Dunedin Plaza Cinema
916 Patricia Avenue,
Dunedin,
FL
34698
916 Patricia Avenue,
Dunedin,
FL
34698
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jerry Lewis Cinemas
Previous Names: Jerry Lewis Cinema
Nearby Theaters
The Jerry Lewis Cinema was Dunedin’s first theatre in a decade. It was located in the Dunedin Plaza Shopping Center on Patricia Avenue at Main Street. It opened on April 29, 1972 with a re-release of the 1946 movie “The Yearling” starring Gregory Peck playing at the children’s matinee & Sean Connery in “Diamonds are Forever” playing in the evening. It was closed on January 20, 1977.
Contributed by
Andy
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
Jerry Lewis' book “DEAN AND ME”, Mr.Lewis writes about the mess he got into getting in the theatre business.
Jerry Lewis Cinemas declared bankruptcy in 1980.
CT could use an exact address, is the building still standing, if yes, what is the use of the building, photos, old and new, inside and out, and any other info???
B&L
Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, Illinois
I would probably think the theater was inside either the save-a-lot or the liquor store they both have lots of parking spaces. The Bealls outlet has very little parking in front, plus it shares parking with the bank building.
Chief Bob, are you sure they declared bankruptcy in 1980?? My dad and uncle were projectionists at a Jerry Lewis Twin in Carteret N.J. and by the beginning of 1974 they were under private ownership. Perhaps I am getting confused with Network Cinema Corp. who was the company under which JLC’s were.
The bankruptcy of Jerry Lewis & NCC is well documented. However, the JLC business model soon fell apart after a few years. Most franchises probably distanced themselves by running more mature, and in some cases ‘adult’ films, when the family film theme ran out of gas. I know my local theater was doing that.
I know the one dad was projectionist at started running adult movies in Cinema 1 in 1974. They tried to keep the kids and family movies in Cinema 2. It was closed and out of business in 1985.
Were any Jerry Lewis movies screened here?
The phone directory lists the theatre at 916 Patricia Avenue.
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.
Re Joe Vogel comment from 2010. Boxoffice Mag was probably wrong. The planned opening date was ‘about’ April 15, 1972. (Source: Tampa Bay Times p 44 3-21-73). In a search of the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg Times, no advertising or directory listing turned up until Sunday April 30 where there was a display ad for “Grand Opening”. An article from 4/25/72 says the opening would be that Saturday 4/29, with a benefit showing of “The Yearling” as a matinee. No advertising was found for Saturday, however there was an ad on Sunday. Whether the theatre really opened Saturday or Sunday is still unresolved. I am attaching the Sunday ad. “The Yearling” was a MGM Children’s Matinee that weekend and played at several theatres in the area. This is just another example of the spotty advertising of the Jerry Lewis theatres. Sometimes there would be a very large ad a day, or two, or three before the actual opening and then on opening day there would be no ad or just a 1x2.