Opened on October 15,1942 as the CAROLINA THEATRE under Wilby-Kincey/Paramount/North Carolina Theatres that had a seating capacity of 1,145.
It remained a single screen theatre until 1971 when the original auditorium was split into two sections seating 571 each in both auditoriums as a twin theatre keeping the original lobby entrance. It was renamed the CAROLINA BLUE AND WHITE THEATRES,aka THE CAROLINA 1 & 2 under ABC Southeastern Theatres.
Wilby-Kincey ran this theatre as a single screen cinema from 1942 until 1971.
ABC Southeastern Theatres took over the operations from 1971 until 1978.
Plitt Southern Theatres operated it from 1978 to 1987.
Cineplex Odeon was the last theatre chain that operated the Carolina from 1987 until 1990,and it was Cineplex Odeon that closed the original CAROLINA THEATRE in 1990.
By March 19,1993,the CAROLINA THEATRE reopened to the public and all of Chapel Hill as a full scale arthouse cinema that specialized in showing first-run releases as well as independent and foreign films as well as documentaries. Where the original entrance was facing Franklin Street the new entrance was toward the side of Columbia Street(right next door to the Ackland Art Museum). It was renamed as the NEW CAROLINA THEATRE where it was a single screener with a seating capacity of 280. Special features included in this new cinema were access handicap seating as well as full scale gourmet concession stand that also served alcoholic beverages. The new auditorium had a prominent position where the original marquee was placed below the front of the screen. The owner who refurnished the NEW CAROLINA THEATRE was Bruce H. Stone who also operated the Chelsea Theatre at Timberlyne Shopping Center(located in the Northern section of the city). THE NEW CAROLINA THEATRE remained a showplace for great films until it’s closing on July 2,2005. The last picture show that played here to great fanfare and capacity crowds was the Oscar winning documentary “March of the Penguins” narrated by Morgan Freeman.
By 1979,it became a grindhouse discount dollar house showing mostly “B” movies, kung-fu, and blaxploitation flicks with the occasional late night “XXX” rated skin flick
Not only did “MARY POPPINS” played here but also had the Fayetteville showing of “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” too was given the first-run billing at the Miracle.
Other movies that played here were “AMERICAN GRAFFITI”,
“THE STING” among them were first-run at the Miracle.
Coate is right:
By October-November of 1963,most of the bookings for “LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” were mostly general release.
Cities like Durham,Greensboro,Wilmington,Asheville as well as Fayetteville,Winston-Salem,and Raleigh were general exclusive bookings…The smaller cities and towns in North Carolina didn’t get the film until April-May of 1964 as a general release,some two years after it’s initial release.
The only reserved seat engagement for LAWRENCE OF ARABIA was at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre on September 25,1963. It was the only theatre in the state that presented it in full 70mm and Stereophonic Sound.
THE NEW CAROLINA THEATRE opened on March 19,1993 as a full scale arthouse cinema with a seating capacity of 280 including handicap access sections and full gourmet concession stand that served alcoholic beverages. Owned and operated by Bruce H. Stone.
The featured attraction for the grand re-opening:
-Albert Finney and Kyle McLaughlin in RICH IN LOVE
-Special Late Show Friday and Saturday was SWOON
The COMING ATTRACTIONS TO THE NEW CAROLINA THEATRE: –“HOWARD’S END”
This theatre was known for its showing of family films and Disney releases. I saw “THE CASTAWAY COWBOY” starring James Garner here in 1974. This was one of the worst Disney films ever made and the worst James Garner picture ever shown.
A lot of first-run exclusives brought in record crowds to this theatre,which was mainly known for its showing of Disney films and “B” movie releases.
The Village was the only theatre in the Carolinas that brought in record crowds for its showing of Ross Hunter’s AIRPORT that played here first-run in 1970 that held the all-time record attendance for such a movie in the greater Charlotte area that played here an astounding record of 27 weeks!
Other first-run exclusives including WALKING TALL in 1973 that played here for 23 weeks! Another record breaking attendance for a showing of a film in Charlotte.
It also held another record that brought in record crowds was the Village’s exclusive engagement of the 1977 re-issue of STAR WARS that played here on July 21,1978 that held it until August 22,1978.
The VILLAGE THEATRE opened on July 8,1966 with the premiere attraction “THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE” Starring Henry Fonda,Robert Ryan and Telly Savalas.
Even though this movie was presented in Cinerama in 1966,the movie was a basic general engagement showing in the Carolinas. It was not a roadshow presentation when it played at this theatre nor it was not featured in Cinerama. The only theatre in the state of North Carolina that had three strip Cinerama projection was at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre.
For Mike Rogers:
The Village was twinned in 1978 when its 800 seat single screener was split into two sections with 400 seats each renamed the Village 1 & 2 under Stewart and Everett.
The Tryon Mall was twinned in 1974 under ABC Southeastern Theatres and reopened on Christmas Day of 1974.
Carmike Cinemas ran this theatre in the mid-1980’s as a 99-cent second run discount house from the buyout of Stewart and Everett in 1986 until its closing in 1989(by 1989,the Capri became a discount house with 99-cent pricing)under the titles AKA Village 1 & 2 and the Village Twin.
After additional research I found that the Village was not the last single screen cinema built in Charlotte. That distinction belongs to the Tryon Mall Theater which opened on March 24,1972 by ABC Southeastern Theatres.
The Village Theater was one of several theatres that were built as part of a rapid expansion of the Charlotte-based Stewart and Everett chain in the mid-1960’s…Five were built in 1966 alone. According to items in Boxoffice Magazine,the Village and at least one of the four were designed by Charles L. Wheatley and Associates,a Charlotte architectural firm. It seems likely that the firm designed all of the S&E houses during this period,but Boxoffice fails to confirm this.
The January 10,1966,issue of Boxoffice said that construction of the Village was about to begin and that completion of the house was expected by June 1,1966. The theater was to have a seating capacity of 800 and it opened on July 8,1966.
Moviemanforever:
You’re absolutely right. Woody Allen hasn’t made a decent respectable comedy since “Sleeper”(that was 40 years ago!),and the last Woody Allen movie that made me laugh was “Radio Days” back in 1987. But since his involvement and molestation with his own stepdaughter has led people away from his films. Woody Allen hasn’t had a hit movie in years(decades) since this scandal has physically and permanently damaged his appeal to movie audiences and his career as a brilliant and gifted writer and director as well as producer. Sad but true.
It’s no wonder that Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow have departed ways with him. Keaton said once in a interview that she doesn’t want to be nowhere near a Woody Allen project ever again.
The last Woody Allen movie I saw was 2012’s “From Rome With Love” that played in a 22-plex on the Friday before the July 4th weekend, and every theater was sold out except “From Rome With Love”. There were 10 people in the theater when the film started and about halfway through the movie 9 left with only 2 people inside when the film ended. The reason? “Rome With Love” played opposite “The Dark Knight Rises” that weekend which played on four screens that brought in capacity crowds.
The same can be said about Spike Lee too, whose ego has turned away movie audiences. The last Spike Lee movie I saw played at the same 22-plex and their were only five people in the theater. A crying shame.
Carmike Cinemas acquired the Oleander Cinema 1 & 2 in 1986 when it bought out Stewart and Everett. Carmike Cinemas closed this theatre on January 5,1988.
The final two picture shows that played at the OLEANDER TWIN were “Wait Disney’s Cinderella” on Screen 1 and on Screen 2 was Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Running Man” with Richard Dawson.
This was one of the many theatres Carmike Cinemas acquired in 1986 after it bought out Stewart and Everett. Carmike Cinemas closed this theatre in 1996 where it sat vacant for five years before it became the Hollywood East Cinema and Grill which remain a top arthouse theatre until it finally closed in 2007.
Travistarrant:
I fondly remember the STUDIO 1 Theatre that after 1975 played a lot of independent films and foreign releases not to mention reissue of vintage Hollywood classics….Humphrey Bogart’s Casablanca got a lot of play time here as well it a much loved favorite among the college crowd…..Before it closed in the mid-1980’s it became a notorious haven for late night porn(not to mention showed anything with skin,not to mention the only theatre in the state that played “XXX” rated gay porn…a Jeff Stryker 35MM gay porno play at this theatre back in the mid-80’s),and the usual Rocky Horror Picture Show night owl flick on Friday nights. Sometimes a lot of rehash 70’s vintage got the reissue treatment too before it closed…a prime favorite that got played over and over at the Studio 1 was Mel Brooks' “Blazing Saddles” that was a huge college crowd favorite among the management.
The Studio 1 closed in 1989 when it moved a block west down the street next to the Electric Company Mall across from N.C. State University and it renamed the Studio I & II which was awful and claustrophobic with its narrow auditoriums and tight end seats which finally closed in 2000.
The Studio 1 movie theatre became a McDonald’s before it closed in 2000 when it became the North Carolina State University Textbook Store.
Opened on October 15,1942 as the CAROLINA THEATRE under Wilby-Kincey/Paramount/North Carolina Theatres that had a seating capacity of 1,145.
It remained a single screen theatre until 1971 when the original auditorium was split into two sections seating 571 each in both auditoriums as a twin theatre keeping the original lobby entrance. It was renamed the CAROLINA BLUE AND WHITE THEATRES,aka THE CAROLINA 1 & 2 under ABC Southeastern Theatres.
Wilby-Kincey ran this theatre as a single screen cinema from 1942 until 1971.
ABC Southeastern Theatres took over the operations from 1971 until 1978.
Plitt Southern Theatres operated it from 1978 to 1987.
Cineplex Odeon was the last theatre chain that operated the Carolina from 1987 until 1990,and it was Cineplex Odeon that closed the original CAROLINA THEATRE in 1990.
By March 19,1993,the CAROLINA THEATRE reopened to the public and all of Chapel Hill as a full scale arthouse cinema that specialized in showing first-run releases as well as independent and foreign films as well as documentaries. Where the original entrance was facing Franklin Street the new entrance was toward the side of Columbia Street(right next door to the Ackland Art Museum). It was renamed as the NEW CAROLINA THEATRE where it was a single screener with a seating capacity of 280. Special features included in this new cinema were access handicap seating as well as full scale gourmet concession stand that also served alcoholic beverages. The new auditorium had a prominent position where the original marquee was placed below the front of the screen. The owner who refurnished the NEW CAROLINA THEATRE was Bruce H. Stone who also operated the Chelsea Theatre at Timberlyne Shopping Center(located in the Northern section of the city). THE NEW CAROLINA THEATRE remained a showplace for great films until it’s closing on July 2,2005. The last picture show that played here to great fanfare and capacity crowds was the Oscar winning documentary “March of the Penguins” narrated by Morgan Freeman.
By 1979,it became a grindhouse discount dollar house showing mostly “B” movies, kung-fu, and blaxploitation flicks with the occasional late night “XXX” rated skin flick
Not only did “MARY POPPINS” played here but also had the Fayetteville showing of “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” too was given the first-run billing at the Miracle.
Other movies that played here were “AMERICAN GRAFFITI”, “THE STING” among them were first-run at the Miracle.
WEST SIDE STORY played at the Carolina Theatre in Durham as a general release in 1962 even though it was originally release in 1961.
Coate is right: By October-November of 1963,most of the bookings for “LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” were mostly general release. Cities like Durham,Greensboro,Wilmington,Asheville as well as Fayetteville,Winston-Salem,and Raleigh were general exclusive bookings…The smaller cities and towns in North Carolina didn’t get the film until April-May of 1964 as a general release,some two years after it’s initial release.
The only reserved seat engagement for LAWRENCE OF ARABIA was at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre on September 25,1963. It was the only theatre in the state that presented it in full 70mm and Stereophonic Sound.
Closed in 1990 under Cineplex Odeon.
THE NEW CAROLINA THEATRE opened on March 19,1993 as a full scale arthouse cinema with a seating capacity of 280 including handicap access sections and full gourmet concession stand that served alcoholic beverages. Owned and operated by Bruce H. Stone.
The featured attraction for the grand re-opening: -Albert Finney and Kyle McLaughlin in RICH IN LOVE -Special Late Show Friday and Saturday was SWOON
The COMING ATTRACTIONS TO THE NEW CAROLINA THEATRE:
–“HOWARD’S END”
-Al Pacino in “SCENT OF A WOMAN”
–“LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE”
–“THE MAP OF THE HUMAN HEART”
–“MENACE II SOCIETY”
–“WIDE SARAGASSO SEA”
–“SPEED RACER:THE MOVIE”
The Arboretum opened as a ten screen cinema on May 28,1993 under Charlotte based Consolidated Theatres with the opening attractions……..
-Sylvester Stallone and John Lithgow in CLIFFHANGER-playing on 2 screens in Dobly Surround Sound and DTS.
-Whoopi Goldberg in MADE IN AMERICA
-Charlie Sheen in HOT SHOTS,PART DEUX
-Sharon Stone and William Baldwin in SLIVER
-Danny De Vito in SUPER MARIO BROS. THE MOVIE
-Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver in DAVE
-Robert Redford and Demi Moore in INDECENT PROPOSAL
-Jason Lee in DRAGON:THE BRUCE LEE STORY
-Mario Van Peebles and Allen Payne in POSSE
-Children’s Matinee of Filmation’s HAPPILY EVER AFTER
And the coming attractions are on the way………..
Sam Neill and Laura Dern in JURASSIC PARK-(Coming June 11,1993 on Dobly Surround Sound)
This theatre was known for its showing of family films and Disney releases. I saw “THE CASTAWAY COWBOY” starring James Garner here in 1974. This was one of the worst Disney films ever made and the worst James Garner picture ever shown.
STAR WARS played here as a re-release on July 21,1978.
A lot of first-run exclusives brought in record crowds to this theatre,which was mainly known for its showing of Disney films and “B” movie releases.
The Village was the only theatre in the Carolinas that brought in record crowds for its showing of Ross Hunter’s AIRPORT that played here first-run in 1970 that held the all-time record attendance for such a movie in the greater Charlotte area that played here an astounding record of 27 weeks!
Other first-run exclusives including WALKING TALL in 1973 that played here for 23 weeks! Another record breaking attendance for a showing of a film in Charlotte.
It also held another record that brought in record crowds was the Village’s exclusive engagement of the 1977 re-issue of STAR WARS that played here on July 21,1978 that held it until August 22,1978.
The VILLAGE THEATRE opened on July 8,1966 with the premiere attraction “THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE” Starring Henry Fonda,Robert Ryan and Telly Savalas. Even though this movie was presented in Cinerama in 1966,the movie was a basic general engagement showing in the Carolinas. It was not a roadshow presentation when it played at this theatre nor it was not featured in Cinerama. The only theatre in the state of North Carolina that had three strip Cinerama projection was at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre.
For Mike Rogers: The Village was twinned in 1978 when its 800 seat single screener was split into two sections with 400 seats each renamed the Village 1 & 2 under Stewart and Everett.
The Tryon Mall was twinned in 1974 under ABC Southeastern Theatres and reopened on Christmas Day of 1974.
This theatre was equipped with “Century” JJ 70/35mm projectors along with 6 Track and 4 Track Magnetic Sound in addition to optical analog.
Carmike Cinemas ran this theatre in the mid-1980’s as a 99-cent second run discount house from the buyout of Stewart and Everett in 1986 until its closing in 1989(by 1989,the Capri became a discount house with 99-cent pricing)under the titles AKA Village 1 & 2 and the Village Twin.
After additional research I found that the Village was not the last single screen cinema built in Charlotte. That distinction belongs to the Tryon Mall Theater which opened on March 24,1972 by ABC Southeastern Theatres.
The Village Theater was one of several theatres that were built as part of a rapid expansion of the Charlotte-based Stewart and Everett chain in the mid-1960’s…Five were built in 1966 alone. According to items in Boxoffice Magazine,the Village and at least one of the four were designed by Charles L. Wheatley and Associates,a Charlotte architectural firm. It seems likely that the firm designed all of the S&E houses during this period,but Boxoffice fails to confirm this.
The January 10,1966,issue of Boxoffice said that construction of the Village was about to begin and that completion of the house was expected by June 1,1966. The theater was to have a seating capacity of 800 and it opened on July 8,1966.
Stewart and Everett operated this theatre from 1966 to 1986. Carmike Cinemas acquired this theatre in 1986 until it’s closing in 1989.
Moviemanforever: You’re absolutely right. Woody Allen hasn’t made a decent respectable comedy since “Sleeper”(that was 40 years ago!),and the last Woody Allen movie that made me laugh was “Radio Days” back in 1987. But since his involvement and molestation with his own stepdaughter has led people away from his films. Woody Allen hasn’t had a hit movie in years(decades) since this scandal has physically and permanently damaged his appeal to movie audiences and his career as a brilliant and gifted writer and director as well as producer. Sad but true. It’s no wonder that Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow have departed ways with him. Keaton said once in a interview that she doesn’t want to be nowhere near a Woody Allen project ever again.
The last Woody Allen movie I saw was 2012’s “From Rome With Love” that played in a 22-plex on the Friday before the July 4th weekend, and every theater was sold out except “From Rome With Love”. There were 10 people in the theater when the film started and about halfway through the movie 9 left with only 2 people inside when the film ended. The reason? “Rome With Love” played opposite “The Dark Knight Rises” that weekend which played on four screens that brought in capacity crowds. The same can be said about Spike Lee too, whose ego has turned away movie audiences. The last Spike Lee movie I saw played at the same 22-plex and their were only five people in the theater. A crying shame.
Mike, The original SUPERMAN movie played here on December 15,1978 at Tryon Mall in DOBLY STEREO when this theatre was under ABC Southeastern Theatres.
Carmike Cinemas acquired the Oleander Cinema 1 & 2 in 1986 when it bought out Stewart and Everett. Carmike Cinemas closed this theatre on January 5,1988.
The final two picture shows that played at the OLEANDER TWIN were “Wait Disney’s Cinderella” on Screen 1 and on Screen 2 was Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Running Man” with Richard Dawson.
This was one of the many theatres Carmike Cinemas acquired in 1986 after it bought out Stewart and Everett. Carmike Cinemas closed this theatre in 1996 where it sat vacant for five years before it became the Hollywood East Cinema and Grill which remain a top arthouse theatre until it finally closed in 2007.
When this theatre was formerly THE COLONY at Five Points
Jim Brown-Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson in “3 THE HARD WAY” in the summer of 1974.
The first LETHAL WEAPON movie played here first-run in 1987.
Travistarrant: I fondly remember the STUDIO 1 Theatre that after 1975 played a lot of independent films and foreign releases not to mention reissue of vintage Hollywood classics….Humphrey Bogart’s Casablanca got a lot of play time here as well it a much loved favorite among the college crowd…..Before it closed in the mid-1980’s it became a notorious haven for late night porn(not to mention showed anything with skin,not to mention the only theatre in the state that played “XXX” rated gay porn…a Jeff Stryker 35MM gay porno play at this theatre back in the mid-80’s),and the usual Rocky Horror Picture Show night owl flick on Friday nights. Sometimes a lot of rehash 70’s vintage got the reissue treatment too before it closed…a prime favorite that got played over and over at the Studio 1 was Mel Brooks' “Blazing Saddles” that was a huge college crowd favorite among the management.
The Studio 1 closed in 1989 when it moved a block west down the street next to the Electric Company Mall across from N.C. State University and it renamed the Studio I & II which was awful and claustrophobic with its narrow auditoriums and tight end seats which finally closed in 2000.
The Studio 1 movie theatre became a McDonald’s before it closed in 2000 when it became the North Carolina State University Textbook Store.