The Park Triple Theatre is also the first movie theater in Florida to have the installations of THX on May 25, 1983, just on time for its 70mm presentation of “Return Of The Jedi”.
The Dale I & II opened on December 27, 1974 with “Journey Back To Oz” at Screen 1 and “That’s Entertainment” at Screen 2.
Cineplex Odeon operated the theater for a time, but it became a $1 second-run discount house in June 1988. Cineplex Odeon managed to continue operating the theater. However, Regal Cinemas did operate the Dale I & II for a time but didn’t last long, lasting from October 24, 1997 until closing for the final time on July 31, 1998. It was lastly known as “Regal Dale City 2”.
During its days as a 10-screen theater, all ten screens featured stereo sound (with two screens featuring 70mm projection), and has an original total capacity of 2,500 seats (with an estimate 400 seats in each auditorium).
Opened on May 17, 1985 and closed in February 2002. First operated by Circle/Showcase, later Cineplex Odeon, and finally Loews Cineplex for a short time.
On May 27, 1974, eighteen people (10 adults and 8 juveniles) were taken into custody after police say they threw rocks and beer bottles at officers, injuring six people including three officers at the Woodbridge Sunset Drive-In during a special holiday showing of Elvis’s “The Last Tickle”. During the incident, an officer’s K9 accidentally leaped at a wrong male as the chief was lunged at a youth trying to attack an officer from behind.
Julius C. Ferlazzo, the owner of the Woodbridge Sunset Drive-In at the time, complained about the incident disrupting the film. With quick thinking, he canceled the rest of the Elvis movie by immediately turning off the 35mm projector, and asked all youths to leave the theater immediately. Police later reported that a second call from security guard who reported the fights and asked for medical attention for an unconscious youth. EMS arrived on-scene without injury. However, two police units were able to responded but were pelted by rocks and bottles right at the time they entered the theater. Both officers left the scene immediately, and requested help. SWAT moved in with 20 riot-equipped officers when rock and bottles continued to barrage. They said that eight to 10 canisters of tear gas were used to dispel the crowd.
Police said after the riots ended and the youth leaving the theater, they recovered hundreds of beer cans, several bags of marijuana, and two blackjacks.
One of the three drive-ins in Metairie became statewide headlines on May 9, 1959 following an unexpected death of a 16-year-old boy from asphyxiated carbon monoxide at the site of the drive-in while dating his 15-year-old girlfriend at the time (who was unconscious after being knocked out for several hours by fumes).
Does anybody know any information about the Nancy Cinema off of Tift College Drive near Interstate 75 that started life as a single-screener in the 1970s? I recently read a handful of showtime articles, but I cannot find as much information about the theater itself.
Despite the screen located 2,000ft away from the road, it can be seen on two roads, including U.S. Highway 41. Carlos Merritt, the city of Perry’s council, said the city’s building code specifically says that the screen cannot be vision from major streets closer to 2,000ft. They totally complain about the growing concerns over adult films as it what it did at the M and T Drive-In in Warner Robins for a short time. Surprisingly, it didn’t show too much of it although it did show a selection of R-Rated films at times (including ones with racist titles).
A few years later, a twin-screen theater was built at the nearly-now-defunct Eastgate Plaza Shopping Center which will have its own Cinema Treasures page soon. I totally don’t know anything on its history about the twin at Eastgate, but any additional information about it will be greatly appreciated.
Here’s a little wise fact: This theater when it first planned in June 2003 originally announced a possible early-2004 opening as an eight-screener. However, it was unclear if that ever happened.
I accidentally added a duplicate page on accident, I hope they can fix it soon.
Anyway, the Fairmont Theatre reopened last year under the name “Fairmount 5 Theatres” as I recently looked on its website. It is now operated by RT Entertainment and its current functions are first-run, independent, and foreign features. They used to screen only first-run features until the COVID-19 pandemic came to a two-year closure.
The Fair Lakes Cinema 5 was built on the site of the former Family Drive-In which operated from around 1949 until the late-1980s, and it also replaced the “Fair Mall Cinema” a mile away which closed at the same time the Fair Lakes Cinema 5 opened its doors (both theaters will have their own Cinema Treasures pages soon).
Fun Fact: The popular intermission film shown here was called Filmack’s “10 (or 5) Minute Variety Show” reel (1959; Stock #2600) according to Filmack’s website.
The Perry Cinemas 3 opened its doors on December 21, 1979 with “Prize Fighter” at Screen 1, “Halloween” at Screen 2, and “Arabian Adventure” at Screen 3. It was first operated by the Florida West Amusement Company. The triplex originally had a capacity of 660 seats, but was downgraded to 393 by the end of its operation. It was first managed by Aubrey Jones.
By 1985, it was renamed Perry Triple Cinema and at the time it was operated by Floyd Theatres. It would later become known as the “Perry Theatre” and finally the “Perry 3”, and during those two names it was independently-operated.
It is the first indoor movie theater in Perry to operate since a large indoor fire destroyed the Temple Theatre on May 19, 1976, leaving the Graves Drive-In the only movie theater in Perry for a time (which still operates into the 1980s later on, and at the time, the Graves was operated by Mary Brannen).
According to its article about the May 19, 1976 blaze that destroyed the Temple Theatre, a smaller fire causing a reconstruction occur in 1949, not 1945.
The Lyon Theatre became the Rapids Theatre on Christmas Day 1936 right after a short remodel, reopening with Eleanor Powell in “Born To Dance” along with a Fox Movietone Newsreel and a few Paramount short subjects.
Some of its original installations include original walls which were lined with celotex, and over half-a-mile of the material comes with 12-in perforated blocks. The original 1936-installed walls, ceiling, and lobby have mixture schemes of royal blue and gold, brown, pink, yellow, and green. What’s unique about the original lobby of the Rapids Theatre is that one of the centers of attraction in addition to the fine display boards have original installations of “magic eye” drinking fountains, and what’s unique is that neither a button, pedal, or handles were presented in its system. In order to drink it, you bent your head and the water comes out as it was messaged by an electric beam to the automatic controls.
After closure in 1982, the Rapids Theatre sat abandoned until December 1985 when it went for renovation. It officially became a restaurant a short time later.
This drive-in is the oldest drive-in theater in Eastern Ohio, opening on May 2, 1941 with Penny Singleton in “Blondie Has Servant Trouble” along with a few short subjects.
It first opened as simply “Drive-In Theatre”. It was later renamed the LaVerne Drive-In in 1947, and finally the Howland Drive-In in 1950.
The Park Triple Theatre is also the first movie theater in Florida to have the installations of THX on May 25, 1983, just on time for its 70mm presentation of “Return Of The Jedi”.
The Dale I & II opened on December 27, 1974 with “Journey Back To Oz” at Screen 1 and “That’s Entertainment” at Screen 2.
Cineplex Odeon operated the theater for a time, but it became a $1 second-run discount house in June 1988. Cineplex Odeon managed to continue operating the theater. However, Regal Cinemas did operate the Dale I & II for a time but didn’t last long, lasting from October 24, 1997 until closing for the final time on July 31, 1998. It was lastly known as “Regal Dale City 2”.
Actual opening date is June 27, 1986.
During its days as a 10-screen theater, all ten screens featured stereo sound (with two screens featuring 70mm projection), and has an original total capacity of 2,500 seats (with an estimate 400 seats in each auditorium).
Opened on May 17, 1985 and closed in February 2002. First operated by Circle/Showcase, later Cineplex Odeon, and finally Loews Cineplex for a short time.
Closed in September 1987 following roof collapse.
On May 27, 1974, eighteen people (10 adults and 8 juveniles) were taken into custody after police say they threw rocks and beer bottles at officers, injuring six people including three officers at the Woodbridge Sunset Drive-In during a special holiday showing of Elvis’s “The Last Tickle”. During the incident, an officer’s K9 accidentally leaped at a wrong male as the chief was lunged at a youth trying to attack an officer from behind.
Julius C. Ferlazzo, the owner of the Woodbridge Sunset Drive-In at the time, complained about the incident disrupting the film. With quick thinking, he canceled the rest of the Elvis movie by immediately turning off the 35mm projector, and asked all youths to leave the theater immediately. Police later reported that a second call from security guard who reported the fights and asked for medical attention for an unconscious youth. EMS arrived on-scene without injury. However, two police units were able to responded but were pelted by rocks and bottles right at the time they entered the theater. Both officers left the scene immediately, and requested help. SWAT moved in with 20 riot-equipped officers when rock and bottles continued to barrage. They said that eight to 10 canisters of tear gas were used to dispel the crowd.
Police said after the riots ended and the youth leaving the theater, they recovered hundreds of beer cans, several bags of marijuana, and two blackjacks.
Closed in May 1992.
One of the three drive-ins in Metairie became statewide headlines on May 9, 1959 following an unexpected death of a 16-year-old boy from asphyxiated carbon monoxide at the site of the drive-in while dating his 15-year-old girlfriend at the time (who was unconscious after being knocked out for several hours by fumes).
Correction: This is one of its original 70mm projectors.
Opened on November 6, 1950 with William Lundigan in “I’ll Get By” (unclear if any short subjects were added).
Does anybody know any information about the Nancy Cinema off of Tift College Drive near Interstate 75 that started life as a single-screener in the 1970s? I recently read a handful of showtime articles, but I cannot find as much information about the theater itself.
Despite the screen located 2,000ft away from the road, it can be seen on two roads, including U.S. Highway 41. Carlos Merritt, the city of Perry’s council, said the city’s building code specifically says that the screen cannot be vision from major streets closer to 2,000ft. They totally complain about the growing concerns over adult films as it what it did at the M and T Drive-In in Warner Robins for a short time. Surprisingly, it didn’t show too much of it although it did show a selection of R-Rated films at times (including ones with racist titles).
A few years later, a twin-screen theater was built at the nearly-now-defunct Eastgate Plaza Shopping Center which will have its own Cinema Treasures page soon. I totally don’t know anything on its history about the twin at Eastgate, but any additional information about it will be greatly appreciated.
The Fairmount 5 Theatres now occupies the site of the former Family Drive-In.
Here’s a little wise fact: This theater when it first planned in June 2003 originally announced a possible early-2004 opening as an eight-screener. However, it was unclear if that ever happened.
I accidentally added a duplicate page on accident, I hope they can fix it soon.
Anyway, the Fairmont Theatre reopened last year under the name “Fairmount 5 Theatres” as I recently looked on its website. It is now operated by RT Entertainment and its current functions are first-run, independent, and foreign features. They used to screen only first-run features until the COVID-19 pandemic came to a two-year closure.
The Fair Lakes Cinema 5 was built on the site of the former Family Drive-In which operated from around 1949 until the late-1980s, and it also replaced the “Fair Mall Cinema” a mile away which closed at the same time the Fair Lakes Cinema 5 opened its doors (both theaters will have their own Cinema Treasures pages soon).
Demolished in late-2021.
It was announced that after 70 years of operation, this year will be the Skowhegan Drive-In’s last season.
https://www.bigscreen.com/j/Skowhegan-ME-After-70-Seasons-Skowhegan-DriveIn-Theatre/7404
Fun Fact: The popular intermission film shown here was called Filmack’s “10 (or 5) Minute Variety Show” reel (1959; Stock #2600) according to Filmack’s website.
Opened on August 7, 1978 by the Florida West Amusement Company.
Short-lived. It appears that it closed in 1959, as the screen was removed in 1960.
The Perry Cinemas 3 opened its doors on December 21, 1979 with “Prize Fighter” at Screen 1, “Halloween” at Screen 2, and “Arabian Adventure” at Screen 3. It was first operated by the Florida West Amusement Company. The triplex originally had a capacity of 660 seats, but was downgraded to 393 by the end of its operation. It was first managed by Aubrey Jones.
By 1985, it was renamed Perry Triple Cinema and at the time it was operated by Floyd Theatres. It would later become known as the “Perry Theatre” and finally the “Perry 3”, and during those two names it was independently-operated.
It is the first indoor movie theater in Perry to operate since a large indoor fire destroyed the Temple Theatre on May 19, 1976, leaving the Graves Drive-In the only movie theater in Perry for a time (which still operates into the 1980s later on, and at the time, the Graves was operated by Mary Brannen).
According to its article about the May 19, 1976 blaze that destroyed the Temple Theatre, a smaller fire causing a reconstruction occur in 1949, not 1945.
The Verne Drive-In actually opened on June 19, 1953. Indeed, K.C. Sergant of Clarkfield was the one who first operated the Verne.
The Lyon Theatre became the Rapids Theatre on Christmas Day 1936 right after a short remodel, reopening with Eleanor Powell in “Born To Dance” along with a Fox Movietone Newsreel and a few Paramount short subjects.
Some of its original installations include original walls which were lined with celotex, and over half-a-mile of the material comes with 12-in perforated blocks. The original 1936-installed walls, ceiling, and lobby have mixture schemes of royal blue and gold, brown, pink, yellow, and green. What’s unique about the original lobby of the Rapids Theatre is that one of the centers of attraction in addition to the fine display boards have original installations of “magic eye” drinking fountains, and what’s unique is that neither a button, pedal, or handles were presented in its system. In order to drink it, you bent your head and the water comes out as it was messaged by an electric beam to the automatic controls.
After closure in 1982, the Rapids Theatre sat abandoned until December 1985 when it went for renovation. It officially became a restaurant a short time later.
This drive-in is the oldest drive-in theater in Eastern Ohio, opening on May 2, 1941 with Penny Singleton in “Blondie Has Servant Trouble” along with a few short subjects.
It first opened as simply “Drive-In Theatre”. It was later renamed the LaVerne Drive-In in 1947, and finally the Howland Drive-In in 1950.