Technically, the MAC Star Southfield closed with virtually all of the then-open AMC Theatres beginning on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venue’s lease then expired March 30, 2020 with AMC announcing that it was leaving the property. It was one of many theatres whose lease expiration during COVID-19 led to permanent closure by its operator making its final day of operation March 16, 2020.
This theatre was announced in the summer of 1989 as A.O. “Tony” Rand was briskly trying to move to completion of Rand Theatres Circuit’s multiplexes in Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New Mexico. De La Torre-Reinhart was the architectural firm used. It was one of three Rand Theatres scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 1989 in Albuquerque. Originally schedule to open December 15, 1989, the 1,833 seat facility was suspiciously devoid of concession stand(s) and projection equipment with one month to go to opening. And the news was not encouraging to moviegoers or the Rand Circuit.
Bad reports were circulating beginning with a lock-out of a cinema in Tennessee and that news spread to Texas with all locations locked for non-payment of everything ranging from lease payments, to utilities, to newspaper ads, to Hollywood studios for bookings, to sales tax revenue. This news traveled to the three New Mexico multiplexes just five days ahead of the Tramway’s grand opening on November 17, 1989 and a month before the Plaza del Norte and this location’s launch dates.
In about two weeks, the house of cards that was Rand Theatres Circuit tumbled as Rand’s Little Rock headquarters were locked along with the bedrock of the circuit’s theater locations in Arkansas. Finally, the Chicago and Florida locations appear to be the last of the Rand projects shut down with three ready to break ground and two in construction within Chicago-land and a completed facility in Palm Harbor, Florida which – like the High Ridge and its two cousins in Albuquerque – had no projection equipment or concession stands.
United Artists took on the theatre opening it as The United Artists 8 at High Ridge with a 94 FM Z-Rock pre-opening party on April 12, 1990. The Grand Opening was on April 13, 1990 with the films, “Crazy People,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Born on the 4th of July,” “My Left Foot,” “I Love You to Death,” and “Steel Magnolias.”
That gave the trivial distinction to High Ridge as the first of the three failed Rand theaters to launch. It was followed by Cinemark opening Movies West on December 14, 1990 and Hollywood Cinemas opening of Plaza at Paseo del Norte in May of 1991. Regal / UA carried its High Ridge into the decade of the 2020s.
And if you wondered what happened to the Rand family who ran the Rand Theatre Circuit, they went to jail for their theater scheme and learned their lesson by hatching a much more ambitious plan to bilk investors… but not in the film industry. This time they scammed oil and gas investors out of over $100 million landing them back in the pokey.
The Poly was given its name for the neighborhood where Texas Wesleyan University was founded as Polytechnic College in 1890 and opening in 1891. The pre-Civil War neighborhood in Southeast Fort Worth became known as Polytechnic Heights and nicknamed by locals as “The Poly.” In the post-War theatre-building boom spurred by the Paramount decree separating Hollywood studios from exhibition and population moves away from downtown areas, D.O. “Boyd” and Imogene Milligan built The Poly. It opened on May 24, 1951 with “Ma and Pa Kettle on the Farm” supported by a a cartoon and newsreel on a thirty-year lease.
Milligan had worked at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Fort Worth from 1926 to 1930 before establishing the Pix Theatre during the World War II on a subleasing agreement with a church who was using the venue. After the War, the Milligans designed and were building the 7th Street Theatre in Fort Worth. But Interstate Theaters took that one over in the development stages so the couple moved on to creating The Poly. It was an independent neighborhood operation and positioned as a sub-run discount double-feature house.
The Milligans successfully ran the Poly switching it to widescreen presentations with good acoustics. And the theatre went out of business the way a Texas movie theater should be required by state law to go out of business – proudly showing a double-feature of Chuck Norris fims. The theatre ceased operations on April 26, 1981 with “A Force of One” and “The Octagon.” Boyd Milligan – now at age 77 – would then reclaim the 7th Street Theatre in 1992 operating it until 1999. He retired from the movie exhibition business at Age 94. As for the Poly, it would become a home of the New Unity Missionary Baptist Church before it found new quarters. The building then went into a prolonged period of vacancy.
In 1977, the Fort Warren Drive-In got new ownership changing its name to the Rutland-Ft. Warren Drive-In. The Rutland Drive-In ceased operations October 22, 1975 so the merger of names was consolation to the diehard fans of the old Rutland.
On July 27, 1980, the facility added a second screen renaming as the Rutland Twin Drive-in Theatre. The Rutland Twin ended operations at the end of the 1988 season. It closed August 28, 1988 with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and “Three Men and a Baby” on Screen One and “Big” with “License to Drive” on Screen Two.
Architect Robert B. Pringle sketches the latest prposed United General Theatre at The Village. But the theater had its grand opening and the fading United General logo was nowhere in sight as the cinema launched for the Presidio circuit.
Seth G – you are correct in that the Palace Theatre has a transposed address – totally my error. The local paper said that the Palace Theatre was demolished for the most part to create a parking lot that didn’t happen. When that didn’t materialize, they made it Smith Park – the sad looking park / amphitheater at 303 S. Main Street.
The Dixie Theatre was launched Dixie Amusement Circuit. It opened after an address by Yahoo City Mayor D.M. Love and a celebration simulcast on WJDX in Jackson. The theatre opened with 900 seats – 700 on the lower floor and 200 in the balcony for persons of color. The opening on July 18, 1938 featured the Ritz Brothers in “Kentucky Moonshine.” The theatre was built within the original Kennington Building in a plan announced in 1938. The theatre completed a 20 year leasing period going out of business with “The Ten Commandments” on February 15, 1958.
The theatre was rebuilt as the New Yazoo Theatre launching April 27, 1925 with Gloria Swanson in “Madame Sans Gene.” By the time it transitioned to sound, it was the Yazoo Theatre. Gulf States closed the Yazoo on May 3, 1979 with “The Evictors”. It was demolished in December of 1979.
The New Rose Theatre launched with Gloria Swanson in “The Humming Bird" on March 14, 1924. Wall & Phillips had purchased the former Rose / American/ Regent Theatre relaunching with this new-build theater here. The Regent was equipped with sound on October 23, 1929. In 1944, it closed to tear out the old balcony and increase seating capacity by 125. In 1955, it converted to widescreen to play CinemaScope features.
P.E. “Honey” Morris opened the new Honey Theatre on November 17, 1939 with “These Glamour Girls” with 308 seats in the floor and 141 in the balcony. The theatre was closed March 10, 1958 only to be reopened on June 20, 1958 by Morris' widow. Gulf States Theatre Circuit took it on in 1968 dropping it at the end of 1969 at the end of a 30-year lease. It went to independent operation in 1970 by the McIntyres who had run the Mo-Jac and Regent in town previously. the theatre closed.
It was reopened one final time as the Indianola Cinema on April 26, 1973 in style on April 28, 1973 with “Gone With the Wind.” That movie was a massive hit at the Regent in this town in February of 1941. It closed on September 6, 1976 for the final time with two Jim Kelly films, “Hot Potatoes” and Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon.” The space was converted for a department store.
The Gulf States Circuit announced its new Greenwood Mall Twin Cinema in November of 1971. It would support the aging Paramount Theatre which would be reaching its 60th year and likely end of leasing agreement in 1972 and the circuit’s Delta Drive-In. The theatre was planned as an outparcel building adjoining the newly opened Greenwood Mall.
The project became part of the Highland Park Shopping Center across the street from the Mall and was sandwiched between So-Lo Discount Shoes and a Dry Cleaner. Ground breaking was on April 3, 1972 with the opening on September 15, 1972 with “The Cowboys” and “Napoleon & Samantha.” In 1987, it was part of the United Artists Gulf States Circuit which was shortened to United Artists. UA closed the theatre at the end of lease on September 1, 2002.
On January 27, 2003, it got new independent operation and was renamed the Joy Theatre. There was no more Joy when it closed April 14, 2005.
The Greenwood Theatre launched with a live play, “The Love Affair” on January 16, 1913. It became the Paramount on July 21, 1930 with “The Unholy Three.” The theatre was segregated up to and during the Civil Rights Movement. At the end, however, the theatre was home to Blaxploitation films. Its final film was “Three the Hard Way” with Fred Williamson and Jim Brown with “Battle of Amazons.
The Paramount was converted to a disco called the Paramount Disco which burned down on November 11, 1980.
The Leflore Theatre was named by Paramount-Richards for the Chief of the Choctaw tribe, Greenwood Leflore which was also the county in which Greenwood sits. The building sits on the Choctaw Trail. Designed by architect T. Cooper Van Antwerp and supervising architect Jack T. Knight, the pair called for Indian-centric artifacts and wildlife murals and artifacts Greenwood and Delta scenes to accentuate the theatre. On March 21, 1954, the theatre was converted to a widescreen format to play CinemaScope films beginning with “The Robe.”
This entry fails to mention why the Leflore is remembered in Greenwood. In July of 1964 it became part of Civil Rights history. The theatre had an all-White policy as of July 5, 1964 but sold a ticket to an African American patron citing the Civil Rights Act. That patron decided to attend another film at the Leflore on July 9, 1964 and the crowd was ready and beat the man. On July 16th and July 26th, similar incidents occurred but on,July 26th more than 200 of the town’s citizens showed up to display their displeasure and attempted to make sure that the patrons never returned. The desegregation efforts ended up in the 5th Circuit Court that September. Gulf States, the owner of the competing theatre, the Paramount, said that integration would harm their business.
The Leflore Theatre became part of ABC Theatres with Paramount Gulf in 1966. It closed for the final time on April 12, 1967 with “Easy Come, Easy Go” with Elvis Presley when Gulf States, operator of the competing Paramount, bought the theater. Gulf talked for many months about its plans to make the Leflore a road show, top-tier location. But it became fairly obvious that Gulf States would never open the theatre and simply use the Paramount as the main theater. It was torn down in December of 1968.
The Walthall Theatre was an African American Theatre which opened in 1940. Always having a loyal patron base, the Walthall stuck to its double-feature policy generally spotlighting African American stars and films. In the porno chic era, it also procured double-feature X-rated films for an urban audience in the 1970s as midnight screenings on weekends. On July 16, 1976, for instance, the regular features were “J.D.’s Revenge” starring Glynn Truman and “Friday Foster” with Pam Grier. The evening shows were the adult films, “Black Como” and “Slip of the Tongue.”
Its last advertised show was June 10, 1985 with “Warriors of the Wasteland” and the classic, “Dolemite.” Reports say the theatre may have closed in September of 1985 but it seems more likely that the Walthall would like to be remembered for screening “Dolemite” as its last film. In 1986, the theater was disassembled and converted into an apartment building with commercial laundromat.
The New Strand $100,00 Strand opened February 4, 1921. It replaced a previous Strand Theatre in town. This one was designed for motion pictures complete with a pipe organ.
On December 9, 1963, it switched to Spanish language films as the Carlos Theatre aka Teatro Carlos. In August 5, it 1964 it became the Capri . The theater became yer Carver Theater o Adult Cinema. In Nov of 1973, it became The Vagabond Theater with repertory films. In April of 1974, it switched to adult films which led to a raid. It was renamed the Sun There in August of 1975.
Riverside Cinema Co. backed by the Chick Brothers was the latest United General Theatre franchisee. And this was the first of twelve the circuit was building in Austin. The Riverside Cinema would be their new automated theater in the Town Lake Shopping Center at 1930 E. Riverdale. And the theatre opened pretty much on time in the summer of 1973. United General franchisees were purportedly behind two similar Aquarius quads – one in Austin and the other in Dallas.
With ten more Austin screens and 44 more in Texas scheduled by year’s end and 3,500 screens by the end of 1975, United General called itself the “fastest growing cinema circuit” in the United States. Unfortunately, few of the locations actually opened as United General as the chain’s projections didn’t match reality. That was something that became apparent when two of its founders pleaded guilty to fraud charges.
By the time the Riverside Twin Cinema opened in July 13, 1973 with “Godspell” and “The Killing Kind,” the Chicks were listed as formerly of United General and the theatre launched for Presidio Cinemas. The theatre became the Riverside Dollar Cinema on September 4, 1987 closing August 27, 1989. It became a short-lived repertory live concert film and performance space called Riverside Live from March 15, 1990 to September 30, 1990. In 1991, it became home to the Mission Hills Church and the South Shore Church in 2001.
Theatre Folsom became Folsom Theatre in December of 1926. In June of 1930, it installed sound and operated part-year closing in the summer months. The film, “Return of the Terror” with Mary Astor on September 25, 1934 caught on fire. Though all four patrons and the two operators got out safely, there wasn’t enough insurance to resume films.
However, on March 20, 1942, E.B. Wagnon re-quipped the venue relaunching with, “He Died With His Boots On.” Wagnon closed the theater to seek out improved equipment on August 9, 1954 after Rita Hayworth in “It Grows on Trees.” That search must have been unsuccessful.
Technically, the MAC Star Southfield closed with virtually all of the then-open AMC Theatres beginning on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venue’s lease then expired March 30, 2020 with AMC announcing that it was leaving the property. It was one of many theatres whose lease expiration during COVID-19 led to permanent closure by its operator making its final day of operation March 16, 2020.
Actor Steve Martin helps launch Commonwealth’s Del Norte 4 with an in person visit on December 11, 1986 in “The Three Amigos!”
This theatre was announced in the summer of 1989 as A.O. “Tony” Rand was briskly trying to move to completion of Rand Theatres Circuit’s multiplexes in Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New Mexico. De La Torre-Reinhart was the architectural firm used. It was one of three Rand Theatres scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 1989 in Albuquerque. Originally schedule to open December 15, 1989, the 1,833 seat facility was suspiciously devoid of concession stand(s) and projection equipment with one month to go to opening. And the news was not encouraging to moviegoers or the Rand Circuit.
Bad reports were circulating beginning with a lock-out of a cinema in Tennessee and that news spread to Texas with all locations locked for non-payment of everything ranging from lease payments, to utilities, to newspaper ads, to Hollywood studios for bookings, to sales tax revenue. This news traveled to the three New Mexico multiplexes just five days ahead of the Tramway’s grand opening on November 17, 1989 and a month before the Plaza del Norte and this location’s launch dates.
In about two weeks, the house of cards that was Rand Theatres Circuit tumbled as Rand’s Little Rock headquarters were locked along with the bedrock of the circuit’s theater locations in Arkansas. Finally, the Chicago and Florida locations appear to be the last of the Rand projects shut down with three ready to break ground and two in construction within Chicago-land and a completed facility in Palm Harbor, Florida which – like the High Ridge and its two cousins in Albuquerque – had no projection equipment or concession stands.
United Artists took on the theatre opening it as The United Artists 8 at High Ridge with a 94 FM Z-Rock pre-opening party on April 12, 1990. The Grand Opening was on April 13, 1990 with the films, “Crazy People,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Born on the 4th of July,” “My Left Foot,” “I Love You to Death,” and “Steel Magnolias.”
That gave the trivial distinction to High Ridge as the first of the three failed Rand theaters to launch. It was followed by Cinemark opening Movies West on December 14, 1990 and Hollywood Cinemas opening of Plaza at Paseo del Norte in May of 1991. Regal / UA carried its High Ridge into the decade of the 2020s.
And if you wondered what happened to the Rand family who ran the Rand Theatre Circuit, they went to jail for their theater scheme and learned their lesson by hatching a much more ambitious plan to bilk investors… but not in the film industry. This time they scammed oil and gas investors out of over $100 million landing them back in the pokey.
The Poly was given its name for the neighborhood where Texas Wesleyan University was founded as Polytechnic College in 1890 and opening in 1891. The pre-Civil War neighborhood in Southeast Fort Worth became known as Polytechnic Heights and nicknamed by locals as “The Poly.” In the post-War theatre-building boom spurred by the Paramount decree separating Hollywood studios from exhibition and population moves away from downtown areas, D.O. “Boyd” and Imogene Milligan built The Poly. It opened on May 24, 1951 with “Ma and Pa Kettle on the Farm” supported by a a cartoon and newsreel on a thirty-year lease.
Milligan had worked at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Fort Worth from 1926 to 1930 before establishing the Pix Theatre during the World War II on a subleasing agreement with a church who was using the venue. After the War, the Milligans designed and were building the 7th Street Theatre in Fort Worth. But Interstate Theaters took that one over in the development stages so the couple moved on to creating The Poly. It was an independent neighborhood operation and positioned as a sub-run discount double-feature house.
The Milligans successfully ran the Poly switching it to widescreen presentations with good acoustics. And the theatre went out of business the way a Texas movie theater should be required by state law to go out of business – proudly showing a double-feature of Chuck Norris fims. The theatre ceased operations on April 26, 1981 with “A Force of One” and “The Octagon.” Boyd Milligan – now at age 77 – would then reclaim the 7th Street Theatre in 1992 operating it until 1999. He retired from the movie exhibition business at Age 94. As for the Poly, it would become a home of the New Unity Missionary Baptist Church before it found new quarters. The building then went into a prolonged period of vacancy.
In 1977, the Fort Warren Drive-In got new ownership changing its name to the Rutland-Ft. Warren Drive-In. The Rutland Drive-In ceased operations October 22, 1975 so the merger of names was consolation to the diehard fans of the old Rutland.
On July 27, 1980, the facility added a second screen renaming as the Rutland Twin Drive-in Theatre. The Rutland Twin ended operations at the end of the 1988 season. It closed August 28, 1988 with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and “Three Men and a Baby” on Screen One and “Big” with “License to Drive” on Screen Two.
One addition – On July 11, 1956, the Town Theatre installed a new ultra-wide screen for playing wide format films including CinemaScope.
Architect Robert B. Pringle sketches the latest prposed United General Theatre at The Village. But the theater had its grand opening and the fading United General logo was nowhere in sight as the cinema launched for the Presidio circuit.
Thanks much!
Thanks much!
Seth G – you are correct in that the Palace Theatre has a transposed address – totally my error. The local paper said that the Palace Theatre was demolished for the most part to create a parking lot that didn’t happen. When that didn’t materialize, they made it Smith Park – the sad looking park / amphitheater at 303 S. Main Street.
The Dixie Theatre was launched Dixie Amusement Circuit. It opened after an address by Yahoo City Mayor D.M. Love and a celebration simulcast on WJDX in Jackson. The theatre opened with 900 seats – 700 on the lower floor and 200 in the balcony for persons of color. The opening on July 18, 1938 featured the Ritz Brothers in “Kentucky Moonshine.” The theatre was built within the original Kennington Building in a plan announced in 1938. The theatre completed a 20 year leasing period going out of business with “The Ten Commandments” on February 15, 1958.
The theatre was rebuilt as the New Yazoo Theatre launching April 27, 1925 with Gloria Swanson in “Madame Sans Gene.” By the time it transitioned to sound, it was the Yazoo Theatre. Gulf States closed the Yazoo on May 3, 1979 with “The Evictors”. It was demolished in December of 1979.
This theatre launched February 4, 1980 with “Star Trek” and “Apocalypse Now.”
The New Rose Theatre launched with Gloria Swanson in “The Humming Bird" on March 14, 1924. Wall & Phillips had purchased the former Rose / American/ Regent Theatre relaunching with this new-build theater here. The Regent was equipped with sound on October 23, 1929. In 1944, it closed to tear out the old balcony and increase seating capacity by 125. In 1955, it converted to widescreen to play CinemaScope features.
P.E. “Honey” Morris opened the new Honey Theatre on November 17, 1939 with “These Glamour Girls” with 308 seats in the floor and 141 in the balcony. The theatre was closed March 10, 1958 only to be reopened on June 20, 1958 by Morris' widow. Gulf States Theatre Circuit took it on in 1968 dropping it at the end of 1969 at the end of a 30-year lease. It went to independent operation in 1970 by the McIntyres who had run the Mo-Jac and Regent in town previously. the theatre closed.
It was reopened one final time as the Indianola Cinema on April 26, 1973 in style on April 28, 1973 with “Gone With the Wind.” That movie was a massive hit at the Regent in this town in February of 1941. It closed on September 6, 1976 for the final time with two Jim Kelly films, “Hot Potatoes” and Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon.” The space was converted for a department store.
Bradford D. Stevens was the architect of the Rebel
The Gulf States Circuit announced its new Greenwood Mall Twin Cinema in November of 1971. It would support the aging Paramount Theatre which would be reaching its 60th year and likely end of leasing agreement in 1972 and the circuit’s Delta Drive-In. The theatre was planned as an outparcel building adjoining the newly opened Greenwood Mall.
The project became part of the Highland Park Shopping Center across the street from the Mall and was sandwiched between So-Lo Discount Shoes and a Dry Cleaner. Ground breaking was on April 3, 1972 with the opening on September 15, 1972 with “The Cowboys” and “Napoleon & Samantha.” In 1987, it was part of the United Artists Gulf States Circuit which was shortened to United Artists. UA closed the theatre at the end of lease on September 1, 2002.
On January 27, 2003, it got new independent operation and was renamed the Joy Theatre. There was no more Joy when it closed April 14, 2005.
The Greenwood Theatre launched with a live play, “The Love Affair” on January 16, 1913. It became the Paramount on July 21, 1930 with “The Unholy Three.” The theatre was segregated up to and during the Civil Rights Movement. At the end, however, the theatre was home to Blaxploitation films. Its final film was “Three the Hard Way” with Fred Williamson and Jim Brown with “Battle of Amazons.
The Paramount was converted to a disco called the Paramount Disco which burned down on November 11, 1980.
The Leflore Theatre was named by Paramount-Richards for the Chief of the Choctaw tribe, Greenwood Leflore which was also the county in which Greenwood sits. The building sits on the Choctaw Trail. Designed by architect T. Cooper Van Antwerp and supervising architect Jack T. Knight, the pair called for Indian-centric artifacts and wildlife murals and artifacts Greenwood and Delta scenes to accentuate the theatre. On March 21, 1954, the theatre was converted to a widescreen format to play CinemaScope films beginning with “The Robe.”
This entry fails to mention why the Leflore is remembered in Greenwood. In July of 1964 it became part of Civil Rights history. The theatre had an all-White policy as of July 5, 1964 but sold a ticket to an African American patron citing the Civil Rights Act. That patron decided to attend another film at the Leflore on July 9, 1964 and the crowd was ready and beat the man. On July 16th and July 26th, similar incidents occurred but on,July 26th more than 200 of the town’s citizens showed up to display their displeasure and attempted to make sure that the patrons never returned. The desegregation efforts ended up in the 5th Circuit Court that September. Gulf States, the owner of the competing theatre, the Paramount, said that integration would harm their business.
The Leflore Theatre became part of ABC Theatres with Paramount Gulf in 1966. It closed for the final time on April 12, 1967 with “Easy Come, Easy Go” with Elvis Presley when Gulf States, operator of the competing Paramount, bought the theater. Gulf talked for many months about its plans to make the Leflore a road show, top-tier location. But it became fairly obvious that Gulf States would never open the theatre and simply use the Paramount as the main theater. It was torn down in December of 1968.
The Walthall Theatre was an African American Theatre which opened in 1940. Always having a loyal patron base, the Walthall stuck to its double-feature policy generally spotlighting African American stars and films. In the porno chic era, it also procured double-feature X-rated films for an urban audience in the 1970s as midnight screenings on weekends. On July 16, 1976, for instance, the regular features were “J.D.’s Revenge” starring Glynn Truman and “Friday Foster” with Pam Grier. The evening shows were the adult films, “Black Como” and “Slip of the Tongue.”
Its last advertised show was June 10, 1985 with “Warriors of the Wasteland” and the classic, “Dolemite.” Reports say the theatre may have closed in September of 1985 but it seems more likely that the Walthall would like to be remembered for screening “Dolemite” as its last film. In 1986, the theater was disassembled and converted into an apartment building with commercial laundromat.
The New Strand $100,00 Strand opened February 4, 1921. It replaced a previous Strand Theatre in town. This one was designed for motion pictures complete with a pipe organ.
On December 9, 1963, it switched to Spanish language films as the Carlos Theatre aka Teatro Carlos. In August 5, it 1964 it became the Capri . The theater became yer Carver Theater o Adult Cinema. In Nov of 1973, it became The Vagabond Theater with repertory films. In April of 1974, it switched to adult films which led to a raid. It was renamed the Sun There in August of 1975.
Riverside Cinema Co. backed by the Chick Brothers was the latest United General Theatre franchisee. And this was the first of twelve the circuit was building in Austin. The Riverside Cinema would be their new automated theater in the Town Lake Shopping Center at 1930 E. Riverdale. And the theatre opened pretty much on time in the summer of 1973. United General franchisees were purportedly behind two similar Aquarius quads – one in Austin and the other in Dallas.
With ten more Austin screens and 44 more in Texas scheduled by year’s end and 3,500 screens by the end of 1975, United General called itself the “fastest growing cinema circuit” in the United States. Unfortunately, few of the locations actually opened as United General as the chain’s projections didn’t match reality. That was something that became apparent when two of its founders pleaded guilty to fraud charges.
By the time the Riverside Twin Cinema opened in July 13, 1973 with “Godspell” and “The Killing Kind,” the Chicks were listed as formerly of United General and the theatre launched for Presidio Cinemas. The theatre became the Riverside Dollar Cinema on September 4, 1987 closing August 27, 1989. It became a short-lived repertory live concert film and performance space called Riverside Live from March 15, 1990 to September 30, 1990. In 1991, it became home to the Mission Hills Church and the South Shore Church in 2001.
Sorry: Correction
Theatre Folsom became Folsom Theatre in December of 1926. In June of 1930, it installed sound and operated part-year closing in the summer months. The film, “Return of the Terror” with Mary Astor on September 25, 1934 caught on fire. Though all four patrons and the two operators got out safely, there wasn’t enough insurance to resume films.
However, on March 20, 1942, E.B. Wagnon re-quipped the venue relaunching with, “He Died With His Boots On.” Wagnon closed the theater to seek out improved equipment on August 9, 1954 after Rita Hayworth in “It Grows on Trees.” That search must have been unsuccessful.
The newspaper said that Perry Bowers launched this new 250-seat theater in December of 1952.