Retro Cinema 4
2270 W. US Highway 74 Bypass,
Forest City,
NC
28043
2270 W. US Highway 74 Bypass,
Forest City,
NC
28043
No one has favorited this theater yet
Showing 7 comments
This is originally known as the Forest City Cinema when it launched in 1972, and yes, I’m very sure that this replaced the Griffin Theatre following the theater’s launch.
This closed for renovations over a year ago (in August 2023) and has not reopened.
While installing the equipment here I met a gentleman who owned a local Drive-In in the Forrest City area. Later on while living in Greenville, N.C. he was contracted to pick me up in his “Beechcraft” Bonanza and transport me to do an emergency sound repair in Morehead City, N.C. We became friends and he let me co-pilot his plane. Later he went on to tell me that he had at one time modified his plane to accommodate a loudspeker that had formerly been used on military tanks. To promote his drive-in, he would fly over the city and advertise the upcoming films for the week.
This is one of the theatres I assisted as an apprentice technician installing the projection & sound equipment. I had just returned from my short Navy carrer. The theatre was a single screen when built and operated by Stewart&Everett.
1972 Opened, owned by Stewart & Everett Theatres, Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., Charles B. Trexler, President & Treas. They owned over 70 theaters in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Late 1970’s twined.
Early 1980’s 4-screens.
1986 Carmike Cinemas took over.
2007 Digital projection installed for all screens.
2009 Closed
20?? Opened as an independent.
Can always use more info and photos.
Good pictures.I remember Forest City having a downtown theatre along with two Drive-ins,Both on Ct.Don’t know if the downtown theatre has been placed on CT.
There are some pictures of this theater near the bottom of this page (scroll down): View link