I was the last General Manager of my all-time favorite theatre on 2 occasions. First, from 1987-1991 and then from 1993-2001. I started as an employee there in 1981. The Wonderland was the area’s premier theatre for many years – especially when there was a huge 500 plus seat theatre which showed E.T. for 6 and ½ months. The theatre was split into 2 280 seat theatres.
Theatres 1 and 2 were 280 seats, theatre 3 was 390 seats and theatre 4 was 410 seats.
The inside of the theatre is currently used to store equipment for the amusement park and the lobby area is where you can purchase tickets to its sad looking mini-golf course or Nathan’s hot dogs. The last films to play were Pearl Harbor, Princess Diaries, Rush Hour 2,
Summer Catch & 2 other films. It was a very sad day when this theatre closed. Prior to 1997, this theatre averaged between 220,000 and 280,000 patron. In 1998, the theatre had over 350,000 patrons as the Regal Cinema 7 had been demolished for a replacement 16 screen complex, which opened in May 1999. From 1999-2001, the theatre still had between 150,000 and 200,000 patrons. The lease was not renewed due to a combination of a change in philosophy by AMC Theatres and Earl Realty selling to Hershey. The theatre would still be profitable today if it had been renovated because of its location and being an old “community favorite”.
A sad day in January 1997 when this theatre closed; as I was the last General Manager of this theatre for AMC. Its last features were Scream, Preacher’s Wife, & 101 Dalmatians. I had worked there from 1981-1986 & 1993-1997. The first movies I worked for were Stripes & Clash of the Titans. The theatre was closed as there were no renovations being done by the landlord and AMC changed its business model & were eliminating small complexes. The theatre typically did between 100,000 and 125,000 customers per year.
I was the last General Manager of my all-time favorite theatre on 2 occasions. First, from 1987-1991 and then from 1993-2001. I started as an employee there in 1981. The Wonderland was the area’s premier theatre for many years – especially when there was a huge 500 plus seat theatre which showed E.T. for 6 and ½ months. The theatre was split into 2 280 seat theatres. Theatres 1 and 2 were 280 seats, theatre 3 was 390 seats and theatre 4 was 410 seats. The inside of the theatre is currently used to store equipment for the amusement park and the lobby area is where you can purchase tickets to its sad looking mini-golf course or Nathan’s hot dogs. The last films to play were Pearl Harbor, Princess Diaries, Rush Hour 2, Summer Catch & 2 other films. It was a very sad day when this theatre closed. Prior to 1997, this theatre averaged between 220,000 and 280,000 patron. In 1998, the theatre had over 350,000 patrons as the Regal Cinema 7 had been demolished for a replacement 16 screen complex, which opened in May 1999. From 1999-2001, the theatre still had between 150,000 and 200,000 patrons. The lease was not renewed due to a combination of a change in philosophy by AMC Theatres and Earl Realty selling to Hershey. The theatre would still be profitable today if it had been renovated because of its location and being an old “community favorite”.
A sad day in January 1997 when this theatre closed; as I was the last General Manager of this theatre for AMC. Its last features were Scream, Preacher’s Wife, & 101 Dalmatians. I had worked there from 1981-1986 & 1993-1997. The first movies I worked for were Stripes & Clash of the Titans. The theatre was closed as there were no renovations being done by the landlord and AMC changed its business model & were eliminating small complexes. The theatre typically did between 100,000 and 125,000 customers per year.