This theatre has been closed for years. When the new multiplex operated by Epic Theatres was getting ready to be opened in June 2010, this theatre closed down. The building has since been repurposed.
When I worked for Eastern Federal (EFC) in Jacksonville during the early 1980’s, the St. John’s 4, Plaza, and Neptune theatres were all operated by Kent Theatres, a regional operator, with theatres throughout Florida. At that time, Kent Theatres HQ was at the Plaza Theatre in the Southside section of Jacksonville.
When I worked for Eastern Federal (EFC) in Jacksonville during the early 1980’s, the St. John’s 4, Plaza, and Neptune theatres were all operated by Kent Theatres, a regional operator, with theatres throughout Florida. At that time, Kent Theatres HQ was at the Plaza Theatre in the Southside section of Jacksonville.
When I worked for EFC in Jacksonville during the early 1980’s, the Plaza was still operating. It was managed by Kent Theatres, and also served as their Corporate Headquarters.
Does anyone remember the name of the 6 screen Theatre that Eastern Federal Theatres opened in Ft. Myers in the early 1980’s? Is so, what was the name of it and address? Whatever happened to it?
Does anyone remember the name of the 6 screen Theatre that Eastern Federal Theatres opened in Ft. Myers in the early 1980’s? Is so, what was the name of it and address? Whatever happened to it?
Does anyone remember the name of the 6 screen Theatre that Eastern Federal Theatres opened in Ft. Myers in the early 1980’s? Is so, what was the name of it and address? Whatever happened to it?
Scott Neff, Your observation about the Regency being an Eastern Federal Theatre is quite right. It opened as a 6 screen house. Their choice of film handling equipment was the root of their presentation problems. They had similar issues in Tallahassee at the Varcity, and Miracle and in Jacksonville at the Cedar Hills, Royal Palm and their two Drive-In operations, the Midway and Fox. Their 1970’s vintage Theatres, used Cinemeccanica equipment which were found to be more reliable, than their custom built film handling systems that went into their twinning operations and new builds after the late 1970’s.
Eastern Federal Corporation (Formerly Known as H.B. Meiselman Theatres) built the Miracle as a Single Screen 1,000+ seat theatre in a Shopping Plaza they owned in the late 1960’s. In the mid 1970’s, they added a separate 500 seat theatre on an adjacent vacant lot, connecting the lobbies to make it a two screen theatre. In the late 1970’s EFC twinned the original 1,000 seat theatre, making it into two 450 seat theatres, and a three screen theatre complex. This is the picture of the Theatre as a 3 Screen Theatre taken in 1979. In the early 1980’s EFC used more of the adjacent vacant lot, and added 2 more 300 seat auditoriums connecting the Theatre to the existing strip shopping center, making the complex a 5 Screen Theatre. I had the pleasure of managing this theatre for a short time from the end of 1978 through the spring of 1979, when I was transferred to their operation in Gainesville, FL (The Royal Park Cinema 4). I returned to Tallahassee as their City Manager working out of the Varsity 3 in the Spring of 1980.
Harvey, The Royal Palm was opened as a Single 600 seat house in the early 60’s by H B Meiselman Theatres. The Meiselman Family later incorporated their Theatre and Commercial Property operations under the name Eastern Federal Corporation. In the early 1970’s, EFC added a second 400 seat auditorium alongside the original single, expanding their footprint, since there was a vacant lot on the west side of the original building. In the late 1970’s EFC split the original 600 seat single into two 250 seat theatres, making the complex a 3 screen Operation.
Davidcoppock, it was down the street from Jacksonville University, which also happened to be the street name, University Blvd., which both the Drive-In and Jacksonville University used as their address.
Davidcoppock, The Ribault Drive-in was located in the NW part of Jacksonville, near the Ribault River, thus a number of businesses in that part of Jacksonville used the Ribault name. The Ribault name comes from the French explorer, JEAN RIBAULT, who was credited for exploring parts of the SE US, and claiming territory for France. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ribault
This theatre served as Eastern Federal’s District Office for many years, until the late 1970’s when they sold the land to K-Mart to build a super center on the same footprint. The University Drive-In was the subject of a Court Case that went to the Supreme Court: .Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205 (1975), is a United States Supreme Court.
Eastern Federal owned and operated the Ribault Drive-In in its early years, but closed it when operating cost exceeded revenue. They leased it out to a couple independent operators while I was in Jacksonville from late 1980 to late 1984 with Eastern Federal.
Rstewart, you are quite right. The Conway Twin in Orlando and the original Royal Park Twin in Gainesville were almost carbon copies of the Northside, and the Orange Blossom Twin in Orlando was the same with the exception of the glass front of the lobby which matched the strip center that it was part of. The original Royal Palm in Atlantic Beach, was very close in design to the Varsity in Tallahassee and the Cedar Hills in Jacksonville.
When Eastern Federal twinned both the Fox and the Midway Drive-In, they installed AM Carrier Curent Sound and removed the speakers from all but the last few rows, you know the ones, the rows that the trunk slashers let their cargo out, and the rows with the rocking cars. They remained first run through the early 80’s. Then switched to the “B” movie, Zombie, Slasher soft core format. By 1984 they were Dollar Theatre running second run movies. They did out live the Midway Drive-In, which closed in mid 1984. The Fox closed not long into 1985, thus ending Eastern Federal’s Drive-In operations in Jacksonville, FL.
When Eastern Federal twinned both the Fox and the Midway Drive-In, they installed AM Carrier Curent Sound and removed the speakers from all but the last few rows, you know the ones, the rows that the trunk slashers let their cargo out, and the rows with the rocking cars. They remained first run through the early 80’s. Then switched to the “B” movie, Zombie, Slasher soft core format. By 1984 they were Dollar Theatre running second run movies. They did out live the Midway Drive-In, which closed in mid 1984. The Fox closed not long into 1985, thus ending Eastern Federal’s Drive-In operations in Jacksonville, FL.
I remember watching a Gozilla picture and the original Planet of the Apes there. Both times, it rained so hard that we could not hear the film due to the pounding rain on the metal Quonset Hut roof.
Before we continue our tour of the old Movie Theatres of Jacksonville (Duval) County Florida, I hope everyone had a good Labor Day Weekend. We now head back across the St. Johns to Arlington. There we will find the old Town & Country Theatre. It was another suburban theatre managed by Charlotte (NC) based Eastern Federal Corporation. It was Jacksonville’s first suburban first run movie house, opened in the 1950’s. It operated as a First Run Theatre until 1982. In 1979, Eastern Federal remodeled the theatre, making it a twin, and installed all new seats. In 1982 they switched to the $1.00 theatre format for a short while. With stiff competition from other area Dollar Theatres, Eastern Federal changed the format again in 1983 to Foreign and Art Films. When their lease ran out at the end of 1983. they closed the theatre and removed their seats and equipment, turning the empty theatre over to the Shopping Center Landlords. The building still stands and has seen several tenants since Eastern Federal closed the theatre, but it has never again reopened as a theatre. In hindsight, it was sort of a good idea that Eastern Federal closed the theatre when they did. Even though most thought that the old Movie House had a beautiful interior, the Theatre would not have been considered accessible when the American’s with Disabilities Act became law. The restrooms were located upstairs, and there was no elevator. Eastern Federal had two other Arlington operations over the years. They built and operated the Capri Theatre down University Blvd., about a half mile. That theatre was a single screen operation that during Eastern Federal’s time of operation was an “Art House” playing foreign films. When that didn’t work out for Eastern Federal, who owned the strip center the theatre was located, they leased out the Capri to an independent operator, who ran it as an Adult Theatre for several years. Now, I understand that it may be a Church. Also, on University Blvd., Eastern Federal Built and Operated the University Drive-In, a single screen Drive-In. The University Drive-In served as Eastern Federal’s area office and operated from the 1960’s to the late 1970’s when real-estate prices convinced the owners to sell the land to K-Mart, where a K-Mart Super Center operated for many years. The site is now the location of a Public Library. As for Eastern Federal’s area offices. They just moved down the street to the strip center they owned where the Capri Theatre was located.
The Northside Theatre that was located on Lem Turner Blvd, in the Northside of Jacksonville (Duval County) Florida. This was another one of Charlotte (NC) based, Eastern Federal Corporation’s suburban twin theatres. Unlike the Cedar Hills and Royal Palm and Town & Country that were originally built as single screen theatres, the Northside was built in the late 1960’s, specifically as a twin screen theatre, sharing the K-Mart parking lot. The Northside had two identical 500 seat auditoriums with Dolby Stereo in just one of them. It ran 1st run films for most of it’s life, but did change to the dollar format in the mid 1980’s. These pictures are from my personal archives, of which I was the photographer.
The old Cedar Hills Theatre in Jacksonville, (Duval County) Florida. This was another theater operated by Charlotte (NC) based Eastern Federal Corporation. It was built and operated by the H B Meiselman Theatre Circuit (Later to be Incorporated as Eastern Federal Corporation) as one of Jacksonville’s first suburban theaters, a single screen operation seating over 500, which also had a full theatrical stage in front of the screen. In the late 1970’s it was split in two, creating 2 separate 200 seat auditoriums. The interior pictures were taken shortly after the twinning. Eastern Federal operated five Indoor theatres and four Drive-In Theatres as well as several strip shopping centers in the Jacksonville area.
This theatre has been closed for years. When the new multiplex operated by Epic Theatres was getting ready to be opened in June 2010, this theatre closed down. The building has since been repurposed.
When I worked for Eastern Federal (EFC) in Jacksonville during the early 1980’s, the St. John’s 4, Plaza, and Neptune theatres were all operated by Kent Theatres, a regional operator, with theatres throughout Florida. At that time, Kent Theatres HQ was at the Plaza Theatre in the Southside section of Jacksonville.
When I worked for Eastern Federal (EFC) in Jacksonville during the early 1980’s, the St. John’s 4, Plaza, and Neptune theatres were all operated by Kent Theatres, a regional operator, with theatres throughout Florida. At that time, Kent Theatres HQ was at the Plaza Theatre in the Southside section of Jacksonville.
When I worked for EFC in Jacksonville during the early 1980’s, the Plaza was still operating. It was managed by Kent Theatres, and also served as their Corporate Headquarters.
Does anyone remember the name of the 6 screen Theatre that Eastern Federal Theatres opened in Ft. Myers in the early 1980’s? Is so, what was the name of it and address? Whatever happened to it?
Does anyone remember the name of the 6 screen Theatre that Eastern Federal Theatres opened in Ft. Myers in the early 1980’s? Is so, what was the name of it and address? Whatever happened to it?
Does anyone remember the name of the 6 screen Theatre that Eastern Federal Theatres opened in Ft. Myers in the early 1980’s? Is so, what was the name of it and address? Whatever happened to it?
Scott Neff, Your observation about the Regency being an Eastern Federal Theatre is quite right. It opened as a 6 screen house. Their choice of film handling equipment was the root of their presentation problems. They had similar issues in Tallahassee at the Varcity, and Miracle and in Jacksonville at the Cedar Hills, Royal Palm and their two Drive-In operations, the Midway and Fox. Their 1970’s vintage Theatres, used Cinemeccanica equipment which were found to be more reliable, than their custom built film handling systems that went into their twinning operations and new builds after the late 1970’s.
Eastern Federal Corporation (Formerly Known as H.B. Meiselman Theatres) built the Miracle as a Single Screen 1,000+ seat theatre in a Shopping Plaza they owned in the late 1960’s. In the mid 1970’s, they added a separate 500 seat theatre on an adjacent vacant lot, connecting the lobbies to make it a two screen theatre. In the late 1970’s EFC twinned the original 1,000 seat theatre, making it into two 450 seat theatres, and a three screen theatre complex. This is the picture of the Theatre as a 3 Screen Theatre taken in 1979. In the early 1980’s EFC used more of the adjacent vacant lot, and added 2 more 300 seat auditoriums connecting the Theatre to the existing strip shopping center, making the complex a 5 Screen Theatre. I had the pleasure of managing this theatre for a short time from the end of 1978 through the spring of 1979, when I was transferred to their operation in Gainesville, FL (The Royal Park Cinema 4). I returned to Tallahassee as their City Manager working out of the Varsity 3 in the Spring of 1980.
Harvey, The Royal Palm was opened as a Single 600 seat house in the early 60’s by H B Meiselman Theatres. The Meiselman Family later incorporated their Theatre and Commercial Property operations under the name Eastern Federal Corporation. In the early 1970’s, EFC added a second 400 seat auditorium alongside the original single, expanding their footprint, since there was a vacant lot on the west side of the original building. In the late 1970’s EFC split the original 600 seat single into two 250 seat theatres, making the complex a 3 screen Operation.
Davidcoppock, it was down the street from Jacksonville University, which also happened to be the street name, University Blvd., which both the Drive-In and Jacksonville University used as their address.
Davidcoppock, The Ribault Drive-in was located in the NW part of Jacksonville, near the Ribault River, thus a number of businesses in that part of Jacksonville used the Ribault name. The Ribault name comes from the French explorer, JEAN RIBAULT, who was credited for exploring parts of the SE US, and claiming territory for France. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ribault
This theatre served as Eastern Federal’s District Office for many years, until the late 1970’s when they sold the land to K-Mart to build a super center on the same footprint. The University Drive-In was the subject of a Court Case that went to the Supreme Court: .Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205 (1975), is a United States Supreme Court.
Eastern Federal owned and operated the Ribault Drive-In in its early years, but closed it when operating cost exceeded revenue. They leased it out to a couple independent operators while I was in Jacksonville from late 1980 to late 1984 with Eastern Federal.
Rstewart, you are quite right. The Conway Twin in Orlando and the original Royal Park Twin in Gainesville were almost carbon copies of the Northside, and the Orange Blossom Twin in Orlando was the same with the exception of the glass front of the lobby which matched the strip center that it was part of. The original Royal Palm in Atlantic Beach, was very close in design to the Varsity in Tallahassee and the Cedar Hills in Jacksonville.
When Eastern Federal twinned both the Fox and the Midway Drive-In, they installed AM Carrier Curent Sound and removed the speakers from all but the last few rows, you know the ones, the rows that the trunk slashers let their cargo out, and the rows with the rocking cars. They remained first run through the early 80’s. Then switched to the “B” movie, Zombie, Slasher soft core format. By 1984 they were Dollar Theatre running second run movies. They did out live the Midway Drive-In, which closed in mid 1984. The Fox closed not long into 1985, thus ending Eastern Federal’s Drive-In operations in Jacksonville, FL.
When Eastern Federal twinned both the Fox and the Midway Drive-In, they installed AM Carrier Curent Sound and removed the speakers from all but the last few rows, you know the ones, the rows that the trunk slashers let their cargo out, and the rows with the rocking cars. They remained first run through the early 80’s. Then switched to the “B” movie, Zombie, Slasher soft core format. By 1984 they were Dollar Theatre running second run movies. They did out live the Midway Drive-In, which closed in mid 1984. The Fox closed not long into 1985, thus ending Eastern Federal’s Drive-In operations in Jacksonville, FL.
I remember watching a Gozilla picture and the original Planet of the Apes there. Both times, it rained so hard that we could not hear the film due to the pounding rain on the metal Quonset Hut roof.
Before we continue our tour of the old Movie Theatres of Jacksonville (Duval) County Florida, I hope everyone had a good Labor Day Weekend. We now head back across the St. Johns to Arlington. There we will find the old Town & Country Theatre. It was another suburban theatre managed by Charlotte (NC) based Eastern Federal Corporation. It was Jacksonville’s first suburban first run movie house, opened in the 1950’s. It operated as a First Run Theatre until 1982. In 1979, Eastern Federal remodeled the theatre, making it a twin, and installed all new seats. In 1982 they switched to the $1.00 theatre format for a short while. With stiff competition from other area Dollar Theatres, Eastern Federal changed the format again in 1983 to Foreign and Art Films. When their lease ran out at the end of 1983. they closed the theatre and removed their seats and equipment, turning the empty theatre over to the Shopping Center Landlords. The building still stands and has seen several tenants since Eastern Federal closed the theatre, but it has never again reopened as a theatre. In hindsight, it was sort of a good idea that Eastern Federal closed the theatre when they did. Even though most thought that the old Movie House had a beautiful interior, the Theatre would not have been considered accessible when the American’s with Disabilities Act became law. The restrooms were located upstairs, and there was no elevator. Eastern Federal had two other Arlington operations over the years. They built and operated the Capri Theatre down University Blvd., about a half mile. That theatre was a single screen operation that during Eastern Federal’s time of operation was an “Art House” playing foreign films. When that didn’t work out for Eastern Federal, who owned the strip center the theatre was located, they leased out the Capri to an independent operator, who ran it as an Adult Theatre for several years. Now, I understand that it may be a Church. Also, on University Blvd., Eastern Federal Built and Operated the University Drive-In, a single screen Drive-In. The University Drive-In served as Eastern Federal’s area office and operated from the 1960’s to the late 1970’s when real-estate prices convinced the owners to sell the land to K-Mart, where a K-Mart Super Center operated for many years. The site is now the location of a Public Library. As for Eastern Federal’s area offices. They just moved down the street to the strip center they owned where the Capri Theatre was located.
The Northside Theatre that was located on Lem Turner Blvd, in the Northside of Jacksonville (Duval County) Florida. This was another one of Charlotte (NC) based, Eastern Federal Corporation’s suburban twin theatres. Unlike the Cedar Hills and Royal Palm and Town & Country that were originally built as single screen theatres, the Northside was built in the late 1960’s, specifically as a twin screen theatre, sharing the K-Mart parking lot. The Northside had two identical 500 seat auditoriums with Dolby Stereo in just one of them. It ran 1st run films for most of it’s life, but did change to the dollar format in the mid 1980’s. These pictures are from my personal archives, of which I was the photographer.
The old Cedar Hills Theatre in Jacksonville, (Duval County) Florida. This was another theater operated by Charlotte (NC) based Eastern Federal Corporation. It was built and operated by the H B Meiselman Theatre Circuit (Later to be Incorporated as Eastern Federal Corporation) as one of Jacksonville’s first suburban theaters, a single screen operation seating over 500, which also had a full theatrical stage in front of the screen. In the late 1970’s it was split in two, creating 2 separate 200 seat auditoriums. The interior pictures were taken shortly after the twinning. Eastern Federal operated five Indoor theatres and four Drive-In Theatres as well as several strip shopping centers in the Jacksonville area.