Lakewood 2

dallasmovietheaters on August 7, 2025 at 3:31 pm

In development in late 1970, the East Park Shopping Center was created mainly for anchor tenants W.T. Grant (which would have a store complete with an interior Brandon House restaurant and an exterior auto center) and J. Weingarten Supermarket #101 and its first “superstore” concept with clothing and other home goods. Weingarten was the landlord. Others in the center including Eckerd Drug Store, Alaskan Clothing Store (a local chain open since 1912), and a twin screen cinema designed by James A. Bishop & Associates, Inc. Architects for Tercar Theatres.

When the center opened on October 14, 1971, it had been fused into a single word, Eastpark Shopping Center. A shot in the dark guess here in looking at plans and pictures is that the attractor sign for the plaza came with a single word, “Eastpark,” and all of the leases were likely signed with “East Park.” But “Eastpark” was the name on the big sign so they rolled with it. The Twin Theatre got the name “East Park” in its grand opening ad as did all of the stores that had opened the previous Fall… but was “Eastpark” was in the cinema’s display ads from day 2 to its first, quick closure a year and a half later.

The Eastpark Twin Theatre I & II opened on February 16, 1972 with “Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight” and “Wild Rovers” on Screen I and “Sometimes a Great Notion” on Screen II. Tercar discontinued operations on November 4, 1973 with “Horror High” and “Point of Terror” on Screen I and “One Little Indian” and “Walt Disney’s The Lady and the Tramp” on Screen II.

Tecar celebrated a grand (re-)opening on April 11, 1974 with a new programming policy of Blaxploitation films at night and kids matinees. It began with “Five on the Black Hand Side” on Screen I and “Sugar Hill” and “Scream, Blacula, Scream” on Screen II. Again, they opted for “East Park” in their grand opening ad and “Eastpark” in all subsequent ads. This policy was less successful with Tercar leaving for good on June 13, 1974 with Billy Dee Williams in “The Take” and “J.W. Coop” on Screen I and “The Dynamite Brothers” and “The Black Six” on Screen II. My guess is that Tercar said if they aren’t even coming to see that, we’re done. Less than a year later, the center also lost its main anchor when W.T. Grant’s pulled out of Houston and Eastpark on March 30, 1975 with the rest of the chain closing down soon after.

The theater that nobody remembered came back in 1979 when Entertainment Products, Inc. signed on as the new operator. It was going to be a bumpy ride. The venue’s projection was automated opening on July 27, 1979 as the Lakewood 2 with “The Wanderers” on Screen I and a John Travolta Double-Feature on Screen II with “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease.” They tried Blaxploitation, they tried dollar, sub-run discount fare, and then - on December 7, 1979, they tried adult fare on Screen II.

“Love Airlines” and “Fulfillment” proved fulfilling as the seven-year old venue finally had an audience. And the off-kilter Screen I / Screen II mismatches were underway. For instance, on January 4, 1980, the family friendly “The Fish That Ate Pittsburgh” was on Screen II for a dollar and at full price on Screen II was the classic “Deep Throat” and “Devil in Miss Jones.” I don’t see any issues there. Devolving into a grindhouse, the theater had a double feature on November 30, 1981 of Seka in “On White Satin” and “Hot Lunch” on Screen I and they had stopped advertising Screen II because nobody was interested in those films anyway. There were a couple more listings in December that didn’t run as there was likely a mutual agreement that no more rent was forthcoming from Entertainment Products, Inc. - or any other cinema exhibitor - after November 30, 1981. The automated equipment ground to a halt at 11:46p following “Hot Lunch.” There was no dessert.

No expert, but believe the address is now considered 9658 East Mesa Drive. Also believe that its spot was demolished and is an outdoor playground with virtually all of the rest of the center intact although split use between retail and by KIPP Northeast College Prep High School.