My impression of Frank Theaters was that by the time they got involved, the theater was already doomed. This always leads me to wonder if it’s better to leave a theater empty and abandoned; or let it have one last hurrah doing what it was built to do, even if it’s painful to witness.
The theater never did particularly well and with the Greyhound station across the street had lots of issues with transients. Was a nice theater though, I always enjoyed when I had to work there.
I think the Albright address is incorrect. If you search the Rock Hill Herald for “York Plaza” it gives an address of 2349 Cherry Road which coincides with a comment somebody made on the page for the “Cinema” that states that the Mini Cinema was in a shopping center on Cherry Road.
This theater did open as a 16-screen theater. I’m not certain, but if you check historicaerials.com you’ll see that the left side of the theater has been modified since it opened. The “BigD” auditorium was built after the fact so it’s probable that they reduced screen count from 16 to 14 when that happened.
If you lookup the address at HistoricAerials.com you’ll see that the building that was there in the 1998 photo is oriented diagonally to the road vs. the current building that is parallel to the road. It would suggest to me that they are not the same building.
Favorite Cinemas was Muvico’s discount brand. So that they wouldn’t have to explain that not all Muvico locations were fancy first run theatres, they just branded them “Favorite Cinemas”
A photo of this theater appears Showplace Cinemas' website assigned to their theater in Princeton, IN. The trees behind this theater do not exist in the other picture, which is also attached to a shopping center that appears to still be standing.
If they’re actually renovating I’d be interested in seeing this with the new Cineworld orange and black disco theme… would be interesting. I always liked the exterior of this theater, one of the last unique UA builds I can recall.
For the record it was never “West Wind Drive-In” it was always the “Santa Barbara Drive-In”, it just so happened to be owned by West Wind Drive-Ins so the logos may have been prevalent.
Google shows this is the site of the “Palm Springs Flea Market & Food Fest” which somehow doesn’t surprise me. Many Drive-Ins doubled as flea markets during the day.
Santikos announced on 4/10/2017 that Regal would be assuming operations of this theatre, the Silverado 19, and take over development of a third theatre in the Houston market.
The 10/28/1971 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer featured an ad touting the grand opening of this United General Theatre the following day with a special Halloween double feature of “Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed” and “Dracula is Risen from the Dead”
This also appears to be a nearly identical theatre to the Loft Theatre in Tucson, AZ which was originally named Showcase and also had a second screen built upstairs called “The Penthouse”
This no longer appears on Phoenix Theatre’s website and has is now just the Cherokee Cinemas.
My impression of Frank Theaters was that by the time they got involved, the theater was already doomed. This always leads me to wonder if it’s better to leave a theater empty and abandoned; or let it have one last hurrah doing what it was built to do, even if it’s painful to witness.
Looks like the building was demolished for a Walmart
The theater never did particularly well and with the Greyhound station across the street had lots of issues with transients. Was a nice theater though, I always enjoyed when I had to work there.
Theater is not listed on Regal’s website and google is showing permanently closed.
I think the Albright address is incorrect. If you search the Rock Hill Herald for “York Plaza” it gives an address of 2349 Cherry Road which coincides with a comment somebody made on the page for the “Cinema” that states that the Mini Cinema was in a shopping center on Cherry Road.
This theater did open as a 16-screen theater. I’m not certain, but if you check historicaerials.com you’ll see that the left side of the theater has been modified since it opened. The “BigD” auditorium was built after the fact so it’s probable that they reduced screen count from 16 to 14 when that happened.
Looks very similar to the Tower in Sacramento, also designed by William B David.
If you lookup the address at HistoricAerials.com you’ll see that the building that was there in the 1998 photo is oriented diagonally to the road vs. the current building that is parallel to the road. It would suggest to me that they are not the same building.
Favorite Cinemas was Muvico’s discount brand. So that they wouldn’t have to explain that not all Muvico locations were fancy first run theatres, they just branded them “Favorite Cinemas”
A photo of this theater appears Showplace Cinemas' website assigned to their theater in Princeton, IN. The trees behind this theater do not exist in the other picture, which is also attached to a shopping center that appears to still be standing.
If they’re actually renovating I’d be interested in seeing this with the new Cineworld orange and black disco theme… would be interesting. I always liked the exterior of this theater, one of the last unique UA builds I can recall.
Based on the grand opening ad, this has always been a dollar cinema, showing discount movies.
For the record it was never “West Wind Drive-In” it was always the “Santa Barbara Drive-In”, it just so happened to be owned by West Wind Drive-Ins so the logos may have been prevalent.
Starts appearing in the Asbury Park Press around 1970 as a Music Makers Theater. Was eventually sold to Loews and closed in 1994.
I enjoy that the font in the “Carriage Sq 5” logo at the top of the ad almost reads “Carnage Sq 5”
Google shows this is the site of the “Palm Springs Flea Market & Food Fest” which somehow doesn’t surprise me. Many Drive-Ins doubled as flea markets during the day.
https://palmspringsfleamarketandfoodfest.com/
America Cinemas has reopened this theatre.
The theater is currently open.
Santikos announced on 4/10/2017 that Regal would be assuming operations of this theatre, the Silverado 19, and take over development of a third theatre in the Houston market.
The 10/28/1971 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer featured an ad touting the grand opening of this United General Theatre the following day with a special Halloween double feature of “Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed” and “Dracula is Risen from the Dead”
Theater currently has showtimes and does not appear closed. Still operated by Regal.
Wallace didn’t buy into Hawaii until 1992. This theater was opened by Holiday Theatres.
Cineplex acquired a number of Famous Players locations, wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibilities they found rolls and rolls of it somewhere.
This also appears to be a nearly identical theatre to the Loft Theatre in Tucson, AZ which was originally named Showcase and also had a second screen built upstairs called “The Penthouse”