Hollywood Theatres - Movies 9
120 U.S. Highway 31,
Longview,
TX
75603
120 U.S. Highway 31,
Longview,
TX
75603
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December 22nd, 1989 grand opening ad as Movies 6 also in photo section.
June 19th, 1981 grand opening ad as a 6-plex also in the photo section.
May 31st, 1974 grand opening ad as a 3-plex in the photo section.
This opened on May 23rd, 1968. Its grand opening ad can be found in the photo section.
Sadly, it did. There was too much that needed repaired and Regal wasn’t prepared to spend the money at the time. Projectors are now sitting in a scrap yard.
The official address is 120 US highway 31. The grand opening was May 22, 1968, split into three in 1971, sixplex in 1986, and a nine house theatre in 1993. We’re now owned by Wallace Theatres which bought out Hollywood theatres in the 90’s. Now we’re Hollywood Theatres Movies 9. I found this out from a note from a previous projectionist left in one of the breaker boxes.
The way I understand it. The theatre shut down for a short time and was then reopened as a 2nd run discount theatre. The theatre is now facing the possibility of closure at the end of the year.
Don,Love that Ad,Clint at his best.thanks for putting it on.
I was present at the grand opening of the Cargill Theater as a member of the Spring Hill stage band who was asked to play for the event. I sat next to my best friend Gordon Green. We both played the trombone. Gordon is a urologist in Marshall now. We had the Lawrence Welk type of music stands and wore black suits and ties. It was a lot of fun and a very memorable event.
I don’t know what the official address of this theater is, but the google map link is incorrect. That section of highway changed from US259 to SH31 more than 20 years ago, but is also called W. South St. The theater is next door to Gorman-McCracken Volkswagen. The closest address that I can get to it on google maps is 720 West South St.
The Cargill Theater became Movies 9 sometime back in the 90’s, and became a dollar cinema a few years later. It is still operating as a dollar cinema at SH31 and Jaycee Drive in Longview.
Ground was broken for the Cargill Theatre on August 7, 1967, according to an article in Boxoffice of August 28. Developer Robert Cargill had arranged to lease the theater to Jefferson Amusement company’s subsidiary, East Texas Theatres. (Though opened by East Texas Theatres in May, 1968, by 1969 it was being operated by Gulf States Theatres.)
The single-screen house would seat 1,368, (a 1968 Boxoffice item gives the capacity as 1,260) all on one level. The Cargill would have the largest screen in East Texas, 92 feet wide and 32 feet 6 inches high, and would be equipped with 70mm projection.
The theater was designed by the Longview architectural firm Allen & Quinn, with Leon C. Kyburz as consulting architect.
Boxoffice of February 25, 1974, said that the Cargill Theatre was being converted into a triplex. There would be a central auditorium seating 450, and a 300-seat auditorium on each side.
All Gulf States Theatres operations in Texas were taken over by Martin Theatre of Texas on December 21, 1975, according to an item in Boxoffice of January 19, 1976. I found the Cargill mentioned once more in Boxoffice, later in 1976, and after that, nothing. Is it possible that Martin changed the name of the theater? If they did, I’ve been unable to discover what it became, or what became of it.
Actually, now that I read the May article again, it says the mayor dedicated the Cargill, so I would put the opening around 5/23/68.
There was an ad in the August 15, 1968 edition of the Gilmer Mirror congratulating the Cargill Theater as “One of Texas Newest and Finest”. However, in May 1968 there was mention of a rededication ceremony at the Cargill, so perhaps it opened, closed and then reopened again in the sixties.
Just about anything is possible with the theaters Mike. I have not seen any images of the Cargill.
Don…
Did it became the Movies 9? the building looks like it was opened in the early 1970’s by Gulf States at Hwy 259 South at Jaycee Drive.
From 1973, a movie ad from the Cargill Theater in Longview.