This photo is mine and was loaded to my Flickr page in 2008.https://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia_assorted_pics/2811385928/in/album-72157710870858643/
The history is a bit off for GCC. I’ll also try to add a little more about the theatre’s end. The General Cinema Corporation owned & operated two (not three as implied in the history) theatres in Charlotte when Eastland opened, the Charlottetown Cinemas and the Southpark Cinemas. GCC would not operate a 4th theatre in the Charlotte area until Tower Place opened in Pineville in 1986. The Eastland Mall theatre was last used as a church, Renovatus, in 2009-10 (church left that space in June 2010). GCC closed the Eastland Theatre in 1996 (per Charlotte Observer, June 27, 2010, p8A of 1A article, “Why Eastland went from bustling to bust”, also the source for when the church left the theatre space).
In 1951, R. A. (Reeves Alexander) Goodman and C. H. Faw owned both the Moonlite and a drive-in on the Waxhaw Highway (Highway 75). The one on the Waxhaw highway was known as the Monroe Drive-In (which is the name they would give their new drive-in theatre in 1952 on Roosevelt Blvd., aka Highway 74).
It appears this theatre opened in 1995. It could be the 2005 year was when Consolidated Theatres stopped their association with this theatre (sometimes Consolidated built and managed a theatre but did not necessarily own it).
Here is a nice story about The Center and the plans for it: http://www.myfoxcarolinas.com/story/26681393/millions-being-put-into-monroes-center-theatre
I believe this theatre should be labeled as “demolished”? As of today’s date, the history of this theatre posted here indicates that it was closed in 1990, an assumption at best. I do not know if I wrote that year when I first added the Union Village Cinemas to this web site in 2009 or not as the history has been modified [by others]. I will double-check Monroe’s city directories & post another comment only if I find better proof of the closing year.
The grand opening full-page ad appeared in The Enquirer-Journal on Feb. 27, 1985 (smaller ad on Friday, Feb. 28). The two films to play for the opening were “The Towering Inferno” and “Gone in 60 Seconds”. Would be interesting to know how those did – probably quite well! There is no need to post the ad here as the microfilm that it was found on just isn’t very good. I have removed two comments that I made at this theatre, one was for clearing up who built this theatre (Consolidated). The other commenter(s) removed their comments – this left mine simply ‘hanging’ and with no real purpose.
MonroeHistory – yes, after it changed over to X-rated, locals said bright lights were installed to face out towards 74 so that drivers on the highway could not see what was on the screen at the Monroe Drive-In.
Yes indeed, The Strand was one of Monroe’s early movie houses. The Dixie, The Rex, The Bru-nel – those were other early venues for “moving pictures”. I realize my sentence was a wee-bit poorly worded but I did mean April 1935 as this post was about “The State”, the first theatre that Wheeler Smith ‘opened’ in Monroe.
I wish I could remember when it closed but 1998 sounds about right. Here is link of photo at my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia_assorted_pics/3093439077/in/set-72157607065287311
Hello – surprised not to see this already posted here but Eastland Mall is now being demolished (started about a month ago maybe?). They said it would take about six months to level it.
Don’t know how busy it was in 1982 with “E.T.” – I left in 1975 – didn’t remember that picture playing first run there either. About the ads – do you mean you have the tear sheets? (from the newspaper) Or do you mean you have the actual paste-ups? I’ll email you.
You would be right but I don’t remember anyone by the last name of Cox (assuming that is your last name). You probably paid little attention to me. I worked very part-time in the beginning but (I think) at least two part-time shifts on the weekend during The Exorcist. Exorcist was so busy – the ushers were really, really working with the crowd and we were crazy back behind the concession stand – as soon as we finally got the last served, it would start all over again as people arrived early for the next show. Wasn’t lots of time for chit-chatting while it played. Learned how to count back change in that job – no one knows how to do that anymore but I’ve never forgotten.
Cool! Wonder where those photos went? Daddy always made sure there were photos of any promotions – I’m afraid my mother threw away some things not too long after his death in 1998. She didn’t think they were important. I did not remember that premier but remembered the movie. And the Ramada Inn’s restaurant across the street used to be a nice place to go. Not to mention The Peddler Steakhouse next door to the theatre (for a time). Thanks for sharing!
On January 31, 1977 Carrie was playing and for just a day, author Stephen King was in the lobby signing copies of his book of the same title (you could purchase the paperbacks there). I was no longer an employee but came by, thinking there would be a huge crowd and there was no one – so I sat in the lobby and chit-chatted with Stephen King for a few minutes and of course, bought a book and had him sign it. Nothing profound from it – just a little quirky bit of history for the Capri.
This was always the cool place to go in the ‘70s. Saw “Tunnel Vision” there and also The Who’s “Tommy”. I always liked the area — there was a neat-little sandwich place across the street (People’s Food?) in an old two-story house with an Earth Shoes store above it.
firstmom1982 – my mother worked at WIST too (about 1970) but only for a little while. I remember seeing “Her Majesty’s Secret Service” at The Center – and being a young teen I found it very romantically-dramatic at the end – my mother, a fan of both Ian Fleming and Sean Connery panned it (as most of the critics did). I loved the upstairs of The Center. My father and mother were courting in the days he managed the Center – gave her a surprise birthday party there after hours.
Hello! I loved Mr. Higgins – everyone did! He was funny — when the 2nd auditorium was built, he would tear the tickets and just say “To your left” or “To your right” over and over (well, if it was busy it would be over and over) I started with The Exorcist in 1974 – concession stand – sometimes it was so wild back there but there was nothing better than getting everyone served and in the theatre in record time. Don’t remember Mr. Anderson. And I agree, Mr. Brand was a great boss!
This photo is mine and was loaded to my Flickr page in 2008.https://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia_assorted_pics/2811385928/in/album-72157710870858643/
This photo is from the collection of David Poland, formerly with General Cinema Corporation.
The history is a bit off for GCC. I’ll also try to add a little more about the theatre’s end. The General Cinema Corporation owned & operated two (not three as implied in the history) theatres in Charlotte when Eastland opened, the Charlottetown Cinemas and the Southpark Cinemas. GCC would not operate a 4th theatre in the Charlotte area until Tower Place opened in Pineville in 1986. The Eastland Mall theatre was last used as a church, Renovatus, in 2009-10 (church left that space in June 2010). GCC closed the Eastland Theatre in 1996 (per Charlotte Observer, June 27, 2010, p8A of 1A article, “Why Eastland went from bustling to bust”, also the source for when the church left the theatre space).
In 1951, R. A. (Reeves Alexander) Goodman and C. H. Faw owned both the Moonlite and a drive-in on the Waxhaw Highway (Highway 75). The one on the Waxhaw highway was known as the Monroe Drive-In (which is the name they would give their new drive-in theatre in 1952 on Roosevelt Blvd., aka Highway 74).
It appears this theatre opened in 1995. It could be the 2005 year was when Consolidated Theatres stopped their association with this theatre (sometimes Consolidated built and managed a theatre but did not necessarily own it).
Here is a nice story about The Center and the plans for it: http://www.myfoxcarolinas.com/story/26681393/millions-being-put-into-monroes-center-theatre
I believe this theatre should be labeled as “demolished”? As of today’s date, the history of this theatre posted here indicates that it was closed in 1990, an assumption at best. I do not know if I wrote that year when I first added the Union Village Cinemas to this web site in 2009 or not as the history has been modified [by others]. I will double-check Monroe’s city directories & post another comment only if I find better proof of the closing year.
The grand opening full-page ad appeared in The Enquirer-Journal on Feb. 27, 1985 (smaller ad on Friday, Feb. 28). The two films to play for the opening were “The Towering Inferno” and “Gone in 60 Seconds”. Would be interesting to know how those did – probably quite well! There is no need to post the ad here as the microfilm that it was found on just isn’t very good. I have removed two comments that I made at this theatre, one was for clearing up who built this theatre (Consolidated). The other commenter(s) removed their comments – this left mine simply ‘hanging’ and with no real purpose.
This theatre was built by Consolidated Theatres.
MonroeHistory – yes, after it changed over to X-rated, locals said bright lights were installed to face out towards 74 so that drivers on the highway could not see what was on the screen at the Monroe Drive-In.
Yes indeed, The Strand was one of Monroe’s early movie houses. The Dixie, The Rex, The Bru-nel – those were other early venues for “moving pictures”. I realize my sentence was a wee-bit poorly worded but I did mean April 1935 as this post was about “The State”, the first theatre that Wheeler Smith ‘opened’ in Monroe.
Chuck, the Aldi’s sits on land that once had the “Monroe Drive-In” on it (near Skyway Drive or 601N). The Super Drive-In was a little further east.
I wish I could remember when it closed but 1998 sounds about right. Here is link of photo at my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricia_assorted_pics/3093439077/in/set-72157607065287311
Hello – surprised not to see this already posted here but Eastland Mall is now being demolished (started about a month ago maybe?). They said it would take about six months to level it.
Thanks Jay for posting the article about the opening and the ad too!
Thank you Joe. I will update it at the Union County Public Library’s web site!
The announcement that this theatre is now closed appeared in the Enquirer-Journal on Aug. 2, 2012.
Don’t know how busy it was in 1982 with “E.T.” – I left in 1975 – didn’t remember that picture playing first run there either. About the ads – do you mean you have the tear sheets? (from the newspaper) Or do you mean you have the actual paste-ups? I’ll email you.
You would be right but I don’t remember anyone by the last name of Cox (assuming that is your last name). You probably paid little attention to me. I worked very part-time in the beginning but (I think) at least two part-time shifts on the weekend during The Exorcist. Exorcist was so busy – the ushers were really, really working with the crowd and we were crazy back behind the concession stand – as soon as we finally got the last served, it would start all over again as people arrived early for the next show. Wasn’t lots of time for chit-chatting while it played. Learned how to count back change in that job – no one knows how to do that anymore but I’ve never forgotten.
At some time later in the theatre’s life, it was renamed The Dixie-Jubilee (probably in the 1970s).
Cool! Wonder where those photos went? Daddy always made sure there were photos of any promotions – I’m afraid my mother threw away some things not too long after his death in 1998. She didn’t think they were important. I did not remember that premier but remembered the movie. And the Ramada Inn’s restaurant across the street used to be a nice place to go. Not to mention The Peddler Steakhouse next door to the theatre (for a time). Thanks for sharing!
On January 31, 1977 Carrie was playing and for just a day, author Stephen King was in the lobby signing copies of his book of the same title (you could purchase the paperbacks there). I was no longer an employee but came by, thinking there would be a huge crowd and there was no one – so I sat in the lobby and chit-chatted with Stephen King for a few minutes and of course, bought a book and had him sign it. Nothing profound from it – just a little quirky bit of history for the Capri.
This was always the cool place to go in the ‘70s. Saw “Tunnel Vision” there and also The Who’s “Tommy”. I always liked the area — there was a neat-little sandwich place across the street (People’s Food?) in an old two-story house with an Earth Shoes store above it.
firstmom1982 – my mother worked at WIST too (about 1970) but only for a little while. I remember seeing “Her Majesty’s Secret Service” at The Center – and being a young teen I found it very romantically-dramatic at the end – my mother, a fan of both Ian Fleming and Sean Connery panned it (as most of the critics did). I loved the upstairs of The Center. My father and mother were courting in the days he managed the Center – gave her a surprise birthday party there after hours.
Hello! I loved Mr. Higgins – everyone did! He was funny — when the 2nd auditorium was built, he would tear the tickets and just say “To your left” or “To your right” over and over (well, if it was busy it would be over and over) I started with The Exorcist in 1974 – concession stand – sometimes it was so wild back there but there was nothing better than getting everyone served and in the theatre in record time. Don’t remember Mr. Anderson. And I agree, Mr. Brand was a great boss!