Cinema 1-2-3
Shelburne Road and Interstate 189 E,
South Burlington,
VT
05403
Shelburne Road and Interstate 189 E,
South Burlington,
VT
05403
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The Cinema 1-2 was first operated by Burlington native and longtime Burlington theater operator Merrill G. Jarvis, who was also the supervisor for the SBC chain. At the time the 1-2 was still under construction, Orero J. Bernardini, the longtime owner of the Mountain View Drive-In in Winooski, on April 13, 1970 gave Jarvis and his SBC chain a long-time lease wanting them to operate his drive-in which turned into a successful deal.
The Cinema 1-2 (later 1-2-3) was also notable for its location. The theater is located a few buildings away from Ted Bundy’s childhood home on Shelburne Road, and was the closest movie theater to that significant location.
SBC Management Corporation of Boston built a new cinema twin in Burlington Plaza Shopping Center in 1970. The plaza contained a Mammoth Mart and Martin’s Foods as anchors opening the new Center in 1969. The twin screen Cinema 1-2 was opened on May 22, 1970 with 35mm & 70mm capability. It was operated by SBC Corp. The opening movies were “MASH” & “Goodbye Mr. Chips”. The theatre had around 700 seats with pushback chairs and featured an art gallery that would feature local artists. About a year later, Carrol’s Development Corporation launched the Carrol’s Cinema Plaza 1 & 2 on July 28, 1971 across from the Zayre Shopping Center that would become the University Mall by decade’s end. It has its own Cinema Treasure page.
“Star Wars” was a huge hit for the Burlington Plaza Cinema opening on July 13, 1977. SBC 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. It became the Cinema 1•2•3. Merrill Theatres, which had taken on the twin-screen Century Plaza followed that up by twinning its largest screen in June 1981 also becoming a triplex.
Hoyts Circuit took on the venue in 1987 continuing as the Cinema 1•2•3. But Hoyts closed at the end of lease on September 4, 1989 with “Batman,” Lethal Weapon 2" and “Eddie and the Cruisers 2.” Neighboring Martin’s grocery store took on the space in an expansion. Hoyts would make a major move acquiring the Merrill Theatres and taking over - among other venues - the competing Century Plaza triplex - in 1994 though closing it in 1995.