Cardinal 3
1916 Stone-Rose Avenue,
Rocky Mount,
NC
27804
1916 Stone-Rose Avenue,
Rocky Mount,
NC
27804
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: ABC Theatres, Carmike Cinemas, Cineplex Odeon, Plitt Theatres
Functions: Bingo Hall, Church
Previous Names: Cardinal Theatre, Cardinal Theatres 1 & 2
Nearby Theaters
Located at Stone Rose Drive behind the K-Mart Plaza Shopping Center, the Cardinal Theatre was off Sunset Avenue near Wesleyan Boulevard just a mile down from the Tarrytown Mall. The Cardinal Theatre was Rocky Mount’s first-ever “Ultravision” theatre. The first for the town and the surrounding area. It was a modern theatre both inside and out complete with full lounge seating with full stereophonic sound throughout and giant Ultravision screening that was capable of showing both 70mm and 35mm films.
When it opened in 1972, it was a 750 seat single screen cinema operated under ABC Theatres. The opening attraction on November 2, 1972 was “The New Centurians” starring George C. Scott. By the mid-1970’s a second auditorium was built along side the original auditorium. Last operated by Carmike Cinemas in the 1990’s as a three screen cinema, it did constantly well showing some great films until it’s closing in 1999.
Contributed by
raysson
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
Thanks Raysson. I could have sworn I saw it at Englewood. I was just a toddler.
Must have been a 2nd run perhaps? I also remember seeing ET, Back to the future, and Goonies at Englewood.
I managed this theatre from the summer of 1984 til the spring of 1985. “Karate Kid” was our big summer picture.
“E.T.” also played first run at the Cardinal 1 & 2 in 1982 when it was still a two screen theatre. The film played in its largest auditorium to capacity crowds.
I started at the Cardinal Theater in January 1976 as janitor, and worked my way up to Asst. Mgr. for 2 and a half years and manager for just over a year. Managers I worked under were Tom Rickards, Robbie Presnell, Loren Montgomery and Willie Lackey.
THE CARMIKE CARDINAL 3 closed in October of 2000 as a second run discount theatre under Carmike Cinemas. The information posted about its closing is incorrect.
Added on a second auditorium around late-1975 or mid-1976 when the Cardinal was under ABC Southeastern Theatres.
It remained a twin theater until 1985 when it added on a third screen under Cineplex Odeon/Plitt Theatres.
Oldschoolman, could you send me those photos of cardinal at my email . Thanks
November 1st, 1972 grand opening ad in the photo section and below:
Found on Newspapers.com
For the record, It opened on November 2nd, 1972.
closing:
Found on Newspapers.com