Cine Regency
Avenida Fernandez Juncos 1512,
San Juan
Avenida Fernandez Juncos 1512,
San Juan
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This small movie theater opened in 1968 and featured first run movies. Since it wasn’t owned by any of the big chains, it didn’t play any of the big blockbusters, but it still offered a nice selection of movies. From offbeat horror movies to quirky Hollywood films to hard core porno to to re-releases of "Barbarella" and Shane", they all played at the Cine Regency.
Ironically, the owners of the independent Cine Regency would later create the biggest movie chain in Puerto Rico, Caribbean Cinemas. Interestingly, many of their multiplexes were decorated in the same colors as the Cine Regency.
When Santurce theaters started having financial problems due to a high crime rate in the area, the Cine Regency’s location and lack of parking space made it one of the first casualties.
The Cine Regency closed down in the early-1980’s and became the corporate offices of Caribbean Cinemas.
Contributed by
Jose Mendez
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The Regency was originally a lumberyard which was converted into a cinema by Victor Carrady who heads the family run Caribbean Cinemas ( formerly known as Regency Caribbean ) with this location and the take-over of the Metro started the present Caribbean Cinema Chain. He is responsible with the creation of the older Wometco chain since he and his partners sold their first chain of cinemas to them…and two years later with his family created Regency Caribbean…I have personally seen this company grow from 35 people to 2000+ of today.
The former Regency became the corporate office of Caribbean Cinemas. Unless the office has been moved it is doubtful it was demolished. Can anyone in San juan confirm if it has been demolished?
Cineast: Re your 12/29/06 comment, the Rex was not close to the Regency and the Cortes was far away near Calle Cerra. The Regency was farther than the Cinerama towards Hato Rey. It was not surrounded by other theaters.
I have been informed by a friend in San Juan that the Regency building, the headquarters of Caribbean Cinemas, is still standing. They demolished the building next door to use as a parking lot for their employees.
“Barabbas” played in the Regency at least one Holy Week.
Just one to share this talk about Old Movie Theaters in Puerto Rico! Is in Spanish, I know, BUT there’s some pics of old theaters around the island! Enjoy!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E_6VD1406k
The theater in calle Borinquen (esquina con calle Nin) in Barrio Obrero (where I grow up), was closed/abandoned for years and years. I’m not sure, as right now, but I think its a supermarket. At least in the 80s it was closed. I remember two more theaters in Avenida Eduardo Conde in Villa Palmeras, Santurce, where as kid my parents took me and my brothers to see “Orka, The Killer Whale”, “Superman” (I) and “E.T.”, early 80s… I think they are churches now.