Opened with “Avanti!” in Screens 1 and 2, “A Clockwork Orange” plus a matinee of “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory” in Screen 3, and “What’s Up Doc” in Screen 4.
Screen 1, its main auditorium, appeared in several Japanese movies from the late-1990s until the early-2010s (including “Neon Genius Evangelion: Death and Rebirth” from July 1997). However, one of the films edited the scene out for unknown reasons, and that is “Foreign Affairs Police: Don’t Fall For That Man” from June 2012. Throughout time, its main auditorium was kept at the 1,000 to 1,500 seat range, beginning with 1,500 seats at opening, 1,348 seats by 1987, 1,288 seats by 2001, and 1,064 seats before its closure. There is also 70mm projection as well, with its screen measuring 8.85 x 20.2m.
For a short time in the early-1970s, Screen 2 screened foreign adult films for a time, but was dropped soon after for both foreign and Japanese films from Shibuya Tokyu. At the time of closure, the screen measures 4.85 x 11.4m.
During the early-1990s, Screen 3 was briefly named the American Comedy Theater featuring Looney Tunes characters being painted on the walls, screening first-run American films under the comedy genre. This lasted for around a decade. At the time of closure, the screen measures 2.7 x 6.35m.
The Cinema Tokyo Milano auditorium (Screen 4) was brought up the mini-theater legend Iwanami Hall, in which it was the first mini theater in Japan to have a roadshow format. The theater, under Tokyu Recreation, had a mark of changes in times though, which did put Japanese mini-theaters on a commercial basis and became the prototype for subsequent single-screen roadshow theaters. In 1981, Hara Masato, the founder of Herald Ace, and Toei’s film sales department, spearheaded a tour of European and American theaters. The tour was attended by exhibitors, media, and distributors from all over Japan, and this aim was to visit urban and suburban theaters that were beginning to appear in Europe and the United States at the time as well as witnessing the diversity of the various types of movie theaters. Tokyu Recreation Executive Director Horie Suzuo and General Manager Takeya Tadashi, who were searching for a new type of cinema, came up with the idea of a “casual cinema at Iwanami Hall” that was booming at the time, “somewhere between Iwanami Hall and a regular cinema”. During this European and American tour, they visited a small but relaxed mini-theater run by a married couple in France, and the idea of a “casual Iwanami Hall” was quickly realized. Shigeru Okada, who served as president of both Tokyu Recreation and Toei, had long had the idea of a “mini-theater system” and readily agreed to back up the plan. Okada was the one who brought up the name. Back in Japan, they introduced a new system in every aspect, including the seating, the admission method, and even the show’s format as a way to do business with a specific audience, and promoted the individuality of the theater itself. The renovation took place from an unused warehouse space, invested a total of 340 million yen which is close to $2,229,000 in United States money, ordered seating from France at 70,000 yen (or $471 via USD), and adding a prohibited standing room only for smoking, eating, and drinking. The selection of films is particularly important, as it determines not only the profitability but also the image of the theater. For this reason, Cinesque formed a group to select films, including film critics Toshiko Minami (honorary manager) and Motohiko Kono, who gathered their opinions and decided on the films. Original trailers and posters were used as a rule, and Hara, president of Herald Ace, was asked to cooperate with the general promotion. At the time of closure, the screen measures 2.8 x 6.6m.
Manchester had six theaters in its early history, including one drive-in. Unfortunately it was unknown if this theater was either its third or fourth to open because for two reasons. One is that there’s a lot of venues in the area that were named Playhouse and I don’t want to be confused, and the other is that this start life as a seasonal theater that screened first-run movies. It wasn’t until around 1946 when the Manchester Playhouse Theatre began running first-run movies all-year round. Unfortunately there’s not a lot of showtimes being demonstrated on the Manchester Journal during its early heyday.
During World War II and beforehand, the nearby Modern Theatre was the only theater that runs first-run movies all-year during its heyday. Throughout its history, both theaters share an equal amount of first-run mainstream titles throughout its history.
Opened with Dan Dailey in “Meet Me At The Fair” along with a few shorts and an unknown comedy.
According to its last owner, Fred Nelson, he replied that he closed down the Northland Drive-In on July 6, 1986 for a few good reasons. One reason is crime which involves people stealing items, break-ins, vandalism, and even people stealing letters from the marquee a total of 12 times. Throughout the 1985 season contains nine break-ins in total. And the other reason is the deterioration which its condition got worse by the end of its life.
Closed on April 23, 1956 with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in “Artists And Models” (unknown if extras added). It originally planned to reopen that October, but it never happened.
This actually opened on July 13, 1984 with “Cannonball II” in Screen 1 and “The Natural” in Screen 2, and closed on July 19, 1990 with “Robocop 2” in Screen 1 and “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” in Screen 2.
The September 1966 opening of the Manchester Cinema Theatre also caused the closure of the nearby Manchester Playhouse on Main Street, which had been operating for decades.
I cannot find as much information about this one, but all I know is that Manchester Cinema Theatre in the Manchester Shopping Center first opened its doors as a 250-seat single-screener on September 7, 1966 with Steve McQueen in “Nevada Smith”. It was twinned around February 1984.
Last operated by Regal as a $2 discount house before closing on September 22, 1999.
Opened with “Avanti!” in Screens 1 and 2, “A Clockwork Orange” plus a matinee of “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory” in Screen 3, and “What’s Up Doc” in Screen 4.
More information about all four auditoriums:
Screen 1, its main auditorium, appeared in several Japanese movies from the late-1990s until the early-2010s (including “Neon Genius Evangelion: Death and Rebirth” from July 1997). However, one of the films edited the scene out for unknown reasons, and that is “Foreign Affairs Police: Don’t Fall For That Man” from June 2012. Throughout time, its main auditorium was kept at the 1,000 to 1,500 seat range, beginning with 1,500 seats at opening, 1,348 seats by 1987, 1,288 seats by 2001, and 1,064 seats before its closure. There is also 70mm projection as well, with its screen measuring 8.85 x 20.2m.
For a short time in the early-1970s, Screen 2 screened foreign adult films for a time, but was dropped soon after for both foreign and Japanese films from Shibuya Tokyu. At the time of closure, the screen measures 4.85 x 11.4m.
During the early-1990s, Screen 3 was briefly named the American Comedy Theater featuring Looney Tunes characters being painted on the walls, screening first-run American films under the comedy genre. This lasted for around a decade. At the time of closure, the screen measures 2.7 x 6.35m.
The Cinema Tokyo Milano auditorium (Screen 4) was brought up the mini-theater legend Iwanami Hall, in which it was the first mini theater in Japan to have a roadshow format. The theater, under Tokyu Recreation, had a mark of changes in times though, which did put Japanese mini-theaters on a commercial basis and became the prototype for subsequent single-screen roadshow theaters. In 1981, Hara Masato, the founder of Herald Ace, and Toei’s film sales department, spearheaded a tour of European and American theaters. The tour was attended by exhibitors, media, and distributors from all over Japan, and this aim was to visit urban and suburban theaters that were beginning to appear in Europe and the United States at the time as well as witnessing the diversity of the various types of movie theaters. Tokyu Recreation Executive Director Horie Suzuo and General Manager Takeya Tadashi, who were searching for a new type of cinema, came up with the idea of a “casual cinema at Iwanami Hall” that was booming at the time, “somewhere between Iwanami Hall and a regular cinema”. During this European and American tour, they visited a small but relaxed mini-theater run by a married couple in France, and the idea of a “casual Iwanami Hall” was quickly realized. Shigeru Okada, who served as president of both Tokyu Recreation and Toei, had long had the idea of a “mini-theater system” and readily agreed to back up the plan. Okada was the one who brought up the name. Back in Japan, they introduced a new system in every aspect, including the seating, the admission method, and even the show’s format as a way to do business with a specific audience, and promoted the individuality of the theater itself. The renovation took place from an unused warehouse space, invested a total of 340 million yen which is close to $2,229,000 in United States money, ordered seating from France at 70,000 yen (or $471 via USD), and adding a prohibited standing room only for smoking, eating, and drinking. The selection of films is particularly important, as it determines not only the profitability but also the image of the theater. For this reason, Cinesque formed a group to select films, including film critics Toshiko Minami (honorary manager) and Motohiko Kono, who gathered their opinions and decided on the films. Original trailers and posters were used as a rule, and Hara, president of Herald Ace, was asked to cooperate with the general promotion. At the time of closure, the screen measures 2.8 x 6.6m.
This opened as the Manchester Cinema Theatre.
Manchester had six theaters in its early history, including one drive-in. Unfortunately it was unknown if this theater was either its third or fourth to open because for two reasons. One is that there’s a lot of venues in the area that were named Playhouse and I don’t want to be confused, and the other is that this start life as a seasonal theater that screened first-run movies. It wasn’t until around 1946 when the Manchester Playhouse Theatre began running first-run movies all-year round. Unfortunately there’s not a lot of showtimes being demonstrated on the Manchester Journal during its early heyday.
During World War II and beforehand, the nearby Modern Theatre was the only theater that runs first-run movies all-year during its heyday. Throughout its history, both theaters share an equal amount of first-run mainstream titles throughout its history.
Renamed Movieland on October 10, 1970, reopening with “Gone With The Wind”.
Closed on February 18, 2001.
Closed on March 31, 1985.
Closed in late-August 1995.
Closed by Act III on September 29, 1993.
Closed around Christmas 1999.
Closed on December 18, 1994.
Closed on September 26, 1985 with “Year Of The Dragon” and “Pale Rider”.
Closed on December 11, 1997.
The fire actually happened on January 19, 1948, which caused an estimate $70,000 in damages. Two adjoining shops were also destroyed by the blaze.
Opened with Dan Dailey in “Meet Me At The Fair” along with a few shorts and an unknown comedy.
According to its last owner, Fred Nelson, he replied that he closed down the Northland Drive-In on July 6, 1986 for a few good reasons. One reason is crime which involves people stealing items, break-ins, vandalism, and even people stealing letters from the marquee a total of 12 times. Throughout the 1985 season contains nine break-ins in total. And the other reason is the deterioration which its condition got worse by the end of its life.
Closed on April 23, 1956 with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in “Artists And Models” (unknown if extras added). It originally planned to reopen that October, but it never happened.
Closed on August 22, 2019.
Closed on August 31, 1981 with “An Eye For An Eye”.
This actually opened on July 13, 1984 with “Cannonball II” in Screen 1 and “The Natural” in Screen 2, and closed on July 19, 1990 with “Robocop 2” in Screen 1 and “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” in Screen 2.
The September 1966 opening of the Manchester Cinema Theatre also caused the closure of the nearby Manchester Playhouse on Main Street, which had been operating for decades.
I cannot find as much information about this one, but all I know is that Manchester Cinema Theatre in the Manchester Shopping Center first opened its doors as a 250-seat single-screener on September 7, 1966 with Steve McQueen in “Nevada Smith”. It was twinned around February 1984.
Demolished in mid-2016.
Closed on February 17, 2000 because of heavy competition.
I don’t see the theater being once named the Anthony Drive-In. It appears that it has been the Bennington Drive-In throughout its whole life.