The Moorish Revival-styled Corby Theatre initially closed at the end of its second 20-year lease on July 29, 1956 with “I Am Camera.” A new operator gave it another shot in February 3, 1957. But the competition from television was too great and the theater closed permanently on June 16, 1957 following a double-feature of “Mister Cory” with Tony Curtis" and Ida Lupino in “Strange Intruder.” The space was converted into a retail department store and is currently used for storage.
The Cooper Foundation closed the Brandeis Theatre on April 30, 1959 with a double feature of The Prodigal" and “The Student Prince” followed by the salvage sale
The Diamond Theatre changed its name to the Lake Theatre beginning with showtimes on January 30, 1925. The African American theater was still operating in 1929.
The Loyal Theater had two periods of silent operation. It first advertised at 2406 Caldwell Street from 1910 to 1917. If known for anything, it was for boxing films which were screened every Friday night as part of “Fight Night.” The venue closed for three years.
The Loyal then reopened in its second operational period under African American operation as a theater targeting all audiences though advertising only in Omaha’s African American newspaper beginning in the May 26, 1920. The opening film was “Tillie’s Punctured Romance.” Ads were discontinued in 1921.
According to the information provided by user Chuck, “The Tivoli Theatre opened in the early-1930’s with seating for 510. The theatre closed in the early-1950’s.” Looking a bit deeper factually suggests that information to be inaccurate.
The Magic Theatre launched in the Richey Building in South Omaha as a vaudeville house that would additionally play contemporary films on the same bill. H.C. Wright of Chicago established the policy launching the Magic on July 23, 1912. The Epstein Brothers took on the venue in the early 1920s. They would upgrade the house stressing motion pictures and rename it on September 7, 1925 as the Tivoli Theatre with Colleen Moore in “The Desert Flower” supported by Lige Conley in “Treasure Bound.” They also reduced seat count by nearly 50 percent.
On March 3, 1929, the venue was upgraded with Vitaphone sound playing Pauline Frederick in “On Trial.” Early in 1948, the theatre switched to a policy of Czech films likely on a subleasing agreement. The Magic closed on June 1, 1949 for the summer months with Frantisek Smolík in “Jiný Vzduch.” The Tivoli did not return. The Epsteins sold the building to Hested Stores which spent $15,000 converting the store in 1950 for their retail purposes. That store launched December 30, 1950. The venue was still standing in the 2020s with a masked front.
The Military Theatre was located on Military Avenue and made a decision to have elaborate, militaristic stage shows including a regular bugler. Omaha Suburban Theatres sank $150,000 into the playhouse the opened February 7, 1928 with Viola Dana in “That Certain Thing.” “Percy” Pennington led the Military Band, Clara Waters played the Military Wonder Organ - a 2/7 Wurlitzer, the 8 Military Maids danced, and Jean Croft was the Military’s bugler / trumpeter. (She later appears to have gravitated to a Paramount Pictures contract.)
On January 29, 1929, the Military added sound to become the first suburban Omaha theater with talkies. A year later, the Military Theater was padlocked and auctioned off in February of 1930. Theaters Investment Group Co. purchased the venue and reopened it on a ten-year leasing agreement. It was also shared by a church for Sunday services.
The Military was told to stand down closing at the end of a leasing period on March 29, 1972 with a repertory screening of “King of Kings.” The venue became a long running home to the Grace Apostolic Church.
The Maryland Theatre opened in November of 1915. Following the terminus of its 25-year lease, Epstein’s Theatres took on the venue in 1940 renaming it as the Berkley Theatre (no “e” after the k). The Berkley Theatre is closed permanently after the November 13, 1953 showing of “Prulom” starring Ella Nollová. The theater had showed a heavy dose of Czech films along with standard Hollywood fare from the 1930s until closure.
The venue was offered for sale to no avail until 1957 when the floors were flattened and the theater’s interior was remodeled out of existence. A dance club moved in in 1957/1958 using the Berkley Theatre marquee and nameplate. The Dick Clark Fan Club held regular meet-up events there. But after a minor fire, the theater name was retired and a merry go round of retailers including a food store and an auto parts store came in during the 1960s. The theatre became home to a non-profit. And the theater is definitely closed… for more than 65 years.
Opened on February 4th, 1942 with Joan Blondell and John Wayne in “Lady for a Night,” the Admiral was a $175,000 project from Walter Green and Ralph Blank. The atmospheric theater conjured up its nautically-themed name by giving one the impression that they were on a ship in the evening. Portholes were on the wall along with the ship’s hull above and blue waves below. It was a great transformation of the Julius Wessel & Co. sheet metal factory (also pictured in photos).
The Admiral was altered from a single ship to two schooners upon its twinning on November 16, 1976 becoming the Admiral 2 Theatre. Its last heyday was showing “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Dick Blank of the Skyview and the Crossroads 2 announced a temporary closure on April 10, 1983 following showings of “Sweet Sixteen” and “The Last House on the Left” for remodeling. That decommissioning turned out to be permanent and the Admiral structure decayed with a bad roof over the next decade. The Admiral 2 Theatre was demolished in late 1996 into early 1997.
The Lothrop Theatre launched with movies and a live orchestra and organ recital on May 2, 1914 on 24th Street just off of Lothrop Street. J.F. Morgan built the venue which was almost shut down because it was legally 320 feet away from a school (the city prohibited theaters within 300 feet of a school) but protestors claimed that the corner of the lot was 280 feet from the school’s yard. William O. Jensen operated the theater in its early days with Charles Martini operating the adjoining Lothrop Theatre Confectionery serving ice cream, soft drinks and Kamer Chocolates. 1920s operators included J.H. Gaylord, R.P. Kissinger and George McArdle. A.H. Bland and Epstein Theatres were among its owners in the 1930s with Sidney Goldberg operating the theater much of its latter existence which included an upgrade to air conditioning in 1939.
The Lothrop celebrated its 40th Anniversary continuing operation until closure with a New Year’s Day 1955 double feature of “House of Frankenstein” and “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The Corinth Baptist Church took on the venue on June 24, 1955 operating it with religious services into 1961. Give the City of Omaha’s inspection unit credit for closing the church in February of 1961 due to safety concerns. On December 26, 1961, the former building turned church collapsed in a pile of rubble ending its existence.
The Fox Westroads was located in the Boston Mall section of the Westroads Mall. The original floor plan of the Westroads was on a single level. The new plan - a second floor section on the northeast mall called “Boston Mall” - encompassed two neighboring theaters - an oddity - with the Fox Westroads and the forthcoming Six West Theatre. The Fox Westroads had an external entry while the Six West had an internal entry within the Westroads Mall with steps to the box office.
The Fox Westroads Theatre started was a project mired in the court system as challengers said Fox Midwest was operating in an anti-competitive manner. National General technically would operate the Westroads primarily with Fox Midwest as the secondary operator to get past the legal challenges. The luxury suburban cinema opened as a 750-seat single screen auditorium on November 16, 1967 with “Tony Rome” starring Frank Sinatra. Durwood / American Royal then announced in 1967 that they would build a six-plex next door to the Fox to open in 1968 (though delayed to January 22, 1969).
On April 3, 1973, Mann Theatres acquired National General’s 240 locations and, effective on June 29, 1973, Mann operated it under the Mann Fox Westroads banner. Mann closed the venue temporarily in 1977 to twin the venue. It became the Mann Fox Twin on May 27, 1977 with “Mikey & Nicky” and “Ruby.” Dickinson Theatres took on the Fox Twin on February 2, 1980 running it as the Fox Westroads Theatres.
AMC took over the Fox Westroads from Dickinson officially on December 8, 1983 as the AMC Westroads 2 with “Sudden Impact” and “Scarface.” AMC then linked its AMC Six West 6 into a single 8-screen facility called the AMC Westroads 8. As a result, AMC retired both monikers of the AMC Westroads 2 on February 16, 1984 with “The Big Chill” and “Nightstalker” and the AMC Six West 6 with a handful of films becoming the AMC Westroads 8 on February 17, 1984.
In the mid-1990s, megaplexes were replacing aging multiplexes all over the country. AMC Westroads 8 was targeted for replacement by a 24-screen facility about five miles ways. The circuit closed theWestroads permanently at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement on December 11, 1997. AMC opened its AMC Oak View 24 the next day.
The Six West Theatre is listed in the trade press as the first six-plex in the history of the United States though not in the world. Its conceptualization occurred not long after the single-screen Fox Westroads Theatre became the first cinema in the Westroad Mall complex. It was located in the “Boston Mall” section of the Westroads Mall. The original floor plan of the Westroads was on a single level. The new plan - a second floor section on the northeast mall called “Boston Mall” - encompassed two neighboring theaters - an oddity - with the Fox Westroads originally opening in 1967 and the -then - forthcoming Six West Theatre.
American Royal Cinemas, the Durwood Theatres Circuit’s follow-up name and pre-cursor to American Multi-Cinema (AMC), announced a new six-plex to be opened at what was reported as 20 feet from the existing National General / Fox Midwest Fox Westroads. After much delay, American Royal opened the Six West on January 22, 1969 with “Candy” playing on four of the six screens for Stanley Durwood’s circuit. The two co-existed but the Fox flinched when new operator Mann Theatres twinned the neighboring venue in May of 1977 becoming the Mann Fox Twin.
In March of 1980, the six-plex was officially renamed as the AMC Six West 6 - redundant but true! AMC then took over the neighboring theater twin which had reverted to a name of Fox Westroads Theaters. That change took place officially on December 8, 1983 as the twin became the AMC Westroads 2. AMC then linked its AMC Six West 6 into a single 8-screen facility called the AMC Westroads 8. As a result, AMC retired both monikers of the AMC Westroads 2 and the AMC Show West 6 on February 16, 1984.
This venue then became the AMC Westroads 8 on February 17, 1984. In the mid-1990s, megaplexes were replacing aging multiplexes all over the country. AMC Westroads 8 was targeted for replacement as its lease neared terminus. And the replacement was not just an incremental upgrade; the 8-plex was replaced by a massive, 24-screen facility about five miles ways. The circuit closed AMC Westroads 8 permanently at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement on December 11, 1997. AMC then opened its AMC Oak View 24 the next day on December 12, 1997. The AMC Westroads 2 / Fox Westroads Theatres and the AMC Oak View have their own Cinema Treasures pages.
If you’ve got to go, go big. And here, the 76 West doesn’t disappoint with a Motorcycle Madness triple feature of “The Wild Angels,” “Mad Max” and “Chrome and Hot Leather.”
This venue was part of four planned and franchised Jerry Lewis twin screen operations by Midwest Theatres under Fred Corbino. Lewis and Network Cinemas had promised that one-button automation movie theaters could be run by anyone and they sold franchises to aspiring movie theater operators all over the country. The Maplewood Square shopping center that would house the operation had launched in 1970. But by the time the first and only Omaha Jerry Lewis location had opened here at 90th Street in 1972, the Lewis / Network Cinema was in free fall collapse.
The Jerry Lewis Twin opened in Maplewood Square on November 10, 1972 with “The Cowboys” and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.” But Lewis ankled the chain and Network Cinemas disconnected its phones in bankruptcy in 1973. Corbino was so distraught at the Network Cinema’s empty promises that he removed the Lewis signage and nameplate on May 9, 1973 and renamed the venue as the Maplewood Twin Theatre. Douglas Theatres took on the venue later in 1973. (Dubinski Bros. would take on the failed Jerry Lewis Twin project in Southtown completing it as the Gemini Twin in 1974. It has its own Cinema Treasure page.)
In October of 1988, the circuit repositioned the Maplewood 2 on a discount, sub-run house policy beginning with “Die Hard” and “Coming to America.” Douglas dropped the venue on November 13, 1994 with “Corinna, Corinna” and “In the Army Now.” The venue was demolished in favor of an Aldi store.
Torsten Adair’s contribution of one sentence reads, “The Gemini Twin Theater was located on S. 84th Street at Frederick Street.” My research indicates a bit more detail if interested:
Groundbreaking for this venue at 2958 South 84th Street occurred in 1971 as part of four planned and franchised Jerry Lewis twin screen operations. Network Cinemas had promised that one-button automation movie theaters could be run by anyone and sold franchises to aspiring movie theater operators all over the country. But by the time the first and only Omaha Jerry Lewis location had opened at 90th Street in 1972, the Lewis / Network Cinema was in free fall collapse.
The Southtown Shopping Center (often referred to as the Woolco Shopping Center as it was anchored by Woolworth’s “big box” Woolco store) opened in June of 1972; but the theater space had stalled with Lewis leaving the circuit and Network Cinemas in bankruptcy and disconnecting its phones. This Lewis franchise was sold by a New Jersey interest to the Dubinsky Brothers in 1974. Revising the look and seating of the original, Dubinsky’s Gemini Twin seated 550 patrons at launch. The June 21, 1974 opening ad with “Huck Finn” on both screens is posted in photos.
The venue was downgraded to a second-run discount house with all seats 99 cents in 1977. In July of 1984, Shopko would take over the anchor spot after Woolworth’s shuttered all of its Woolco stores in 1983. The shopping complex was then known as Frederick Square with Excellence Theatres Circuit operating the twin. Excellence closed the venue on January 15, 1991 with “Ghost” an “Mr. Destiny” - still priced at just 99 cents a seat for any showtime. Technically, Carmike Theatres inherited the Gemini Twin when they took on the Excellence Circuit in March of 1991. Carmike considered but ultimately passed on reopening the venue which was later repurposed for other uses.
The Crossroads Shopping Center opened theatre-less on September 1, 1960. The Crossroads was renamed as the Crossroads Mall by 1963 and added the Crossroads Twin Cinema and Family Amusement Center in the late 1970s. It replaced the Game Gal-ry. Thirty gaming units were installed to take advantage of an arcade game spike caused by Space Invaders and high interest in pinball. The Twin opened with “Can I Do It…?” and “Good Guys Wear Black” on July 20, 1979.
The venue was not a success as multiplexes with 5-8 screens quickly dated twin screen cinemas. The Crossroads Twin went out of business with Empire Films' “Eliminators” splitting a screen with “Spies Like Us” and “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” on March 14, 1986. The theater’s former space was demo’d out of existence in a 2006 makeover that kept the Crossroads going with a new Target store. But the Crossroads struggles continued never able to emerge from a greyfield / “dead mall” spiral. Its entire closure and demolition occurred just shy of its 60th Anniversary in 2020.
March 18, 1983 grand opening ad for the Millard Cinema 4 in photos. Douglas Theatres closed up here operating as a second-run discount house for the venue’s final ten years on October 29, 1996.
The Moorish Revival-styled Corby Theatre initially closed at the end of its second 20-year lease on July 29, 1956 with “I Am Camera.” A new operator gave it another shot in February 3, 1957. But the competition from television was too great and the theater closed permanently on June 16, 1957 following a double-feature of “Mister Cory” with Tony Curtis" and Ida Lupino in “Strange Intruder.” The space was converted into a retail department store and is currently used for storage.
The Cooper Foundation closed the Brandeis Theatre on April 30, 1959 with a double feature of The Prodigal" and “The Student Prince” followed by the salvage sale
Demolished December 2022
The Diamond Theatre changed its name to the Lake Theatre beginning with showtimes on January 30, 1925. The African American theater was still operating in 1929.
The Loyal Theater had two periods of silent operation. It first advertised at 2406 Caldwell Street from 1910 to 1917. If known for anything, it was for boxing films which were screened every Friday night as part of “Fight Night.” The venue closed for three years.
The Loyal then reopened in its second operational period under African American operation as a theater targeting all audiences though advertising only in Omaha’s African American newspaper beginning in the May 26, 1920. The opening film was “Tillie’s Punctured Romance.” Ads were discontinued in 1921.
According to the information provided by user Chuck, “The Tivoli Theatre opened in the early-1930’s with seating for 510. The theatre closed in the early-1950’s.” Looking a bit deeper factually suggests that information to be inaccurate.
The Magic Theatre launched in the Richey Building in South Omaha as a vaudeville house that would additionally play contemporary films on the same bill. H.C. Wright of Chicago established the policy launching the Magic on July 23, 1912. The Epstein Brothers took on the venue in the early 1920s. They would upgrade the house stressing motion pictures and rename it on September 7, 1925 as the Tivoli Theatre with Colleen Moore in “The Desert Flower” supported by Lige Conley in “Treasure Bound.” They also reduced seat count by nearly 50 percent.
On March 3, 1929, the venue was upgraded with Vitaphone sound playing Pauline Frederick in “On Trial.” Early in 1948, the theatre switched to a policy of Czech films likely on a subleasing agreement. The Magic closed on June 1, 1949 for the summer months with Frantisek Smolík in “Jiný Vzduch.” The Tivoli did not return. The Epsteins sold the building to Hested Stores which spent $15,000 converting the store in 1950 for their retail purposes. That store launched December 30, 1950. The venue was still standing in the 2020s with a masked front.
The State Theatre closed September 4, 1969 with “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
The Military Theatre was located on Military Avenue and made a decision to have elaborate, militaristic stage shows including a regular bugler. Omaha Suburban Theatres sank $150,000 into the playhouse the opened February 7, 1928 with Viola Dana in “That Certain Thing.” “Percy” Pennington led the Military Band, Clara Waters played the Military Wonder Organ - a 2/7 Wurlitzer, the 8 Military Maids danced, and Jean Croft was the Military’s bugler / trumpeter. (She later appears to have gravitated to a Paramount Pictures contract.)
On January 29, 1929, the Military added sound to become the first suburban Omaha theater with talkies. A year later, the Military Theater was padlocked and auctioned off in February of 1930. Theaters Investment Group Co. purchased the venue and reopened it on a ten-year leasing agreement. It was also shared by a church for Sunday services.
The Military was told to stand down closing at the end of a leasing period on March 29, 1972 with a repertory screening of “King of Kings.” The venue became a long running home to the Grace Apostolic Church.
The Maryland Theatre opened in November of 1915. Following the terminus of its 25-year lease, Epstein’s Theatres took on the venue in 1940 renaming it as the Berkley Theatre (no “e” after the k). The Berkley Theatre is closed permanently after the November 13, 1953 showing of “Prulom” starring Ella Nollová. The theater had showed a heavy dose of Czech films along with standard Hollywood fare from the 1930s until closure.
The venue was offered for sale to no avail until 1957 when the floors were flattened and the theater’s interior was remodeled out of existence. A dance club moved in in 1957/1958 using the Berkley Theatre marquee and nameplate. The Dick Clark Fan Club held regular meet-up events there. But after a minor fire, the theater name was retired and a merry go round of retailers including a food store and an auto parts store came in during the 1960s. The theatre became home to a non-profit. And the theater is definitely closed… for more than 65 years.
Cooper Foundation closed the Avenue Theatre permanently on January 24, 1959 with a double feature of “Garden of Evil” and “All American.”
Central States ceased advertising its Golden Spike Drive-In Theatre on September 14, 1984 with “Revenge of the Nerds” likely ending its run.
Opened on February 4th, 1942 with Joan Blondell and John Wayne in “Lady for a Night,” the Admiral was a $175,000 project from Walter Green and Ralph Blank. The atmospheric theater conjured up its nautically-themed name by giving one the impression that they were on a ship in the evening. Portholes were on the wall along with the ship’s hull above and blue waves below. It was a great transformation of the Julius Wessel & Co. sheet metal factory (also pictured in photos).
The Admiral was altered from a single ship to two schooners upon its twinning on November 16, 1976 becoming the Admiral 2 Theatre. Its last heyday was showing “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Dick Blank of the Skyview and the Crossroads 2 announced a temporary closure on April 10, 1983 following showings of “Sweet Sixteen” and “The Last House on the Left” for remodeling. That decommissioning turned out to be permanent and the Admiral structure decayed with a bad roof over the next decade. The Admiral 2 Theatre was demolished in late 1996 into early 1997.
The Lothrop Theatre launched with movies and a live orchestra and organ recital on May 2, 1914 on 24th Street just off of Lothrop Street. J.F. Morgan built the venue which was almost shut down because it was legally 320 feet away from a school (the city prohibited theaters within 300 feet of a school) but protestors claimed that the corner of the lot was 280 feet from the school’s yard. William O. Jensen operated the theater in its early days with Charles Martini operating the adjoining Lothrop Theatre Confectionery serving ice cream, soft drinks and Kamer Chocolates. 1920s operators included J.H. Gaylord, R.P. Kissinger and George McArdle. A.H. Bland and Epstein Theatres were among its owners in the 1930s with Sidney Goldberg operating the theater much of its latter existence which included an upgrade to air conditioning in 1939.
The Lothrop celebrated its 40th Anniversary continuing operation until closure with a New Year’s Day 1955 double feature of “House of Frankenstein” and “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The Corinth Baptist Church took on the venue on June 24, 1955 operating it with religious services into 1961. Give the City of Omaha’s inspection unit credit for closing the church in February of 1961 due to safety concerns. On December 26, 1961, the former building turned church collapsed in a pile of rubble ending its existence.
The Maryland Theatre opened in November of 1915.
aka AMC Westroads 8
The Fox Westroads was located in the Boston Mall section of the Westroads Mall. The original floor plan of the Westroads was on a single level. The new plan - a second floor section on the northeast mall called “Boston Mall” - encompassed two neighboring theaters - an oddity - with the Fox Westroads and the forthcoming Six West Theatre. The Fox Westroads had an external entry while the Six West had an internal entry within the Westroads Mall with steps to the box office.
The Fox Westroads Theatre started was a project mired in the court system as challengers said Fox Midwest was operating in an anti-competitive manner. National General technically would operate the Westroads primarily with Fox Midwest as the secondary operator to get past the legal challenges. The luxury suburban cinema opened as a 750-seat single screen auditorium on November 16, 1967 with “Tony Rome” starring Frank Sinatra. Durwood / American Royal then announced in 1967 that they would build a six-plex next door to the Fox to open in 1968 (though delayed to January 22, 1969).
On April 3, 1973, Mann Theatres acquired National General’s 240 locations and, effective on June 29, 1973, Mann operated it under the Mann Fox Westroads banner. Mann closed the venue temporarily in 1977 to twin the venue. It became the Mann Fox Twin on May 27, 1977 with “Mikey & Nicky” and “Ruby.” Dickinson Theatres took on the Fox Twin on February 2, 1980 running it as the Fox Westroads Theatres.
AMC took over the Fox Westroads from Dickinson officially on December 8, 1983 as the AMC Westroads 2 with “Sudden Impact” and “Scarface.” AMC then linked its AMC Six West 6 into a single 8-screen facility called the AMC Westroads 8. As a result, AMC retired both monikers of the AMC Westroads 2 on February 16, 1984 with “The Big Chill” and “Nightstalker” and the AMC Six West 6 with a handful of films becoming the AMC Westroads 8 on February 17, 1984.
In the mid-1990s, megaplexes were replacing aging multiplexes all over the country. AMC Westroads 8 was targeted for replacement by a 24-screen facility about five miles ways. The circuit closed theWestroads permanently at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement on December 11, 1997. AMC opened its AMC Oak View 24 the next day.
Slightly renamed this week as Cinemark West Plano XD and ScreenX thanks to the addition of the second ScreenX venue in the area.
The Six West Theatre is listed in the trade press as the first six-plex in the history of the United States though not in the world. Its conceptualization occurred not long after the single-screen Fox Westroads Theatre became the first cinema in the Westroad Mall complex. It was located in the “Boston Mall” section of the Westroads Mall. The original floor plan of the Westroads was on a single level. The new plan - a second floor section on the northeast mall called “Boston Mall” - encompassed two neighboring theaters - an oddity - with the Fox Westroads originally opening in 1967 and the -then - forthcoming Six West Theatre.
American Royal Cinemas, the Durwood Theatres Circuit’s follow-up name and pre-cursor to American Multi-Cinema (AMC), announced a new six-plex to be opened at what was reported as 20 feet from the existing National General / Fox Midwest Fox Westroads. After much delay, American Royal opened the Six West on January 22, 1969 with “Candy” playing on four of the six screens for Stanley Durwood’s circuit. The two co-existed but the Fox flinched when new operator Mann Theatres twinned the neighboring venue in May of 1977 becoming the Mann Fox Twin.
In March of 1980, the six-plex was officially renamed as the AMC Six West 6 - redundant but true! AMC then took over the neighboring theater twin which had reverted to a name of Fox Westroads Theaters. That change took place officially on December 8, 1983 as the twin became the AMC Westroads 2. AMC then linked its AMC Six West 6 into a single 8-screen facility called the AMC Westroads 8. As a result, AMC retired both monikers of the AMC Westroads 2 and the AMC Show West 6 on February 16, 1984.
This venue then became the AMC Westroads 8 on February 17, 1984. In the mid-1990s, megaplexes were replacing aging multiplexes all over the country. AMC Westroads 8 was targeted for replacement as its lease neared terminus. And the replacement was not just an incremental upgrade; the 8-plex was replaced by a massive, 24-screen facility about five miles ways. The circuit closed AMC Westroads 8 permanently at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement on December 11, 1997. AMC then opened its AMC Oak View 24 the next day on December 12, 1997. The AMC Westroads 2 / Fox Westroads Theatres and the AMC Oak View have their own Cinema Treasures pages.
If you’ve got to go, go big. And here, the 76 West doesn’t disappoint with a Motorcycle Madness triple feature of “The Wild Angels,” “Mad Max” and “Chrome and Hot Leather.”
This venue was part of four planned and franchised Jerry Lewis twin screen operations by Midwest Theatres under Fred Corbino. Lewis and Network Cinemas had promised that one-button automation movie theaters could be run by anyone and they sold franchises to aspiring movie theater operators all over the country. The Maplewood Square shopping center that would house the operation had launched in 1970. But by the time the first and only Omaha Jerry Lewis location had opened here at 90th Street in 1972, the Lewis / Network Cinema was in free fall collapse.
The Jerry Lewis Twin opened in Maplewood Square on November 10, 1972 with “The Cowboys” and “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.” But Lewis ankled the chain and Network Cinemas disconnected its phones in bankruptcy in 1973. Corbino was so distraught at the Network Cinema’s empty promises that he removed the Lewis signage and nameplate on May 9, 1973 and renamed the venue as the Maplewood Twin Theatre. Douglas Theatres took on the venue later in 1973. (Dubinski Bros. would take on the failed Jerry Lewis Twin project in Southtown completing it as the Gemini Twin in 1974. It has its own Cinema Treasure page.)
In October of 1988, the circuit repositioned the Maplewood 2 on a discount, sub-run house policy beginning with “Die Hard” and “Coming to America.” Douglas dropped the venue on November 13, 1994 with “Corinna, Corinna” and “In the Army Now.” The venue was demolished in favor of an Aldi store.
Torsten Adair’s contribution of one sentence reads, “The Gemini Twin Theater was located on S. 84th Street at Frederick Street.” My research indicates a bit more detail if interested:
Groundbreaking for this venue at 2958 South 84th Street occurred in 1971 as part of four planned and franchised Jerry Lewis twin screen operations. Network Cinemas had promised that one-button automation movie theaters could be run by anyone and sold franchises to aspiring movie theater operators all over the country. But by the time the first and only Omaha Jerry Lewis location had opened at 90th Street in 1972, the Lewis / Network Cinema was in free fall collapse.
The Southtown Shopping Center (often referred to as the Woolco Shopping Center as it was anchored by Woolworth’s “big box” Woolco store) opened in June of 1972; but the theater space had stalled with Lewis leaving the circuit and Network Cinemas in bankruptcy and disconnecting its phones. This Lewis franchise was sold by a New Jersey interest to the Dubinsky Brothers in 1974. Revising the look and seating of the original, Dubinsky’s Gemini Twin seated 550 patrons at launch. The June 21, 1974 opening ad with “Huck Finn” on both screens is posted in photos.
The venue was downgraded to a second-run discount house with all seats 99 cents in 1977. In July of 1984, Shopko would take over the anchor spot after Woolworth’s shuttered all of its Woolco stores in 1983. The shopping complex was then known as Frederick Square with Excellence Theatres Circuit operating the twin. Excellence closed the venue on January 15, 1991 with “Ghost” an “Mr. Destiny” - still priced at just 99 cents a seat for any showtime. Technically, Carmike Theatres inherited the Gemini Twin when they took on the Excellence Circuit in March of 1991. Carmike considered but ultimately passed on reopening the venue which was later repurposed for other uses.
The Crossroads Shopping Center opened theatre-less on September 1, 1960. The Crossroads was renamed as the Crossroads Mall by 1963 and added the Crossroads Twin Cinema and Family Amusement Center in the late 1970s. It replaced the Game Gal-ry. Thirty gaming units were installed to take advantage of an arcade game spike caused by Space Invaders and high interest in pinball. The Twin opened with “Can I Do It…?” and “Good Guys Wear Black” on July 20, 1979.
The venue was not a success as multiplexes with 5-8 screens quickly dated twin screen cinemas. The Crossroads Twin went out of business with Empire Films' “Eliminators” splitting a screen with “Spies Like Us” and “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” on March 14, 1986. The theater’s former space was demo’d out of existence in a 2006 makeover that kept the Crossroads going with a new Target store. But the Crossroads struggles continued never able to emerge from a greyfield / “dead mall” spiral. Its entire closure and demolition occurred just shy of its 60th Anniversary in 2020.
March 18, 1983 grand opening ad for the Millard Cinema 4 in photos. Douglas Theatres closed up here operating as a second-run discount house for the venue’s final ten years on October 29, 1996.
Operated by the Armstrong Circuit
Architect: William Risemman Associates of Boston