The 68ft screen tower is surfaced on a transite board with metal counter flashing between each piece of 4x8ft board. A red lead base with an extremely white pigment was used to give reflecting qualities. An article states that the tower contains enough wood to put in 5 indoor theaters, but I don’t think that’s the case. There were 7,000 teco rings and 4,000 bolts being used under building the tower’s framework. The tower is set on a footing of more than 300 yards if concrete, reinforced in steel and self-supporting. The back side which we all know faces the U.S. 45, which was also covered with a transite board with stainless steel stripping between each piece of board. More than 5,000ft of those were used outside of the tower. All of those steel works were done by the George L. Mesker Steel Corporation of Evansville, Indiana. This theater surrounds the beautiful sites of 500 Lombardy poplar trees which were planted, 126 evergreens, and over 500 shrub plants being used in landscaping in grounds.
With the back of the screen contains an intricate lighting system, which consists of flood lighting from the base and from the roof with multi-colored lamps. The back contains the “Starlite” 8x4ft letters with 2in strips of Scotchlight illuminating the center of lettering. The other letters “Drive”, “In”, and “Theatre” were 3x2ft.
When the theater opened, not just the attractions, but 3 door prizes were given away by each entry. The first prize contains a Noma Electric Doll, a talking doll with a press of a button contains a soundbox either he or she can laugh, talk, sing, or even saying her prayers, which were extremely ultra rare to find. The second prize contains a Stewart-Warner Portable Radio, styled in a green plastic case with a pullout handle for easy carrying. And the last prize contains a Dormey Portable Electric Food Mixer, a faster way to bake. For the kiddies, there are also Souvenir Rings especially designed for the Starlite by Penny King. Also for the little ones contains pony rides. There were 3 of them, named Gus, Red, and Koko, in front of the screen tower. And lastly, the first 1,000 women who attended the Starlite in its opening day will receive orchids, that came from Hawaii.
In July of 1971, plans for this theater is included as it was part of an expansion of the mall. The theater opened sometime between 1972 and 1973, because the Chicago Tribune haven’t receive any attractions for the Deerbrook until June of 1973.
It actually opened on April 25, 1938, with Andy Devine in “In Old Chicago” along with a cartoon. The cartoon actually reads “SKIPPY”, which kinda makes sense. I don’t know what the title for the actual cartoon is called.
Actually, the Roof Garden Drive-In continued operations prior to 1951 because its partial-seasoned. I looked through various 1949-1950 pages of the Daily American, and reported that construction was in process in July of 1949.
The Roof Garden would then later open its gates on July 25, 1949 with Richard Basehart and Scott Brady in “He Walked By Night”, but I cannot find a single grand opening advertisement anywhere, but it did announce a week prior to watch for a grand opening attraction. I dug up completely deeper and I can’t find it anywhere.
It closed for the final time at the end of the 1975 season, but on November 17, 1975, some rubble from the screen was devastated in a fire. The theater was then sold on March 3, 1976.
UPDATE: Became A Twin On December 20, 1974, Reopening With “The Towering Inferno” At Screen 1 And Walt Disney’s “The Island Of The Top Of The World” And “Winnie The Pooh And Tigger Too” At Screen 2. Expanded To A Quad On April 9, 1982, And A 9-Plex On November 17, 1989.
The Gulf-To-Bay Opened Its Gates On November 15, 1949. It Was Closed On July 25, 1984 With “Breakin'” And “Hot Dog” As Its Last Films. It Was Later Announce That August That Apartment Sites Will Be Constructed In Its Site, Which Began In Early 1985.
This is AMC’s second Clearwater location, with the first being the Clearwater 4 (later the Clearwater 5) being located at the Clearwater Mall which AMC operated it throughout its history from September 1972 Until October 2000.
On September 2, 1974, the Cameo Theatre flipped the table after running X rated films and began stunting with second-run films, which reopened with the 1972 film “Pete N Tillie”. However, that stunt didn’t last for so long, and flipped back to X rated films during the week of June 22, 1975, but had another lawsuit later that September. The Cameo’s short-lived stunting sequences had flopped big time. The following year, The Cameo Theatre on June 2, 1976 had failed to pay fines in obscenity cases. The theater was forced to close its doors for the final time after jury trials and convictions brought fines from an estimate total of $43,500.
First opened as the Clearwater Cinema ‘N Drafthouse in 1984. It became a twin in 1989 renaming as “Clearwater Twin Cinema Cafe”. It was later renamed to just simply “Clearwater Cinema Cafe”.
The Jerry Lewis Cinema opened its doors on April 29, 1972 with Walt Disney’s “The Yearling” and a James Bond hit “Diamonds Are Forever”. It was later renamed “Dunedin Plaza Cinema”. This theater is short lived, closing its doors on January 20, 1977.
The Theater’s Name Is The “UA Movies At Clearwater”, Located On 27419 U.S. Highway 19 North, Which Now Sits A Hyundai Dealership, Fitzgerald Hyundai (Which Is Formerly A Subaru/Suzuki Dealership).
Opened On February 13, 1987 And Closed In May 2002.
UPDATE: I just found this not too long ago that the Starlite actually first opened as the Plant City Drive-In in November 1950. It became the Starlite in October 1952.
Information about the Starlite goes as follows:
The 68ft screen tower is surfaced on a transite board with metal counter flashing between each piece of 4x8ft board. A red lead base with an extremely white pigment was used to give reflecting qualities. An article states that the tower contains enough wood to put in 5 indoor theaters, but I don’t think that’s the case. There were 7,000 teco rings and 4,000 bolts being used under building the tower’s framework. The tower is set on a footing of more than 300 yards if concrete, reinforced in steel and self-supporting. The back side which we all know faces the U.S. 45, which was also covered with a transite board with stainless steel stripping between each piece of board. More than 5,000ft of those were used outside of the tower. All of those steel works were done by the George L. Mesker Steel Corporation of Evansville, Indiana. This theater surrounds the beautiful sites of 500 Lombardy poplar trees which were planted, 126 evergreens, and over 500 shrub plants being used in landscaping in grounds.
With the back of the screen contains an intricate lighting system, which consists of flood lighting from the base and from the roof with multi-colored lamps. The back contains the “Starlite” 8x4ft letters with 2in strips of Scotchlight illuminating the center of lettering. The other letters “Drive”, “In”, and “Theatre” were 3x2ft.
When the theater opened, not just the attractions, but 3 door prizes were given away by each entry. The first prize contains a Noma Electric Doll, a talking doll with a press of a button contains a soundbox either he or she can laugh, talk, sing, or even saying her prayers, which were extremely ultra rare to find. The second prize contains a Stewart-Warner Portable Radio, styled in a green plastic case with a pullout handle for easy carrying. And the last prize contains a Dormey Portable Electric Food Mixer, a faster way to bake. For the kiddies, there are also Souvenir Rings especially designed for the Starlite by Penny King. Also for the little ones contains pony rides. There were 3 of them, named Gus, Red, and Koko, in front of the screen tower. And lastly, the first 1,000 women who attended the Starlite in its opening day will receive orchids, that came from Hawaii.
Opened On August 5, 1949 With “The Babe Ruth Story”.
In July of 1971, plans for this theater is included as it was part of an expansion of the mall. The theater opened sometime between 1972 and 1973, because the Chicago Tribune haven’t receive any attractions for the Deerbrook until June of 1973.
ABC/Great States also operated the LaGrange as well since the early 1970s.
It actually opened on April 25, 1938, with Andy Devine in “In Old Chicago” along with a cartoon. The cartoon actually reads “SKIPPY”, which kinda makes sense. I don’t know what the title for the actual cartoon is called.
In 1947, the theater was renamed as the Park Theatre to match its former name. It was closed as late as September 17, 1953.
Actually, the Roof Garden Drive-In continued operations prior to 1951 because its partial-seasoned. I looked through various 1949-1950 pages of the Daily American, and reported that construction was in process in July of 1949.
The Roof Garden would then later open its gates on July 25, 1949 with Richard Basehart and Scott Brady in “He Walked By Night”, but I cannot find a single grand opening advertisement anywhere, but it did announce a week prior to watch for a grand opening attraction. I dug up completely deeper and I can’t find it anywhere.
It closed for the final time at the end of the 1975 season, but on November 17, 1975, some rubble from the screen was devastated in a fire. The theater was then sold on March 3, 1976.
Closed In September 1987.
Opened On April 19, 1949 With Dick Powell In “Rogues' Regiment” And Penny Singleton And Arthur Lake In “Blondie’s Big Deal”.
UPDATE: Became A Twin On December 20, 1974, Reopening With “The Towering Inferno” At Screen 1 And Walt Disney’s “The Island Of The Top Of The World” And “Winnie The Pooh And Tigger Too” At Screen 2. Expanded To A Quad On April 9, 1982, And A 9-Plex On November 17, 1989.
Opened with Walt Disney’s “The Ugly Dachshund” and “Winnie The Pooh And The Honey Tree”.
The Gulf-To-Bay Opened Its Gates On November 15, 1949. It Was Closed On July 25, 1984 With “Breakin'” And “Hot Dog” As Its Last Films. It Was Later Announce That August That Apartment Sites Will Be Constructed In Its Site, Which Began In Early 1985.
Opened On September 28, 1973.
Opened On December 1, 1972.
This is AMC’s second Clearwater location, with the first being the Clearwater 4 (later the Clearwater 5) being located at the Clearwater Mall which AMC operated it throughout its history from September 1972 Until October 2000.
On September 2, 1974, the Cameo Theatre flipped the table after running X rated films and began stunting with second-run films, which reopened with the 1972 film “Pete N Tillie”. However, that stunt didn’t last for so long, and flipped back to X rated films during the week of June 22, 1975, but had another lawsuit later that September. The Cameo’s short-lived stunting sequences had flopped big time. The following year, The Cameo Theatre on June 2, 1976 had failed to pay fines in obscenity cases. The theater was forced to close its doors for the final time after jury trials and convictions brought fines from an estimate total of $43,500.
Opened with “Three Sailors And A Girl” (I haven’t checked if short subjects were added yet, but I will find it soon).
Closed On April 3, 1983 With “Funny Girl” And “Lady” As Their Last Films. It Was Demolished On April 22, 1984 To Make Way For A Bank.
First opened as the Clearwater Cinema ‘N Drafthouse in 1984. It became a twin in 1989 renaming as “Clearwater Twin Cinema Cafe”. It was later renamed to just simply “Clearwater Cinema Cafe”.
The Jerry Lewis Cinema opened its doors on April 29, 1972 with Walt Disney’s “The Yearling” and a James Bond hit “Diamonds Are Forever”. It was later renamed “Dunedin Plaza Cinema”. This theater is short lived, closing its doors on January 20, 1977.
Closed in September 1997.
Closed on September 18, 1967.
Closed on January 17, 2000 due to the preparation of the Park Place Stadium 16 being built nearby.
Originally opened with 8 screens.
The Theater’s Name Is The “UA Movies At Clearwater”, Located On 27419 U.S. Highway 19 North, Which Now Sits A Hyundai Dealership, Fitzgerald Hyundai (Which Is Formerly A Subaru/Suzuki Dealership).
Opened On February 13, 1987 And Closed In May 2002.
UPDATE: I just found this not too long ago that the Starlite actually first opened as the Plant City Drive-In in November 1950. It became the Starlite in October 1952.