This was our go-to when my family first moved to Anne Arundel county in the mid 70’s when it was simply “Crofton Cinemas”. We saw Star Wars here for the first time. I remember that the mother and daughter who ran the place back then were not particularly friendly or even pleasant. They irritated my father so badly one time that he dumped an entire bucket of popcorn all over the concession stand to their shock and amazement. I’m not sure if we ever when back after that. I doubt it. Its a Golds Gym now.
My memories is fuzzy on some stuff, but I do remember Jade Tree. I did not know they were the same owner. I could have sworn the carry out was called Panda Express, at least eventually.
That small house on the right was the place where big hit movies died. Sometime it was the last stop for the movies that never quite found an audience. I remember that house running ‘Back to the Future’ long after everyone had seen it at least once. I sat in there many times to watch it again. I must have seen it 13 times before it was finally gone, and I saw the ending countless times.
Sorry to say that the one above is the only photo I have. I do remember eating food from the Panda Express across the way (and Boardwalk Fries) many times. I also remember the arcade next door VERY well.
When we showed Tim Burton’s Batman, there was a lot of excitement. The marketing on that movie really built on something that was already highly anticipated. Tickets were not hard to get the first few weeks if you arrived early enough, came to a Monday-Wednesday showing, or you were willing to wait in long lines.
We received the print a few days before it opened. I had a screening for TWO people that Wednesday night/Thursday morning well after hours; myself and a friend. I had a hard time staying awake. I didn’t find the movie that compelling, but it was still fun to see it before the general public…a great perk back in the day. This is mostly impossible now since everything has gone digital and requires a code be entered.
The photo is from early December of 1983. I dated it from the posters which I listed in the photo description. This theater WAS first. The 11 house theater came much later. And the theater wasn’t so much ‘demolished’ as it was ‘built-over’. It was opened in 1980 along with the mall itself.
I do recall the family movies shown in house number 4 (the largest one). I vaguely remember running The Little Price (1974 version).
I left before it became Apex, but I remember the Harbor 9. I don’t think I ever saw a movie there as I lived out of state for most of its run.
I added the only photo I have. I started working there about a year later. This photo was among the junk lying around during my time there (1984-1989). I’m glad I saved it.
This was our go-to when my family first moved to Anne Arundel county in the mid 70’s when it was simply “Crofton Cinemas”. We saw Star Wars here for the first time. I remember that the mother and daughter who ran the place back then were not particularly friendly or even pleasant. They irritated my father so badly one time that he dumped an entire bucket of popcorn all over the concession stand to their shock and amazement. I’m not sure if we ever when back after that. I doubt it. Its a Golds Gym now.
The theater closed in late 1999. The mall had been in decline for a number of years.
Yes. Babbages! The JC Penney is still there I think. We called it Jacques Pené.
My memories is fuzzy on some stuff, but I do remember Jade Tree. I did not know they were the same owner. I could have sworn the carry out was called Panda Express, at least eventually.
That small house on the right was the place where big hit movies died. Sometime it was the last stop for the movies that never quite found an audience. I remember that house running ‘Back to the Future’ long after everyone had seen it at least once. I sat in there many times to watch it again. I must have seen it 13 times before it was finally gone, and I saw the ending countless times.
Sorry to say that the one above is the only photo I have. I do remember eating food from the Panda Express across the way (and Boardwalk Fries) many times. I also remember the arcade next door VERY well.
When we showed Tim Burton’s Batman, there was a lot of excitement. The marketing on that movie really built on something that was already highly anticipated. Tickets were not hard to get the first few weeks if you arrived early enough, came to a Monday-Wednesday showing, or you were willing to wait in long lines.
We received the print a few days before it opened. I had a screening for TWO people that Wednesday night/Thursday morning well after hours; myself and a friend. I had a hard time staying awake. I didn’t find the movie that compelling, but it was still fun to see it before the general public…a great perk back in the day. This is mostly impossible now since everything has gone digital and requires a code be entered.
The photo is from early December of 1983. I dated it from the posters which I listed in the photo description. This theater WAS first. The 11 house theater came much later. And the theater wasn’t so much ‘demolished’ as it was ‘built-over’. It was opened in 1980 along with the mall itself.
I do recall the family movies shown in house number 4 (the largest one). I vaguely remember running The Little Price (1974 version).
I left before it became Apex, but I remember the Harbor 9. I don’t think I ever saw a movie there as I lived out of state for most of its run.
I added the only photo I have. I started working there about a year later. This photo was among the junk lying around during my time there (1984-1989). I’m glad I saved it.