Comments from dallasmovietheaters

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about MacArthur Park 4-Cinema on Oct 30, 2021 at 5:22 am

Ferris Shanbour of Oklahoma Cinema Theatres Inc. opened the MacArthur Park Cinema 4 on December 29, 1971. It was Oklahoma’s first quad-plex and it seated 1,400 patrons in its 4 identical 350-seat auditoriums. The neighboring Dino’s Steakhouse offered free movie tickets with dinner purchases. Shanbour would launch the new-build North Park Cinema 4 Indoor Theatres on March 15, 1972.

In 1976, Heritage Theatres took on the MacArthur Park Cinema. The MacArthur Park 4 Cinema closed with two first run films (“Joe v. the Volcano” and “Love at Large”) and two dollar films (“Look Who’s Talking” and “The Little Mermaid”) on April 22, 1990.

MI Theatres reopened the venue briefly as an ultra-discount house in April 1992 but found few patrons closing up five months later onSeptember 30, 1992. Two of the screens were combined into a dance club with the venue reopening May 21, 1993 as a $1.50 discount house under its final name as a movie theatre of the MacArthur Park Twin Cinema and Dance Club. That proved to be short-lived as the cinema part of the MacArthur Park Twin Cinema and Dance Club closed on June 10, 1993. It appears as if the other two theatres were made into a night club.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about AMC Classic North Park 7 on Oct 29, 2021 at 7:14 pm

Ferris Shanbour of Oklahoma Cinema Theatres Inc. opened the North Park Cinema 4 Indoor Theatres on March 15, 1972 in the new-build North Park Mall. The NPC4IT opened with “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Carnal Knowledge,“The Boy Friend,” and “A Man for all Seasons.” The sister cinema was the MacArthur Park Cinema 4 which would had opened in December of 1971.

On June 5, 1981, Commonwealth Theatres took on the Oklahoma Cinema Theatres' four locations including the North Park 4. In October of 1986, Cannon Group’s Commonwealth Theatres were bought out by the United Artists Theatre Circuit and the theatre officially became the UA North Park 4 in 1989. UA dropped the theatre on September 29, 1991 likely at the end of a 20-year leasing agreement.

Like many malls, the 20-year mark was an exodus of original retailers fleeing after leasing contracts ended. Precor Group decided to run the mall theater itself and repositioning it as a $2 venue beginning on October 25, 1991 with “Citizen Kane” as one of the features and its policy of one art title. It became the not-so-imaginatively titled Northpark Mall Theatres 4 - though the space was removed. (The venue would eventually becaome Shoppes at Northpark officially ending the North Park v. Northpark conundrum.)

As part of a mall refresh, Precor decided to increase screen count to seven screens in 1993 relaunching as the Northpark 7. MI Theatres then took on the location in 1995 as an ultra-discount house. Silver Cinemas was next to take on the Northpark 7 in 1997 and closed it May 1, 2000 when it shut down 17 locations. It then found a new operator in Starplex Cinemas.

AMC acquired the location on July 14, 2015 when it purchased Starplex Cinemas. It may have had a brief period as the AMC Northpark 7 but was rebranded soon thereafter as the AMC Classic Northpark 7 running as a sub-run discount house. It closed in August of 2019.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about AMC Robinson Crossing 6 on Oct 29, 2021 at 4:42 am

Construction of the AMC Towne West 6 began in November of 1985. The 2,000-seat theatre was located in the Towne West Village Shopping Center launched in July of 1986. The shopping center’s name was changed to the Robinson Crossing Shopping Center in 1988 prompting AMC to rename the venue as AMC Robinson Crossing 6.

The six-plex was pressured by the Hollywood Spotlight 14 which launched in 1998. AMC closed up the AMC Robinson Crossing 6 on January 20. 2000. InterState Theatres of Dallas reopened the venue July 26, 2002 as a sub-run discount house offering 50 cent Tuesday shows and $1 to $1.50 pricing for films along with $1 hot dogs. The theatre sat 1,250 people. On December 7, 2007, InterState was taken on by Starplex Cinemas which ran the Robinson Crossing 6 through July 2013. Though unrelated, the 14-plex became Regal’s property in 2013 when the circuit bought out Hollywood Theatres.

Evans Theatres Co. took on the moribund six-plex following more than two years of vacancy. Evans moved equipment from their Crossroads 8 and using crowdsourcing site, IndieGoGo, to rekindle the Robinson Crossing 6 at its reopeing on December 18, 2015. Oddly enough, AMC would take back the property reducing seat count drastically with recliners and converting it to first-run status. Its reopening took place on October 2, 2019 under its second moniker of the AMC Robinson Crossing 6. It featured a MacGuffins Bar and other upscale amenities.

Like many theatres, the AMC Robinson Crossing 6 closed for the COVID-19 pandemic on March 16, 2020. It reopened September 3, 2020.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Capri Drive-In on Oct 29, 2021 at 2:44 am

The Capri closed for the season on September 4, 1980 with Jamie Lee Curtis in “Prom Night” and Richard Crenna in “Death Ship.” It did not reopen.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Movies 4 on Oct 29, 2021 at 2:25 am

The theatre closed December 23, 1999 as an independent by the operator of the Park Plaza Cinema with “Superstar,” “Deep Blue Sea,” “Inspector Gadget,” “Light It Up” and “The Fight Club.”

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Arlington Park Square 8 on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:15 pm

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Lincoln Plaza Cinema on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:12 pm

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about AMC Gateway 8 on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:11 pm

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Hairston Village Cinema on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:11 pm

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Regency Exchange Cinema on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:11 pm

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Midway Mall Cinema 8 on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:09 pm

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Northwoods Stadium Cinemas on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:08 pm

Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group in Mobile, Alabama or TAG

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Sheridan Plaza 12 on Oct 28, 2021 at 3:02 pm

The AMC Sheridan 7 opened with 2,000 seats on December 12, 1980. Architectural sketches were by The Architectural Group (or TAG) in Mobile, Alabama. The theatre was re-imagined as the AMC Sheridan Plaza 12 with a soft launch reopening on November 10, 1992. The theatre closed 15 years later at the exit point of a leasing agreement on October 25, 2007 with one of the last films screened as “Gone, Baby, Gone.” The theater was demolished in favor of a Kohl’s retail store.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Crossroads Movies 8 on Oct 28, 2021 at 12:38 pm

General Cinemas launched its General Cinema Crossroads 8 as an outparcel building on the Southeast section of the expansive Crossroads Mall which had opened theatre-less in 1974. The project was announced in March of 1987 with the plans by The Architects Group of Mobile Alabama or TAG. Those plans were based off of the prototype General Cinema Town East 5 in Dallas and the 8-plex version could be found all over the country where General Cinemas began adding 8-plexes in the late 1980s.

The theatre opened with 2,500 seats on August 4, 1988 with “A Fish Called Wanda,” “Batteries Not Included.” “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Dirty Dancing,” and “An American Tail.” The theatre boasted of a million dollars in concession sales over an undisclosed period. But by the late 1990s, the multiplex world was ending and was being replaced by megaplexes.

Regal Cinemas announced its first stadium-seating 16-screen megaplex in 1997 to be located at the Crossroads Mall. GCC bailed on the Crossroads 8 as groundbreaking began for that project on August 14, 1997. It became the Hollywood Theatres' Crossroads 8 on August 15, 1997. Regal’s delayed Crossroads 16 finally launched on February 26, 1999 and the Crossroads 8 business dropped 70%. Hollywood closed down the multiplex on June 7, 2001 and everyone knew that the theatre would not make it even close to the end of its 30-year lease.

Or would it? The theatre staged on unlikely comeback when Dallas-based InterState Theatres repositioned it as a sub-run dollar house that became a hit with local moviegoers. It relaunched as Crossroads Movies 8 on March 15, 2002 with “Jimmy Neutron,” “Ocean’s 11,” and “Behind Enemy Lines.” It was two-year old InterState’s second location attempt after it had closed the discount Northpark Mall cinema.

Starplex Cinemas took on the InterState locations in 2007 with the venue becoming Starplex Cinemas Crossroads Movies 8. The Crossroads Mall went into free-fall collapse reaching greyfield status as it struggled to find new retailers after original 30-year leases holders sprinted away from the property. Outparcel retailers also began to bail and the area looked haggered.

In 2013, the mall was reconceptualized as Plaza Mayor at the Crossroads - a fitting name - as the Mall was at its own crossroad. There was too much square footage inside to keep the mall vibrant or, to some, safe. Best Buy closed as an outparcel location, Starplex closed up the 8-screen location. With discount movie theater moving closer to extinction, one might have thought that was it especially with AMC running the 16-screen Crossroads theater nearby. But the Crossroads Movies 8 soldiered on as a discount house renting digital equipment showing DCP versions of second-run features to remain marginally viable all the way to a September 25, 2015 closing. That was just two years shy of the theatre’s 30th anniversary and lease’s end. Josh and Marty Evans then took the rented equipment from the Crossroads to the Robinson Crossing 6.

The Mall was demolished after years of sitting virtually vacant in 2021 and the Crossroads Movies 8 sat graffiti-covered and bashed-in after years of vacancy awaiting the wrecking ball. It was a fate that took out a number other outparcel buidlings in 2021. But somehow the building was saved and remodeled no longer resembling the 8-screen theatre and looking pretty vibrant.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Dude Ranch Drive-In on Oct 27, 2021 at 2:43 am

Phil March opened the Dude Ranch Drive-In Theatre likely on a 30-year lease on June 5, 1952 with Rory Calhoun in “Rogue River.” The screen was 37' by 54' with a 205' throw from the projection booth with the ozoner accommodating up to 300 cars. March also operated the hard top Gay Theatre in downtown.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Pender Theatre on Oct 24, 2021 at 1:29 pm

The Thelma Theatre launched in downtown Pender at 322 Main Street in 1914 co-existing with the Covered Dome (aka Tent) Theatre which operated in the warm summer months. The Thelma had fans at launched but installed an air conditioning system in 1921 which would effectively end the summer tent shows. The theatre was remodeled by operator Mrs. M.C. Freed in late 1929 including a sound system bringing talking pictures to town.

On February 13, 1931, the Thelma was renamed under new operator Buzz Thacker as the Pender Theatre. The Thackers sold the venue in October of 1940 to Arnold Meierdierks. He immediately had plans drawn for a new theatre. Technically, the final show at Thelma turned Pender was on October 5, 1940 with Bob Burns in “In Old Missouri.” The theatre was razed days later.

The equipment was then moved to the Opera House renamed temporarily as the Pender Theatre which operated until June 22, 1941 ending its run with Betty Grable and Don Ameche in “Down Argentine Way.” The new Pix Theatre opened on June 27, 1941 on the former spot of the Thelma.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Pix Theatre on Oct 24, 2021 at 12:54 pm

The Pix Theatre closed after 23 years of continuous operation on August 2, 1964 with “The Wonderful World gf the Brothers Grimm.” However, there were more events and even some sporadic special events at the venue after that time until its conversion to retail.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about California Theatre on Oct 22, 2021 at 3:34 am

The California Theatre closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 21, 2021, Landmark Theatre Circuit announced the closure would be permanent making the March 16, 2020 date as its final date of operation by the circuit.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Lyric Theater on Oct 22, 2021 at 3:20 am

Will Batterson and H.P. Soule opened the Lyric Theatre as a movie house on June 30, 1908. It closed just shy of its 60th Anniversary in December of 1967

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dallasmovietheaters commented about Village Theatre on Oct 19, 2021 at 3:30 am

The Village Theatre closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The operators believed that they would reopen and move “Onward” harkening the venue’s final new film bookings entitled, “Onward” and “I Still Believe.” At the 10th year of the lease came and went along with the village’s 85th Anniversary, the theater’s phone was disconnected and the venue did not show any signs of reopening.

No posts had been placed in social media since the March 2020 closure leading movie lovers to say, “I No Longer Believe…” that the lightly-attended yet venerable movie location was reopening. The Village Theatre clientele was forced to move onward for their moviegoing.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Maine Mall Cinema 7 on Oct 18, 2021 at 2:42 pm

The lot doesn’t sit vacant - it became a car dealership.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Maine Mall Cinema 7 on Oct 18, 2021 at 4:07 am

General Cinema built the General Cinema Maine Mall I, II, III in 1975. In 1984, the circuit expanded the venue becoming the General Cinema Maine Mall I-VII. The theater’s arcade was apparently a big hit in the 1980s and 1990s.

In March of 2002, AMC Theatres officially took on the General Cinema locations. AMC closed its AMC Maine Mall Cinema 7 on November 3, 2002 after 27 years. It was subleased to the Eastpointe Christian Church in the Spring of 2004 which appears to have finished out the final three years on the leasing period. The church moved on and the theatre was demolished in 2007. CarMax later built a car dealership on the former cinema site.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Apple Cinemas Westbrook on Oct 18, 2021 at 1:48 am

In 2006, the Westbrook became Zyacorp Entertainment’s Cinemagic Theaters fourth location. In 2007, the theater switched to all-digital projection. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium Theaters locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Westbrook location.

Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Apple Cinemas Saco IMAX on Oct 18, 2021 at 1:45 am

Zyacorp Entertainment opened its 12-screen Cinemagic Saco in 2001. It added Maine’s first IMAX Theatre in a refresh in May of 2009 when it expanded. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Saco location.

Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021. Also, the link on the 2014 comment is no longer valid.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters commented about Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Las Colinas on Oct 13, 2021 at 11:54 am

The Alamo Drafthouse closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened for three weeks in late August and into September of 2020. It then closed for another year reopening in October of 2021.