AMC Orange Park 24
1910 Wells Road,
Orange Park,
FL
32073
1910 Wells Road,
Orange Park,
FL
32073
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Rebuilt and reopened as the AMC Orange Park 24 on August 29th, 1997. Another ad posted.
The 5-plex opened on June 25th, 1976. Ad posted.
From the intro attributed to Charles Hankinson: “In 1977, ‘Star Wars’ played [at Orange Park 5] for 32 weeks after playing for 27 weeks at the Kingsley Twin down the road!”
This article references the original Jacksonville “Star Wars” engagements but cites different duration figures than what was given in the theater intro above. The linked-to article cites only 13 weeks for the Orange Park moveover run and only 21 weeks for the Kingsley Twin run, plus the article cites other JAX runs at Plaza Twin and Northside Twin.
On a separate matter, I wonder if the Orange Park 5 and Orange Park 24 deserve separate pages here in the Cinema Treasures database? Was the 24 an expansion of the 5-plex, or was it an all-new build in a separate location?
Actually , I was there the opening Day which was the first Friday of July ‘76 and you made a slight mistake it was Bert I. Gordon’s “Food of the Gods” not “At the Earth’s Core”.ATEC didn’t play till the fall. You are correct about “Outlaw Josey Wales”,“The Omen”, “Logan’s Run” and perhaps “Peter Pan” Though I don’t remember that playing. I remember they had crazy mirror setup so that the projection booths could be on the ground floor. This theater was vastly inferior to the Kingsley which opened 6 months later. I remember walking in a thinking this was only slightly better that the Village Cinema.
I remember the San Marco. I must have seen “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” there twenty times in the 1970’s. I don’t get to Florida much these days. Would like to see the San Marco Theatre, as well as what they’ve done with The Florida Theater downtown. The Commodore Theater in downtown Portsmouth, Virginia is a wonderful theater experience if you are ever in that area. I am in agreement about the mega-cinemas. Unfortunately, I think they keep the movie going experience alive.
A very nice write-up. However, if I go to see a movie here, I have to go during the week and a late showing just to avoid the idiots who talk on their cell phone, check their cell phone and just talk to each other in general.
A few weeks ago, I went on a Wednesday Night at around 10pm to see THE STRANGERS. What I didn’t know is that that was the week local schools let out. Tons of high school kids just rappin' their gums. I got a re-admit pass but the manager on duty didn’t even bother to say sorry or anything. He just walked into the office and brought me a pass and walked off. Multiplexes are horrible. If you’re in Jacksonville, check out the San Marco theater for a fun movie going experience.