Mission Valley Cinemas
2109 Avent Ferry Road,
Raleigh,
NC
27606
2109 Avent Ferry Road,
Raleigh,
NC
27606
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Thanks Micah enjoyed that theatre and the old downtown theatre that was a MCDONALDS.I snapped several pictures,never saw anything like it.I know it is listed on CT.
There used to be the Mission Valley Inn directly across the street. It closed in the 1990’s and NCSU bought it and converted it into dormitories. It is now called Avent Ferry Complex.
I visited the MISSON VALLEY while staying at a hotel across the street. Not bad. I least I think it was the MISSION VALLEY.
raysson, The original specs for Mission Valley were around 500 seats for screen 1, and 300 seats for screen 2. Screen 2 is half the size of screen 1 and never had more than 300 seats. Auditoriums 3, 4 and 5 were all added at the same time in 1983 and all seat 288. The only other remodel that was done was in 1994-ish when United Artists took over. This was just a lobby renovation in which a kitchen was built and the concession stand was moved from a circular island in the middle of the lobby to a new stand to the right of the lobby as it stands today. There were some changes to the box office and downstairs managers office as well. The theater has not been majorly altered since, except for seat replacement and redecoration of the largest auditorium in 2007. I have all of the original blueprints from the original build and the additions in 1983.
The Opening Attraction was “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean"
starring Paul Newman. It was also noted,that legendary actress Ava Gardner was in Raleigh to promoted her new movie and to promoted the official opening of the Mission Valley Cinemas on March 2, 1973.
The film during its opening was shown on both screens……..
However,the official opening of Mission Valley Cinema II,came the following week with the nature-adventure documentary family film
“EDGE OF THE ARCTIC ICE”.
From the March 1, 1973 edition of the Raleigh News and Observer:
GRAND OPENING TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00PM!!!
A NEW MAGNIFICENCE IN MOVIE-MAGIC!
RALEIGH’S NEWEST TWIN THEATRES FOR EASTERN CAROLINA!!!
-TWIN COMFORT Rocking Chair Luxorious Seats
-TWIN PROJECTION Finest automated equipment on two mammoth widescreens!
-PERFECT VISION IN OUR TWIN THEATRES Every row is perfectly spaced for your viewing pleasure!
-ELEGANT DECOR AND APPOINTMENTS With Double Lobbies
-ACRES OF LIGHTED FRONT DOOR PARKING!!
-MATINEES EVERYDAY!!!
“OUR GRAND OPENING ATTRACTION SHOWING ON BOTH SCREENS"
………..THE "BUTCH CASSIDY” HIT OF 1973…………….
“THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN Starring PAUL NEWMAN"
with North Carolina’s Own AVA GARDNER
The Mission Valley opened on March 2, 1973 as a twin cinema (aka Mission Valley Cinema I & II) that was owned and operated under Fairlane-Litchfeld Theatres.
The original auditorium in Screen One had a seating capacity of 515,when Screen Two had a seating capacity of 490,when it was a twin cinema until 1983.
Construction began in 1983 when two auditoriums were added keeping the original auditorium intact. Later on in 1983,three more auditoriums were also added. The original auditorium remained intact with the largest screen(it kept the original auditorium for the screening of RETURN OF THE JEDI IN 1983).
The MISSION VALLEY and CARDINAL are absent from the list of 70mm presentations included in this retrospective article on RETURN OF THE JEDI, suggesting JEDI was shown in Raleigh in 35mm.
The largest auditorium at Mission Valley has a seating capacity of 490 (previously 500 until handicap spaces were added). Screen 2 is 260, down from the original 300 for the same reason as above. Screens 3, 4 and 5 were all added at the same time in 1983, and they each seat 288. JEDI was shown in 70mm in Raleigh, though I cannot remember if it was at the Cardinal or Mission Valley.
The MISSION VALLEY CINEMAS opened in the early to mid-1970’s as a twin cinema under the Fairlane-Litchfeld theatre chain(which also owned and operated the Imperial in Cary). It expanded in 1983 by adding a third auditorium,and keeping the original auditorium intact(which was great for showing 35MM and 70MM films). Two more screens were added by the early 1990’s,when the Mission Valley was acquired by United Artists Theatres when Fairlane-Litchfeld Theatres folded.
The MISSION VALLEY CINEMA I & II is absent from the list of 70mm presentations included in this retrospective article on RETURN OF THE JEDI, suggesting JEDI was shown in Raleigh in 35mm.
God, I remember standing in line for “Return of the Jedi” on opening weekend standing in a line that went all the way up to Avent Ferry Rd. and toward Western Blvd. I will never forget the long line I was in for “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and hearing the crowd inside booing when the power went out from the thunder storm while I was outside waiting to get in.
I always liked the soft music they would play while showing the logo from “Litchfield by The Sea” before the movie started.
I saw return of the jedi there and war games was playing in the other screen.
This theater indeed hosted the premiere of “Brainstorm.” However, the premiere event took place one week after the film had already opened in much of the country.
More on the matter from the article The 25th Anniversary of ‘Brainstorm’: Remembering The Ultimate Experience:
I’m surprised there are no postings on this theatre. I remember when it started out as a two screen theatre and then was remodeled into it’s present five screen theatre stage in 1983. It held the national opening night screening of the movie “Brainstorm” as it was filmed here in Raleigh and RTP and featured Natalie Wood in her last screen appearance and Christopher Walken.