Park 11 Theatre
501 N. Orlando Avenue,
Winter Park,
FL
32789
501 N. Orlando Avenue,
Winter Park,
FL
32789
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Wometco Theatres
Architects: A. Herbert Mathes
Previous Names: Park Theatre, Park Triple Theatre
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News About This Theater
- May 21, 2010 — Happy 30th, "Empire"
The Park Theatre opened April 7, 1965. Walt Disney built this theatre on the outskirts of town in nearby Winter Park. It was originally a two-screen theatre, operated by Wometco Theatres. It was triplexed on October 30, 1981 and then became 11 screens on May 24, 1991 before evolving into a discount house. It was closed in October 2007.
Contributed by
Dave Bonan
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
What killed thsi theater is Regal opened a 20 screen stadium theater right across the street.
This was the theater where Walt Disney presented the “Florida Project.” He did so from the grave, as he filmed it seven years before his death.
The East screen opened on April 7th, 1965 and the west screen opened on April 23rd, 1965. April 7th, 1965 grand opening ad in the photo section.
3 screens on October 30th, 1981. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
11 screens on May 24th, 1991. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
The Park Triple Theatre is also the first movie theater in Florida to have the installations of THX on May 25, 1983, just on time for its 70mm presentation of “Return Of The Jedi”.
Just had an look at the Sentinel on the date that you provided, No mention of THX on the ad.
I know but I recently read an article about THX before the film came out, and said that only one Orlando area location installed THX on the film’s release day, which comes along with a couple of Los Angeles and Dallas locations. I don’t know any projection/sound status the GCC Fashion Square had when the film came out, but with its 70mm (6-Track) logo shown on the Park Triple Theatre’s showtime section, my best bet has to be the Park Triple Theatre.
THX was a noise cancellation process gimmick that did not require any “installation”. It was just insulation guidelines for noise from the outside, projection booth, and HVAC units. If the cinema failed the test, it was not THX ‘certified’. I ran several cinemas that failed for legitimate reasons. A few months later we received certificates for the failed cinemas from THX anyway. THX also advertised failed locations in the trades as passed months after they failed, so cinema chains did the same. THX was a con job.
The Orlando THX certification, at Fashion Square (not the Park), for the release of RETURN OF THE JEDI did not happen as originally planned. Ultimately, the initial THX certifications in May 1983 were only at the Avco in Los Angeles and Northpark and Prestonwood Creek in Dallas. The JEDI 70mm release (with THX locales noted) is documented here. The Orlando 70mm presentations history is documented here.
The first THX certification in Florida was GCC’s Northdale Court 6 in Tampa in 1985. The first THX certification in the Orlando market was at Cineplex Odeon’s Sand Lake 7 in 1987. The Park in the Orlando suburb of Winter Park finally got THX certified during its 1991 renovation.