The Pix Theatre closed after 23 years of continuous operation on August 2, 1964 with “The Wonderful World gf the Brothers Grimm.” However, there were more events and even some sporadic special events at the venue after that time until its conversion to retail.
The California Theatre closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 21, 2021, Landmark Theatre Circuit announced the closure would be permanent making the March 16, 2020 date as its final date of operation by the circuit.
Will Batterson and H.P. Soule opened the Lyric Theatre as a movie house on June 30, 1908. It closed just shy of its 60th Anniversary in December of 1967
The Village Theatre closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The operators believed that they would reopen and move “Onward” harkening the venue’s final new film bookings entitled, “Onward” and “I Still Believe.” At the 10th year of the lease came and went along with the village’s 85th Anniversary, the theater’s phone was disconnected and the venue did not show any signs of reopening.
No posts had been placed in social media since the March 2020 closure leading movie lovers to say, “I No Longer Believe…” that the lightly-attended yet venerable movie location was reopening. The Village Theatre clientele was forced to move onward for their moviegoing.
General Cinema built the General Cinema Maine Mall I, II, III in 1975. In 1984, the circuit expanded the venue becoming the General Cinema Maine Mall I-VII. The theater’s arcade was apparently a big hit in the 1980s and 1990s.
In March of 2002, AMC Theatres officially took on the General Cinema locations. AMC closed its AMC Maine Mall Cinema 7 on November 3, 2002 after 27 years. It was subleased to the Eastpointe Christian Church in the Spring of 2004 which appears to have finished out the final three years on the leasing period. The church moved on and the theatre was demolished in 2007. CarMax later built a car dealership on the former cinema site.
In 2006, the Westbrook became Zyacorp Entertainment’s Cinemagic Theaters fourth location. In 2007, the theater switched to all-digital projection. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium Theaters locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Westbrook location.
Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021.
Zyacorp Entertainment opened its 12-screen Cinemagic Saco in 2001. It added Maine’s first IMAX Theatre in a refresh in May of 2009 when it expanded. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Saco location.
Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021. Also, the link on the 2014 comment is no longer valid.
The Alamo Drafthouse closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened for three weeks in late August and into September of 2020. It then closed for another year reopening in October of 2021.
The Rex Theatre was one of the town’s two silent-era theaters. Fred Smith of Smith & Crawford operated it for many years before selling out to Charles Prokop. Prokop had run the Wahoo Opera House since 1909 and the other silent theater in town since 1913. Both theaters were sold by Prokop to the Interstate Theatre Circuit late in 1929. Interstate closed the Rex for a week to install Vitaphone for sound films reopening it as the Wahoo Theatre on November 17, 1929 with Ted Lewis in “Is Everybody Happy?”
The Wahoo at 556 Linden Street was joined by the Chief Theatre opened in 1947 at 445 Linden Street. The Wahoo closed at the end of a 30-year lease in 1959. It may have reopened under new operators thereafter without advertising. The building was auctioned off in 1972. It is still standing as a converted retail building. The Chief continued as a movie house until controversy closed it in 1982 although briefly relaunching with repertory fare in 1986. The town has not had a movie house since.
Flix Brewhouse Chandler close March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on September 10, 2020 only to close again on October 13, 2020. Flix made the closure permanent later. The fledgling Look Cinema Circuit took on the venue reopening a year later on October 14, 2021 as the Chandler, AZ LOOK Dine-in Cinema.
The Midway Drive-In Theatre was built by Charles Handy launching for Mrs. W.C. Handy and Sons on July 3, 1953 with “Ruby Gentry” and “Blackbeard, the Pirate.”
The first use of the 507-seat auditorium occurred on April 11, 1931 with the live play, “Meet Uncle Sally” with the first film playing less than a month later with “The Great Meadow” playing on May 6, 1931. The venue was designed with a Colonial style with 430 floor seats and 79 balcony seats. The back curtain had a view of Willoughby Lake. It was still operating - though just twice a week - with movies in the 1950s.
Grand opening was May 18, 1949 with Jennifer Jones starring in “Portrait of Jennie.” It closed at the end of lease with John Cusack at the end of a second 20-year leasing period shortly after its 40th Anniversary on July 1, 1989 with John Cusack in “Say Anything.”
Herbert Norman Slotnick of Syracuse had worked in his father’s theaters after he returned from active duty in World War II including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. With his wife, Joan, they expanded Slotnick Enterprises building suburban theaters and drive-ins under Drive In Management, then Carrol’s Drive-Ins, Carrol’s Cinema’s, and Cinema National branded locations. This project was announced simultaneously with a theatre in DeWitt in 1965.
The Kmart Plaza housing the proposed theatre had opened November 7, 1963. An addition to the plaza was announced in 1965 - and on the boards of Todd & Giroux Architects - as the Northway Cinema, promising 70mm projection, roadshow presentations, and stereo sound. The venue opened as the new Cinema North on December 25, 1965 on a 25-year lease with the feature, “Do Not Disturb.” It was operated by Carrol’s Development Corporation, Cinema National, and USA Cinemas. It was closed at end of lease by its final operator in 1990. It was used for other purposes briefly but remained vacant for a prolonged period falling into disrepair. It was mercifully razed in 2017.
The Woodlawn Theatre launched on May 16, 1914 originally with 367 seats. Prior to the address renumbering of 1925, the theatre was located at 2211-2213 Main Street just off of the corner of Oregon Street. It remained there until closing although it was renumbered as 1011-1013 Main Street.
Harry Koster launched the new Koster Theatre in July of 1930 as a talkie with 240 seats. Citing the combination of drought and grasshoppers that hurt the agricultural community, the theater was closed just over one year later. (It is one of the few theaters in the database to list “grasshoppers” as an official reason for closure.)
New operators took on the venue in July 1932 with shows on Saturday and Sunday and with a change of program for Wednesday and Thursday. Walter Krall was one of three local business persons to take on the venue. They operated until selling it in 1938. Joe B. Liska took on the venue and renamed it as the Niobrara Theater. He operated from 1938 to November of 1963 when it was badly damaged by fire. We believe that was the end of the theater’s run although the building remained until its demolition in 1977. The reason was not grasshoppers or drought but a flood which caused the town to be demolished and moved.
Martro Theatres Inc. of Millersburg announced the Cinema Center to be located in a former Jamesway retail store in 1997. It was designed as a $2.5 million 12-screen theatre which opened 2,300 seats. The architects were Fountainhead Associates. The North Londberry Square had opened theatre-less in 1989 and ran into financial issues. Martro went into the project after also taking over a former Ames Department store in Bloomsburg and converted it to an 8-plex.
It closed on July 29, 2009. Since being reopened in October of 2014, it has reduced seat count with recliner seating.
Trans-Lux closed the Howard Twin on October 1, 1998 as a sub-run discount house playing Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon 4” and Eddie Murphy in “Dr. Doolittle.”
The Osage Drive-In ends its run with a Labor Day weekend triple feature of “Nature Girl and the Slaver,” “The Queen of Sheeba” and “The Alligator People” on September 5, 1960 with the drive-in began to be dismantled the next day.
The State Theatre launched September 28, 1928 with William Haines in “Excess Baggage” supported by shorts including Laurel & Hardy’s “Should Married Men Go Home?” Architects were Gemmmill & Billmeyer (plans are in photos). On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the Strand. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950.
Goldman first closed the Strand in 1953, then the Park in 1964 and, finally, the State on February 1, 1965 with “The Americanization of Emily” and “The Secret of Magic Island.” It soon became home for a teen club and performance space. Goldman was convinced to reconsider the decision and refreshed the theatre with a lavish grand reopening on May 14, 1965 as the Hanover Theatre. Its first film was “Cheyenne October.”
Goldman sold the venue to Fox Theatres of Reading. They would build a modern single-screen theatre that became a quad in 1983. It was only a matter of time before Fox would move on from the aging downtown theatre. The theatre closed August 30, 1984 with “Oxford Blues.” (The 1986 date is in error.)
All references to the architect of this building is Gemmill & Billmeyer including signed drawings - see, e.g., Variety (August 17, 1927, p. 30).
F.S. Sechrist announced this new theatre in the Summer of 1940 launching November 15, 1940 with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in “Strike Up the Band.” It has 500-seats at opening with Simplex projection. The theatre discontinued screenings in 1987 and it was converted to a flea market.
The Star Theatre discontinued operations moving to the existing Sheppard and Meyers building on September 20, 1917. The 480-seat venue was equipped with a Malcolm Love piano and two Powers No. 6B projectors throwing to a mirrored screen that was 10' by 13'. The theatre would add a Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player combined in 1927 to improve presentations of silent film.
On July 30, 1929, the Strand began showing sound films using RCA Photophone equipment with the film, “Alibi.” On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the State. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950. Goldman played westerns almost exclusively.
Goldman closed the Strand on May 16, 1953. Within weeks, it was remodeled for a retail store.
George Osborne opened the New Star Theatre on September 15, 1923 with movies accompanied by its Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player. It was offered for sale likely bailing out at the end of a five-year leasing point. It became Fisher’s Star Theatre effective with the August 21, 1928 shows under new ownership.
On February 7, 1929, it was renamed as Fisher’s State Theatre - “The Home of Better Pictures.” On April 26, 1929, it added sound with the film, “Weary River” playing at the grand reopening. It played Vitaphone and Movietone features. The theatre became, simply, the State Theatre operating to the end of a 30-year lease on April 11, 1959 with a great double feature of “Blood of the Vampire” and “Monster on Campus.” The theatre soldiered on with sporadic live events from that point with the Carroll and the local Drive-In being the places to see movies locally.
The Pix Theatre closed after 23 years of continuous operation on August 2, 1964 with “The Wonderful World gf the Brothers Grimm.” However, there were more events and even some sporadic special events at the venue after that time until its conversion to retail.
The California Theatre closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On October 21, 2021, Landmark Theatre Circuit announced the closure would be permanent making the March 16, 2020 date as its final date of operation by the circuit.
Will Batterson and H.P. Soule opened the Lyric Theatre as a movie house on June 30, 1908. It closed just shy of its 60th Anniversary in December of 1967
The Village Theatre closed on March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The operators believed that they would reopen and move “Onward” harkening the venue’s final new film bookings entitled, “Onward” and “I Still Believe.” At the 10th year of the lease came and went along with the village’s 85th Anniversary, the theater’s phone was disconnected and the venue did not show any signs of reopening.
No posts had been placed in social media since the March 2020 closure leading movie lovers to say, “I No Longer Believe…” that the lightly-attended yet venerable movie location was reopening. The Village Theatre clientele was forced to move onward for their moviegoing.
The lot doesn’t sit vacant - it became a car dealership.
General Cinema built the General Cinema Maine Mall I, II, III in 1975. In 1984, the circuit expanded the venue becoming the General Cinema Maine Mall I-VII. The theater’s arcade was apparently a big hit in the 1980s and 1990s.
In March of 2002, AMC Theatres officially took on the General Cinema locations. AMC closed its AMC Maine Mall Cinema 7 on November 3, 2002 after 27 years. It was subleased to the Eastpointe Christian Church in the Spring of 2004 which appears to have finished out the final three years on the leasing period. The church moved on and the theatre was demolished in 2007. CarMax later built a car dealership on the former cinema site.
In 2006, the Westbrook became Zyacorp Entertainment’s Cinemagic Theaters fourth location. In 2007, the theater switched to all-digital projection. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium Theaters locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Westbrook location.
Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021.
Zyacorp Entertainment opened its 12-screen Cinemagic Saco in 2001. It added Maine’s first IMAX Theatre in a refresh in May of 2009 when it expanded. On March 17, 2020, Zyacorp closed its Cinemagic Stadium locations for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the theaters returned on July 24, 2020 and others reopened on August 21, 2020 only to be closed again on February 3, 2021. The Circuit said it was an intermission and that when the new spring Hollywood releases came out, they would be back. On February 22, 2021, Zyacorp / Cinemagic had a change of heart and closed all of its locations permanently including the Saco location.
Apple Cinemas took on the Saco and Westbrook Cinemagic locations and relaunched them on October 8, 2021. Also, the link on the 2014 comment is no longer valid.
The Alamo Drafthouse closed March 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened for three weeks in late August and into September of 2020. It then closed for another year reopening in October of 2021.
The Rex Theatre was one of the town’s two silent-era theaters. Fred Smith of Smith & Crawford operated it for many years before selling out to Charles Prokop. Prokop had run the Wahoo Opera House since 1909 and the other silent theater in town since 1913. Both theaters were sold by Prokop to the Interstate Theatre Circuit late in 1929. Interstate closed the Rex for a week to install Vitaphone for sound films reopening it as the Wahoo Theatre on November 17, 1929 with Ted Lewis in “Is Everybody Happy?”
The Wahoo at 556 Linden Street was joined by the Chief Theatre opened in 1947 at 445 Linden Street. The Wahoo closed at the end of a 30-year lease in 1959. It may have reopened under new operators thereafter without advertising. The building was auctioned off in 1972. It is still standing as a converted retail building. The Chief continued as a movie house until controversy closed it in 1982 although briefly relaunching with repertory fare in 1986. The town has not had a movie house since.
Flix Brewhouse Chandler close March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on September 10, 2020 only to close again on October 13, 2020. Flix made the closure permanent later. The fledgling Look Cinema Circuit took on the venue reopening a year later on October 14, 2021 as the Chandler, AZ LOOK Dine-in Cinema.
The Midway Drive-In Theatre was built by Charles Handy launching for Mrs. W.C. Handy and Sons on July 3, 1953 with “Ruby Gentry” and “Blackbeard, the Pirate.”
The first use of the 507-seat auditorium occurred on April 11, 1931 with the live play, “Meet Uncle Sally” with the first film playing less than a month later with “The Great Meadow” playing on May 6, 1931. The venue was designed with a Colonial style with 430 floor seats and 79 balcony seats. The back curtain had a view of Willoughby Lake. It was still operating - though just twice a week - with movies in the 1950s.
Grand opening was May 18, 1949 with Jennifer Jones starring in “Portrait of Jennie.” It closed at the end of lease with John Cusack at the end of a second 20-year leasing period shortly after its 40th Anniversary on July 1, 1989 with John Cusack in “Say Anything.”
Herbert Norman Slotnick of Syracuse had worked in his father’s theaters after he returned from active duty in World War II including fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. With his wife, Joan, they expanded Slotnick Enterprises building suburban theaters and drive-ins under Drive In Management, then Carrol’s Drive-Ins, Carrol’s Cinema’s, and Cinema National branded locations. This project was announced simultaneously with a theatre in DeWitt in 1965.
The Kmart Plaza housing the proposed theatre had opened November 7, 1963. An addition to the plaza was announced in 1965 - and on the boards of Todd & Giroux Architects - as the Northway Cinema, promising 70mm projection, roadshow presentations, and stereo sound. The venue opened as the new Cinema North on December 25, 1965 on a 25-year lease with the feature, “Do Not Disturb.” It was operated by Carrol’s Development Corporation, Cinema National, and USA Cinemas. It was closed at end of lease by its final operator in 1990. It was used for other purposes briefly but remained vacant for a prolonged period falling into disrepair. It was mercifully razed in 2017.
The Woodlawn Theatre launched on May 16, 1914 originally with 367 seats. Prior to the address renumbering of 1925, the theatre was located at 2211-2213 Main Street just off of the corner of Oregon Street. It remained there until closing although it was renumbered as 1011-1013 Main Street.
Harry Koster launched the new Koster Theatre in July of 1930 as a talkie with 240 seats. Citing the combination of drought and grasshoppers that hurt the agricultural community, the theater was closed just over one year later. (It is one of the few theaters in the database to list “grasshoppers” as an official reason for closure.)
New operators took on the venue in July 1932 with shows on Saturday and Sunday and with a change of program for Wednesday and Thursday. Walter Krall was one of three local business persons to take on the venue. They operated until selling it in 1938. Joe B. Liska took on the venue and renamed it as the Niobrara Theater. He operated from 1938 to November of 1963 when it was badly damaged by fire. We believe that was the end of the theater’s run although the building remained until its demolition in 1977. The reason was not grasshoppers or drought but a flood which caused the town to be demolished and moved.
Martro Theatres Inc. of Millersburg announced the Cinema Center to be located in a former Jamesway retail store in 1997. It was designed as a $2.5 million 12-screen theatre which opened 2,300 seats. The architects were Fountainhead Associates. The North Londberry Square had opened theatre-less in 1989 and ran into financial issues. Martro went into the project after also taking over a former Ames Department store in Bloomsburg and converted it to an 8-plex.
It closed on July 29, 2009. Since being reopened in October of 2014, it has reduced seat count with recliner seating.
The Carmike Cinema 2 closed March 2, 2000 following showings of “Pokemon” and Duece Bigelow."
Trans-Lux closed the Howard Twin on October 1, 1998 as a sub-run discount house playing Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon 4” and Eddie Murphy in “Dr. Doolittle.”
The Osage Drive-In ends its run with a Labor Day weekend triple feature of “Nature Girl and the Slaver,” “The Queen of Sheeba” and “The Alligator People” on September 5, 1960 with the drive-in began to be dismantled the next day.
The State Theatre launched September 28, 1928 with William Haines in “Excess Baggage” supported by shorts including Laurel & Hardy’s “Should Married Men Go Home?” Architects were Gemmmill & Billmeyer (plans are in photos). On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the Strand. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950.
Goldman first closed the Strand in 1953, then the Park in 1964 and, finally, the State on February 1, 1965 with “The Americanization of Emily” and “The Secret of Magic Island.” It soon became home for a teen club and performance space. Goldman was convinced to reconsider the decision and refreshed the theatre with a lavish grand reopening on May 14, 1965 as the Hanover Theatre. Its first film was “Cheyenne October.”
Goldman sold the venue to Fox Theatres of Reading. They would build a modern single-screen theatre that became a quad in 1983. It was only a matter of time before Fox would move on from the aging downtown theatre. The theatre closed August 30, 1984 with “Oxford Blues.” (The 1986 date is in error.)
All references to the architect of this building is Gemmill & Billmeyer including signed drawings - see, e.g., Variety (August 17, 1927, p. 30).
F.S. Sechrist announced this new theatre in the Summer of 1940 launching November 15, 1940 with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in “Strike Up the Band.” It has 500-seats at opening with Simplex projection. The theatre discontinued screenings in 1987 and it was converted to a flea market.
The Star Theatre discontinued operations moving to the existing Sheppard and Meyers building on September 20, 1917. The 480-seat venue was equipped with a Malcolm Love piano and two Powers No. 6B projectors throwing to a mirrored screen that was 10' by 13'. The theatre would add a Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player combined in 1927 to improve presentations of silent film.
On July 30, 1929, the Strand began showing sound films using RCA Photophone equipment with the film, “Alibi.” On August 18, 1930, the Warner Bros. circuit took on the venue along with the State. Warner Bros. had to divest its theatre interests and William Goldman took on the State, Strand and Park in 1950. Goldman played westerns almost exclusively.
Goldman closed the Strand on May 16, 1953. Within weeks, it was remodeled for a retail store.
George Osborne opened the New Star Theatre on September 15, 1923 with movies accompanied by its Page Organ M-X-40 Unit Orchestral and Player. It was offered for sale likely bailing out at the end of a five-year leasing point. It became Fisher’s Star Theatre effective with the August 21, 1928 shows under new ownership.
On February 7, 1929, it was renamed as Fisher’s State Theatre - “The Home of Better Pictures.” On April 26, 1929, it added sound with the film, “Weary River” playing at the grand reopening. It played Vitaphone and Movietone features. The theatre became, simply, the State Theatre operating to the end of a 30-year lease on April 11, 1959 with a great double feature of “Blood of the Vampire” and “Monster on Campus.” The theatre soldiered on with sporadic live events from that point with the Carroll and the local Drive-In being the places to see movies locally.