I worked here from 1988 until around 91. I was there for the big concession remodeling. Before we remodeled, our popcorn popper was in the back; you had to go outside the theater and walk around the side of the building to the back to get to it. We would pop LOTS of popcorn, put it in big yellow bags, and bring it up front to sell. Many WONDERFUL memories there, from changing the marquee with that TINY little ledge way high up on which you had to balance, to looking through the infinite number of boxes of old movie posters in the store room, to nude sunbathing on the roof!
I managed the Movies at Polo Rd. in the 90s. We did a decent business, but the layout of the lobby and the decor were hopelessly outdated. The small chain that owned the theater, Eastern Federal Corp., wasn’t very interested in the theater business; it was just a side business for them.
The original single screen was split in the 70s, and the third screen was in a brand new auditorium added on to the existing building. Before the addition of the third screen, the theater was called the “Cinema Twin,” but that may have just been the name bestowed upon it by the locals! I don’t remember what it was called before the initial split. Whereas the theater is still used today, sadly it is not for showing movies anymore. It is used for events and parties and bridal showers, etc. All of the theater equipment was removed prior to the beginning of the party business, but who knows? If one were to look deeper in the back rooms and closets and old hiding spaces of the place, there may be some old cinema relics left! :)
The Camelot was run by a guy named Joe Banks throughout the 80s and part of the 90s, I think. It was a decent theater, albeit tiny. There were four screens of around 150-175 seats each. It was not luxurious or gaudy, just efficient and sparsely decorated. Mr. Banks was a good guy though; he wanted to maintain a safe, family atmosphere. He would REFUSE to let kids under 17 into an R-rated movie! The Camelot was always seen as inferior to the older and more theatrical Cinema III down the street.
I worked here from 1988 until around 91. I was there for the big concession remodeling. Before we remodeled, our popcorn popper was in the back; you had to go outside the theater and walk around the side of the building to the back to get to it. We would pop LOTS of popcorn, put it in big yellow bags, and bring it up front to sell. Many WONDERFUL memories there, from changing the marquee with that TINY little ledge way high up on which you had to balance, to looking through the infinite number of boxes of old movie posters in the store room, to nude sunbathing on the roof!
I managed the Movies at Polo Rd. in the 90s. We did a decent business, but the layout of the lobby and the decor were hopelessly outdated. The small chain that owned the theater, Eastern Federal Corp., wasn’t very interested in the theater business; it was just a side business for them.
The original single screen was split in the 70s, and the third screen was in a brand new auditorium added on to the existing building. Before the addition of the third screen, the theater was called the “Cinema Twin,” but that may have just been the name bestowed upon it by the locals! I don’t remember what it was called before the initial split. Whereas the theater is still used today, sadly it is not for showing movies anymore. It is used for events and parties and bridal showers, etc. All of the theater equipment was removed prior to the beginning of the party business, but who knows? If one were to look deeper in the back rooms and closets and old hiding spaces of the place, there may be some old cinema relics left! :)
The Camelot was run by a guy named Joe Banks throughout the 80s and part of the 90s, I think. It was a decent theater, albeit tiny. There were four screens of around 150-175 seats each. It was not luxurious or gaudy, just efficient and sparsely decorated. Mr. Banks was a good guy though; he wanted to maintain a safe, family atmosphere. He would REFUSE to let kids under 17 into an R-rated movie! The Camelot was always seen as inferior to the older and more theatrical Cinema III down the street.