Shortly before the theater closed after the 1986 season, Miami Police responded to a call of a 29-year-old epileptic man shot and lying bleeding in the weeds of the theater’s traces during the afternoon hours of August 16, 1986. According to authorities, the victim was born deaf and can’t read or write, but after 11 operations, his ears finally opened to sound. Meanwhile on the other side, the incident goes as follows:
The man, James Justice, and his co-worker Debbie Blankenship were sleeping on the floor inside the drive-in’s boarded-up concession stand when two men walked by, one carrying a .22-caliber rifle. Justice used to live near the 27th Avenue Drive-In with his mother. The gunman ordered Justice to “not move or else he’ll kill him”. Justice asked, “Is that gun real?” The man then said, “You better not run”. The man fired on a corner wall before turning back to Justice. Justice ran around the stand and headed for the street. A bullet tore into his right side, punctured a lung and lodged in his chest. The two men ran away. Both Blankenship and Justice were sleeping in the drive-in because their Miami Beach apartment was too far away from the late-night job they had cleaning a Dairy Queen across the street from the theater.
Still open in 1978, but appears that it closed during the early-1980s. A 1983 aerial view shows the theater but there is another building being constructed next to the projection/concession stand.
The Post Oak Drive-In on 1255 North Post Oak Road was later twinned in the mid-1960s, and closed by McLendon Theatres on December 13, 1974 with “The Trial Of Billy Jack” in Screen 1 and the double feature of “The French Connection” and “The Seven Ups” in Screen 2.
This single-screener opened its doors on December 26, 1969 with “Krakatoa East Of Java”, and housed 600 seats. It was operated by Premier Theatres, and closed on November 18, 1985 with “Transylvania 6-5000”.
The Fort Benton Drive-In opened its gates on October 15, 1955 with Jane Powell in “Three Sailors And A Girl” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was renamed the Combo Drive-In at the start of the 1968 season and was closed on June 23, 1975 with “Law & Disorder”. The drive-in was also right next to its indoor theater also called the Combo Theatre, which will have its own CT page soon.
The Mission Theatre opened as early as 1919, was renamed the Capitol Theatre in March 1930, and was remodeled in October 1939. It was closed in Spring 1962.
Closed on November 13, 1988, all with double features in all three screens. Screen 1 closed with “Child’s Play” and “Betrayed”, Screen 2 closed with “They Live” and “Ghost Town”, and Screen 3 closed with “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Meyers” and “Messenger Of Death”.
The Walmart Supercenter opened at the site on July 21, 2004.
Shortly before the theater closed after the 1986 season, Miami Police responded to a call of a 29-year-old epileptic man shot and lying bleeding in the weeds of the theater’s traces during the afternoon hours of August 16, 1986. According to authorities, the victim was born deaf and can’t read or write, but after 11 operations, his ears finally opened to sound. Meanwhile on the other side, the incident goes as follows:
The man, James Justice, and his co-worker Debbie Blankenship were sleeping on the floor inside the drive-in’s boarded-up concession stand when two men walked by, one carrying a .22-caliber rifle. Justice used to live near the 27th Avenue Drive-In with his mother. The gunman ordered Justice to “not move or else he’ll kill him”. Justice asked, “Is that gun real?” The man then said, “You better not run”. The man fired on a corner wall before turning back to Justice. Justice ran around the stand and headed for the street. A bullet tore into his right side, punctured a lung and lodged in his chest. The two men ran away. Both Blankenship and Justice were sleeping in the drive-in because their Miami Beach apartment was too far away from the late-night job they had cleaning a Dairy Queen across the street from the theater.
Closed on October 1, 1987 with “Burglar”, “Disorderlies”, “Manhunter” and “Sweet Revenge”.
Still open in 1978, but appears that it closed during the early-1980s. A 1983 aerial view shows the theater but there is another building being constructed next to the projection/concession stand.
Actual closing date as a movie theater is January 23, 1977 with “The Enforcer”.
Once operated by R/C Theatres. It was closed on October 19, 1986 with “The Karate Kid Part II” and “Against All Odds”.
Once operated by R/C Theatres.
The Daiichi Theatre nearby closed on October 29, 1993.
The Post Oak Drive-In on 1255 North Post Oak Road was later twinned in the mid-1960s, and closed by McLendon Theatres on December 13, 1974 with “The Trial Of Billy Jack” in Screen 1 and the double feature of “The French Connection” and “The Seven Ups” in Screen 2.
Later operated by Cineplex Odeon.
This single-screener opened its doors on December 26, 1969 with “Krakatoa East Of Java”, and housed 600 seats. It was operated by Premier Theatres, and closed on November 18, 1985 with “Transylvania 6-5000”.
This was once operated by Odeon Theatres Canada. It was closed on December 10, 1981.
This is actually opened by Cineplex Odeon, not Cineplex.
AMC closed the Bel Air on September 24, 2000.
Closed in either late-October or early-November 1993.
The Fort Benton Drive-In opened its gates on October 15, 1955 with Jane Powell in “Three Sailors And A Girl” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was renamed the Combo Drive-In at the start of the 1968 season and was closed on June 23, 1975 with “Law & Disorder”. The drive-in was also right next to its indoor theater also called the Combo Theatre, which will have its own CT page soon.
The Mission Theatre opened as early as 1919, was renamed the Capitol Theatre in March 1930, and was remodeled in October 1939. It was closed in Spring 1962.
Still open in the late-1970s.
July 1986
A fourth screen was added in July 1983. The Dixie closed as a movie theater on February 24, 2008.
Opened on February 1, 1929 with Marion Davies in “Show People” (unknown if extras added).
Closed on August 26, 1980 with “The Empire Strikes Back”.
Closed on November 13, 1988, all with double features in all three screens. Screen 1 closed with “Child’s Play” and “Betrayed”, Screen 2 closed with “They Live” and “Ghost Town”, and Screen 3 closed with “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Meyers” and “Messenger Of Death”.
Definitely looks like some 70s mainstream film.
Closed as a movie theater on August 29, 1969 with “Goodbye Columbus” and “Rosemary’s Baby”. Became the Best Pocket two months later.