Oakdale Cinema

832 N. Yosemite Avenue,
Oakdale, CA 95361

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Additional Info

Architects: John Elphick

Previous Names: Walnut Wood Holiday Cinema 1 & 2, Oakdale Plaza Cinema 1 & 2

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The Modesto Bee archives notes that the two-screen Walnut Wood Holiday Cinema 1 & 2 originally opened on November 30, 1979 with 476 seats (224 & 252). The openingf movies were Kirk Douglas in “The Villain” & Dom DeLuise in “Hot Stuff” In the mid-1990’s it was taken over by North American Cinemas (now Santa Rosa Entertainment Group) in bankruptcy proceedings. In October of 1997 North American closed it because the theatre was too small (390 seats) for them and said, “It’s more of a mom-and-pop operation.”

The next owners hoping for better things invested $100,000 in upgrades and ran it from July 16, 2004 until its closing on September 4, 2005. The Bee noted on July 16, 2007 that the Oakdale Cinema was open again. Owner Kenny Way hoped that the cinema would attract local families who wouldn’t want to drive to Riverbank.

After about a six-year run, the theatre closed again in the summer of 2013.

Contributed by rpierce

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on October 24, 2018 at 5:05 am

The opening gala at the Walnut Wood Holiday Cinema 1 & 2 was held on November 30, 1979. The official grand opening was held on December 1, 1979 with the films, “The Villain,” and “Hot Stuff.” It was located in what was originally known as the Walnut Wood Shopping Center. The theatre appears to have opened and closed eight different times under a variety of operators. The architect of the theatre was John Elphick and launched with 476 seats (224 Cinema I and 252 in Cinema II).

Under new owners, the theatre relaunched as the Oakdale Cinema 1 and 2 on May 27, 1981 known as the Oakdale Cinemas. In 1982, the Walnut Wood Shopping Center signage was removed as the plaza became known as the Oakdale Plaza. Though the theatre retained its original Walnut Wood Cinema attractor, the operation became known as the Oakdale Plaza Cinema 1 & 2. The owners of the cinema went bankrupt and the theatre closed in the Spring of 1983.

The theatre had a grand re-opening May 27, 1983 under new operators. The cinema closed again at the end of its lease on September 28, 1986. But the theatre would relaunch on October 24, 1986 under new operators. Those operators closed the theatre on September 30, 1997. On February 13, 1998, the cinema reopened under new operators. The cinema closed on September 8, 1999.

The cinema re-emerged as noted above operating from July 16, 2004 to its next closing on September 4, 2005. Then the theatre was opened from 2007 to closing in 2013.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on October 24, 2018 at 2:43 pm

The theatre appears to be similar in style to the Valley Cinemas in Gilroy, Lodi, and Manteca. One of the photos confirms it was branded “TDC” at one point for Theatre Development Corporation, similar to the theatres mentioned above.

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