This venue was cut in two losing the “Cinerama” namesake; it became the Westbury Twin Cinemas 1 & 2 on December 22, 1976 retaining that name until closure in 1983.
The Memory Lane closed for the season following two double features: “The Polar Express” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on one screen and “Wicked” and “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” on November 30, 2024. A decision was made to close permanently instead of launching a new season in April of 2025.
Closed for COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020, the operators moved on deciding not to reopen the venue. It reopened on April 18, 2025 under new ownership with “King of Kings” and the second screen dedicated to live events. Locals were so surprised to hear of the Thomson Twin’s return that they shouted, “Hold me know; stay with me.”
The original address of the Carolina Theatre was 411 South Endor Street which contained the African American business district of Sanford. The street was widened in 1964 in the construction of U.S. 421 with the street renamed as (W.E.) Horner Boulevard in 1965.
The Star-Lite Drive-In opened March 4, 1976 with “Take A Hard Ride”. In 1978, it added a second screen. The Star-Lite closed August 18, 1985 with “The Goonies” on Screen 1 and “Between the Sheets” on Screen 2.
The Drive-In Theatre opened under that name with its first ad appearing on October 20, 1947 with “Till the Clouds Roll By” in Tramway, just three miles south of Sanford. Beginning in 1951, it changed to the Sanford Drive-In Theatre - likely due to two new ozoners operning. The last shows are in the 1967 season indicating the expiry of a 20-year leasing agreement - perhaps going with “Never Too Late” on April 22, 1967.
John W. Freeman used G.I. Bill stimulus funds to design and then open the Center Theatre launching on September 12, 1946 with “Sentimental Journey.” It closed at the end of a 25-year leasing agreement under Stewart and Everett with Potpourri on November 22, 1971. It was used until 1977 for sporadic live theaters offerings.
The Kendale Cinema 1 & 2 designed by Wheatley-Whisnant Associates of Charlotte contained two 360-seat auditoriums for 720 total seats. This version of the cinema opened with “The Deep” and “ Final Chapter: Walking Tall” on June 17, 1977.
Carmike took on Essantee Theatres operating the theatre as the Kendale Twin Theatres 1 & 2 until the expiry of its 30-year leasing agreement on April 26, 1987 closing with “Norbit” (a good enough reason to close any theater) and “Daddy’s Little Girl.” In March of 2008, it got one more chance as the Cinema Latino for the Cinema Latino Circuit playing Spanish language films.
Opened March 2, 1951 with “Dakota L'il.” Its final show was November 16, 1957 with a double feature of “Montana Belle” a One Body Too Many. It was demolished in March of 1958 and became a Go-Kart track.
A, Banks Wilkins opened the Wilrik Theatre for Stewart and Everett Theatres Circuit on August 27, 1953 with “Cruisin' Down the River.” It was then operated by Essantee Theatres until being purchased by Carmike Cinemas in late 1986. Carmike closed on January 29, 1988 at the expiry of 25-year leasing agreement
The new-build Temple Theatre was built in 1924 and completed in early 1925 opening March 2, 1925 with the film, “Janice Meredith” starring Marion Davies. The venue added sound to remain viable. It went out of business on August 26, 1961. It reopened as the New Temple Theatre on December 17, 1964 with “The Horror of Beach Party” and “The Curse of the Living Corpse.” It appears to have closed on September30. 1965 completing at second 20-year leasing agreement with “Pretty But Wicked,” Highway Pickup,“ and "Hollywood Report.”
It looks like Fox West Coast dropped the Astoria Theatre. D.C. Stewart took the equipment in 1931 to the Astoria Theatre in Medford, Oregon. That left an opening for the Viking Theater’s entry into the marketplace which occurred on November 6, 1931 with “Mother’s Millions.” In 1933, Fox Liberty took over the Viking so it wouldn’t compete with the local theaters. It was used for a seemingly unending group of sporadic events and one-off screenings until conversion to the Viking Roller Rink on October 23, 1959.
The new-build Coronado Twin Theatre opened on March 6, 1985 with “The Karate Kid” and “Falling in Love” for Warren Theatres Circuit. It replaced the original Coronado which burned in early August 1984. The venue closed with regular films as the Coronado Twin Cinema on January 3, 1994 with “Addams Family Values” as its only feature and was used for sporadic events thereafter.
Valeria Allen and her son, James Edgar Allen, announced the Coronado Theatre project in 1940. Plans by architect O.T. Thurman of El Paso were approved in 1942. The building started and appears to have been stopped due to Wartime shortages. It finally opened on February 3, 1948 with “ Romance of Rosy Ridge.”
The Allens sold the theater in July of 1981 to Warren Theatres Circuit. The venue burned down on August 2, 1984 making its last show, “Purple Hearts” on July 31, 1984. The new-build Coronado Twin Theatre opened on March 8, 1985.
The Star Theatre opened in 1912. It became the Palace Theatre on February 22, 1930 when it was wired for sound beginning with the film, “Broadway.” It was. closed after being gutted by a June 20, 1944 fire before reopening in August.
When James Edgar Allen and his mother, Valeria, opened the Chief Drive-In along with Interstate Theatres Enterprises (ITE) on April 17, 1954, the Palace was downgraded to weekend operation showing a mix of Spanish and English language films. The Palace closed on October 5, 1957 with Romeo and Juliet. The neighboring Western Auto store expanded into the space in 1985.
Griffith Amusement and Morris Robertson teamed up for an August 3, 1937 grand opening as the White Sands Theater (it may have had a late July soft launch). Commonwealth Theatres closed July 11, 1985 as the Sands Theatre with “The Muppets Take Manhattan.” Three weeks later, they would then close the Sierra Theatre.
The original Star Theatre was opened by Katherine Lambert and Ruby Golden in the Kepley Building on November 9, 1907. The Star faded in May of 1919. The Star Theatre was replaced at Jefferson and Banker by Hoffman & Woidt Grocery in 1919.
November 22, 1927 grand opening ad in photos. Final showing March 30, 1956 - likely the end of a 30-year leasing agreement - with “The Vanishing American” and “Headline Hunters.”
The Laskin-Seigel Circuit headed by Elmer R. Laskin upgraded the Seaside Park in the 1920s creating the Roland Court Theatre as part of the Spanish Mission retail and theatrical space, the Royal Court Building at 17th Street just off of Atlantic Avenue. Architects Rudolph, Cooke & Van Leeuwen created four retail spaces, office space and the theater opening June 1, 1926. “Court” was dropped by the venue within a year becoming the Roland Theatre which was equipped for sound to remain viable.
William Crockett took on the venue then building the Bayne Theatre in 1932. David Pender joined Crockett to form the Crockett-Pender Theatre Circuit, later Crockett & Associates. He would add the Beach Theatre in 1947 to his portfolio.
The Roland, itself, however, was undersized and scuffled during the Depression era closing twice and refurbished twice on its way to a second-run discount venue. It survived a 20-year leasing period closing in the 1940s - apparently after the August 23, 1947 screenings of “Spoilers of the North” and “Vigilantes of Boomtown. Thereafter, the venue was offered for lease. It became a live event space in 1950 for one season of the Beach Little Theatre before they left for a larger space. In 1963, that organization returned to the Roland Theatre one last time under the moniker of the Courtyard Playhouse. A shot just prior to demolition shows that the Royal Court Building looking almost identical to when it was built 80+ years earlier.
Bill Crockett & Associates launched the Beach Theatre with an invitational screening of “The Yearling” on July 1, 1947 followed by a general public “Formal Opening” the next day. Virginia Beach Mayor Warfield Leeke addressed the crowd impressed by the 1,142 seat auditorium. Architect Vernon A. Moore was trying to thread the needle between Colonial architecture and a more conventional streamline moderne approach landing somewhere in the middle. Historical murals of Old Dominion were on each wall of the post-War movie house. A definite Colonial approach was found in the heavily decorated lobby and lounge areas.
In 1954, the auditorium was equipped with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles. In the refresh, a cleaner visual style favored in that era replaced some of the original flourishes and cleaned out the lobby area. The Beach Theatre folded its umbrella reaching the end of a 35-year leasing agreement in January of 1982 as operated by final owner, Plitt Southern Theatres.
After a stint as a live theatre, the venue got big crowds as a haunted house tourist attraction. Operating from 1986 to September 2, 2007, the Haunted Fun House received some 15,000 patrons annually… until city inspectors deemed the walls of the theatre unsafe. The former auditorium and the lobby were completely gutted in favor of an indoor miniature golf attraction. The theater became virtually unrecognizable by 2008. Pictures of its past and present, along with its Grand Opening ad are in the photos section.
Closed permanently on January 30, 2025 as one of the last true multiplexes operating on a sub-run, discount dollar house policy citing end of a 20-year leasing agreement. How hard was it to get a “second run” theatrical film in 2025? They closed with Despicable Me 4 (from July 3, 2024), Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (September 2, 2024), Wild Robot (September 27, 2024), Venom: The Last Dance (October 25, 2024), and the only recent title of the lot, Kraven, the Hunter (December 13, 2024). We salute you, Picture Show at Alamonte Springs.
This venue was cut in two losing the “Cinerama” namesake; it became the Westbury Twin Cinemas 1 & 2 on December 22, 1976 retaining that name until closure in 1983.
The Memory Lane closed for the season following two double features: “The Polar Express” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on one screen and “Wicked” and “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” on November 30, 2024. A decision was made to close permanently instead of launching a new season in April of 2025.
March 23, 1941 reopening ad as the City Theater in photos.
Closed for COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020, the operators moved on deciding not to reopen the venue. It reopened on April 18, 2025 under new ownership with “King of Kings” and the second screen dedicated to live events. Locals were so surprised to hear of the Thomson Twin’s return that they shouted, “Hold me know; stay with me.”
The original address of the Carolina Theatre was 411 South Endor Street which contained the African American business district of Sanford. The street was widened in 1964 in the construction of U.S. 421 with the street renamed as (W.E.) Horner Boulevard in 1965.
The Star-Lite Drive-In opened March 4, 1976 with “Take A Hard Ride”. In 1978, it added a second screen. The Star-Lite closed August 18, 1985 with “The Goonies” on Screen 1 and “Between the Sheets” on Screen 2.
The Drive-In Theatre opened under that name with its first ad appearing on October 20, 1947 with “Till the Clouds Roll By” in Tramway, just three miles south of Sanford. Beginning in 1951, it changed to the Sanford Drive-In Theatre - likely due to two new ozoners operning. The last shows are in the 1967 season indicating the expiry of a 20-year leasing agreement - perhaps going with “Never Too Late” on April 22, 1967.
John W. Freeman used G.I. Bill stimulus funds to design and then open the Center Theatre launching on September 12, 1946 with “Sentimental Journey.” It closed at the end of a 25-year leasing agreement under Stewart and Everett with Potpourri on November 22, 1971. It was used until 1977 for sporadic live theaters offerings.
The Kendale Cinema 1 & 2 designed by Wheatley-Whisnant Associates of Charlotte contained two 360-seat auditoriums for 720 total seats. This version of the cinema opened with “The Deep” and “ Final Chapter: Walking Tall” on June 17, 1977.
Carmike took on Essantee Theatres operating the theatre as the Kendale Twin Theatres 1 & 2 until the expiry of its 30-year leasing agreement on April 26, 1987 closing with “Norbit” (a good enough reason to close any theater) and “Daddy’s Little Girl.” In March of 2008, it got one more chance as the Cinema Latino for the Cinema Latino Circuit playing Spanish language films.
Opened March 2, 1951 with “Dakota L'il.” Its final show was November 16, 1957 with a double feature of “Montana Belle” a One Body Too Many. It was demolished in March of 1958 and became a Go-Kart track.
A, Banks Wilkins opened the Wilrik Theatre for Stewart and Everett Theatres Circuit on August 27, 1953 with “Cruisin' Down the River.” It was then operated by Essantee Theatres until being purchased by Carmike Cinemas in late 1986. Carmike closed on January 29, 1988 at the expiry of 25-year leasing agreement
The new-build Temple Theatre was built in 1924 and completed in early 1925 opening March 2, 1925 with the film, “Janice Meredith” starring Marion Davies. The venue added sound to remain viable. It went out of business on August 26, 1961. It reopened as the New Temple Theatre on December 17, 1964 with “The Horror of Beach Party” and “The Curse of the Living Corpse.” It appears to have closed on September30. 1965 completing at second 20-year leasing agreement with “Pretty But Wicked,” Highway Pickup,“ and "Hollywood Report.”
It looks like Fox West Coast dropped the Astoria Theatre. D.C. Stewart took the equipment in 1931 to the Astoria Theatre in Medford, Oregon. That left an opening for the Viking Theater’s entry into the marketplace which occurred on November 6, 1931 with “Mother’s Millions.” In 1933, Fox Liberty took over the Viking so it wouldn’t compete with the local theaters. It was used for a seemingly unending group of sporadic events and one-off screenings until conversion to the Viking Roller Rink on October 23, 1959.
The new-build Coronado Twin Theatre opened on March 6, 1985 with “The Karate Kid” and “Falling in Love” for Warren Theatres Circuit. It replaced the original Coronado which burned in early August 1984. The venue closed with regular films as the Coronado Twin Cinema on January 3, 1994 with “Addams Family Values” as its only feature and was used for sporadic events thereafter.
Valeria Allen and her son, James Edgar Allen, announced the Coronado Theatre project in 1940. Plans by architect O.T. Thurman of El Paso were approved in 1942. The building started and appears to have been stopped due to Wartime shortages. It finally opened on February 3, 1948 with “ Romance of Rosy Ridge.”
The Allens sold the theater in July of 1981 to Warren Theatres Circuit. The venue burned down on August 2, 1984 making its last show, “Purple Hearts” on July 31, 1984. The new-build Coronado Twin Theatre opened on March 8, 1985.
The Star Theatre opened in 1912. It became the Palace Theatre on February 22, 1930 when it was wired for sound beginning with the film, “Broadway.” It was. closed after being gutted by a June 20, 1944 fire before reopening in August.
When James Edgar Allen and his mother, Valeria, opened the Chief Drive-In along with Interstate Theatres Enterprises (ITE) on April 17, 1954, the Palace was downgraded to weekend operation showing a mix of Spanish and English language films. The Palace closed on October 5, 1957 with Romeo and Juliet. The neighboring Western Auto store expanded into the space in 1985.
James Edgar Allen and his mother, Valeria, opened the Chief along with Interstate Theatres Enterprises (ITE) on April 17, 1954.
Griffith Amusement and Morris Robertson teamed up for an August 3, 1937 grand opening as the White Sands Theater (it may have had a late July soft launch). Commonwealth Theatres closed July 11, 1985 as the Sands Theatre with “The Muppets Take Manhattan.” Three weeks later, they would then close the Sierra Theatre.
May 3, 1956 grand opening with “The Lieutenant Wore Skirts”
Commonwealth Amusement closed here with for films with “E.T.” on August 6, 1985.
The original Star Theatre was opened by Katherine Lambert and Ruby Golden in the Kepley Building on November 9, 1907. The Star faded in May of 1919. The Star Theatre was replaced at Jefferson and Banker by Hoffman & Woidt Grocery in 1919.
November 22, 1927 grand opening ad in photos. Final showing March 30, 1956 - likely the end of a 30-year leasing agreement - with “The Vanishing American” and “Headline Hunters.”
The Laskin-Seigel Circuit headed by Elmer R. Laskin upgraded the Seaside Park in the 1920s creating the Roland Court Theatre as part of the Spanish Mission retail and theatrical space, the Royal Court Building at 17th Street just off of Atlantic Avenue. Architects Rudolph, Cooke & Van Leeuwen created four retail spaces, office space and the theater opening June 1, 1926. “Court” was dropped by the venue within a year becoming the Roland Theatre which was equipped for sound to remain viable.
William Crockett took on the venue then building the Bayne Theatre in 1932. David Pender joined Crockett to form the Crockett-Pender Theatre Circuit, later Crockett & Associates. He would add the Beach Theatre in 1947 to his portfolio.
The Roland, itself, however, was undersized and scuffled during the Depression era closing twice and refurbished twice on its way to a second-run discount venue. It survived a 20-year leasing period closing in the 1940s - apparently after the August 23, 1947 screenings of “Spoilers of the North” and “Vigilantes of Boomtown. Thereafter, the venue was offered for lease. It became a live event space in 1950 for one season of the Beach Little Theatre before they left for a larger space. In 1963, that organization returned to the Roland Theatre one last time under the moniker of the Courtyard Playhouse. A shot just prior to demolition shows that the Royal Court Building looking almost identical to when it was built 80+ years earlier.
Bill Crockett & Associates launched the Beach Theatre with an invitational screening of “The Yearling” on July 1, 1947 followed by a general public “Formal Opening” the next day. Virginia Beach Mayor Warfield Leeke addressed the crowd impressed by the 1,142 seat auditorium. Architect Vernon A. Moore was trying to thread the needle between Colonial architecture and a more conventional streamline moderne approach landing somewhere in the middle. Historical murals of Old Dominion were on each wall of the post-War movie house. A definite Colonial approach was found in the heavily decorated lobby and lounge areas.
In 1954, the auditorium was equipped with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles. In the refresh, a cleaner visual style favored in that era replaced some of the original flourishes and cleaned out the lobby area. The Beach Theatre folded its umbrella reaching the end of a 35-year leasing agreement in January of 1982 as operated by final owner, Plitt Southern Theatres.
After a stint as a live theatre, the venue got big crowds as a haunted house tourist attraction. Operating from 1986 to September 2, 2007, the Haunted Fun House received some 15,000 patrons annually… until city inspectors deemed the walls of the theatre unsafe. The former auditorium and the lobby were completely gutted in favor of an indoor miniature golf attraction. The theater became virtually unrecognizable by 2008. Pictures of its past and present, along with its Grand Opening ad are in the photos section.
Closed permanently on January 30, 2025 as one of the last true multiplexes operating on a sub-run, discount dollar house policy citing end of a 20-year leasing agreement. How hard was it to get a “second run” theatrical film in 2025? They closed with Despicable Me 4 (from July 3, 2024), Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (September 2, 2024), Wild Robot (September 27, 2024), Venom: The Last Dance (October 25, 2024), and the only recent title of the lot, Kraven, the Hunter (December 13, 2024). We salute you, Picture Show at Alamonte Springs.