On October 12, 2009, the AMC Muncie 12 became national headlines after a 21-year-old National Guard soldier from Farmland, Indiana, committed suicide in one of the auditoriums during a showing of “Zombieland”, with friends and siblings sitting around him. Police reported that he shot himself in the head at approximately 20 minutes into the movie after requested his friend who hand over a 9mm handgun, which for some weird reason snuck into the theater.
This was all in connection of an epidemic that underscores the psychological damage done to soldiers charged with carrying out the brutal colonial occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the man’s behavior before the film reveals that the war’s violence was on his mind. When asked by the theater manager for identification proving the group was of age to see the movie, the man reportedly snapped at him, saying that “he shot 18 people [during the war] and you want to see my identification?”
This opened as the Bedford Theatre, and was renamed the Bridge Theatre in August 1929. It was closed on June 21, 1954 with Bob Hope in “Casanova’s Big Night” (unknown if extras added), but continued to operate as a special events theater for another several years.
The Bridge Theatre opened its doors on June 6, 1938 with Deanna Durbin in “Mad About Music” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was closed on October 11, 1959 with Danny Kaye in “The Five Pennies” and Paul Newman in “Rally Round The Flag Boys” with no extras, and the former theater was converted into a Westinghouse Laundromat afterward.
The Gulf Gate Mall Cinema I & II opened its doors by General Cinema on June 14, 1971 with “Red Sky At Morning” in Screen 1 and “Support Your Local Gunfighter” in Screen 2. It expanded to eight screens when six more screens were added during the mid-1980s and was renamed the Gulf Gate Mall Cinemas.
General Cinema operated the theater until November 21, 1991, when it was taken over by Cobb Theatres. During its final months of operation, it was briefly taken over by Regal on July 31, 1997 following Regal acquiring Cobb, before the Gulf Gate Mall Cinemas closed for the final time several months later on November 20, 1997.
Opened by Litchfield Theatres as Cinema 10 on November 8, 1990. It was later operated by Cobb Theatres in 1997, taken over by Regal and renamed the Sarasota Crossings 10 (once as Regal Sarasota Crossings 10) in 1999, and finally Sunstar in 2002.
Closed on September 15, 1979 with Henry Winkler’s “The One And Only” and Neil Simon’s “The Cheap Detective” plus a midnight showing of Alice Cooper’s “Welcome To My Nightmare”. It was demolished on December 17, 1979. A Walmart was built on the site, which opened on January 31, 1995.
The New Willmar Theatre opened its doors on September 21, 1936 with Joan Crawford in “The Gorgeous Hussy” along with an unnamed Mickey Mouse cartoon, a live 25-piece orchestral performance performed by members of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, and a ceremonial speech by manager M.H. Carey.
The Movies Twin Cinema opened its doors on November 16, 1978 with Burt Reynolds in “Smokey and the Bandit” in Screen 1 and Walt Disney’s “Hot Lead & Cold Feet” starring Jim Dale & “The Madcap Adventures of Mr. Toad” (or the retitled reissue of the Walt Disney animated feature “The Wind in the Willows” from “The Adventures of Ichabod And Mr. Toad”). It was the first movie theater to operate in LaFollette since the June 1968 closure of the Cherokee Theatre.
Premiere Cinemas operated the theater during the latter half of the 1980’s. Cinemark took over the theater in 1989, and Carmike took the theater over in 1995. Carmike closed the theater in February 2015 after the chain decided not to renew its lease.
On October 12, 2009, the AMC Muncie 12 became national headlines after a 21-year-old National Guard soldier from Farmland, Indiana, committed suicide in one of the auditoriums during a showing of “Zombieland”, with friends and siblings sitting around him. Police reported that he shot himself in the head at approximately 20 minutes into the movie after requested his friend who hand over a 9mm handgun, which for some weird reason snuck into the theater.
This was all in connection of an epidemic that underscores the psychological damage done to soldiers charged with carrying out the brutal colonial occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the man’s behavior before the film reveals that the war’s violence was on his mind. When asked by the theater manager for identification proving the group was of age to see the movie, the man reportedly snapped at him, saying that “he shot 18 people [during the war] and you want to see my identification?”
Opened on August 13, 1948 with “Angel And The Badman” (unknown if extras added).
Closed on February 26, 1989 with “Working Girl”.
This opened as the Bedford Theatre, and was renamed the Bridge Theatre in August 1929. It was closed on June 21, 1954 with Bob Hope in “Casanova’s Big Night” (unknown if extras added), but continued to operate as a special events theater for another several years.
The Bridge Theatre opened its doors on June 6, 1938 with Deanna Durbin in “Mad About Music” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was closed on October 11, 1959 with Danny Kaye in “The Five Pennies” and Paul Newman in “Rally Round The Flag Boys” with no extras, and the former theater was converted into a Westinghouse Laundromat afterward.
This opened in Spring 2000, although I cannot find the exact opening date.
Closed in mid-September 1972, last operated as an adult theater.
Renamed the Tomahawk Theatre in May 1968, and renamed the Tomahawk Cinema in May 1990.
Closed on August 22, 1985 with “Weird Science” in Screen 1 and a double feature of “Real Genius” and “My Science Project” in Screen 2.
The Gulf Gate Mall Cinema I & II opened its doors by General Cinema on June 14, 1971 with “Red Sky At Morning” in Screen 1 and “Support Your Local Gunfighter” in Screen 2. It expanded to eight screens when six more screens were added during the mid-1980s and was renamed the Gulf Gate Mall Cinemas.
General Cinema operated the theater until November 21, 1991, when it was taken over by Cobb Theatres. During its final months of operation, it was briefly taken over by Regal on July 31, 1997 following Regal acquiring Cobb, before the Gulf Gate Mall Cinemas closed for the final time several months later on November 20, 1997.
Opened by Litchfield Theatres on November 8, 1990.
Opened by Litchfield Theatres as Cinema 10 on November 8, 1990. It was later operated by Cobb Theatres in 1997, taken over by Regal and renamed the Sarasota Crossings 10 (once as Regal Sarasota Crossings 10) in 1999, and finally Sunstar in 2002.
Closed on February 3, 2001.
Closed on September 15, 1979 with Henry Winkler’s “The One And Only” and Neil Simon’s “The Cheap Detective” plus a midnight showing of Alice Cooper’s “Welcome To My Nightmare”. It was demolished on December 17, 1979. A Walmart was built on the site, which opened on January 31, 1995.
Closed on January 7, 2004.
Closed as a movie theater on April 30, 1975 with “The Godfather Part II”, last operated by Plitt Theatres.
The New Willmar Theatre opened its doors on September 21, 1936 with Joan Crawford in “The Gorgeous Hussy” along with an unnamed Mickey Mouse cartoon, a live 25-piece orchestral performance performed by members of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, and a ceremonial speech by manager M.H. Carey.
The Nephew Theatre opened its doors as a 290-seat single-screener in late-April 1988 with “The Last Emperor”. It was twinned in late-May 1993.
The capacity looks a LOT larger than just 120 cars.
Opened on August 26, 1929 with George Brancroft in “Thunderbolt” along with an unnamed Our Gang comedy. It was still open in the mid-1980s.
The Movies Twin Cinema opened its doors on November 16, 1978 with Burt Reynolds in “Smokey and the Bandit” in Screen 1 and Walt Disney’s “Hot Lead & Cold Feet” starring Jim Dale & “The Madcap Adventures of Mr. Toad” (or the retitled reissue of the Walt Disney animated feature “The Wind in the Willows” from “The Adventures of Ichabod And Mr. Toad”). It was the first movie theater to operate in LaFollette since the June 1968 closure of the Cherokee Theatre.
Premiere Cinemas operated the theater during the latter half of the 1980’s. Cinemark took over the theater in 1989, and Carmike took the theater over in 1995. Carmike closed the theater in February 2015 after the chain decided not to renew its lease.
Opened in August 1949.
Opened with “Jaws” in Screen Green and “Don’t Open The Window” in Screen Gold. The actual closing date is January 7, 1996.
Opened on July 30, 1993.
Closed in late-January 1981.