When the theater opened in 1969, its entrance was very plain looking with just a channel letter sign above the entrance saying “Mall Theatre.” Before Silver Cinemas reopened it in 1998, they also revamped the entrance adding the nice tile work and the marquee over the entrance.
The original operator of this cinema was the United Detroit Theatres unit of ABC Theatres. When ABC exited the theater business, Plitt Theatres took over. Plitt sold it to National Amusements before it first closed in the mid-1980s.
According to http://burtonview.mihomepaper.com/news/2011-05-19/News/NCG_Movies_to_reopen_Courtland_Cinemas_this_Friday.html this cinema was expanded and renovated in 1998 by the Silver Cinemas chain and renamed Silver Cinemas which added four additional screens and renovated the two existing screens with stadium seating, reclining seats and cupholders. National Amusements bought it just months later and renamed the theater back to Courtland Cinemas.
Actually, it is the rear facade facing Brush Alley that is still standing. Most of the building was torn down when it was converted to retail use. It is now a thriving restaurant called Blackstone’s Pub and Grill utilizing the old sign when it was Blackstone’s clothing store.
Actually, the Rialto was the second name the theater had. It was renamed the Royal in the early 1960s which showed art house films which evolved into grindhouse films and finally porn.
A photo showing wrecked cars in the foreground and the North Flint Drive-in in the background is at http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/gallery?section=weather/photos&id=7472259&photo=8
NCG did a nice job in getting this cinema going again. All screens are digital with stadium seating and they moved equipment from the Clio Cinemas which they recently closed into this cinema.
To be competitive, this cinema needs a major overhaul. It may be cheaper to tear it down and start over. NCG chose to reopen the nearby 6-screen Courtland Cinemas because it was the right size and didn’t need much work before reopening.
This drive-in theater survived the 1953 Beecher Tornado with only minor damage confined to walls and fencing and the attraction board. The screen and refreshment building survived intact so the drive-in reopened as soon as the curfew was lifted.
The Flint Cinema was always a single screen theater. It was never twinned. The first movie shown was “Divorce, American Style” and the final film shown was “FX.” It did close in 1986 but remained vacant for several years. It was opened by Butterfield Theaters. GKC Theatres closed it and National Amusements inherited the property when it bought GKC’s Flint area operations. National Amusements tore it down to make the property more salable as a vacant lot.
Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios' official web site at http://www.williemitchell.com/index.php indicates that the theater was built in 1915 and converted into a recording studio in 1957.
Thanks, TLSLOEWS. As there was no link to Part 2, I just uploaded it. Hope you like that as well.
Cinema Treasures has uploaded a TV commercial for this drive in. http://cinematreasures.org/video/us-23-drive-in-theater
Now will they advertise in print media? They don’t do that for their Rave Cinemas in Flint, MI.
At this writing, this cinema still has the old Showcase Cinemas signage with the word “Showcase” either covered over or removed.
As part of the theater’s restoration, the OCP agreed to retain the red tiles and the 1950s marquee because that is part of the facade’s history.
The Lyric Theatre became the State Theatre.
This was the first theater which began the NCG Cinemas chain and is still operated by NCG.
When the theater opened in 1969, its entrance was very plain looking with just a channel letter sign above the entrance saying “Mall Theatre.” Before Silver Cinemas reopened it in 1998, they also revamped the entrance adding the nice tile work and the marquee over the entrance.
The original operator of this cinema was the United Detroit Theatres unit of ABC Theatres. When ABC exited the theater business, Plitt Theatres took over. Plitt sold it to National Amusements before it first closed in the mid-1980s.
According to http://burtonview.mihomepaper.com/news/2011-05-19/News/NCG_Movies_to_reopen_Courtland_Cinemas_this_Friday.html this cinema was expanded and renovated in 1998 by the Silver Cinemas chain and renamed Silver Cinemas which added four additional screens and renovated the two existing screens with stadium seating, reclining seats and cupholders. National Amusements bought it just months later and renamed the theater back to Courtland Cinemas.
The drive-in site is now a golf driving range. The screen tower is still standing with green siding on all sides.
Actually, it is the rear facade facing Brush Alley that is still standing. Most of the building was torn down when it was converted to retail use. It is now a thriving restaurant called Blackstone’s Pub and Grill utilizing the old sign when it was Blackstone’s clothing store.
Actually, the Rialto was the second name the theater had. It was renamed the Royal in the early 1960s which showed art house films which evolved into grindhouse films and finally porn.
A photo showing wrecked cars in the foreground and the North Flint Drive-in in the background is at http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/gallery?section=weather/photos&id=7472259&photo=8
After this cinema closed, NCG moved equipment from this cinema to the recently reopened Courtland Cinemas in Burton.
NCG did a nice job in getting this cinema going again. All screens are digital with stadium seating and they moved equipment from the Clio Cinemas which they recently closed into this cinema.
To be competitive, this cinema needs a major overhaul. It may be cheaper to tear it down and start over. NCG chose to reopen the nearby 6-screen Courtland Cinemas because it was the right size and didn’t need much work before reopening.
Another news story about the reopening of the Courtland Cinemas is at View link
Before the Roxy closed, it was open weekends only.
It was torn down and is now a parking lot for the adjacent restaurant.
The former theater is on North Saginaw. I believe a tire shop was once located in the converted theater in the 1960s.
This drive-in theater survived the 1953 Beecher Tornado with only minor damage confined to walls and fencing and the attraction board. The screen and refreshment building survived intact so the drive-in reopened as soon as the curfew was lifted.
The Flint Cinema was always a single screen theater. It was never twinned. The first movie shown was “Divorce, American Style” and the final film shown was “FX.” It did close in 1986 but remained vacant for several years. It was opened by Butterfield Theaters. GKC Theatres closed it and National Amusements inherited the property when it bought GKC’s Flint area operations. National Amusements tore it down to make the property more salable as a vacant lot.
Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios' official web site at http://www.williemitchell.com/index.php indicates that the theater was built in 1915 and converted into a recording studio in 1957.
I hope the owner can rebuild. I wonder how a prefab two-sided screen tower can be constructed?