UA Cinema 150

A chronology of Little Rock’s 70mm presentations has recently been published for those interested in this aspect of the city’s motion picture exhibition history. The Cinema 150 gets several mentions in the piece.

There are lots of interesting stories about the UA Cinema 150. I worked for United Artists from 1969 until 1977, and then again from 1980 until 1986, in Conway, Morrilton and Arkadelphia, Arkansas. While I had many UA manager and employee friends in Little Rock, I never did work there.

The story goes that the real estate specialist for United Artists, Bob Bouchee (spelling?) was scouting Little Rock, in an effort to find the best location for a D-150 theatre. He saw the corner of Asher & University and said “This is it.” Unfortunately, the developer of the Village Shopping Center did not want a movie theatre in his project. As a result, United Artists purchased the entire shopping center and put the Cinema 150 there. At one point in time, it was suggested that the city offices for United Artists be placed in the center. United Artists had closed the Arkansas Theatre downtown and then needed another place to go. When someone suggested to then district manager Robin Wightman about the possibility, Wightman said, “Hell, we can’t afford the rent there!” So they located the offices behind the UA University Quartet Theatre across the street from the 150.

Another story concerns the construction of the 150. The construction was progressing nicely, when someone discovered that the architect had not included a project booth in his plans! So, one had to be added to the plans and engineers had to figure out how to complete the construction. That apparently was a problem, but they got it worked out.

The UA Cinema 150 was a gorgeous theatre and one that the film companies wanted to have their pictures screened there. It was also a favorite of movie patrons, great for dates and special occasions. I always enjoyed going there on my night off and watching a film. But my favorite theatre in Little Rock for watching movies was actually The Heights Theatre. I know it was a sad day when the 150 was razed.

I saw the original Star Wars, Empire and Jedi at this theater as a kid. I moved from Little Rock long ago, but it’s sad to see it gone.

This is great they saved this wonderful building. There was once a similar theatre in Seattle for years with the same screen and systems and they made it a weedfilled lot and now it is another huge generic highrise in a city rapidly loosing it soul and history. The screen in this 150 degree system is almost as awesome as Cinerama or Imax. The Cinerama theatre still exists in Seattle and has been updated and improved many times and just recently again. One of the most technically advanced theatres in the world. Was built around 1962 or 1963.

marysgranddaughter: No, my job transferred me to Ohio, back in ‘91. I hardly ever go to the movies any more. It’s just not nearly as much fun as in 'the good ol’ days'.

marysgranddaughter: I knew your dad pretty well. He was the head projectionist at the old UA Four theater, back in ‘72, when I worked there. He was pretty cool, and used to let us visit the projection booth any time we wanted.

See my list on the IMDb, at http://www.imdb.com/list/dyuCm5hS9x0/

I worked at the old UA Four, near the Southwest Mall, for about a year, in ‘72/'73, and any UA employee was allowed to see free movies at any other UA theater in Little Rock. My first wife was an employee at The Cinema 150 (That’s what we all knew it as), and we saw quite a few movies there. But… Well before that, I saw 'Ben-Hur’ at The Cinema, in 1969, for it’s 10th anniversary re-release. The chariot race, on that huge, curved screen, was absolutely AWESOME!!

There are some interior images at this site.

Words cannot describe how special this theater was. Saturdays, my family would make a day trip out of coming from Hot Springs to see a film. The experience ranked up there with going to see the Razorbacks play just up the road at War Memorial. For a couple of night games I was lucky enough to see a matinee before heading up to the stadium. The cinema had two entrances on opposite sides of the lobby and there was always a race between the kids to get a seat directly under the domes center because it almost had a 3D effect.

I thought about listing all the films I saw there as way to explain how great the experience was but a list just doesn’t describe what an awesome experience truly was. After some time I finally came up with an idea that might explain how special the 150 truly was. I saw Waterworld there and it was one of the best films ever made! I wish I could have seen Heaven’s Gate or Ishtar there, that would have been awesome! Can someone explain to me how Elizabeth Berkley didn’t win an Oscar for Showgirls? Ok, that last won was a reach, but hopefully I made my point.

I was in Little Rock once in the 1980s and saw the last Dirty Harry movie at this theater. I loved how big the screen was. One funny note was before the feature and after the previews, you saw a warning on the screen that switching auditoriums was prohibited.
Quite funny in a single screen theater.

Also, the former Ho-Jo (later The University Inn) was torn down in the early 2000’s to make way for a gas/convenience store/McDonald’s. The University Inn had been deteriorating during the 90’s and was probably ready for the wrecking ball. At one time, visiting teams in the old Texas League stayed here when they came to town to play the Travelers. I believe the Asher DI closed in the late 80’s due to the decline of the drive-in and expansion plans from either the Coleman dairy on one side and the shopping center on the other-neither came to be.