I know I’m responding about 10 years after the original debate about this theater’s Dolby Installation. While I can’t prove that Grease played in Dolby in June of ‘78, I can prove that Dolby was installed at this theater before December of '78… a re-issue of Star Wars in September of '78 clearly indicates that that film was playing in a Dolby Auditorium (and Grease was still playing at this cinema at that time). Uploading picture now.
Adamwork, did you ever find the name of the song from the Litchfield bumper/policy trailer? I’ve been looking for that trailer for decades! Most bumper/policy trailers are on YouTube but the beautiful and highly memorable Litchfield Theatres policy trailer, with the two reeds blowing in the wind while the waves crash in the background, seems to be lost forever :(
This theater building is still standing. In May of 1973, it changed its name to Mayberry Cinema. The single screen theater stayed open until the mid-80’s as part of ‘Mayberry Cinema I-II-III-IV’ (Mayberry Cinema III opened across the highway, on Fowler Road, in 1983). The building has been several different businesses over the past 35 years, most recently being renovated as a new pest control service.
This theatre unfortunately closed it’s doors in April of 2020, another casualty of the pandemic. It had turned into a $3.99 theater that played first run films before it’s demise. Also, a car had run into one of the auditoriums in 2019, and insurance refused to pay.
Raylearchive, If you are ever on this page again… I’d like to contact you about one of the coolest stories I’ve ever heard regarding your basement movie theater. Please respond to me here so we can get in touch sir.
This theater has been closed for a couple of years now. When the Broadway 16 closed summer of 2019, this BigD location had been closed for probably a year before that.
I have family in the area and I clearly remember seeing movies here in the late 90’s. I remember going with family one weekend in late ‘97 and having a hard time choosing between I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Devil’s Advocate and Kiss The Girls.
I went to see Town and Country here in 2001. First theater I had ever been to that served alcohol. I’ve looked for this theater name for years, only remembering that it was a well kept discount theater behind the Volusia Mall.
My grandmother remembers seeing the Demi Moore starrer ‘The Butcher’s Wife’ here in fall of 1991, and says that it was a 6 screen at that time. Does not remember if the theater was housed in a separate building from the mall though.
This theater is still called the ‘Colonial Mall 12’ although the name of the mall has changed to ‘Myrtle Beach Mall’. I would like to know if the theater was always attached to the mall itself, or if it was a separate building in it’s earlier days. I love that you can access the theater from inside the mall; this is usually only seen in much larger malls today. I spoke with an older usher on my last visit to the theater, who said that the theater was demolished in ‘05 and completely rebuilt. That’s what makes me wonder if it was a separate unit prior to 2005, or if he is mistaken and the theater just underwent major interior renovations at that time.
6 screens were converted to stadium seating in 1998. The other 6 were completed in spring of ‘99. I enjoyed the seating before the change. Each screen had a set of 'couches’ that were probably supposed to be used for handicapped or overweight patrons, but were usually occupied by young couples. Those seats were so plush and comfortable. When I saw ‘The Rage: Carrie 2’ here in March of ‘99, only 6 screens were open while they finished the last of the stadium seating conversions.
I remember frequenting this theater in the mid-90’s. There was a huge music store called Peaches on the hill beside of it, and an ice cream shop/burger joint called Char’s. A near riot broke out on opening weekend of the racially driven ‘Higher Learning’. By the late 90’s, poor management had run this theater into the ground.
Since being taken over by an independent owner in the early 00’s, the theater has flourished. Very clean, Great popcorn, friendly staff, and the cheapest price in town ($3). If a movie bombs at the first run theatre, it’s usually here within 2 weeks.
You are right, Mmandarano. The theater was where the pawn shop is now. The last movie that I saw there was the 2nd run showing of ‘Scream 3’ in the spring of 2000. There was a surprising number of low class families with their young children there, and they thought the death scenes were hilarious. One of the last movies to show here was the Mel Gibson starrer ‘The Patriot’.
I know I’m responding about 10 years after the original debate about this theater’s Dolby Installation. While I can’t prove that Grease played in Dolby in June of ‘78, I can prove that Dolby was installed at this theater before December of '78… a re-issue of Star Wars in September of '78 clearly indicates that that film was playing in a Dolby Auditorium (and Grease was still playing at this cinema at that time). Uploading picture now.
Theater opened in the fall of 1987. Opening advertisement from an August 1987 issue of the ‘Mount Airy News’ added.
Adamwork, did you ever find the name of the song from the Litchfield bumper/policy trailer? I’ve been looking for that trailer for decades! Most bumper/policy trailers are on YouTube but the beautiful and highly memorable Litchfield Theatres policy trailer, with the two reeds blowing in the wind while the waves crash in the background, seems to be lost forever :(
The Eden Drive-In is now the ‘Eden Drive-In Twin’. They added a 2nd (smaller) screen a couple of years ago.
This theatre will be re-opening next month as TREX Cinema- family owned.
This theater building is still standing. In May of 1973, it changed its name to Mayberry Cinema. The single screen theater stayed open until the mid-80’s as part of ‘Mayberry Cinema I-II-III-IV’ (Mayberry Cinema III opened across the highway, on Fowler Road, in 1983). The building has been several different businesses over the past 35 years, most recently being renovated as a new pest control service.
This theatre unfortunately closed it’s doors in April of 2020, another casualty of the pandemic. It had turned into a $3.99 theater that played first run films before it’s demise. Also, a car had run into one of the auditoriums in 2019, and insurance refused to pay.
Raylearchive, If you are ever on this page again… I’d like to contact you about one of the coolest stories I’ve ever heard regarding your basement movie theater. Please respond to me here so we can get in touch sir.
The popcorn popper is on located on an upper level. Popcorn is dropped down a chute to the concession stand. Always fun to watch.
The theater is now the AMC Myrtle Beach Classic 12.
This theater has been closed for a couple of years now. When the Broadway 16 closed summer of 2019, this BigD location had been closed for probably a year before that.
The building now houses several apartments.
I have family in the area and I clearly remember seeing movies here in the late 90’s. I remember going with family one weekend in late ‘97 and having a hard time choosing between I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Devil’s Advocate and Kiss The Girls.
Before COVID-19, the theater was reopened, under new ownership.
The Broadway 16 is now demolished. The separate, single screen that served as the IMAX (later BigD) is still standing for now.
I’ve found newspaper ads from the summer of 1986 that it was still going strong. I’ll try to find the correct close date.
I went to see Town and Country here in 2001. First theater I had ever been to that served alcohol. I’ve looked for this theater name for years, only remembering that it was a well kept discount theater behind the Volusia Mall.
After 26 years of operation, today is this theater’s last day of business.
This theater closed late last week, with the announcement of Frank Theaters bankruptcy. It opened in 2004, not 2007.
My grandmother remembers seeing the Demi Moore starrer ‘The Butcher’s Wife’ here in fall of 1991, and says that it was a 6 screen at that time. Does not remember if the theater was housed in a separate building from the mall though.
This theater is still called the ‘Colonial Mall 12’ although the name of the mall has changed to ‘Myrtle Beach Mall’. I would like to know if the theater was always attached to the mall itself, or if it was a separate building in it’s earlier days. I love that you can access the theater from inside the mall; this is usually only seen in much larger malls today. I spoke with an older usher on my last visit to the theater, who said that the theater was demolished in ‘05 and completely rebuilt. That’s what makes me wonder if it was a separate unit prior to 2005, or if he is mistaken and the theater just underwent major interior renovations at that time.
6 screens were converted to stadium seating in 1998. The other 6 were completed in spring of ‘99. I enjoyed the seating before the change. Each screen had a set of 'couches’ that were probably supposed to be used for handicapped or overweight patrons, but were usually occupied by young couples. Those seats were so plush and comfortable. When I saw ‘The Rage: Carrie 2’ here in March of ‘99, only 6 screens were open while they finished the last of the stadium seating conversions.
I remember frequenting this theater in the mid-90’s. There was a huge music store called Peaches on the hill beside of it, and an ice cream shop/burger joint called Char’s. A near riot broke out on opening weekend of the racially driven ‘Higher Learning’. By the late 90’s, poor management had run this theater into the ground.
Since being taken over by an independent owner in the early 00’s, the theater has flourished. Very clean, Great popcorn, friendly staff, and the cheapest price in town ($3). If a movie bombs at the first run theatre, it’s usually here within 2 weeks.
The big 12 screen megaplex down the street, actually opened it’s doors in 1997 I believe. This theater lasted for a few years after.
You are right, Mmandarano. The theater was where the pawn shop is now. The last movie that I saw there was the 2nd run showing of ‘Scream 3’ in the spring of 2000. There was a surprising number of low class families with their young children there, and they thought the death scenes were hilarious. One of the last movies to show here was the Mel Gibson starrer ‘The Patriot’.