Carmike Yorktowne Twin

2500 Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard,
Durham, NC 27707

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raysson
raysson on September 29, 2014 at 12:17 pm

Heading should be Carmike Yorktowne Twin 2500 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Durham, NC 27707-2866

raysson
raysson on December 19, 2013 at 4:30 pm

NOW SHOWING AT DURHAM’S YORKTOWNE THEATRE-(12/25/1974)

Francis Ford Coppula’s “THE GODFATHER PART II”

Sorry,No Passes or Spec. Admission Discounts Accepted

Please be informed that due to the running length of this movie,there will be a short intermission. There will be three performance showings for this feature.

Theater will be cleared after each showing.

Management suggest patrons to avoid capacity crowds,please come early for the best seats. AVOID THE CROWDS….ATTEND OUR MATINEES!!!!

raysson
raysson on December 19, 2013 at 4:24 pm

The theater was located on the opposite end of the Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard near Bedford Street across from the Shrimp Boats Family Seafood Restaurant.

raysson
raysson on September 11, 2013 at 11:28 am

A lot of “X” rated films played here first-run at the Yorktowne. “EMMANUELLE” Starring Sylvia Kristel played here first-run in 1974 as well as the sequels starring Sylvia Kristel with “EMMANUELLE 2:THE JOYS OF A WOMAN”,and “GOODBYE EMMANUELLE”. The notorious “X” rated “CALIGULA” played here in 1979. Not to mention a TON of soft-porn flicks like “TROPIC OF CANCER”, and “FLESH GORDON”,and the explicit “ANDY WARHOL’S FRANKENSTEIN”,and “THE STORY OF O” too.

raysson
raysson on September 11, 2013 at 11:18 am

The Google location is all wrong.

The address is 2500 Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard and the zip code is 27707. At the corner of Bedford Street and Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard(at U.S. 15-501 Business)

The theater was right next door to the E.F. Hutton Building(which is now the headquarters of Mutual Savings and Loan building),and across the street from the Shrimp Boats Family Seafood Restaurant.

raysson
raysson on September 10, 2013 at 12:49 pm

THEATRE HISTORY OF THE YORKTOWNE:

Opened on May 28,1969 under Schneider-Merl Theatres as a 750-seat single screener named the Yorktowne Theatre. The opening attraction for its grand opening was James Coburn and Lee Remick in HARD CONTRACT. It operated as a single screen theatre from 1969 to 1975. Among the biggest blockbusters that played here were “THE GODFATHER”, “CHINATOWN”, “THE LAST DETAIL”, “PAPILLON”, “THE GETAWAY”, “LADY SINGS THE BLUES” not to mention “LOVE STORY”,“SAVE THE TIGER”,“FRITZ THE CAT”,and “THE GODFATHER PART II” just to name a few. When it was a single screen theatre it played a lot of “X” rated films during its midnight screenings.

By June 20,1975,Schneider-Merl went under and the Yorktowne was under new management under Atlanta-based Martin Theatres. A second auditorium was built right next to the original,keeping the original auditorium of 750-seats intact. The second auditorium seated 300 and it was renamed the Yorktowne Theatres 1 & 2. The June 20,1975 grand re-opening was on Auditorium 1 “Jaws” with Roy Schneider and Richard Dreyfuss. Auditorium 2’s opening attraction was Gene Hackman in “French Connection II”. By 1977,it was renamed the Yorktowne Twin Theatres under Martin Theatres. Not only did “JAWS” broke all Durham movie attendance records,but also on July 1,1977 the original “STAR WARS” movie shattered the previous all-time movie attendance record in the history of this theatre. Among the movies also played here were the original “STAR TREK” movie.

By 1982 the Yorktowne became one of several theatres acquired by Carmike Cinemas after its acquisition of Martin Theatres.

By 1987 it went from showing first-run films to becoming a dollar run discount house until its closing in 1995. It became a megachurch until 2005. And by 2008 it was demolished.

1969-1975 Schneider-Merl Theatres

1975-1982 Martin Theatres

1982-1995 Carmike Cinemas

raysson
raysson on February 15, 2013 at 11:43 am

From the May 28,1969 advertisement of the Durham Herald.

OPENING WEDNESDAY! GRAND OPENING OF DURHAM NEWEST ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENT IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA….

THE BEAUTIFUL YORKTOWNE THEATRE-Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. THE THEATRE OF TOMORROW BRINGS YOU A NEW WORLD OF EXCITEMENT AND WONDERFUL ENJOYMENT IN THE TRIANGLE

-Years ahead in comfort and design

-The Completely modern Rocking Lounger Chair Theatre!

-Perfect vision from any seat with the finest projection

-Super Panavision Widescreen

-Full Stereophonic Sound

-Open Air Concession Stand For Your Convenience

-Year Round Air Condition Comfort and Format

-ACRES OF CONVENIENT FREE PARKING

THE PREMIERE ATTRACTION OPENS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00
“HARD CONTRACT” with James Coburn and Lee Remick

AND THE BIG ATTRACTIONS ARE COMING TO THE YORKTOWNE!!!

-Gregory Peck in “THE CHAIRMAN”

-Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw “GOODBYE COLUMBUS”

-Omar Sharif in “CHE”

-William Holden and Ernest Borgnine in “THE WILD BUNCH”

-Don Knotts in “THE LOVE GOD”

-Goldie Hawn and Walter Matthau in “CACTUS FLOWER”

AND MANY MORE TO COME!!!!

Coming Soon! The Movie Musical Event of the Year is coming to the YORKTOWNE THEATRE…“PAINT YOUR WAGON”

raysson
raysson on December 14, 2012 at 11:38 am

Steve McQueen’s THE GETAWAY played at the Yorktowne Theatre first-run on December 12,1972 as the cinema’s big christmas attraction.

PAPILLION with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman played at the Yorktowne Theatre first-run around Christmas of 1973.

A lot of great blockbusters of the 1970’s and 1980’s got first-run billing at the Yorktowne Theatre in Durham.

raysson
raysson on December 13, 2012 at 2:09 pm

THE SOUND OF MUSIC played at the Yorktowne Theatre in mid-1973,during one of it’s many re-releases to capacity crowds.

raysson
raysson on December 7, 2012 at 12:25 pm

November 22,1986 ……. STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME at the Yorktowne Twin. See it on the Triangle’s largest auditorium on it’s largest screen in KINTEX STEREO.

raysson
raysson on December 4, 2012 at 6:15 pm

This theatre became a center of controversy and numerous protests in December of 1984 when the Yorktowne Twin Theatres being showing “SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT” first-run. The protesters who picketing around the theatre facing busy Chapel Hill Blvd. during the film’s booking got so out of hand,that Durham Police were apprehended to calm rowdy protesters and movie patrons. However,the movie didn’t stay long…it played for a week before the manager finally pulled it…it was replaced the following week with the sci-fi epic “DUNE” that played in its largest auditorium as the Yorktowne’s BIG Christmas attraction of 1984.

raysson
raysson on October 9, 2012 at 6:49 pm

The worst movie to play at this theatre in 1981….. Screen 1: Bo Derek in “TARZAN,THE APE MAN”-Rated R Screen 2: Julie Andrews in “S.O.B.”-Rated R

“TARZAN,THE APE MAN” was the worst movie to ever play at the Yorktowne Twin. Totally horrible!!! A lot of people who bought tickets for this dung sneak out over to Screen 2 which was a better movie…..

raysson
raysson on October 20, 2011 at 1:49 pm

Sam Peckinpah’s THE WILD BUNCH played at the Yorktowne Theatre on July 2, 1969. It was one of a handful of Triangle theatres that booked the film’s original “X” rating to capacity crowds.

raysson
raysson on October 20, 2011 at 1:48 pm

Francis Ford Coppula’s THE GODFATHER was one of two Triangle area theatres that booked the film’s original opening on March 22,1972 when the Yorktowne Theatre was a 780 seat single screen cinema.

“THE GODFATHER PART II” also played here as well as “CHINATOWN”, “LADY SINGS THE BLUES”, “LENNY”

The Yorktowne Theatre also played first-run on July 1, 1977 the original STAR WARS movie not to mention had the privilege to booked on December 7, 1979 the original STAR TREK movie.

jawsfan
jawsfan on July 9, 2010 at 1:09 pm

I saw “Jaws” here in 1975. I remember running out of the screening room to the concession area when I got too scared to watch the movie.

raysson
raysson on January 28, 2010 at 12:30 pm

“Jaws” was one of two Triangle area theatres that booked the film’s original opening on June 20,1975.
The Yorktowne was still a single screen theatre when “Jaws” officially opened. The original auditorium where it played had a seating capacity of over 800 that included a super widescreen that was capable of showing both 35mm and 70mm films. However,the opening weekend showings brought in record capacity crowds which had it showing at the Yorktowne for 26 weeks.

At the time “Jaws” opened,the second auditorium was under construction and basically almost completed for its 325 seat auditorium for the Yorktowne II’s official opening in late June of 1975 for the opening of “French Connection II”. The only problem the Yorktowne had was the availability for parking which was limited for the cinema’s lot and around back but for additional parking you had to go across to used the parking lot over at the Hutton Building and from there had to walk across the street to the theatre.
Great movie theatre,but had a serious problem with parking there

Coate
Coate on September 19, 2009 at 10:54 pm

< The longest-running bookings that played at the Yorktowne Theatre were the showing of STAR WARS(05/23/1977)which played at this theatre until November of 1977 >

The Yorktowne’s run of “Star Wars” opened July 1, 1977, not May 23. It ran for five months, not seven.

(The Memorial Day weekend opening of “Star Wars” was only in a handful of markets, none of which were in The South.)

raysson
raysson on July 7, 2009 at 9:44 pm

I recall seeing in 1975 “Jaws” on the marquee along at the time when the Yorktowne was becoming a twin cinema. The other movie on the marquee at the time was “The French Connection II”. The lines for “Jaws” were record breaking with sold-out shows and the lines stretching from the entrance to the theatre all the way toward the E.F. Hutton Building Parking Lot facing Bedford Street and Chapel Hill Boulevard.

raysson
raysson on April 8, 2009 at 7:24 pm

The cinema was demolished in November of 2008. The council board for the City of Durham should have did something to preserve this classic theatre by saving it from the wrecking ball. It could have been a second arthouse cinema if those friends of the Carolina Theatre step in and save it from being destroyed.

raysson
raysson on February 16, 2009 at 1:12 pm

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW was a late night treat at the Yorktowne as part of its Halloween midnight screenings during the early 80’s when it was a twin cinema.

raysson
raysson on February 16, 2009 at 1:11 pm

Who remembers the midnight shows that played here every Friday and Saturday nights at the Yorktowne when adult classics like EMMANUELLE, FLESH GORDON and CALIGULA played to record breaking capacity crowds?

It also played the re-issued THE SOUND OF MUSIC to capacity crowds as well.

raysson
raysson on October 29, 2008 at 5:16 pm

Also known as the Yorktowne Twin.

raysson
raysson on September 16, 2008 at 12:43 pm

A Lot of blockbuster films played here at the Yorktowne. The theatre had the premiere exclusive showing of “Star Wars”,which played for seven months at this theatre to record breaking crowds. Other movies that played here at the Yorktowne Theatre were
“The Godfather”,“Lady Sings The Blues”,“Chinatown”,
“The Godfather:Part II”,“Jaws”,“Star Trek:The Motion Picture”,“Star Trek III”,“Star Trek IV”,“The Untouchables”,“The Shining”,and “Nightmare on Elm Street”. A combination of first-run features and grindhouse cinema played at the Yorktowne.

raysson
raysson on September 4, 2008 at 1:53 pm

Was converted into a church after it folded and nowadays it sits in decay. The Yorktowne could be a great second arthouse theatre to the Carolina Theatre-Downtown Durham. It had the huge widescreen in its time and the size of the auditorium to boot.

raysson
raysson on July 10, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Owned and operated by the Martin Theatres chain and later on part of Carmike Cinemas.