Carmike closed the Carmike Wynnsong 12 on October 5, 2008. In January of 2009 it became a house of worship for Point of Grace, likely in part to reduce its taxing liabilities. and on a ten year leasing deal. Premiere Cinemas took it on converting it back to a multiplex opening October 24, 2019 as the Premiere LUX Cine GSX & Pizza Pub.
For whatever reason, this theater opened as the Cobb Brookhighland (one word) 10 on September 30, 1994 - although “Brook Highland” was the name of the shopping center (two words). Regal Cinemas acquired Cobb Theatres in a deal announced in June of 1997 effective on July 31, 1997. Regal kept the Cobb branding into Spring of 1998 when it became the Regal Brookhighland 10. Regal then changed the venue’s name in December of 1998 to the Regal Brook Highland 10 (now with the proper two words).
Regal struggled as the inherited Cobb theaters were outmatched by superior megaplexes. Regal rebranded the majority of its Brook Highland 10 auditoriums as Regal CinemaArt screens operating with a combination of mainstream and alternative / indy cinema titles in the 2000s. (AMC had tried something similar at some of its locations as “Gourmet Cinema” branded auditoriums.) Meanwhile, Regal decided to retain its Trussville 16 locally but subtracted the former Cobb turned Regal Hoover Square dollar house, the Galleria 10, the Festival Stadium 18, and the Wildwood 14 as it all but retreated from the Birmingham market.
Regal and the Brook Haven Center’s second operator, Developers Diversified Realty had an amicable parting of ways calling the lease as at term’s end on January 14, 2007. “Eragon” was the last show played that night. DDR had the former cinema demolished in March of 2008 to make way for a Circuit City electronics chain store.
The Shops at Colonnade (just one “l” in Colonnade) was a strip plaza built in 1989 with Consolidated Theatres signing on for a 10-screen, 2000-seat multiplex. The theater opened June 16 1989. On November 22, 1989, the Consolidated Circuit was acquired by Carmike and this one officially became the Carmike Colonnade 10 on December 1, 1989.
In 1997, the Megaplex era of cinema exhibition was gearing up and the Colonnade’s cookie cutter approach to its auditoriums wasn’t cutting it. Carmike built its new-era Summit 16 in the vicinity opening in November of 1997 and repositioned the Colonnade as a sub-run discount house with all seats $1.50. Carmike closed here on August 17, 2000 escaping this and selected other leases of aging properties in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The space remained vacant before being repurposed for a fitness center.
With 18 months to go on its 25-year leasing agreement, Regal moved on using just five of its screens with “The Dukes of Hazard,” “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory,” “Rebound,” “War of the Worlds,” and “The 40 Year Old Virgin.” Last day for the Regal Wildwood Stadium 18 of August 23, 2005 is in photos.
Filling in a little bit… Dubinsky sold a group of theatres to Excellence Theatres of Chicago in 1989 that included the Cinema 1 & 2. Carmike Cinemas took over all one hundred of Excellence Theatres' leases in a joint operating agreement in 1991. The Cinema operated primarily as a Carmike Cinemas property until its initial closure. It was relit briefly as an independent prior to closure and demolition.
I think you’ve got two different theaters in the same entry - picture wise. The Majestic is indeed the long-time theater which Architect D.N. Sandine gave a streamline moderne makeover in 1936. It’s got a large auditorium in its rear and the lobby in the front.
The auditorium was bulldozed ending that auditorium. I’m only guessing that Kerasotes decided to place a twin screen using some elements of the original building’s entry/lobby as the Showplace Cinemas. The Showplace Cinemas was closed September 29, 1995 by the - then George Kerasotes Corporation / GKC Theatres). It was then turned into Living World Church of God likely to reduce taxing liabilities. The address of the Church and Showplace Cinemas is/was 159 Gooding.
Not sure about the 225 Gooding address and what is/was there. If the database is correct about that being the location of the former Majestic, each theater would need its own entry.
This duplex was known as the Illinois Valley Cinema 2 by July of 1974 and as the New Illinois Twin Valley Twin Cinema on September 3, 1974. Later renamed as the Illinois Valley Cinemas, it was closed by George Kerasotes Corporation (GKC) on October 31, 1995.
There’s been a cinema at the Peru Mall since at least 1980 and definitely a quad by 1983. Not sure if it moved in the 15-year, 1989 refresh but the cinema dates back longer than stated at the Peru Mall.
The Tompkins was closed by the Cooper Foundation at the end of its lease on March 28, 1963 with “The Hook” and “Seven Seas to Calais.” In April of 1963, the building was demolished and plans revealed for a new banking building and neighboring theater which was the Cooper.
The Cine-Art Twin launched during the porno chic era of film exhibition on November 18, 1970 showing unrated “underground” 16mm films from around the globe. A true grindhouse showing film continuously from 10a until 11p, the Cine-Art drew the ire of local officials early and often. In fact, it was closed within hours of opening. The reason is that they were showing unrated films that local officials felt were without redeeming value and were, in their opinion, obscene.
Cine-Art Manager Bill Houston hired an attorney who got a 30-day stay but that just made the cases pile up higher against the fledgling adult cinema purveyor especially in 1971. Films deemed potentially obscene were “The Dinnerware Salesman,” “Softie,” and “No Name Sex.” By 1972, there were three major Colorado Springs “extra strength” porn houses in Cine-Art Twin, Pussy Cat 21 Cinema, and Las Vegas Cinema. The options were: 1) go out of business in exchange for dropping the charges - which included jail time and fines; 2) change your programming to rated films (X was okay in COS) or 3) fight the overbreadth of the laws in court.
Houston admitted that the Cine-Art Twin had no long game as attorney fees had zapped the operation. The last day of operation for the venue was on March 8, 1973. On March 9, 1973, the operators closed their doors permanently in exchange for the D.A. dropping the charges. Bachelor’s Paradise, an adult bookstore, opted for that same deal a month later. The Pussy Cat Cinema 21 would roll back to its previous Cinema 21 showing only rated X films to have its charges dropped. (Officials would then successfully go after its original owner on tax evasions charges - another time-honored way to close adult cinemas - which worked for a month until new operators bought it at auction and kept it going for another, oh, 40 years). And the Las Vegas Cinema would take its “Deep Throat” case to the Colorado Supreme Court - a three year process that it won handily on First and Fourteenth Amendment grounds.
The former downtown Cine-Art Twin building has been bulldozed.
During the porno chic era of theatrical exhibition, the city had a number of adult cinemas. The Las Vegas Cinemas opened in 1972 by Investors Production Inc. playing unrated “XXX” adult films. They were a difference maker as the established “X-rated” cinema house, Cinema 21, decided to change to what it termed “XX” and “Super-X” (unrated, as well) adult films in a strength test. So the Las Vegas Cinemas upped its strength label to that of “XXXXX” films. Comical, in a way.
In the milieu of the Supreme Court’s high profile Miller v. California decision, the laughs were gone as Colorado Springs decided to take action and charge film operators with obscenity. There were several approaches taken by local adult cinemas. Cine-Twin was charged and opted to have their charges completely dropped in exchange for leaving the industry. The former X-rated Studio 21 had shifted to unrated “XX” and “Super-X” titles and decided to return to more acceptable at the time X-rated fare having its charges dropped. But the stakes were much higher over at the Las Vegas Cinema where five weeks of sold out audiences for “Deep Throat” were bringing in serious cash in April of 1973.
Owner Samuel Tabron was arrested three times in succession. First was Deep Throat on April 11th. Next was “The Green Door” followed by “The Artful Lover.” A jury found him guilty in the first charge which began to have serious consequences as the other two charges were being examined so he fought to the Colorado Supreme Court. There, not only was “Deep Throat” not going to be found to be obscene but the entire Colorado statute defining and regulating obscenity was found unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. It was a jackpot for Tabron’s Las Vegas Cinema and for First Amendment legal interests. And Tabron’s “Green Door” and “Artful Lover” cases were also thrown out.
Cinema 21 was a theater that opened in the porno chic era of theatrical exhibition opening south of downtown. It launched on October 18, 1969 with Patricia Wymer as “The Babysitter.” The venue presented X-Rated films and was marketed more heavily than the majority of traditional local movie houses of that area. The “21” in Cinema 21 was its age restriction for entry. On December 6, 1972, the venue was rebranded as the Pussy Cat Cinema 21 for about a year.
During that short run, the Pussy Cat switched from X-rated titles to unrated “XX” and “Super X” content trying to compete with the Las Vegas Cinema and the Cine-Art Twin, amongst others. The police came a knockin' and Arthur Goldstein of Art Theatres agreed to only play X-rated content so that he could continue operations. The Cine-Twin was given similar instructions but decided to shut down. And the Las Vegas Cinema decided to fight in court (People v. Tabron).
The Sin-21 theater was part of the New Eros Newsstand housed in two non-descript single-level retail locations built around 1960. Art Theatres was busted for tax delinquency and the Cinema 21 closed February 15, 1975 with the contents auctioned two months later.
The venue reopened two weeks after the auction with new operators on April 21, 1975 as the New Cinema 18 with folks aged 18-up allowed in. The opening features were Jen Gillian in “Massage Parlor Wife,” Rene Bond in “The Playmates” presented in Deep-Vision 3D, and Jacqueline Giroux in “Vice Squad Women.” The New Cinema 18 was reduced to Cinema 18 after April 1978 showtimes. It was one of the longest-lasting adult cinemas in the State of Colorado - though not the longest - continuing into the 21st Century as the Cinema 18 closing - it is believed - in late 2013 (or early 2014).
Also known as Cinema 21, Pussy Cat Cinema 21, New Cinema 18 and Cinema 18.
The 859-seat UTE 70 Theatre opened May 30, 1967 with “War Wagon.“ Even though it wasn’t called this at the time, Glatz’s architectural style based on his interviews is definitely that of Indigenous Architecture as it was designed to be a modern teepee with Native American flourishes throughout.
Answering the question above, the entry is brief but not terribly accurate. The opening did not take place on the date mentioned or with the star in attendance due to the Kennedy assassination. Also, the venue didn’t open as the Cooper 70. (It opened as the Cooper Theatre and its name changed some two years later in 1965 to the Cooper 70 Theatre. The official grand opening date for the “70” moniker was December 24, 1965. But the Norelco 70mm projection, sound system, and new, wider screen were all installed in November of 1965 so the theater had a full month of, essentially, a soft launch rebranding as the Cinema 70 Theatre.)
Also, the name change on December 25, 1970 was not to the Cooper 1-2-3 Cinemas but to the Cooper 1-2-3 Theatres - not particularly earth shattering but for the record.
Frances K. Scott and A. Francis took on an existing commercial building and transformed it into The Flick, an art and repertory cinema that had its official opening on December 13, 1964 with “Bandits of Orgosolo.” The programming clicked with Colorado College just three blocks away and the theater immediately found its audience. It was said that Colorado College provided 75% of The Flick’s revenue. The programming was taken on by the Cooper Foundation from 1967 to 1978.
The landlord decided not to renew the Foundation’s lease at the end of a two-month long Hitchock festival saying that the films weren’t good for the entire family. Cooper closed with the disgusting and vile, “North by Northwest” on April 18, 1978.
This was a 500-seat venue designed by local architect Mowry C. Gilbert in the height of the luxury suburban period of cinema exhibition. Rich blue and gold color scheme venue was designed for Salt Lake City exhibitor D.K. Edwards & Associates circuit. They held an invitational screening on November 18, 1970. Regular screening began November 19, 1970 with “Airport” (ad in photos).
The Grand Electric Theater opened on March 20, 1908 showing movies. According the news reports of the day, it looks like it moved to new digs in 1911/2. This third location was its first new build and was created to the plans of Lang, Raugland, & Lewis of Minneapolis (plans in photos).
The New Grand was built at a cost of $45,000 opening on October 5, 1925 with “California Straight Ahead.” It was equipped with a Smith Unit organ Grand “#3” (aka New Grand) converted to sound to remain commercially viable. Katherine Greenman was brought in from Minneapolis for the first week due to her familiarity with the console and afterwards was played by regular house organist, Mrs. L.O. Patterson.
The theater kept its name as the New Grand for almost 16 years from 1925 to 1941. It then closed as the Grand Theatre on April 25, 1954 with “The Seige at Red River.” It was the new home of a Gamble’s Variety Store in September of 1954.
The concept for Northland Mall dated back to the Worthington City Council’s approval for the infrastructure needed for a major shopping center and suburban growth. The architectural plans were eventually shown in 1973 by Bureau Investment calling for a twin-screen theater as part of a hybrid strip center and mall with Kmart signed on as the primary anchor along with a 100-unit motel. The cinema would be a straight up replacement for the downtown State Theatre facility.
The Northland Mall opened in 1977 with the cinema going online on October 5, 1977 (its opening ad as the Northland Twin Cinema - an interior mall venue – is in photos). Located between Bostwick’s and Checkmate’s, the twin had identical 235-seat auditoriums. A third refresh at the center enclosed the old shopping center unifying the space as an interior, fully-enclosed mall. At that time, the cinema took over Checkmate to add a 180-seat theater transitioning to the Northland Cinema 3 (aka Northland Cinema 1, 2 & 3) with 685-seats on June 29, 1984. Dolby Digital sound and improved seating were features.
Excellence Theatres took on the venue in 1988. In late 1995, Lakes & Rivers Cinemas Circuit took on the venue with architectural plans for a never-built, 1,000 seat modern five-plex external to the Mall. Instead, Lakes & Rivers took over the JoAnn’s Fabric Store to expand one final time adding two screens with those screens launching of the Northland Cinema 5 on May 15, 1997 as the only two ready screens showing “Liar, Liar” and “Father’s Day.” And just a few days later, on July 25 (1997), the other three screens were opened. The final seat count reached 990 seats for the five-plex.
Lakes and Rivers appears to have left the venue in 2006 and was replaced by Evergreen Entertainment. The theater reached the end of its 20-year leasing but Evergreen’s parent TCMCI was in bankruptcy so there was no extension by mall owner Diversified Developers Reality (DDR) with the theater closing under TCMCI/Evergreen on October 28, 2007.
DDR signed a month to month agreement with West Mall Theatres circuit while it worked on details for a longer term lease in December of 2007. They figured how the ownership of the theater’s seating and projection worked by the signing of a 10-year leasing agreement in June of 2008 with West Mall Theatres having the opt out clause at the five year mark. Northland Mall went into descent while undergoing several ownership changes. The KMart anchor was long gone as was a Hy-Vee grocery store.
By 2014, the Northland roof had gone south. Mold issues were obviously right behind that. But the cinema chugged along making a digital conversion to remain commercially viable. Some days, you had to play a form of “Frogger” to reach the auditorium of choice. The cinema and the Venetian Steakhouse faced very challenging situations continuing operations into 2016 when they were told to scram as the “Shops” were going to be demolished in favor of something else. The Steakhouse closed September 20, 2016 and the Cinema on September 27, 2016. And the whole thing was gone via demolition in 2017.
Closed on March 29, 1984 with “Napoleon” and “Strange Invaders.”
Carmike closed the Carmike Wynnsong 12 on October 5, 2008. In January of 2009 it became a house of worship for Point of Grace, likely in part to reduce its taxing liabilities. and on a ten year leasing deal. Premiere Cinemas took it on converting it back to a multiplex opening October 24, 2019 as the Premiere LUX Cine GSX & Pizza Pub.
For whatever reason, this theater opened as the Cobb Brookhighland (one word) 10 on September 30, 1994 - although “Brook Highland” was the name of the shopping center (two words). Regal Cinemas acquired Cobb Theatres in a deal announced in June of 1997 effective on July 31, 1997. Regal kept the Cobb branding into Spring of 1998 when it became the Regal Brookhighland 10. Regal then changed the venue’s name in December of 1998 to the Regal Brook Highland 10 (now with the proper two words).
Regal struggled as the inherited Cobb theaters were outmatched by superior megaplexes. Regal rebranded the majority of its Brook Highland 10 auditoriums as Regal CinemaArt screens operating with a combination of mainstream and alternative / indy cinema titles in the 2000s. (AMC had tried something similar at some of its locations as “Gourmet Cinema” branded auditoriums.) Meanwhile, Regal decided to retain its Trussville 16 locally but subtracted the former Cobb turned Regal Hoover Square dollar house, the Galleria 10, the Festival Stadium 18, and the Wildwood 14 as it all but retreated from the Birmingham market.
Regal and the Brook Haven Center’s second operator, Developers Diversified Realty had an amicable parting of ways calling the lease as at term’s end on January 14, 2007. “Eragon” was the last show played that night. DDR had the former cinema demolished in March of 2008 to make way for a Circuit City electronics chain store.
The Shops at Colonnade (just one “l” in Colonnade) was a strip plaza built in 1989 with Consolidated Theatres signing on for a 10-screen, 2000-seat multiplex. The theater opened June 16 1989. On November 22, 1989, the Consolidated Circuit was acquired by Carmike and this one officially became the Carmike Colonnade 10 on December 1, 1989.
In 1997, the Megaplex era of cinema exhibition was gearing up and the Colonnade’s cookie cutter approach to its auditoriums wasn’t cutting it. Carmike built its new-era Summit 16 in the vicinity opening in November of 1997 and repositioned the Colonnade as a sub-run discount house with all seats $1.50. Carmike closed here on August 17, 2000 escaping this and selected other leases of aging properties in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The space remained vacant before being repurposed for a fitness center.
With 18 months to go on its 25-year leasing agreement, Regal moved on using just five of its screens with “The Dukes of Hazard,” “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory,” “Rebound,” “War of the Worlds,” and “The 40 Year Old Virgin.” Last day for the Regal Wildwood Stadium 18 of August 23, 2005 is in photos.
Converted to non-theatrical use in 2025.
877 seats
Filling in a little bit… Dubinsky sold a group of theatres to Excellence Theatres of Chicago in 1989 that included the Cinema 1 & 2. Carmike Cinemas took over all one hundred of Excellence Theatres' leases in a joint operating agreement in 1991. The Cinema operated primarily as a Carmike Cinemas property until its initial closure. It was relit briefly as an independent prior to closure and demolition.
I think you’ve got two different theaters in the same entry - picture wise. The Majestic is indeed the long-time theater which Architect D.N. Sandine gave a streamline moderne makeover in 1936. It’s got a large auditorium in its rear and the lobby in the front.
The auditorium was bulldozed ending that auditorium. I’m only guessing that Kerasotes decided to place a twin screen using some elements of the original building’s entry/lobby as the Showplace Cinemas. The Showplace Cinemas was closed September 29, 1995 by the - then George Kerasotes Corporation / GKC Theatres). It was then turned into Living World Church of God likely to reduce taxing liabilities. The address of the Church and Showplace Cinemas is/was 159 Gooding.
Not sure about the 225 Gooding address and what is/was there. If the database is correct about that being the location of the former Majestic, each theater would need its own entry.
This duplex was known as the Illinois Valley Cinema 2 by July of 1974 and as the New Illinois Twin Valley Twin Cinema on September 3, 1974. Later renamed as the Illinois Valley Cinemas, it was closed by George Kerasotes Corporation (GKC) on October 31, 1995.
There’s been a cinema at the Peru Mall since at least 1980 and definitely a quad by 1983. Not sure if it moved in the 15-year, 1989 refresh but the cinema dates back longer than stated at the Peru Mall.
The Tompkins was closed by the Cooper Foundation at the end of its lease on March 28, 1963 with “The Hook” and “Seven Seas to Calais.” In April of 1963, the building was demolished and plans revealed for a new banking building and neighboring theater which was the Cooper.
Appears to be closing on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
March 21, 1934 Ada Grand Opening with Will Rogers as “Dr. Bull” in photos.
The Cine-Art Twin launched during the porno chic era of film exhibition on November 18, 1970 showing unrated “underground” 16mm films from around the globe. A true grindhouse showing film continuously from 10a until 11p, the Cine-Art drew the ire of local officials early and often. In fact, it was closed within hours of opening. The reason is that they were showing unrated films that local officials felt were without redeeming value and were, in their opinion, obscene.
Cine-Art Manager Bill Houston hired an attorney who got a 30-day stay but that just made the cases pile up higher against the fledgling adult cinema purveyor especially in 1971. Films deemed potentially obscene were “The Dinnerware Salesman,” “Softie,” and “No Name Sex.” By 1972, there were three major Colorado Springs “extra strength” porn houses in Cine-Art Twin, Pussy Cat 21 Cinema, and Las Vegas Cinema. The options were: 1) go out of business in exchange for dropping the charges - which included jail time and fines; 2) change your programming to rated films (X was okay in COS) or 3) fight the overbreadth of the laws in court.
Houston admitted that the Cine-Art Twin had no long game as attorney fees had zapped the operation. The last day of operation for the venue was on March 8, 1973. On March 9, 1973, the operators closed their doors permanently in exchange for the D.A. dropping the charges. Bachelor’s Paradise, an adult bookstore, opted for that same deal a month later. The Pussy Cat Cinema 21 would roll back to its previous Cinema 21 showing only rated X films to have its charges dropped. (Officials would then successfully go after its original owner on tax evasions charges - another time-honored way to close adult cinemas - which worked for a month until new operators bought it at auction and kept it going for another, oh, 40 years). And the Las Vegas Cinema would take its “Deep Throat” case to the Colorado Supreme Court - a three year process that it won handily on First and Fourteenth Amendment grounds.
The former downtown Cine-Art Twin building has been bulldozed.
During the porno chic era of theatrical exhibition, the city had a number of adult cinemas. The Las Vegas Cinemas opened in 1972 by Investors Production Inc. playing unrated “XXX” adult films. They were a difference maker as the established “X-rated” cinema house, Cinema 21, decided to change to what it termed “XX” and “Super-X” (unrated, as well) adult films in a strength test. So the Las Vegas Cinemas upped its strength label to that of “XXXXX” films. Comical, in a way.
In the milieu of the Supreme Court’s high profile Miller v. California decision, the laughs were gone as Colorado Springs decided to take action and charge film operators with obscenity. There were several approaches taken by local adult cinemas. Cine-Twin was charged and opted to have their charges completely dropped in exchange for leaving the industry. The former X-rated Studio 21 had shifted to unrated “XX” and “Super-X” titles and decided to return to more acceptable at the time X-rated fare having its charges dropped. But the stakes were much higher over at the Las Vegas Cinema where five weeks of sold out audiences for “Deep Throat” were bringing in serious cash in April of 1973.
Owner Samuel Tabron was arrested three times in succession. First was Deep Throat on April 11th. Next was “The Green Door” followed by “The Artful Lover.” A jury found him guilty in the first charge which began to have serious consequences as the other two charges were being examined so he fought to the Colorado Supreme Court. There, not only was “Deep Throat” not going to be found to be obscene but the entire Colorado statute defining and regulating obscenity was found unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. It was a jackpot for Tabron’s Las Vegas Cinema and for First Amendment legal interests. And Tabron’s “Green Door” and “Artful Lover” cases were also thrown out.
Cinema 21 was a theater that opened in the porno chic era of theatrical exhibition opening south of downtown. It launched on October 18, 1969 with Patricia Wymer as “The Babysitter.” The venue presented X-Rated films and was marketed more heavily than the majority of traditional local movie houses of that area. The “21” in Cinema 21 was its age restriction for entry. On December 6, 1972, the venue was rebranded as the Pussy Cat Cinema 21 for about a year.
During that short run, the Pussy Cat switched from X-rated titles to unrated “XX” and “Super X” content trying to compete with the Las Vegas Cinema and the Cine-Art Twin, amongst others. The police came a knockin' and Arthur Goldstein of Art Theatres agreed to only play X-rated content so that he could continue operations. The Cine-Twin was given similar instructions but decided to shut down. And the Las Vegas Cinema decided to fight in court (People v. Tabron).
The Sin-21 theater was part of the New Eros Newsstand housed in two non-descript single-level retail locations built around 1960. Art Theatres was busted for tax delinquency and the Cinema 21 closed February 15, 1975 with the contents auctioned two months later.
The venue reopened two weeks after the auction with new operators on April 21, 1975 as the New Cinema 18 with folks aged 18-up allowed in. The opening features were Jen Gillian in “Massage Parlor Wife,” Rene Bond in “The Playmates” presented in Deep-Vision 3D, and Jacqueline Giroux in “Vice Squad Women.” The New Cinema 18 was reduced to Cinema 18 after April 1978 showtimes. It was one of the longest-lasting adult cinemas in the State of Colorado - though not the longest - continuing into the 21st Century as the Cinema 18 closing - it is believed - in late 2013 (or early 2014).
Also known as Cinema 21, Pussy Cat Cinema 21, New Cinema 18 and Cinema 18.
The 859-seat UTE 70 Theatre opened May 30, 1967 with “War Wagon.“ Even though it wasn’t called this at the time, Glatz’s architectural style based on his interviews is definitely that of Indigenous Architecture as it was designed to be a modern teepee with Native American flourishes throughout.
Answering the question above, the entry is brief but not terribly accurate. The opening did not take place on the date mentioned or with the star in attendance due to the Kennedy assassination. Also, the venue didn’t open as the Cooper 70. (It opened as the Cooper Theatre and its name changed some two years later in 1965 to the Cooper 70 Theatre. The official grand opening date for the “70” moniker was December 24, 1965. But the Norelco 70mm projection, sound system, and new, wider screen were all installed in November of 1965 so the theater had a full month of, essentially, a soft launch rebranding as the Cinema 70 Theatre.)
Also, the name change on December 25, 1970 was not to the Cooper 1-2-3 Cinemas but to the Cooper 1-2-3 Theatres - not particularly earth shattering but for the record.
Frances K. Scott and A. Francis took on an existing commercial building and transformed it into The Flick, an art and repertory cinema that had its official opening on December 13, 1964 with “Bandits of Orgosolo.” The programming clicked with Colorado College just three blocks away and the theater immediately found its audience. It was said that Colorado College provided 75% of The Flick’s revenue. The programming was taken on by the Cooper Foundation from 1967 to 1978.
The landlord decided not to renew the Foundation’s lease at the end of a two-month long Hitchock festival saying that the films weren’t good for the entire family. Cooper closed with the disgusting and vile, “North by Northwest” on April 18, 1978.
This was a 500-seat venue designed by local architect Mowry C. Gilbert in the height of the luxury suburban period of cinema exhibition. Rich blue and gold color scheme venue was designed for Salt Lake City exhibitor D.K. Edwards & Associates circuit. They held an invitational screening on November 18, 1970. Regular screening began November 19, 1970 with “Airport” (ad in photos).
3,000 seat capacity.
The Grand Electric Theater opened on March 20, 1908 showing movies. According the news reports of the day, it looks like it moved to new digs in 1911/2. This third location was its first new build and was created to the plans of Lang, Raugland, & Lewis of Minneapolis (plans in photos).
The New Grand was built at a cost of $45,000 opening on October 5, 1925 with “California Straight Ahead.” It was equipped with a Smith Unit organ Grand “#3” (aka New Grand) converted to sound to remain commercially viable. Katherine Greenman was brought in from Minneapolis for the first week due to her familiarity with the console and afterwards was played by regular house organist, Mrs. L.O. Patterson.
The theater kept its name as the New Grand for almost 16 years from 1925 to 1941. It then closed as the Grand Theatre on April 25, 1954 with “The Seige at Red River.” It was the new home of a Gamble’s Variety Store in September of 1954.
The concept for Northland Mall dated back to the Worthington City Council’s approval for the infrastructure needed for a major shopping center and suburban growth. The architectural plans were eventually shown in 1973 by Bureau Investment calling for a twin-screen theater as part of a hybrid strip center and mall with Kmart signed on as the primary anchor along with a 100-unit motel. The cinema would be a straight up replacement for the downtown State Theatre facility.
The Northland Mall opened in 1977 with the cinema going online on October 5, 1977 (its opening ad as the Northland Twin Cinema - an interior mall venue – is in photos). Located between Bostwick’s and Checkmate’s, the twin had identical 235-seat auditoriums. A third refresh at the center enclosed the old shopping center unifying the space as an interior, fully-enclosed mall. At that time, the cinema took over Checkmate to add a 180-seat theater transitioning to the Northland Cinema 3 (aka Northland Cinema 1, 2 & 3) with 685-seats on June 29, 1984. Dolby Digital sound and improved seating were features.
Excellence Theatres took on the venue in 1988. In late 1995, Lakes & Rivers Cinemas Circuit took on the venue with architectural plans for a never-built, 1,000 seat modern five-plex external to the Mall. Instead, Lakes & Rivers took over the JoAnn’s Fabric Store to expand one final time adding two screens with those screens launching of the Northland Cinema 5 on May 15, 1997 as the only two ready screens showing “Liar, Liar” and “Father’s Day.” And just a few days later, on July 25 (1997), the other three screens were opened. The final seat count reached 990 seats for the five-plex.
Lakes and Rivers appears to have left the venue in 2006 and was replaced by Evergreen Entertainment. The theater reached the end of its 20-year leasing but Evergreen’s parent TCMCI was in bankruptcy so there was no extension by mall owner Diversified Developers Reality (DDR) with the theater closing under TCMCI/Evergreen on October 28, 2007.
DDR signed a month to month agreement with West Mall Theatres circuit while it worked on details for a longer term lease in December of 2007. They figured how the ownership of the theater’s seating and projection worked by the signing of a 10-year leasing agreement in June of 2008 with West Mall Theatres having the opt out clause at the five year mark. Northland Mall went into descent while undergoing several ownership changes. The KMart anchor was long gone as was a Hy-Vee grocery store.
By 2014, the Northland roof had gone south. Mold issues were obviously right behind that. But the cinema chugged along making a digital conversion to remain commercially viable. Some days, you had to play a form of “Frogger” to reach the auditorium of choice. The cinema and the Venetian Steakhouse faced very challenging situations continuing operations into 2016 when they were told to scram as the “Shops” were going to be demolished in favor of something else. The Steakhouse closed September 20, 2016 and the Cinema on September 27, 2016. And the whole thing was gone via demolition in 2017.
Closed September 3, 1984 with “Vacation” and “Police Academy.” Torn down July 29, 1985.