JC Cinema
15375 S. Helmer Road,
Battle Creek,
MI
49015
15375 S. Helmer Road,
Battle Creek,
MI
49015
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Related Websites
Moore Theatres (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Moore Theatres
Previously operated by: GKC Theatres, Kerasotes Theatres, W.S. Butterfield Theaters Inc.
Architects: Louis Wiltse
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Towne Cinema, Cheap Flicks
Nearby Theaters
Originally, the theatre was built with two screens in the 1970’s, opening as the Towne Cinema on November 3, 1978. It became a three screen cinema in August 1984. It became an eight-screen cinema in 1989 and was renamed Cheap Flicks. It was downsized to 5-screens in 2012. It was closed on August 31, 2014 due to the inability to convert to digital projection. It was reopened June 17, 2016 by Moore Theatres as the JC Cinema.
Contributed by
Michelle Herzing
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
This is down to 5 screens as of 2012.
Status should be closed. Closed in 2014 and scheduled to reopen under new management in 2016/
A series of photos available with the Enquirer story.
This was opened as Towne Cinemas by Butterfield Theatres on November 3rd, 1978 as a twin cinema. Its grand opening ad can be found in the photo section.
Their current showtimes appear to suggest they’re back up above five screens.
This expanded to 3 screens in August 1984 and 8 screens in 1989 and renamed Cheap Flicks on October 19th, 2001.
2001 grand opening ad in the photo section.
The original venue was designed by Detroit-based architect Louis Wiltse - a $450,000, 850-seat twin. The suburban twin was built as downtown Battle Creek was in full retreat. The Towne’s automated equipment was a source of union disappointment at launch on November 3, 1978. One of the last projects for Butterfield Circuit was its conversion of the venue from two to three screens in 1984. George Kerasotes Cinema acquired the W.S. Butterfield circuit locations in December of 1984.
GKC expanded the Towne to 8 screens with 1,570 seats in the multiplex era of cinema in 1989 but dropped the theatre in the megaplex world during 2001. GKC auctioned off older multiplexes, twins, triplexes and singles in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan including the Towne on August 1, 2001.
John and Mark Herzing acquired the venue relighting it as the discount, sub-run Cheap Flicks on October 19, 2001. Finding prints became a challenge for the venue as theaters had converted from film to DCP playout servers by 2013. The venue closed following August 31, 2014 showtimes.
Carol Moore’s Moore Cinemas took on the venue in the name of the late Joe Chabot as the JC Cinema. After a nearly two year refresh and conversion to digital, the JC Cinema opened on June 16, 2016, dropping to seven screens.