Hey Dallas, I have a question for you. Out of the thousands of movie theaters across America, how many theaters in total, or which theaters do you know, went under two or more nameplates at the same time?
Opened on March 28, 1948 with Charles Bickford in “The Farmer’s Daughter” along with Disney’s Donald Duck in “Chip ‘N Dale” (also starring the two chipmunks themselves), and a short on Frankie Carle and his Orchestra.
The Neace Theatre actually opened on February 2, 1929 with the statewide premiere of Ronald Colman in “The Rescue” (unknown if extras added). It was renamed the Plaza Theatre on June 10. 1937.
Closed as a mainstream house on February 8, 1981 with “Mountain Family Robinson” and “The Mirror Crack’d”. The Denville reopened as an X-rated theater the following week and lasted for five months before officially closing on June 28, 1981.
The two technicolor shorts that opened are the Warner Bros musical short “Celebration Days” and the Merrie Melodies cartoon “Flop Goes The Weasel” (Blue Ribbon reissue).
This most likely opened as the Huronia Drive-In as early as 1953, but when Stinson Theatres took over operations in 1971, they twinned the drive-in and renamed it the Barrie Drive-In. A third screen was added in the early-1980s, becoming the Barrie Triple.
This opened as the Bayfield Mall Cinemas in 1972 as a twin. It most likely opened alongside the Bayfield Mall which opened that same year. The mall opened in March of that year, but I cannot confirm if the twin-screen cinema opened at the same time or a little later.
It expanded to seven screens in the late-1980s, with one of the additional screens being built at the former lower level of Little Joe’s Arcade (which used be accessed from a record store above in the Food Lane).
Opened on March 18, 1937 by Richard F. Garrett. Some of its original installations include a striking façade of red, black, and primrose vitro-lite panels under a prominent marquee, the interior included a lobby illuminated in blue and orange tones, plush rugs, and curtains. It was twinned in the mid-1970s and went under the name “Imperial Cinemas 1 & 2”.
The Uptown Theatre first launched softly with a dance night on September 9, 1927, with the official grand opening on September 21, 1927 with John Barrymore in “Don Juan” (unknown if extras added). It was twinned in June 1978, and was last operated by Stinson Theatres before closing on May 30, 2002 with “The Scorpion King” in Screen 1 and “Murder By Numbers” in Screen 2.
Hey Dallas, I have a question for you. Out of the thousands of movie theaters across America, how many theaters in total, or which theaters do you know, went under two or more nameplates at the same time?
Opened on March 28, 1948 with Charles Bickford in “The Farmer’s Daughter” along with Disney’s Donald Duck in “Chip ‘N Dale” (also starring the two chipmunks themselves), and a short on Frankie Carle and his Orchestra.
The Empire Theatre, whose name came from a theater-naming contest won by Frank Wright, opened its doors by first manager E.E. Zehm in late-March 1913.
The Neace Theatre actually opened on February 2, 1929 with the statewide premiere of Ronald Colman in “The Rescue” (unknown if extras added). It was renamed the Plaza Theatre on June 10. 1937.
Closed as a mainstream house on February 8, 1981 with “Mountain Family Robinson” and “The Mirror Crack’d”. The Denville reopened as an X-rated theater the following week and lasted for five months before officially closing on June 28, 1981.
Closed on April 5, 2009.
Originally closed in 1973.
Taken over by Sony Theatres in December 1994, followed by Loews Cineplex in 1996.
Expanded to six screens in August 1986.
Most likely family related to the original owners, that could be why. This most likely closed after the 1983 season.
First managed by Steven Alan Prince.
This opened in the early-1920s and closed in 2000.
Closed in the early-1970s, and demolished in late-November 1997.
Still open in 1961.
Closed in 2019. Now abandoned.
First opened with two screens.
The two technicolor shorts that opened are the Warner Bros musical short “Celebration Days” and the Merrie Melodies cartoon “Flop Goes The Weasel” (Blue Ribbon reissue).
This most likely opened as the Huronia Drive-In as early as 1953, but when Stinson Theatres took over operations in 1971, they twinned the drive-in and renamed it the Barrie Drive-In. A third screen was added in the early-1980s, becoming the Barrie Triple.
This opened as the Bayfield Mall Cinemas in 1972 as a twin. It most likely opened alongside the Bayfield Mall which opened that same year. The mall opened in March of that year, but I cannot confirm if the twin-screen cinema opened at the same time or a little later.
It expanded to seven screens in the late-1980s, with one of the additional screens being built at the former lower level of Little Joe’s Arcade (which used be accessed from a record store above in the Food Lane).
Closed on October 2, 1988.
Opened on March 18, 1937 by Richard F. Garrett. Some of its original installations include a striking façade of red, black, and primrose vitro-lite panels under a prominent marquee, the interior included a lobby illuminated in blue and orange tones, plush rugs, and curtains. It was twinned in the mid-1970s and went under the name “Imperial Cinemas 1 & 2”.
Oh, gotcha. Then the site I was on had the wrong date listed, which happens. Thanks!
Opened on July 7, 1971 with “Ryan’s Daughter” in Screen 1 and “Bananas” in Screen 2.
Still open in 1955.
The Uptown Theatre first launched softly with a dance night on September 9, 1927, with the official grand opening on September 21, 1927 with John Barrymore in “Don Juan” (unknown if extras added). It was twinned in June 1978, and was last operated by Stinson Theatres before closing on May 30, 2002 with “The Scorpion King” in Screen 1 and “Murder By Numbers” in Screen 2.