The Friendly Drive-In Theatre opened on June 22, 1950 with “Red Canyon.” It went widescreen in 1957 and did not advertise after that season. The lot is auctioned in 1970 likely at the end of its 20-year lease and is sold for other purposes.
L.L. Theimer’s South Drive-In Theaters Inc. opened its 23d location with the 220 Drive-In Theatre in 1968. It launched August 30, 1968 with Clint Eastwood in “Hang ‘em High” supported by three cartoons.
But the fame and legacy of the 220 Drive-In occurred when the drive-in hosted The Allman Brothers live during their third Rock Festival of the 1970 season on August 9, 1970. The last ad for the 220 was a November 27, 1977 double feature with Roger Corman’s “Moonshine County Express” and “Hustler Squad.” However, the ozoner likely opened for part of the 1978 season closing at the end of its 20-year lease.
The Roxy was getting ready to open for Frances W. Carper and, in 1930, just prior to the Roxy Theater opening, he was sued. It seems that Carper sold the silent Midway Theater in town to the Martinsville Theatre Corporation signing a non-compete clause. But then he created a sound movie theater asking his dad and wife to operate it. Martinsville Corp. said that he was still competing against their National and Midway theaters. The Roxy still opened on schedule in 1930.
The Roxy was converted to widescreen in the 1950s to present CinemaScope films. On September 9, 1963, the Roxy closed permanently with a double feature of Tony Curtis in “40 Pounds of Trouble” and Edward Judd in “Mystery Submarine.” Within 24 hours, the marquee was dismantled and soon after the building was converted by Frith Construction for other retail purposes.
This venue opened as the Metropolitan Airport Theater by Lawrence and Stella Micelli. The MAT opened on May 20, 1949 with Lucille Ball in “Personal Column” supported by “That Old Gang of Mine” with the East Side Kids. It was located less than two miles from Palmer Metropolitan Airport.
The theater’s name was changed three times. In 1951, it became the Metropolitan Airport Drive-In. “Airport” was dropped making it the Metropolitan Drive-In Theatre for the 1953 through early 1956 operational cycle. On July 25, 1956, it had a new widescreen tower to project CinemaScope titles staring with “Picnic” and was truncated to the Metro Drive-In. The Micelli family operated the Metro D-I to its 1986 closure. It final double-bill was on September 7, 1986 with “Maximum Overdrive” and “Friday the 13th, Part VI.”
May 7, 1969 grand opening with “The Wrecking Crew” and “The Big Gun Down” on the North Screen and “Swiss Family Robinson” and “Kimberly Jim” on the South Screen.
Franchisee Two is One, One is None, LLC closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day. The parent company said it was trying to identify new operators as soon as possible.
Alamo Drafthouse closed all of its locations for COVID-19 on March 16, 2020. The Cedars reopened briefly on August 24, 2020 before closing again following the October 6, 2020 showings. It then reopened almost one year later on September 3, 2021.
Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
The Alamo Drafthouse Denton resumed operations on September 10, 2021 after an extended COVID-19 pandemic hiatus. The theatre had closed along with the rest of the locations on March 16, 2020. It briefly reopened in August of 2020 before closing for a year during the pandemic.
The venue reopened in October of 2021. Unfortunately, Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
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. Unfortunately, Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
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. Unfortunately, Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
Two is One, One is None, LLC has closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
The Angelika Plano became the second location for Reading International / Angelika. The swank arthouse opened June 23, 2004. The Angelika Film Center & Café - Plano closed along with the other locations on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened November 13, 2020 only to close again for COVID-19 on January 6, 2021. The Angelika Dallas continued on a weekend operation. The Angelika Plano then reopened for business on April 9, 2021. Unfortunately, the venue closed permanently on June 3, 2024 at the end of its 20-year lease.
The Ritz Theater closed in 1968 and the operators were evicted along with virtually all of the Black-owned businesses on stretches of Jefferson Street in 1968 as the government strategically put Interstate 40 right down the middle of the African American neighborhood to disperse the community and create the new highway. Opportunities were made for the folks in the 1700 block to move to the 1900 or 2000 block of Jefferson and for the folks in the 2600 block to move to the 2800 block. Protests occurred because in many instances, there was no property available for such moves while the government said the businesses could move their possessions or the demolition crews would it do it for them.
The Ritz Theatre at 1714 Jefferson was most definitely bulldozed for the project with Interstate 40 about 250 feet away. The incorrect report of the Ritz remaining as a “recognizable landmark” above is because folks didn’t understand that - unlike many businesses and residents who couldn’t find new homes - the Ritz did move to a nondescript building at 2019 Jefferson, just three blocks away and across the street. The Ritz Cinema has its own page. The notion that the New Ritz was closed after the stabbing is also factually incorrect. Though a fatal stabbing did take place there in 1972, the theatre continued operations into 1975.
The new-build Meres Building was announced in 1913 and was designed by architects Bonfoey and Elliott for sponge dealer Ernest Meres. Contractors Parrish and Goin built the multipurpose building. The Meres Block was home to multiple businesses including the Saclarides Brothers' Royal Theatre that launched there in 1914. That location was supposedly home to the town’s first ever electric sign that could be seen “for a long distance.” The Royal opened April 27, 1914 with “The Last Days of Pompeii.” The venue was equipped with sound to remain commercially viable.
On May 14, 1950, operator E.L. Hull announced the theatre would close for the summer with “Satan’s Cradle” with Duncan Renaldo. That closure turned out to be permanent. The theater’s space was repurposed for other commercial ventures. The building was still around in the 2020s.
Otto Haas opens his Ottoway Theatre, a “pantomime theatre,” on April 17, 1911 with a Florence Lawrence film. The last film appeared in November of 1928 and the venue was listed for sale “cheap” in early 1929.
The Savoy Theatre launched November 12, 1934 with “Lost Patrol.” It was part of the vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood which was home to African American owned business and Black-owned housing. The theatre closed during the War years. It was reopened after a streamline moderne refresh under the plans of architect Louis F. Asbury in 1945. The Bijou Amusement Circuit of Nashville operated both the Savoy and the Lincoln. Asbury also designed the Lincoln’s refresh in 1940. Bijou took on the venue to the end of a 30-year leasing agreement.
As was the case in many cities with African American business districts, the City of Charlotte found a road project to drive through the heart of the neighborhood to uproot black-owned Charlotte businesses and residences. In this case, the project would be what is now Interstate 277, part of a strategy that led to 216 African-American business and many more residential structures being demolished in the 1960s. The modern-day Meridien Hotel is across the street from where the Savoy once stood and is is about one block from on-ramps to Interstate 277.
The Rex Theatre was an African American cinema that opened in the 1920s during the silent era of film. The Rex turned Lincoln was part of a vibrant Black-owned business district called Brooklyn. The Rex made the papers when Mayor F. Marion Redd ordered the exploitation film, “Is Your Daughter Safe?” removed from the sold out theater just 150 feet into the show on December 12, 1928. In June of 1930, the Rex installed sound to remain viable. Bijou Amusement Circuit of Nashville took on the venue operating as the Lincoln Theatre.
In April of 1940, it was given a streamline moderne refresh and was enlarged under the plans of architect Louis F. Asbury. Bijou took on the Savoy Theatre in which Asbury also designed the update in 1945. A 1960 “popcorn poll” correctly picked Kennedy/Johnson defeating Nixon/Lodge. Bijou Amusements closed the Lincoln in 1961 and the Savoy two years later.
As was the case in many cities with African American business districts, the City of Charlotte found a road project to drive through the heart of the neighborhood to uproot black-owned Charlotte businesses and residences. In this case, the project would be what is now Interstate 277, part of a strategy that led to 216 African-American business and many more residential structures being demolished in the 1960s. Just looking at a map, it appears that the Lincoln Theatre’s spot is now ostensibly part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is just 1.5 blocks from the on-ramp to Interstate 277.
The Castle Drive-In opened July 11, 1952 with “Sound Off” - ad in photos.
The Rives Theatre opened in 1935.
The Friendly Drive-In Theatre opened on June 22, 1950 with “Red Canyon.” It went widescreen in 1957 and did not advertise after that season. The lot is auctioned in 1970 likely at the end of its 20-year lease and is sold for other purposes.
L.L. Theimer’s South Drive-In Theaters Inc. opened its 23d location with the 220 Drive-In Theatre in 1968. It launched August 30, 1968 with Clint Eastwood in “Hang ‘em High” supported by three cartoons.
But the fame and legacy of the 220 Drive-In occurred when the drive-in hosted The Allman Brothers live during their third Rock Festival of the 1970 season on August 9, 1970. The last ad for the 220 was a November 27, 1977 double feature with Roger Corman’s “Moonshine County Express” and “Hustler Squad.” However, the ozoner likely opened for part of the 1978 season closing at the end of its 20-year lease.
August 9, 1970.
The Roxy was getting ready to open for Frances W. Carper and, in 1930, just prior to the Roxy Theater opening, he was sued. It seems that Carper sold the silent Midway Theater in town to the Martinsville Theatre Corporation signing a non-compete clause. But then he created a sound movie theater asking his dad and wife to operate it. Martinsville Corp. said that he was still competing against their National and Midway theaters. The Roxy still opened on schedule in 1930.
The Roxy was converted to widescreen in the 1950s to present CinemaScope films. On September 9, 1963, the Roxy closed permanently with a double feature of Tony Curtis in “40 Pounds of Trouble” and Edward Judd in “Mystery Submarine.” Within 24 hours, the marquee was dismantled and soon after the building was converted by Frith Construction for other retail purposes.
This venue opened as the Metropolitan Airport Theater by Lawrence and Stella Micelli. The MAT opened on May 20, 1949 with Lucille Ball in “Personal Column” supported by “That Old Gang of Mine” with the East Side Kids. It was located less than two miles from Palmer Metropolitan Airport.
The theater’s name was changed three times. In 1951, it became the Metropolitan Airport Drive-In. “Airport” was dropped making it the Metropolitan Drive-In Theatre for the 1953 through early 1956 operational cycle. On July 25, 1956, it had a new widescreen tower to project CinemaScope titles staring with “Picnic” and was truncated to the Metro Drive-In. The Micelli family operated the Metro D-I to its 1986 closure. It final double-bill was on September 7, 1986 with “Maximum Overdrive” and “Friday the 13th, Part VI.”
The Roxy replaced the silent Lincoln Theatre on September 6, 1930 with a grand opening film was Dolores Del Rio in “The Bad One.
HKS Architects is handling the 2024/5 redesign - some concept drawings are in photos.
May 25, 1949 grand opening ad in photos.
May 7, 1969 grand opening with “The Wrecking Crew” and “The Big Gun Down” on the North Screen and “Swiss Family Robinson” and “Kimberly Jim” on the South Screen.
Sorry - Theatre Center of Mississippi.
Franchisee Two is One, One is None, LLC closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day. The parent company said it was trying to identify new operators as soon as possible.
Alamo Drafthouse closed all of its locations for COVID-19 on March 16, 2020. The Cedars reopened briefly on August 24, 2020 before closing again following the October 6, 2020 showings. It then reopened almost one year later on September 3, 2021.
Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
The Alamo Drafthouse Denton resumed operations on September 10, 2021 after an extended COVID-19 pandemic hiatus. The theatre had closed along with the rest of the locations on March 16, 2020. It briefly reopened in August of 2020 before closing for a year during the pandemic.
The venue reopened in October of 2021. Unfortunately, Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
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. Unfortunately, Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
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. Unfortunately, Two is One, One is None, LLC then closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
Two is One, One is None, LLC has closed all six franchised Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas that it (and its affiliates) operated, and have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy. June 5, 2024 was this location’s last day.
The Angelika Plano became the second location for Reading International / Angelika. The swank arthouse opened June 23, 2004. The Angelika Film Center & Café - Plano closed along with the other locations on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened November 13, 2020 only to close again for COVID-19 on January 6, 2021. The Angelika Dallas continued on a weekend operation. The Angelika Plano then reopened for business on April 9, 2021. Unfortunately, the venue closed permanently on June 3, 2024 at the end of its 20-year lease.
The Ritz Theater closed in 1968 and the operators were evicted along with virtually all of the Black-owned businesses on stretches of Jefferson Street in 1968 as the government strategically put Interstate 40 right down the middle of the African American neighborhood to disperse the community and create the new highway. Opportunities were made for the folks in the 1700 block to move to the 1900 or 2000 block of Jefferson and for the folks in the 2600 block to move to the 2800 block. Protests occurred because in many instances, there was no property available for such moves while the government said the businesses could move their possessions or the demolition crews would it do it for them.
The Ritz Theatre at 1714 Jefferson was most definitely bulldozed for the project with Interstate 40 about 250 feet away. The incorrect report of the Ritz remaining as a “recognizable landmark” above is because folks didn’t understand that - unlike many businesses and residents who couldn’t find new homes - the Ritz did move to a nondescript building at 2019 Jefferson, just three blocks away and across the street. The Ritz Cinema has its own page. The notion that the New Ritz was closed after the stabbing is also factually incorrect. Though a fatal stabbing did take place there in 1972, the theatre continued operations into 1975.
The new-build Meres Building was announced in 1913 and was designed by architects Bonfoey and Elliott for sponge dealer Ernest Meres. Contractors Parrish and Goin built the multipurpose building. The Meres Block was home to multiple businesses including the Saclarides Brothers' Royal Theatre that launched there in 1914. That location was supposedly home to the town’s first ever electric sign that could be seen “for a long distance.” The Royal opened April 27, 1914 with “The Last Days of Pompeii.” The venue was equipped with sound to remain commercially viable.
On May 14, 1950, operator E.L. Hull announced the theatre would close for the summer with “Satan’s Cradle” with Duncan Renaldo. That closure turned out to be permanent. The theater’s space was repurposed for other commercial ventures. The building was still around in the 2020s.
Otto Haas opens his Ottoway Theatre, a “pantomime theatre,” on April 17, 1911 with a Florence Lawrence film. The last film appeared in November of 1928 and the venue was listed for sale “cheap” in early 1929.
The Savoy Theatre launched November 12, 1934 with “Lost Patrol.” It was part of the vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood which was home to African American owned business and Black-owned housing. The theatre closed during the War years. It was reopened after a streamline moderne refresh under the plans of architect Louis F. Asbury in 1945. The Bijou Amusement Circuit of Nashville operated both the Savoy and the Lincoln. Asbury also designed the Lincoln’s refresh in 1940. Bijou took on the venue to the end of a 30-year leasing agreement.
As was the case in many cities with African American business districts, the City of Charlotte found a road project to drive through the heart of the neighborhood to uproot black-owned Charlotte businesses and residences. In this case, the project would be what is now Interstate 277, part of a strategy that led to 216 African-American business and many more residential structures being demolished in the 1960s. The modern-day Meridien Hotel is across the street from where the Savoy once stood and is is about one block from on-ramps to Interstate 277.
The Rex Theatre was an African American cinema that opened in the 1920s during the silent era of film. The Rex turned Lincoln was part of a vibrant Black-owned business district called Brooklyn. The Rex made the papers when Mayor F. Marion Redd ordered the exploitation film, “Is Your Daughter Safe?” removed from the sold out theater just 150 feet into the show on December 12, 1928. In June of 1930, the Rex installed sound to remain viable. Bijou Amusement Circuit of Nashville took on the venue operating as the Lincoln Theatre.
In April of 1940, it was given a streamline moderne refresh and was enlarged under the plans of architect Louis F. Asbury. Bijou took on the Savoy Theatre in which Asbury also designed the update in 1945. A 1960 “popcorn poll” correctly picked Kennedy/Johnson defeating Nixon/Lodge. Bijou Amusements closed the Lincoln in 1961 and the Savoy two years later.
As was the case in many cities with African American business districts, the City of Charlotte found a road project to drive through the heart of the neighborhood to uproot black-owned Charlotte businesses and residences. In this case, the project would be what is now Interstate 277, part of a strategy that led to 216 African-American business and many more residential structures being demolished in the 1960s. Just looking at a map, it appears that the Lincoln Theatre’s spot is now ostensibly part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is just 1.5 blocks from the on-ramp to Interstate 277.
(Minor note: This is an ad for Charlotte’s Albemarle Road Drive-In Theatre on its opening night in 1949)