Made it back here for the first time in 20 years during Thanksgiving 2022. It was an immense joy to be back in the theatre that helped to spark my lifetime love for cinema.
The decreases in seating capacity actually help to enhance the film experience here. They’ve brought the box office indoors which leads to a super cramped lobby and concession area. But the presentation was excellent. And I love what they’ve done to the original auditorium. Also interspersed throughout the theater are photos commemorating its various incarnations - as original single screen house, to the old #4 addition in the mid 1970’s and beyond.
12 years after that…”debate” about movie titles at the T-Bird began, the St. Louis area newspapers are now archived online. I have embarked on my own personal tracking of the old St. Louis movie theater listings from the 1970’s and the T-Bird listings under the Mid-America banner show roughly 75% Blaxploitation, 10% Kung-Fu, 10% Horror and a scant 5% mainstream titles (like westerns and such).
I suspect that the memories of those residents that were mentioned before are from the days of traveling to the Airway, St. Ann 4 Screen, Holiday & North Twin to see those big ticket titles. Because none of those played here. And we now have the receipts.
This one has my favorite XD auditorium of them all. Where all the others I’ve seen have tall screens, this one has a bonafide super wide 2:40:1 fixed length screen, making Scope films look how they’re supposed to look. I make the drive out to this place twice a year just for that experience alone!
Coyote tried expanding into Alabama and North Dallas (Lewisville) but, sadly, they did not find success with the Lewisville location now demolished after only 2 years in operation and the Alabama location sold and operated by another firm. This original Fort Worth location is the last man standing and is packing in the crowds. They have since added live music and food trucks to their repertoire. I, personally, don’t have issues with the aforementioned ambient light from surrounding areas interfering with the feature presentation (but then again I park on the 2nd/3rd row whenever I come here).
It is a tough drive coming here from Plano during Friday rush hour but it’s a drive I’ll gladly take in order to help this fabulous drive-in stay in business!
If Dave & Busters and your friendly neighborhood multiplex had a baby, this would be the result! Movies/restaurant/bowling/laser tag/arcade all under one roof! I saw a film in their large XD room (Cinemark’s licensing XD to theatres they do not own) and it was pretty nice!
There is now a Virtual Reality attraction called “The Void” housed just to the right of the theatre lobby. It charges separate admission from the theatre.
In the meantime, as it walks it’s slow death march into oblivion, AMC’s now charging only $5.99 a ticket all day every day for FIRST RUN flicks. Needless to say, they’re packing em in at those prices!
We never got the whole story from Coyote ownership. Just a repetitive spiel about how the location was “underperforming.” They surrendered their Leeds, AL location to another firm as well. All they have left is their Fort Worth location – which is packed like sardines on Spring & Summer weekend nights. It’s a pain to get to from North Dallas, though.
This theatre is headed for a bit of friendly competition as a Galaxy Theatres location is opening about 1 mile away in the Grandscapes center around Summer 2020.
Very busy arthouse venue (that will occasionally sneak in a blockbuster title). Entrance in on the 1st floor while all 7 auditoriums are on the 2nd floor. With no other arthouse options on this side of town, this theatre should be in business for a long long time to come.
Decent dine-in theatre with good food…and so-so theatrical presentation. The theatre and all of its sister locations are now run by Cineopolis who bought the chain in 2019.
This is the closest drive-in to my home in Plano. Easy (but kinda long) drive as it’s a straight shot from 75 as it transitions into I-45. Love the low prices, the popcorn & it’s quite possibly the best digital projection I’ve ever seen at a drive-in! And I REALLY love the classic era pre-show and intermission reel!
The grounds could use a bit more attention in terms of upkeep but, with the traditional drive-in experience making a slow death march towards extinction it’s a necessary endurance to preserve a great spring & summer tradition!
LOL @ Joe. Having attended both of those D/I’s regularly, you’re prone to see more SUV’s, Flat bed trucks and minivans with kiddos running around them than any Passion Pit behavior!
Made it back here for the first time in 20 years during Thanksgiving 2022. It was an immense joy to be back in the theatre that helped to spark my lifetime love for cinema.
The decreases in seating capacity actually help to enhance the film experience here. They’ve brought the box office indoors which leads to a super cramped lobby and concession area. But the presentation was excellent. And I love what they’ve done to the original auditorium. Also interspersed throughout the theater are photos commemorating its various incarnations - as original single screen house, to the old #4 addition in the mid 1970’s and beyond.
Huge photo dump added! Enjoy!
12 years after that…”debate” about movie titles at the T-Bird began, the St. Louis area newspapers are now archived online. I have embarked on my own personal tracking of the old St. Louis movie theater listings from the 1970’s and the T-Bird listings under the Mid-America banner show roughly 75% Blaxploitation, 10% Kung-Fu, 10% Horror and a scant 5% mainstream titles (like westerns and such).
I suspect that the memories of those residents that were mentioned before are from the days of traveling to the Airway, St. Ann 4 Screen, Holiday & North Twin to see those big ticket titles. Because none of those played here. And we now have the receipts.
Thanks for confirmation
I believe the theatre was purchased by a church and they’re now running church services in the main auditorium. Not sure if they still show films.
This one has my favorite XD auditorium of them all. Where all the others I’ve seen have tall screens, this one has a bonafide super wide 2:40:1 fixed length screen, making Scope films look how they’re supposed to look. I make the drive out to this place twice a year just for that experience alone!
The grounds are now an industrial park. No trace of this short lived drive-in remains.
Yup. That’s where I saw Star Wars & Empire Strikes Back!
Rubidoux is also the name of that particular area of Riverside.
Coyote tried expanding into Alabama and North Dallas (Lewisville) but, sadly, they did not find success with the Lewisville location now demolished after only 2 years in operation and the Alabama location sold and operated by another firm. This original Fort Worth location is the last man standing and is packing in the crowds. They have since added live music and food trucks to their repertoire. I, personally, don’t have issues with the aforementioned ambient light from surrounding areas interfering with the feature presentation (but then again I park on the 2nd/3rd row whenever I come here).
It is a tough drive coming here from Plano during Friday rush hour but it’s a drive I’ll gladly take in order to help this fabulous drive-in stay in business!
If Dave & Busters and your friendly neighborhood multiplex had a baby, this would be the result! Movies/restaurant/bowling/laser tag/arcade all under one roof! I saw a film in their large XD room (Cinemark’s licensing XD to theatres they do not own) and it was pretty nice!
There is now a Virtual Reality attraction called “The Void” housed just to the right of the theatre lobby. It charges separate admission from the theatre.
Went here once in its discount show formation and once post renovation. The renovation turned out to be pretty nice!
In the meantime, as it walks it’s slow death march into oblivion, AMC’s now charging only $5.99 a ticket all day every day for FIRST RUN flicks. Needless to say, they’re packing em in at those prices!
We never got the whole story from Coyote ownership. Just a repetitive spiel about how the location was “underperforming.” They surrendered their Leeds, AL location to another firm as well. All they have left is their Fort Worth location – which is packed like sardines on Spring & Summer weekend nights. It’s a pain to get to from North Dallas, though.
This theatre is headed for a bit of friendly competition as a Galaxy Theatres location is opening about 1 mile away in the Grandscapes center around Summer 2020.
Very busy arthouse venue (that will occasionally sneak in a blockbuster title). Entrance in on the 1st floor while all 7 auditoriums are on the 2nd floor. With no other arthouse options on this side of town, this theatre should be in business for a long long time to come.
Decent dine-in theatre with good food…and so-so theatrical presentation. The theatre and all of its sister locations are now run by Cineopolis who bought the chain in 2019.
Another great Alamo venue!
This is the closest drive-in to my home in Plano. Easy (but kinda long) drive as it’s a straight shot from 75 as it transitions into I-45. Love the low prices, the popcorn & it’s quite possibly the best digital projection I’ve ever seen at a drive-in! And I REALLY love the classic era pre-show and intermission reel!
The grounds could use a bit more attention in terms of upkeep but, with the traditional drive-in experience making a slow death march towards extinction it’s a necessary endurance to preserve a great spring & summer tradition!
This auditorium is now a Dolby Cinema room
Someone heard my criticisms. The sound has most definitely been updated. I like coming here on Discount Tuesdays when tickets are just $5.
Great venue!
LOL @ Joe. Having attended both of those D/I’s regularly, you’re prone to see more SUV’s, Flat bed trucks and minivans with kiddos running around them than any Passion Pit behavior!
Yep. Whole thing’s been torn down with no remains for about 20 years now.
This is a picture of the adjoining mall, not the actual movie theatre