Cineplex Odeon River Oaks Plaza 12

1450 W. Gray Street,
Houston, TX 77019

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon

Architects: David K. Mesbur

Nearby Theaters

The Rocketeer at the Cineplex Odeon River Oaks Plaza (1991)

Operated by Cineplex Odeon, the River Oaks Plaza was opened in October 1990 in a shopping center just down the road from Landmark’s River Oaks Theatre. It was basically two, 6-screen cinemas on two levels. There was a box office located on either side of the entrance, but the left one was only used during busy times. After entering and having you ticket torn, you either walked down a few stairs for the lower screens or took an escalator to the upper level. Each level had a large concession stand, but during slow times, only the lower one was open.

The two largest auditoriums (about 400-500 capacity) were located in each of the front corners of the building, while each of the rear corners of the building held two smaller auditoriums (about 150-175 seat capacity). There were no curtains in front of the screens, no stadium seating and all the auditoriums were equipped with Dolby Surround sound. Later, when “Jurassic Park” was released, the two larger auditoriums on each level were equipped with DTS and unlike its sister cinema, the Spectrum, no auditoriums were THX certified.

When built, this cinema was advertised as the first new cinema built inside ‘The (610) Loop’ in many years. The shopping center had a few restaurants a TJ Max and an Office Depot, who’s customers had to compete for parking when the cinema was busy. There was a multi-level parking deck behind the shopping center, but most people preferred to park in front. The reason why the cinema closed in 2001 is unclear, but it could have been due to the parking situation, the building of Edward’s Grand Palace 24 about three miles away, and of course the bankruptcy of Cineplex-Odeon.

Information provided by Kenny Cagle.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 29, 2012 at 3:38 am

As it opened in 1990, the River Oaks Plaza 12 must have been designed in the office of architect David K. Mesbur, who was the exclusive designer for Cineplex Odeon from 1983 through 1990.

DAL
DAL on May 9, 2012 at 8:36 pm

The map needs correction. The location was on the north side of WEST Gray between Dunlavy St. and Waugh Dr.

RyanToDaF2044
RyanToDaF2044 on January 8, 2016 at 6:42 am

Now this was a great theater! Someone needs to post some pictures of this theater.

Disney_Fan
Disney_Fan on July 23, 2018 at 7:52 am

I remember seeing Pokemon: The First Movie at the Cineplex Odeon River Oaks about a year before it closed. I believe I also saw an Alien film here a few years before, but I don’t remember.

RyanToDaF2044
RyanToDaF2044 on May 18, 2021 at 8:54 pm

Here are some movies I saw at this theater: Richie Rich, Independence Day, Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Antz, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Mighty Joe Young (1998). The latter was also the last movie I ever saw at this theater.

RyanToDaF2044
RyanToDaF2044 on May 18, 2021 at 8:55 pm

@Disney_Fan: Alien Resurrection?

RyanToDaF2044
RyanToDaF2044 on July 10, 2021 at 7:32 pm

I may have seen other movies at this theatre besides the ones I mentioned, but they escape me at this time.

RyanToDaF2044
RyanToDaF2044 on July 12, 2021 at 4:35 pm

I also have reason to believe that I saw Batman Returns at this theater. In turn, Batman Returns was the first movie I ever saw in any theater.

RyanToDaF2044
RyanToDaF2044 on November 19, 2022 at 7:20 pm

More specifically, this theatre opened in October of 1990.

RyanToDaF2044
RyanToDaF2044 on January 17, 2024 at 4:43 am

We still need more pictures of this theatre. Someone posted some of the Spectrum, so who knows what’s next.

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