The Studio One Ultra-Vision Theatre launched on July 1, 1971 with the wide-formatted “Skies Over Holland” and “Shoot Out.” The auditorium featured 682 rocking chair seats. Studio One used automated projection equipment allowing it to have up to 6 showtimes for some features. “Star Wars” was shown with multi-channel surround sound becoming the theater’s biggest hit. In 1980, it was twinned becoming the Studio 1 & 2.
On January 9, 1987, Carmike Cinemas took over the venue as the Carmike Studio Twin Theatres. They closed the twin on January 29, 1989 with “Things Change,” “Tequila Sunrise” and “Hellhound: Hellrasier II.”
The Capri Twin opened June 24, 1977 with “Islands in the. Stream” and “Sorcerer.” Carl L. Patrick, Sr. acquired Martin Theatres from Fuqua Industries in February of 1982 becoming Carmike Cinemas . (The company’s name was a combination of the first names of Patrick’s two sons, Carl Jr. and Michael).
Regal Cinemas took on the venue beginning January 14, 1994. Regal would later demote it to a discount, sub-run policy closing on February 18, 2001 with “Proof of Life” and “Antitrust.” It had a very brief run as a live stage venue ending on November 17, 2001 with the play “Three Days of Rain.” The theatre was auctioned on December 11, 2001. In 2002, the building was expanded and converted to office space.
Princess Theatre #1 was opened by the Breeze Amusement Company of Flemingsburg in 1914. It was equipped with sound to remain viable in 1930. It suffered a major fire closing the venue January 4, 1942 with the print of “Sergeant York” dishonorably discharged from the theatre.
The Princess Theatre reopened in the high school auditorium temporarily on January 24, 1942 conceptually as Princess Theatre #2. Plans for a new Princess Theatre “#3” were made. It launched on July 2, 1942 with Rita Hayworth in “My Gal Sal” likely using some element of the original structure (foundation and potentially a wall). The venue appears to have ended with “Alaskan Safari,” a four-wall film on February 19, 1968.
Grand opening ad for the Central Cinemas 1 & 2 on April 19, 1973 with George, the St. Bernard in “George!” and Terrence Hill in “They Call Me Trinity” in photos.
The Midco 6 launched on April 25, 1995 as the second theatre in Kandiyohi County’s Kandi Mall replacing the former United General Kandi Twin Theatres that had operated as an original tenant of the Kandi Mall in 1973. That theatre had expanded size under new operator Midcontinent twice in 1981 as a triplex and 1983 as a quad.
As original 20-year leases were coming due, the Kandi Mall lost its Sears as an anchor and a number of interior retailers. The theatre re-upped seemingly on a 30-year term with a promise of an improved and expanded space. The venue was indeed moved to a new spot relaunching as the Midco 6 on April 25, 1995 with"Bye, Bye Love" and “Rob Roy” opening joining the moved Midco 4 moved prints of the continuing “Bad Boys,” “A Goofy Movie,” “Jury Duty,” and “Tommy Boy.” The original cinema closed the previous day on April 24, 1995.
On September 13, 1995, Carmike bought the 14-venue/67 screen Midco with venue eventually renamed as the Carmike Kandi Mall Cinemas 6. AMC bought Carmike on December 15, 2016. On May 13, 2017 the theatre was renamed as the AMC Classic Kandi 6. The Classic designation was used to relabel the vast majority of inherited properties in the Carmike, Kerasotes, and other AMC acquisitions. These were locations which generally received very minor upgrades and were often run to the end of existing leases to closure.
At the Kandi, AMC took an opt out at the 15-year mark closing February 22, 2018. The Mall reached greyfield status having shed its Kmart, Herbergers, Sears Hometown and JCPenney anchors. Reel-Lux Theatres took on the location equipping it with recliner seating, new bathrooms and more amenities in the concession area. It relaunched March 30, 2018 as the Reel-Lux Kandi 6 with Mall attracting Kohl’s and Harbor Freight Tools, as well.
The venue’s remodeling continued under its final name as the Golden Ticket Kandi 6. The COVID-19 pandemic twice closed the venue - first on March 16, 2020. The Mall reopened and was rebranded as the Uptown Willmar Center. The Golden Ticket reopened June 19, 2020 but governor’s orders shut down the venue until January 15, 2021 when it reopened once again. The theatre continued into the streaming era of exhibition.
A salvage sale including the Rialto’s 440 theater seats took place followed by a 1959 demolition that also took out the Palmer Hotel and the Kentucky Theatre. The Cleveland Wrecking Company demolished the theater along with the historic Palmer House Hotel and the Kentucky Theatre for a parking lot and J.C. Penney’s department store.
Cinemark’s new facility opened behind the Mall on May 16, 2002 with this venue converting to a discount, sub-run dollar movie. That operation lasted six weeks with the lease terminated mutually on June 30, 2002 with demolition starting the next month.
Closed August 27, 1957 with a double feature of “Three Violent People” and “An Affair to Remember" after being unable to resist a sweet deal by the operators of the Yam. It was demolished along with the Inn in front of it and later replaced by an insecticide factory.
Collins Conrad of the Conrad Theatre in Breaux Bridge opened in the existing Christman-Riseman Building on April 1, 1933 with “Louisiana” as the opening title. Conrad sold the venue for $10,000 transferring the remaining time on the 10-year lease on July 1, 1934 to new operators who changed its name to the Delta Theatre the next year in April of 1935.
Had a three manual Conn Connsonata organ. It closed at the end of lease on August 5, 1967 with “Poppy is also a Flower”. It continued with live events - mostly gospel music - through 1971 before becoming an auction house.
Arcitects Tuttle & Ross revealed the Elks Theatre plans in 1905. Work was suspended delaying the Elks launch to November of 1907. The Elks closed March 5, 1954 with “Kid from Amarillo” and “Northwest Territory” supposed by the last chapter go the “Black Hawk” serial. In October of 1954, the theater portion of the venue was converted to office space.
A.C. Austin built the post-War, 525-seat Fox Theatre likely using stimulus funds from the G.I. Bill. W.H. Currin was the architect of the $40,000 venue opening on July 10, 1947. Austin would add a drive-in in Ardmore operating the Fox seasonally.
Like many small town theaters, the Fox succumbed to pressures from free, over the air television. It was auctioned off in September of 1961. The venue continued briefly under new operators that December.
Rumblings about thirty minutes away in Huntsville changed the Fox’s course of history in the early 1970s. Under attack by the local Huntsville District Attorney, General Corp. - operators of the Fox Cinema in downtown Huntsville - decided to open a safer haven location of the Fox across the boarder in Ardmore. It launched on June 28, 1972 with unrated adult films.
The Fox in Huntsville was padlocked along with the two other porno chic era adult houses on January 10, 1973 in Huntsville. So folks had the chance to travel to Ardmore. Under Eastern Amusement Co. operation, “bumper to bumper” traffic was reported from Huntsville to Ardmore as “Deep Throat,” “The Devil in Miss Jones,” and “Behind the Green Door” proved to be huge hits. So a new Tennessee obscenity law was passed in March of 1974 within the milieu of the Supreme Court’s historic Miller v. California decisions.
George Echols, operator of the Fox, found the venue padlocked on July 8, 1974 - interestingly, at the same time that the folks doing the crackdown were running for office. Following a restraining order that reopened the venue, the Fox was padlocked during a double-feature of “Divorcee” and “Stag Maker” on July 17, 1974. The operator filed a $1 million lawsuit demanding return of both “Divorcee” and “Stag Maker,” and a request to reopen.
The theater prevailed and was set to reopen on August 18, 1974 but nobody could locate the keys used to open the lock. So the next day had to do. The Fox operated until end of lease on May 31, 1985 lasting into the video era and closing with three unrated adult features.
Address: 1015 West Lee Clarksdale, MS 38614 in the Westgate Shopping Center - still standing in the mid 2020s. The Westgate closed at the 15-year leasing opt out with “Making Contact” on September 1, 1986.
The origins of this venue was when A.N. Rossie held a naming contest for the African American theater and Curtis Commander Jr. came up with the New Roxy in time for the September 22, 1945 launch of the venue with “Calling Wild Bill.” The end of the Roxy Theatre’s movie run was a double feature of “Don’t Go into the Woods” and “Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks” on October 16, 1983.
R.W. Tyson of Jackson, Mississippi created the theater with its foundation poured in 1945 opening the next year. The first 26 years were good until it scuffled under new competitio from the Westgate Cinema during 1971 and, in 1973, began showing “adult films.” It was a policy it embraced from 1974 to 1975 before closing in May of 1975 with lawsuit brought for improper booking practices the next month.
The space reopened as a game room in 1976. Tom Boswell of the Westgate Cinema took on the venue as the Boswell Showcase on May 27, 1977 with “Smokey and the Bandit” running for ten years shortened to Showcase Cinema. It changed owners and became the Delta Cinema closing for films onJuly 27, 2003.
The venue continued with special event programming and film festivals until closure in 2018 along with a lawsuit.
A.N. Rossie held a naming contest for the African American theater and Curtis Commander Jr. came up with the New Roxy in time for the September 22, 1945 launch of the venue with “Calling Wild Bill.”
Charles A. Crute and Ackland Ragland opened the Lyric on Nov 15, 1911 with movies after an opening failed two nights prior. It was competing against The Picto.
The Studio One Ultra-Vision Theatre launched on July 1, 1971 with the wide-formatted “Skies Over Holland” and “Shoot Out.” The auditorium featured 682 rocking chair seats. Studio One used automated projection equipment allowing it to have up to 6 showtimes for some features. “Star Wars” was shown with multi-channel surround sound becoming the theater’s biggest hit. In 1980, it was twinned becoming the Studio 1 & 2.
On January 9, 1987, Carmike Cinemas took over the venue as the Carmike Studio Twin Theatres. They closed the twin on January 29, 1989 with “Things Change,” “Tequila Sunrise” and “Hellhound: Hellrasier II.”
The Capri Twin opened June 24, 1977 with “Islands in the. Stream” and “Sorcerer.” Carl L. Patrick, Sr. acquired Martin Theatres from Fuqua Industries in February of 1982 becoming Carmike Cinemas . (The company’s name was a combination of the first names of Patrick’s two sons, Carl Jr. and Michael).
Regal Cinemas took on the venue beginning January 14, 1994. Regal would later demote it to a discount, sub-run policy closing on February 18, 2001 with “Proof of Life” and “Antitrust.” It had a very brief run as a live stage venue ending on November 17, 2001 with the play “Three Days of Rain.” The theatre was auctioned on December 11, 2001. In 2002, the building was expanded and converted to office space.
Princess Theatre #1 was opened by the Breeze Amusement Company of Flemingsburg in 1914. It was equipped with sound to remain viable in 1930. It suffered a major fire closing the venue January 4, 1942 with the print of “Sergeant York” dishonorably discharged from the theatre.
The Princess Theatre reopened in the high school auditorium temporarily on January 24, 1942 conceptually as Princess Theatre #2. Plans for a new Princess Theatre “#3” were made. It launched on July 2, 1942 with Rita Hayworth in “My Gal Sal” likely using some element of the original structure (foundation and potentially a wall). The venue appears to have ended with “Alaskan Safari,” a four-wall film on February 19, 1968.
Opened July 8, 2000 and closed at the expiry of a 25-year leasing agreement.
Opened June 9, 1954 with “Honey Chile”.
Grand opening ad for the Central Cinemas 1 & 2 on April 19, 1973 with George, the St. Bernard in “George!” and Terrence Hill in “They Call Me Trinity” in photos.
The Midco 6 launched on April 25, 1995 as the second theatre in Kandiyohi County’s Kandi Mall replacing the former United General Kandi Twin Theatres that had operated as an original tenant of the Kandi Mall in 1973. That theatre had expanded size under new operator Midcontinent twice in 1981 as a triplex and 1983 as a quad.
As original 20-year leases were coming due, the Kandi Mall lost its Sears as an anchor and a number of interior retailers. The theatre re-upped seemingly on a 30-year term with a promise of an improved and expanded space. The venue was indeed moved to a new spot relaunching as the Midco 6 on April 25, 1995 with"Bye, Bye Love" and “Rob Roy” opening joining the moved Midco 4 moved prints of the continuing “Bad Boys,” “A Goofy Movie,” “Jury Duty,” and “Tommy Boy.” The original cinema closed the previous day on April 24, 1995.
On September 13, 1995, Carmike bought the 14-venue/67 screen Midco with venue eventually renamed as the Carmike Kandi Mall Cinemas 6. AMC bought Carmike on December 15, 2016. On May 13, 2017 the theatre was renamed as the AMC Classic Kandi 6. The Classic designation was used to relabel the vast majority of inherited properties in the Carmike, Kerasotes, and other AMC acquisitions. These were locations which generally received very minor upgrades and were often run to the end of existing leases to closure.
At the Kandi, AMC took an opt out at the 15-year mark closing February 22, 2018. The Mall reached greyfield status having shed its Kmart, Herbergers, Sears Hometown and JCPenney anchors. Reel-Lux Theatres took on the location equipping it with recliner seating, new bathrooms and more amenities in the concession area. It relaunched March 30, 2018 as the Reel-Lux Kandi 6 with Mall attracting Kohl’s and Harbor Freight Tools, as well.
The venue’s remodeling continued under its final name as the Golden Ticket Kandi 6. The COVID-19 pandemic twice closed the venue - first on March 16, 2020. The Mall reopened and was rebranded as the Uptown Willmar Center. The Golden Ticket reopened June 19, 2020 but governor’s orders shut down the venue until January 15, 2021 when it reopened once again. The theatre continued into the streaming era of exhibition.
Became the Willmar Cinema Twin Theatres 1 & 2 on June 4, 1971 in a naming contest won by Mrs. Clarence Von Zee.
Opened as a United General Theatres location originally with 500 seats. Under new operators, the seat count was reduced.
A salvage sale including the Rialto’s 440 theater seats took place followed by a 1959 demolition that also took out the Palmer Hotel and the Kentucky Theatre. The Cleveland Wrecking Company demolished the theater along with the historic Palmer House Hotel and the Kentucky Theatre for a parking lot and J.C. Penney’s department store.
Cinemark’s new facility opened behind the Mall on May 16, 2002 with this venue converting to a discount, sub-run dollar movie. That operation lasted six weeks with the lease terminated mutually on June 30, 2002 with demolition starting the next month.
1800 seats
AMC Paducah Cinemas I & II closed November 20, 1986 - likely at a 15-year leasing clause opt out - with “Tai-Pan” and “Trick or Treat.”
Closed August 27, 1957 with a double feature of “Three Violent People” and “An Affair to Remember" after being unable to resist a sweet deal by the operators of the Yam. It was demolished along with the Inn in front of it and later replaced by an insecticide factory.
Collins Conrad of the Conrad Theatre in Breaux Bridge opened in the existing Christman-Riseman Building on April 1, 1933 with “Louisiana” as the opening title. Conrad sold the venue for $10,000 transferring the remaining time on the 10-year lease on July 1, 1934 to new operators who changed its name to the Delta Theatre the next year in April of 1935.
The Yam closed permanently on Fe. 9, 1982 with “Sizzling Seniors"and "Fight Rider.”
Seaford Cinemas was beached at the end of 25-year leasing period on April 28, 2025.
Had a three manual Conn Connsonata organ. It closed at the end of lease on August 5, 1967 with “Poppy is also a Flower”. It continued with live events - mostly gospel music - through 1971 before becoming an auction house.
Arcitects Tuttle & Ross revealed the Elks Theatre plans in 1905. Work was suspended delaying the Elks launch to November of 1907. The Elks closed March 5, 1954 with “Kid from Amarillo” and “Northwest Territory” supposed by the last chapter go the “Black Hawk” serial. In October of 1954, the theater portion of the venue was converted to office space.
A.C. Austin built the post-War, 525-seat Fox Theatre likely using stimulus funds from the G.I. Bill. W.H. Currin was the architect of the $40,000 venue opening on July 10, 1947. Austin would add a drive-in in Ardmore operating the Fox seasonally.
Like many small town theaters, the Fox succumbed to pressures from free, over the air television. It was auctioned off in September of 1961. The venue continued briefly under new operators that December.
Rumblings about thirty minutes away in Huntsville changed the Fox’s course of history in the early 1970s. Under attack by the local Huntsville District Attorney, General Corp. - operators of the Fox Cinema in downtown Huntsville - decided to open a safer haven location of the Fox across the boarder in Ardmore. It launched on June 28, 1972 with unrated adult films.
The Fox in Huntsville was padlocked along with the two other porno chic era adult houses on January 10, 1973 in Huntsville. So folks had the chance to travel to Ardmore. Under Eastern Amusement Co. operation, “bumper to bumper” traffic was reported from Huntsville to Ardmore as “Deep Throat,” “The Devil in Miss Jones,” and “Behind the Green Door” proved to be huge hits. So a new Tennessee obscenity law was passed in March of 1974 within the milieu of the Supreme Court’s historic Miller v. California decisions.
George Echols, operator of the Fox, found the venue padlocked on July 8, 1974 - interestingly, at the same time that the folks doing the crackdown were running for office. Following a restraining order that reopened the venue, the Fox was padlocked during a double-feature of “Divorcee” and “Stag Maker” on July 17, 1974. The operator filed a $1 million lawsuit demanding return of both “Divorcee” and “Stag Maker,” and a request to reopen.
The theater prevailed and was set to reopen on August 18, 1974 but nobody could locate the keys used to open the lock. So the next day had to do. The Fox operated until end of lease on May 31, 1985 lasting into the video era and closing with three unrated adult features.
The Paramount Twin Theatre closed with “Mackintosh & T.J.” on Screen I and “Exorcism’s Daughter” on Screen II.
Address: 1015 West Lee Clarksdale, MS 38614 in the Westgate Shopping Center - still standing in the mid 2020s. The Westgate closed at the 15-year leasing opt out with “Making Contact” on September 1, 1986.
The origins of this venue was when A.N. Rossie held a naming contest for the African American theater and Curtis Commander Jr. came up with the New Roxy in time for the September 22, 1945 launch of the venue with “Calling Wild Bill.” The end of the Roxy Theatre’s movie run was a double feature of “Don’t Go into the Woods” and “Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks” on October 16, 1983.
R.W. Tyson of Jackson, Mississippi created the theater with its foundation poured in 1945 opening the next year. The first 26 years were good until it scuffled under new competitio from the Westgate Cinema during 1971 and, in 1973, began showing “adult films.” It was a policy it embraced from 1974 to 1975 before closing in May of 1975 with lawsuit brought for improper booking practices the next month.
The space reopened as a game room in 1976. Tom Boswell of the Westgate Cinema took on the venue as the Boswell Showcase on May 27, 1977 with “Smokey and the Bandit” running for ten years shortened to Showcase Cinema. It changed owners and became the Delta Cinema closing for films onJuly 27, 2003.
The venue continued with special event programming and film festivals until closure in 2018 along with a lawsuit.
A.N. Rossie held a naming contest for the African American theater and Curtis Commander Jr. came up with the New Roxy in time for the September 22, 1945 launch of the venue with “Calling Wild Bill.”
Charles A. Crute and Ackland Ragland opened the Lyric on Nov 15, 1911 with movies after an opening failed two nights prior. It was competing against The Picto.