For a brief time, (2010?) the venue was known as the Fairborn Opry. They had bluegrass & some country acts play on the stage. I attended numerous shows until it abruptly closed down. It sat vacant for some years after that until this past year when it reopened as a playhouse. This venue is currently open and here is the Facebook link.
I recently drove by this drive-in and was dismayed to see a FOR SALE sign on the marquee. Chakeres cited the main reason to close it was the digital conversion cost.
Intimate & comfortable cinema that I miss. Saw many mainstream films there such as WHAT’S UP DOC & THE TURNING POINT. It wasn’t until the late 70’s, early 80’s that the cinema seemed to focus more on foreign films. I recall sitting through a riveting showing of the Alain Resnais film, PROVIDENCE. Also saw THE TIN DRUM & FELLINI’S CITY OF WOMEN among others. When the end came, it wasn’t totally unexpected. I remember going to several films and being the only one in the audience.
I am happy to report that the Plaza Theater will reopen on Christmas Day 2015. Here is the Facebook link for further information.
https://www.facebook.com/myplazatheatre
Southernlandthief’s comments are bringing back some good memories. I attended a showing of the Jack Nicholson film GOIN' SOUTH at this cinema. My friends had smuggled in some Schoenling Little Creme Ales (local beer) and accidentally got them rolling down the aisles LOL!
I likewise saw KING OF THE GYPSIES after the cinema was twinned along with ALL THAT JAZZ, and many others. The cinema went to a 2nd run format during the late 1980s if I recall. The decision to go with first run films again surprised me. Since I lived less than a block from this cinema, I attended many showings. Many people I knew said they wouldn’t see 1st run films in such a rundown theater.
I think the decision to close the cinema down was a result of a new multiplex opening 2 miles up the road. The decision to close came quick. There was only a one day notice. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend that last night and I regret it. I miss that cinema because there was so much history in those walls.
This was a very elegant cinema in an affluent part of town. The theater tended to show mainstream Hollywood films. I saw THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, EXORCIST, and THE BIG SLEEP British remake. Also saw less mainstream films such as RESURRECTION with Ellen Burstyn. The last film I saw there was RETURN OF THE JEDI. Not sure when it went under, but it probably was in the mid 1980s. I believe a Starbucks/restaurant occupy the spot now. It’s sad that so many theaters like this one are forgotten. It’s like they never existed.
My first glimpse of the McCook Cinema happened in 1964. At that time, “Dr Zhivago” was showing. The theater tended to show epic type movies if I recall until around 1972 when it started showing B movies and 2nd run features. Saw the “Groove Tube” there along with the re-release of the Billy Jack movie “Born Losers.” The theater then went hardcore porn approx. 1978.
It was approx. 1979-1980 when the theater became a real sleaze pit. Glass partition booths were installed along with porn loop stalls and a hardcore magazine, book section. I knew a girl who worked there briefly behind the glass booth. No offence, but this girl was all of 300 lbs! Clientele couldn’t have been too selective. The place had a long standing history of using only burnt out skanks.
The theater continued their porn run until approx. 2005 (?) It then became a couples/love boutique business. It limped along for several years before closing. The theater is now completely demolished.
For a brief time, (2010?) the venue was known as the Fairborn Opry. They had bluegrass & some country acts play on the stage. I attended numerous shows until it abruptly closed down. It sat vacant for some years after that until this past year when it reopened as a playhouse. This venue is currently open and here is the Facebook link.
https://www.facebook.com/Actors-Theatre-Fairborn-111701159281754/?rf=109570912411334
I recently drove by this drive-in and was dismayed to see a FOR SALE sign on the marquee. Chakeres cited the main reason to close it was the digital conversion cost.
Intimate & comfortable cinema that I miss. Saw many mainstream films there such as WHAT’S UP DOC & THE TURNING POINT. It wasn’t until the late 70’s, early 80’s that the cinema seemed to focus more on foreign films. I recall sitting through a riveting showing of the Alain Resnais film, PROVIDENCE. Also saw THE TIN DRUM & FELLINI’S CITY OF WOMEN among others. When the end came, it wasn’t totally unexpected. I remember going to several films and being the only one in the audience.
I am happy to report that the Plaza Theater will reopen on Christmas Day 2015. Here is the Facebook link for further information. https://www.facebook.com/myplazatheatre
Southernlandthief’s comments are bringing back some good memories. I attended a showing of the Jack Nicholson film GOIN' SOUTH at this cinema. My friends had smuggled in some Schoenling Little Creme Ales (local beer) and accidentally got them rolling down the aisles LOL!
I likewise saw KING OF THE GYPSIES after the cinema was twinned along with ALL THAT JAZZ, and many others. The cinema went to a 2nd run format during the late 1980s if I recall. The decision to go with first run films again surprised me. Since I lived less than a block from this cinema, I attended many showings. Many people I knew said they wouldn’t see 1st run films in such a rundown theater.
I think the decision to close the cinema down was a result of a new multiplex opening 2 miles up the road. The decision to close came quick. There was only a one day notice. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend that last night and I regret it. I miss that cinema because there was so much history in those walls.
This was a very elegant cinema in an affluent part of town. The theater tended to show mainstream Hollywood films. I saw THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, EXORCIST, and THE BIG SLEEP British remake. Also saw less mainstream films such as RESURRECTION with Ellen Burstyn. The last film I saw there was RETURN OF THE JEDI. Not sure when it went under, but it probably was in the mid 1980s. I believe a Starbucks/restaurant occupy the spot now. It’s sad that so many theaters like this one are forgotten. It’s like they never existed.
My first glimpse of the McCook Cinema happened in 1964. At that time, “Dr Zhivago” was showing. The theater tended to show epic type movies if I recall until around 1972 when it started showing B movies and 2nd run features. Saw the “Groove Tube” there along with the re-release of the Billy Jack movie “Born Losers.” The theater then went hardcore porn approx. 1978.
It was approx. 1979-1980 when the theater became a real sleaze pit. Glass partition booths were installed along with porn loop stalls and a hardcore magazine, book section. I knew a girl who worked there briefly behind the glass booth. No offence, but this girl was all of 300 lbs! Clientele couldn’t have been too selective. The place had a long standing history of using only burnt out skanks.
The theater continued their porn run until approx. 2005 (?) It then became a couples/love boutique business. It limped along for several years before closing. The theater is now completely demolished.