While I’m usually a fan of any photo vs. none, the picture that is currently attached to this entry (the side of the building?) really doesn’t do much for me… was the front of the building unavailable?
It should be noted that the Cineplex that operated this theatre is not the same as the Cineplex of Cineplex Odeon/Loews Cineplex. This company appears to have operated only in Texas and built a number of similar 6-8 plexes in and around Houston and Dallas.
So many were operated by Cineplex then Cinemark that I wonder if Cineplex was an earlier incarnation of Cinemark.
If you could find the ORIGINAL grand opening ad, that would be nice. This theatre did not open as a 20-plex in 1986.
I assume that it opened as an 8 plex similar to the Seminole, Tri-City and other AMC 8’s in the surrounding area.
If you look at the second picture in the Cinematour link, the “Guest Services” window is the original box office and entrance, complete with the AMC door panels.
It’s the benefit of living in/near a major metropolitan area. Also — having to travel and join others who’ve gone to great lengths to see the film adds to the enjoyment.
This was the first Century Theatre that Cinemark completed after their purchase of Century in 2006. For this reason the interior is an interesting hybrid between the Century and Cinemark designs at the time.
Opened during Century’s big expansion push in 1996, this theatre’s layout and color scheme is nearly identical to the Century 16’s in Anchorage, AK; Aurora, CO; Salt Lake City, UT and Portland, OR.
Theatre project was started and nearly completed by Regal Cinemas. Before opening the project was taken over by Century Theatres. Most every aspect of the interior is a Regal Cinema; seats, carpets, curtains, snack bar etc.
The Regal design include an exterior box office that was accessible through the snack bar and kitchen. While the box office was completed it was never used; Century built an interior box office instead.
Starplex has close ties to Cinemark (I think it’s Lee Roy Mitchell’s brother?). It’s not cooincidence that many Starplex built theatres are extremely similar to a Cinemark theatre of the same era.
The theatre was originally a 3-screen theatre, operated by West Side Valley Theatres. It was at some point turned into a 6-plex and operated by Cinemacal Enterprises which closed the theatre in August of 2003.
Cinelux Theatres later remodelled the theatre into an 8-screen theatre with stadium seating, later adding three screens for the current total of eleven.
While I’m usually a fan of any photo vs. none, the picture that is currently attached to this entry (the side of the building?) really doesn’t do much for me… was the front of the building unavailable?
It should be noted that the Cineplex that operated this theatre is not the same as the Cineplex of Cineplex Odeon/Loews Cineplex. This company appears to have operated only in Texas and built a number of similar 6-8 plexes in and around Houston and Dallas.
So many were operated by Cineplex then Cinemark that I wonder if Cineplex was an earlier incarnation of Cinemark.
Big places like this aren’t going to go away. People need to start finding the beauty in what theatres have become.
Though I agree — most theatre patrons nowadays are idiots. Though napalm is extreme.
If you could find the ORIGINAL grand opening ad, that would be nice. This theatre did not open as a 20-plex in 1986.
I assume that it opened as an 8 plex similar to the Seminole, Tri-City and other AMC 8’s in the surrounding area.
If you look at the second picture in the Cinematour link, the “Guest Services” window is the original box office and entrance, complete with the AMC door panels.
It’s the benefit of living in/near a major metropolitan area. Also — having to travel and join others who’ve gone to great lengths to see the film adds to the enjoyment.
The theatre opened with Volcano on April 25, 1997.
This was the first Century Theatre that Cinemark completed after their purchase of Century in 2006. For this reason the interior is an interesting hybrid between the Century and Cinemark designs at the time.
Opened during Century’s big expansion push in 1996, this theatre’s layout and color scheme is nearly identical to the Century 16’s in Anchorage, AK; Aurora, CO; Salt Lake City, UT and Portland, OR.
Theatre project was started and nearly completed by Regal Cinemas. Before opening the project was taken over by Century Theatres. Most every aspect of the interior is a Regal Cinema; seats, carpets, curtains, snack bar etc.
The Regal design include an exterior box office that was accessible through the snack bar and kitchen. While the box office was completed it was never used; Century built an interior box office instead.
It appears that Google Earth shows this location is demolished.
Theatre is actually a 3-screen.
This theatre is being run by TouchStar Cinemas as a part discount and part first run theatre.
Ummm — Just about every Century Theatre built has a self serve snack bar.
At any rate — the theatre closed in August of 2011.
The theatre is currently undergoing new construction of a sixth theatre.
I believe it is also a single screen — not a twin.
You mean people saw Star Wars in that teeeeny tiny bowling alley theatre???
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/4644.html
Does anybody have more details as to where specifically this theatre was located?
The 5-9 would be the theatre inside the mall, which to my understanding is still operating. The 1-4 would be the building referred to above.
Having never gone inside, I didn’t realize it was all Cineplex Odeon-ey still. I would have assumed National would have Showcased it up a bit.
Starplex has close ties to Cinemark (I think it’s Lee Roy Mitchell’s brother?). It’s not cooincidence that many Starplex built theatres are extremely similar to a Cinemark theatre of the same era.
It’s being used for live shows as well as banquets.
They’re all over every Cinemark of a certain era, probably starting with the Hollywood concept.
Well likely their first ground up build of the multiplex era…?
An article in the San Dimas Press from March 27, 1969 says that the theatre would be opening April 2, 1969.
The theatre was originally a 3-screen theatre, operated by West Side Valley Theatres. It was at some point turned into a 6-plex and operated by Cinemacal Enterprises which closed the theatre in August of 2003.
Cinelux Theatres later remodelled the theatre into an 8-screen theatre with stadium seating, later adding three screens for the current total of eleven.