of 1978. The former New Belle/Rex property was demolished in December of 1978.
The $750,000 General Cinema Regency Mall Cinema I•II•III•IV•V•VI was announced in 1981. It launched with free screenings of “Star Trek the Motion Picture” and a Three Stooges retrospective on January 30, 1983. Its official grand opening was on February 4, 1983 with “The Verdict” (2 screens) “Six Weeks,” “Das Boot,” “Videodrome” and “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Seating was 1,600 with 278 seat count at the two largest auditoriums.
March 12, 1927 grand opening ad for the Crown Theatre in photos with the opening film of “The Ace of Cards.‘” The theatre appears to have closed after the July 19, 1953 showing of “Flat Top” and “The Blazing Forest” along with six bonus cartoons.
The Grand Theatre opened on November 10, 1910. Ads are discontinued after the March 18, 1928 showing of “Torrent.” The Grand appears to have opened and closed as a silent movie house.
Opened as the Chief Drive-In on April 29, 1953 with “All Ashore.” Mrs. Cle Barton sold the theatre following the 1975 season with new operators Mr. and Mrs. Davy Picolet relaunching on May 7, 1976 as the Ritz Drive-In Theatre with “Hearts of the West” and “Westworld”. It closed on September 25, 1983 as the Ritz Drive-In Theatre at the end of a thirty year lease and didn’t reopen the following season. 82 mph winds destroyed the vacant theatre in 1986.
Opened as the Stella Opera House in 1916. Changed from the Stella Opera House to the Stella Theatre inn 1918 when motion pictures became the most prevalent type of entertainment there. It became the Ritz Theatre on September 21, 1936. It remained the Ritz Theatre to closing in 1999 for films and 2000 for events.
Grand opening ad from April 22, 1942 with “Blues in the Nite” in photos. The Holly Theatre was housed in the former American Legion building. R.J. Jones bought the hall, converting it to the Holly Theatre and ran it from 1942 to November of 1995. Jones had hoped to find a new operator quickly but that didn’t happen.
This location opened as the Carlisle Opera House in 1898. Movies were first shown there in 1908 and became so popular that the interior was redesigned to better project films. In February of 1925, it rebranded as the remodeled Strand Theatre which operated until 1959. In 1961, the auditorium of the theatre was demolished. The rest of the building was transformed into the Strand Theatre Building apartments which was lost to arson, as noted above, on August 29, 1972. The building’s remains were razed soon thereafter.
Mayor Eddie Henderson opened the Hilltop Drive-In Theatre in Marysville on August 22, 1950 with a soft launch and the film, “The Homestretch.” The official opening was August 25, 1950 with the film, “Albuquerque.” The theatre closed in September 27, 1981. In 1982, the screen was demolished.
Opened as the Camelot Twin Cinema in 1977. In August of 1984, it became the Camelot 4 which it remained until closure on January 19, 2013.
CQ Smith (CQS) & Sons operated this location 1972. CQS suspended operations at the Union Deposit Twin Cinemas in June of 1976. Creative Entertainments Consultants Circuit ran it 15 years until June of 1991.
United Artists was up next running it for 5 years as the UA Union Deposit dropping it on June 30, 1996 after five years.
In November of 1997, it relaunched as the Harrisburg Cinema Grill. After being in service for about a full 30-year leasing period, it closed March 29, 2001 as the Harrisburg Cinema Grill and was retrofitted as a restaurant.
Grand opening ad as the MJ Carlisle Mall Cinema 3 on May 22, 1985 in photos. Shown were “Police Academy 2”, “Rambo: First Blood 2” and “A View to a Kill.” In January of 1987, the theatre expanded to 8 screens becoming the MJ Carlisle Mall Cinema 8.
In 2001, MJ Carlisle Mall began demolition of parts of the mall to create the Carlisle Commons. In 2003, the cinema’s name was changed to the Carlisle Commons Cinema 8. R/C Theatres wold sold the complex in 2005 to Regal Circuit. Regal updated the theatre to stadium seating and changed the theatre to the Regal Carlisle Commons Stadium 8.
Ten years later, Regal dropped the theatre. In August of 2015, R/C came back to operate the theatre under its present name of the Carlisle Commons Movies 8.
The official website is http://rctheatres.com/location/943/Carlisle-Commons-Movies-8-Showtimes
A 1936 article discussed the opening of the Carlisle Barracks Theatre as part of a $1.8 million WPA expansion. Showtime website as of 2017 is at https://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/Movie-Guide/showtimes-Carlisle-Barracks.htm
Opened September 22, 1927 as the Royal Theatre. On November 19, 1930, the Royal converted to sound. The theatre stopped showing films late in 1931 and closed. It reopened April 7, 1932 as the El Rey Theatre with its grand opening ad with “Emma” in photos.
Grand opening ad for the Analy Theatre on June 23, 1949 with “Mother is a Freshman" in photos.
Grand opening ad for the Analy Theatre on June 23, 1949 with “Mother is a Freshman
This venue’s name as the Starland Theatre began in 1912. In 1930, it converted to Vitaphone sound becoming the first full-time sound theatre. It closed after a 20-year lease in 1932. Frank Casey took on the venue and, after remodeling and reequipping it, change its name to the Golden Gate Theatre launching July 1, 1933. It closed before year’s end.
Grand opening on November 14, 1931 with the feature, “Girls About Town.”
Grand opening ad for the Paramount Theatre in Fremont on November 14, 1931 with the feature, “Girls About Town.”
September 21, 1918 grand opening ad in photos. The Rialto showed X-rated films in its final years but was forced to close unable to get a new license to operate from the Racine City Council. The last week was an adult film festival with the final showing on September 2, 1974 with Marilyn Chambers in “Behind the Green Door.”
In January of 1978, the theatre was demolished by Sam Azarian Wrecking along with the Venetian for the Racine Motor Inn expansion project that didn’t utilize the properties.
The New Belle Opera House launched on February 11, 1890 with “The Pirates of Penzance.” It replaced the previous Belle Opera House which had ceased existing in 1883. On August 16, 1906, it became the Racine Theatre with legit live plays. It became the Rex Theatre on May 14, 1914 launching with live vaudeville prior to moving to films full-time.
In 1930, the theatre went dark on the delinquent tax list. It appears to reopen late in the 1930s with listings for the Rex are discontinued in 1939 with the property still on the tax list. In March of 1942, Dave Luby bought the property to convert it to the ten-lane Luby’s Bowling Lanes which – possibly due to war shortages – appears to have not opened until April of 1946. J&W Lanes took over from there in 1971 before moving to the Castle Lanes facility elsewhere in January of 1978. The former New Belle/Rex property was demolished in December of 1978.
September 24, 2006 last day of operation with Hollywoodland, Wicker Man, Little Miss Sunshine and The Covenant.
The $750,000 General Cinema Regency Mall Cinema I•II•III•IV•V•VI was announced in 1981. It launched with free screenings of “Star Trek the Motion Picture” and a Three Stooges retrospective on January 30, 1983. Its official grand opening was on February 4, 1983 with “The Verdict” (2 screens) “Six Weeks,” “Das Boot,” “Videodrome” and “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Seating was 1,600 with 278 seat count at the two largest auditoriums.
Grand re-opening ad as the Crystal Theatre from November 10, 1913 in photos.
Grand opening was January 30, 1926. William J. Redden was the architect. Grand opening ad in photos.
General Cinema opened Cinema I & II with “Yours, Mine and Ours” and “A Stranger in Town” on Mary 29, 1968. Ad in photos.
March 12, 1927 grand opening ad for the Crown Theatre in photos with the opening film of “The Ace of Cards.‘” The theatre appears to have closed after the July 19, 1953 showing of “Flat Top” and “The Blazing Forest” along with six bonus cartoons.
The Grand Theatre opened on November 10, 1910. Ads are discontinued after the March 18, 1928 showing of “Torrent.” The Grand appears to have opened and closed as a silent movie house.
Opened as the Chief Drive-In on April 29, 1953 with “All Ashore.” Mrs. Cle Barton sold the theatre following the 1975 season with new operators Mr. and Mrs. Davy Picolet relaunching on May 7, 1976 as the Ritz Drive-In Theatre with “Hearts of the West” and “Westworld”. It closed on September 25, 1983 as the Ritz Drive-In Theatre at the end of a thirty year lease and didn’t reopen the following season. 82 mph winds destroyed the vacant theatre in 1986.
Opened as the Stella Opera House in 1916. Changed from the Stella Opera House to the Stella Theatre inn 1918 when motion pictures became the most prevalent type of entertainment there. It became the Ritz Theatre on September 21, 1936. It remained the Ritz Theatre to closing in 1999 for films and 2000 for events.
Grand opening ad from April 22, 1942 with “Blues in the Nite” in photos. The Holly Theatre was housed in the former American Legion building. R.J. Jones bought the hall, converting it to the Holly Theatre and ran it from 1942 to November of 1995. Jones had hoped to find a new operator quickly but that didn’t happen.
June 15, 1949 grand opening ad showing “Northwest Stampede”
This location opened as the Carlisle Opera House in 1898. Movies were first shown there in 1908 and became so popular that the interior was redesigned to better project films. In February of 1925, it rebranded as the remodeled Strand Theatre which operated until 1959. In 1961, the auditorium of the theatre was demolished. The rest of the building was transformed into the Strand Theatre Building apartments which was lost to arson, as noted above, on August 29, 1972. The building’s remains were razed soon thereafter.
Mayor Eddie Henderson opened the Hilltop Drive-In Theatre in Marysville on August 22, 1950 with a soft launch and the film, “The Homestretch.” The official opening was August 25, 1950 with the film, “Albuquerque.” The theatre closed in September 27, 1981. In 1982, the screen was demolished.