Century Plaza 3

The Century Plaza and Burlington Plaza cinemas are two entirely separate businesses. In 1983 the Burlington Free Press shows both cinemas operating at the same time with ads placed right next to each other showing entirely different films.

Carrol’s Development Corporation launched the Carrol’s Cinema Plaza 1 & 2 on July 28, 1971. It was constructed in the era of twins, triplexes and quads in cinema exhibition history. This period featured theaters that were often built with comfortable seating and automated projection equipment. These venues were often found near or in shopping centers and malls and Carroll’s Cinema Plaza 1 & 2 was no exception. The Cinema was on Dorset Street (one “t” in the street name) across from a shopping center with a large Zayre’s store, a Wilson’s Home Center and a Shop ‘n’ Save. A year earlier, SBC had opened a competing twin-screen less than three miles away which has its own Cinema Treasure page.

Carrol’s opening films on July 28, 1971 were Ben the Rat in “Willard” and Sean Connery in “The Anderson Tapes” The new-build venue featured rocking chair seats and a 1970’s friendly color scheme. Carroll’s left the cinema building in late December of 1973 and the theatre was renamed as the Plaza I & II. With the Burlington Plaza 1 & 2 still operating less than three miles away, there may have been a trace of confusion. But about one year later, Merrill Jarvis of Merrill’s Theater Circuit took over the Plaza I & II renaming it as the Century Plaza 1 & 2 in December of 1974 for more distinction in the naming.

Across the street, the University Mall was breaking ground expanding the Zayre complex on March 16, 1977 reshaping the retail landscape. The Mall launched in 1979. SBC’s competing Cinema 1 & 2 on Shelburg added a third screen in late May of 1981 becoming a triplex as twin-screeners were not cutting it as the multiplex era was opening. So Merrill closed its twin-screen Century Plaza in June briefly with the venue also re-emerging as a triplex, now the Century Plaza 3 on June 21, 1981 in time to play a big summer film in “Superman.” As a triplex, Screen 1 had 303 seats, Screen 2 had 200 seats and Screen 3 had 100 seats for a total of 603 total seats.

In February of 1994, Hoyts Theatre Circuit bought Merrill Theater Circuit including the Century Plaza. It was called Hoyt’s Century Plaza 3 with Hoyt positioning the venue as an art house. But the property was too hot for the aging triplex and Hoyt’s closed on October 12, 1995 with Patrick Stewart in “Jeffrey,” Kevin Spacey in “The Usual Suspects,” and Edward Burns in “The Brothers McMullen.” Demolition was soon commenced as a Barnes and Noble Book Sellers store was built there. It was still in operation in the 2020s.