East Towne Cinemas

I saw E.T. at E.T. My first real movie experience was Summer 1982, to sold-out screening of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Can’t recall seating-style, but distinctly remember rocker chairs, because annoying six-year-old me constantly rocked until patron seated directly behind me appropriately locked his feet/legs under my seat, preventing further repose. Also recall seeing the “Revenge of the Jedi” teaser poster just outside our screening (not featured in the main lobby), which meant nothing to me, but very much piqued my best friend’s interest (being a year older, or, more exactly, familiar w Episode 5 (1980). Would eventually see ‘Jedi’ (1983) and ‘the Temple of Doom’ (1984) here; but my kunt mother forbade admittance to Gremlins (1984) with the rest of my friends — I had to make do with Hardee’s promotional Gremlins Adventures storybook record sets. Last movie I saw there was Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) again, after we tried [and failed] sneaking into Bright Lights, Big City. Easily my favorite venue until Eastgate debuted.

The East Towne Cinemas opened its doors by General Cinema on December 17, 1972 with “Diamonds Are Forever” in Screen 1 and “Black Beauty” in Screen 2. It was tripled in June 1979 and was later taken over by Marcus Theatres in January 1987. Two more screens were added in 1992 becoming a budget five-screener. This lasted until the theater closed for the final time on January 23, 2003.