@Chris Utley: That is so awesome!!! I only went to the Esquire once in 1990 when “Fantasia” was re-released into theaters. Lots of memories of that area, though. For me, it was the Science and Natural History museum in Oak Knoll Park, with the big statues of Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops! The Esquire was just down the street from there. So glad the Esquire is still open! Great seeing your post and your photos!
So mall management at the time felt making this place a dollar show would attract the “wrong quality of people”? Sounds like they should have taken action against UA Theaters for building this place the way they did, because that was the real reason this theater attracted NO people!!! I went there once back in 1991 to see The Rocketeer (should make Logan 5 happy) and found dirty carpet, corrugated metal walls, and noises (people knocking against the metal walls, mostly) that interfered with watching the movie. Hard to believe a somewhat upscale place like Brea Mall would allow such a lousy theater to be built.
@jwmovies: You are correct about the location of the 270 Drive-In. However, in newspaper listings, the location was always given as I-270 and West Florissant Rd. Not arguing your point at all (I’m sure it’s valid), but giving the location as I-270 and West Florissant made it easier for folks to figure out where it was.
I grew up in St. Charles and never made it to this drive-in (sadly) but I remember seeing that marquee all lit up on Sunday nights when my folks would drive us home from Sunday evening services at Third Baptist Church.
Personal opinion: Decent theater, but not a great one. I think this has been an underperformer for Regal, due to its location and design. It’s in a very nice area, but it’s kinda buried way back in Foothill Ranch near a toll road. In contrast to the Spectrum, which is right off the I-5 Freeway. The Aliso Viejo is also not right off the freeway, but it’s in a much more active area and is much closer to the freeway than Foothill Ranch.
I agree this is great news…and noticed the last time I was in that area that there was finally some activity on that construction site…but I have to disagree about the Aliso Viejo Town Center. That’s always been a great theater and it’s not that far from Laguna Hills. I would agree, though, that this theater could take business from the Regal Foothill Ranch, since that has always been an underperforming theater. The Spectrum is the Spectrum. Not sure anyone’s going to make a dent in their business.
Just received a message on Facebook that the Laguna Hills Mall Cinema will close on Friday, May 27. It’s because the mall is FINALLY going to be renovated…with plans to add a new 14-screen theater run by Icon Cinemas. So it appears Thursday, May 26, is the last day of the Laguna Hills Mall Cinema. If you want to go there one last time, make plans now!
Does anyone know if the building that used to house Westport Cine is still there? I was looking at Westport Plaza’s website and couldn’t find it in any of the pictures on that site and the center map was no help at all. Does anyone know?
Bob_Villhard: PLEASE share some stories!!! Well, at least ones that are somewhat family friendly…Although I only saw one movie at Westport, I always loved going to Westport Plaza. That place had such a neat vibe, but it just seemed to just lose momentum as the 80s and 90s went by, which was reflected in what happened to the theater. If you can share any insight…as well as any stories…we’d all love to hear it!
Post-Dispatch reported last week that Jamestown Mall is now officially closed. That’s the whole mall, not just the theater. So much of North St.Louis County is just disappearing or a far cry from how it used to be.
I recently ran across some online archives of my old college’s student newspaper (The UMSL Current) from 1985 and 1986. There were a few movie ads in there and one had the Woods Mill Cinema listed in it. The location for the Woods Mill was given as “Hwy 40 and Woods Mill Road.” After doing a quick check of Google Maps, that location would be close to Maryville University. I also noticed a small strip center with a Dave’s World in it on South Woods Mill, just off South Outer Forty Road. Perhaps this was where the Woods Mill Cinema was located. Keep in mind the key word here is “perhaps”. :)
Stephen, I would also like to extend my prayers and sympathy to you and your family. Although I never met your father in person, I knew of him and our mutual love of movie theaters (especially in St. Louis) from this and other websites we posted on (Cinematour.com, drive-ins.com, etc). As my good friend Chris Utley said, your father had true passion for movies and movie theaters, especially in our hometown of St. Louis. God Bless you during this difficult time.
I also believe it’s because the theater is intended to be an “art house” theater, at least partially. But you raise a valid point, JAlex. Highly ironic…also, this will be on the property where Noah’s Ark used to be, I believe. We’ll see if this catches on.
It looks like the Kenrick Cine is going to become a Walmart. Here’s the story from the Post-Dispatch:
[(http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/shrewsbury-board-gives-nod-to-walmart/article_6a81eb81-58ab-52ac-9b82-2276da1f0b74.html)]
@Jmiller: “The Swarm” was one of the most hyped pictures I can remember (there were full page color ads in the Globe-Democrat about 1-2 months before it opened saying “The Swarm is coming!”…but like you said, once it opened, it turned out to be an epic flop!!! Right up there with Heaven’s Gate as one of the worst big-budget movie disasters of all time!
Following up my recent post on the Westport Cine, I believe the Alton was one of the few theaters that didn’t have a box office. You bought your tickets at the front of the concession stand as you went in the building. The Westport Cine had a similar setup. Can anyone confirm?
As I recall, this was one of the few movie theaters that didn’t have a box office. You bought your tickets at the front of the concession stand after you went in. I believe the Alton Cine had a similar “no box office” setup. Can anyone confirm?
I went to this theater a few times. Saw the first Batman movie (with Michael Keaton) here and the last movie I saw here was Rocky 5, about a month before I moved to Southern California. Although it wasn’t my favorite place, I actually liked it better than the Northwest 9 inside the mall.
@Chris Utley: That is so awesome!!! I only went to the Esquire once in 1990 when “Fantasia” was re-released into theaters. Lots of memories of that area, though. For me, it was the Science and Natural History museum in Oak Knoll Park, with the big statues of Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops! The Esquire was just down the street from there. So glad the Esquire is still open! Great seeing your post and your photos!
@rivest266: Just out of curiosity, what were the other two cinemas that closed?
So mall management at the time felt making this place a dollar show would attract the “wrong quality of people”? Sounds like they should have taken action against UA Theaters for building this place the way they did, because that was the real reason this theater attracted NO people!!! I went there once back in 1991 to see The Rocketeer (should make Logan 5 happy) and found dirty carpet, corrugated metal walls, and noises (people knocking against the metal walls, mostly) that interfered with watching the movie. Hard to believe a somewhat upscale place like Brea Mall would allow such a lousy theater to be built.
@jwmovies: You are correct about the location of the 270 Drive-In. However, in newspaper listings, the location was always given as I-270 and West Florissant Rd. Not arguing your point at all (I’m sure it’s valid), but giving the location as I-270 and West Florissant made it easier for folks to figure out where it was.
I grew up in St. Charles and never made it to this drive-in (sadly) but I remember seeing that marquee all lit up on Sunday nights when my folks would drive us home from Sunday evening services at Third Baptist Church.
Personal opinion: Decent theater, but not a great one. I think this has been an underperformer for Regal, due to its location and design. It’s in a very nice area, but it’s kinda buried way back in Foothill Ranch near a toll road. In contrast to the Spectrum, which is right off the I-5 Freeway. The Aliso Viejo is also not right off the freeway, but it’s in a much more active area and is much closer to the freeway than Foothill Ranch.
jwmovies:
I agree this is great news…and noticed the last time I was in that area that there was finally some activity on that construction site…but I have to disagree about the Aliso Viejo Town Center. That’s always been a great theater and it’s not that far from Laguna Hills. I would agree, though, that this theater could take business from the Regal Foothill Ranch, since that has always been an underperforming theater. The Spectrum is the Spectrum. Not sure anyone’s going to make a dent in their business.
Just received a message on Facebook that the Laguna Hills Mall Cinema will close on Friday, May 27. It’s because the mall is FINALLY going to be renovated…with plans to add a new 14-screen theater run by Icon Cinemas. So it appears Thursday, May 26, is the last day of the Laguna Hills Mall Cinema. If you want to go there one last time, make plans now!
Does anyone know if the building that used to house Westport Cine is still there? I was looking at Westport Plaza’s website and couldn’t find it in any of the pictures on that site and the center map was no help at all. Does anyone know?
Bob_Villhard: PLEASE share some stories!!! Well, at least ones that are somewhat family friendly…Although I only saw one movie at Westport, I always loved going to Westport Plaza. That place had such a neat vibe, but it just seemed to just lose momentum as the 80s and 90s went by, which was reflected in what happened to the theater. If you can share any insight…as well as any stories…we’d all love to hear it!
Post-Dispatch reported last week that Jamestown Mall is now officially closed. That’s the whole mall, not just the theater. So much of North St.Louis County is just disappearing or a far cry from how it used to be.
Oops…I meant THX…sorry for the dyslexic moment there…
I saw Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in 70mm TXH at the Clarkson. It was the only time I went there. The main auditorium was pretty cool!!
It appears Wehrenberg Theaters is going to give Watson Road another try. Check out this article from the St. Louis Business Journal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2014/05/wehrenberg-theatres-plans-new-theater-complex-in.html
Despite the Kenrick being demolished, it appears Wehrenberg Theaters is going to give Watson Road another try. Check out this article:
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/2014/05/wehrenberg-theatres-plans-new-theater-complex-in.html
Just out of curiosity, DAL, what kind of problems where they? Were they structure-related, location-related, or customer-related?
I recently ran across some online archives of my old college’s student newspaper (The UMSL Current) from 1985 and 1986. There were a few movie ads in there and one had the Woods Mill Cinema listed in it. The location for the Woods Mill was given as “Hwy 40 and Woods Mill Road.” After doing a quick check of Google Maps, that location would be close to Maryville University. I also noticed a small strip center with a Dave’s World in it on South Woods Mill, just off South Outer Forty Road. Perhaps this was where the Woods Mill Cinema was located. Keep in mind the key word here is “perhaps”. :)
Stephen, I would also like to extend my prayers and sympathy to you and your family. Although I never met your father in person, I knew of him and our mutual love of movie theaters (especially in St. Louis) from this and other websites we posted on (Cinematour.com, drive-ins.com, etc). As my good friend Chris Utley said, your father had true passion for movies and movie theaters, especially in our hometown of St. Louis. God Bless you during this difficult time.
I also believe it’s because the theater is intended to be an “art house” theater, at least partially. But you raise a valid point, JAlex. Highly ironic…also, this will be on the property where Noah’s Ark used to be, I believe. We’ll see if this catches on.
Let me try that link again: Kenrick becomes WalMart
It looks like the Kenrick Cine is going to become a Walmart. Here’s the story from the Post-Dispatch: [(http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/shrewsbury-board-gives-nod-to-walmart/article_6a81eb81-58ab-52ac-9b82-2276da1f0b74.html)]
@Jmiller: “The Swarm” was one of the most hyped pictures I can remember (there were full page color ads in the Globe-Democrat about 1-2 months before it opened saying “The Swarm is coming!”…but like you said, once it opened, it turned out to be an epic flop!!! Right up there with Heaven’s Gate as one of the worst big-budget movie disasters of all time!
Following up my recent post on the Westport Cine, I believe the Alton was one of the few theaters that didn’t have a box office. You bought your tickets at the front of the concession stand as you went in the building. The Westport Cine had a similar setup. Can anyone confirm?
As I recall, this was one of the few movie theaters that didn’t have a box office. You bought your tickets at the front of the concession stand after you went in. I believe the Alton Cine had a similar “no box office” setup. Can anyone confirm?
I went to this theater a few times. Saw the first Batman movie (with Michael Keaton) here and the last movie I saw here was Rocky 5, about a month before I moved to Southern California. Although it wasn’t my favorite place, I actually liked it better than the Northwest 9 inside the mall.
Is that the theater’s original marquee on the left of this pic?