Meadowbrook CinemaCity
2452 Warwick Avenue,
Warwick,
RI
02889
2452 Warwick Avenue,
Warwick,
RI
02889
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jerry Lewis Cinemas
Previous Names: Jerry Lewis Cinema, Meadowbrook Esquire Cinema, Meadowbrook Twin 1 & 2, Meadowbrook CinemaCity, Limelight Cinemas
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Opened as the Jerry Lewis Cinema on June 14, 1972 with Ali MacGraw in “Love Story” & Walter Matthau in “A New Leaf”. On May 25, 1973 it was renamed Meadowbrook Esquire Cinema. On February 1, 1974 it was twinned and renamed Meadowbrook Twin 1 & 2. On October 22, 1975 it was renamed Meadowbrook CinemaCity with 3-screens. For many years it was a discount second run theatre and a popular showplace for midnight showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. In June 2000 it was renamed Limelight Cinemas. It was closed on April 22, 2001. A parking lot is now on the site of the theatre.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
Gerald,I did not realize you guys mentioned the meadowbrook cinema I almost forgot about that place!
I don’t remember Michael Wood’s (RIP) video store, but I do remember he had a record store down by Warwick Veteran’s Memorial HS called Skank Records. Word is that James (Pilgrim HS ‘65) bankrolled it.
In 2000 the new owners of the theatre, Trainor Entertainment, refurbished the place a good deal before it reopened in June as the Limelight Cinemas. But by 2001, less than a year later, the theatre was forced to close because the lease was not renewed. It closed for good on April 22, 2001. Information on the place as well as some photos taken during the renovation can be seen HERE.
I have so many memories of the Meadowbrook. I did go to Warwick Veterans Memorial High School and I think I remember Skank Records. There were three record stores near Vets. There was one directly across the street. It was open in ‘74 because the first time I drove alone I went there to buy I believe a Deep Purple Record. There was also another record store on the same side of the street at Vets in the direction of the Meadowbrook. It was the first of the three to open and closed pretty quickly. It was open and probably closed before '74. Then there was a third record store also across from Vets that was the last of the three to be open. It might have been in the same shopping plaza as the one where I bought the Deep Purple Record.
And does anyone remember “Door 24” I think it was called. It was in that shopping plaza at the corner of Airport Road and Post Road (that also used to contain a restaurant called “The Chicken Coop” and “The Mayfair Lounge” and Ladd’s Records (after the Garden City Store closed). In any event Door 24 was down a flight of stairs and there was a record store, a head shop and maybe a clothing store. It didn’t last long; door 24 closed.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” ran here for twelve years on Saturday nights at midnight.
Good article in the Providence Journal of 10-25-98 about theatres in this area and how they were surviving.
Opened on June 15th, 1972 as a Jerry Lewis Cinema. Ad posted.
Renamed Meadowbrook Esquire Cinema on May 25th, 1973. Ad posted.
Two screens on February 1st, 1974. Grand opening ad posted.
October 22nd, 1975 renamed Meadowbrook Cinema City as the large cinema is split creating three cinemas.