1/22/82- ON GOLDEN POND
12/16/83- SUDDEN IMPACT
8/17/84- PURPLE RAIN
3/6/87- LETHAL WEAPON
11/11/88- SPLIT DECISIONS
11/18/88- THE LAND BEFORE TIME
12/2/88- COCOON: THE RETURN-70MM
JRS40, I saw those. Thanks for posting. I added a page for River Oaks 7-8. Be sure to check it out. Also, I’ll be gathering up a list of movies that played on those screens from 1983-1990. Look for it soon.
Okay, here’s what I’ve got for RO #3. Movies that had just opened on #3 are marked with a star*
4/23/82- WALT DISNEY’S FANTASIA
6/11/82- STAR TREK 2 (Was also in #4)
6/25/82- MEGAFORCE
7/9/82- THE THING plus FIREFOX
9/3/82- THE ROAD WARRIOR
2/18/83- 48 HRS
4/15/83- BAD BOYS
5/25/83- BREATHLESS
6/10/83- BLUE THUNDER plus THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS
9/23/83- RISKY BUSINESS
9/30/83- THE BIG CHILL
10/21/83- NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
12/9/83- TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
5/11/84- 16 CANDLES
9/21/84- ALL OF ME
10/26/84- A SOLDIER’S STORY
12/14/84- BEVERLY HILLS COP (Moveover from #8)
3/23/85- WITNESS
4/26/85- HELLHOLE
7/5/85- PALE RIDER
10/11/85- REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS…
2/21/86- WILDCATS
8/15/86- THE FLY
4/18/86- POLICE ACADEMY 3
10/3/86- CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD
11/21/86- AN AMERICAN TAIL
1/16/87- CRITICAL CONDITION
4/24/87- LETHAL WEAPON
5/8/87- GARDENS OF STONE
5/15/87- THE GATE
5/20/87- CREEPSHOW 2 (moveover from #4)
7/24/87- LA BAMBA
7/31/87- ROBOCOP (Moveover from #1)
8/5/87- THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (Moveover from #1)
10/9/87- THE PRINCESS BRIDE
2/12/88- ACTION JACKSON
¾/88- MOVING
3/11/88- MASQUERADE
5/6/88- DEAD HEAT
7/20/88- MIDNIGHT RUN
5/19/89- THE DREAM TEAM
6/2/89- FAST FOOD
6/9/89- MAJOR LEAGUE
9/15/89- TURNER & HOOCH
Here’s a listing of what I’ve got for #2 thanks to the microfilm.
4/23/82- CAT PEOPLE
6/11/82- HANKY PANKY plus VISITING HOURS
6/25/82- BLADE RUNNER
8/13/82- BAMBI
9/3/82- INCUBUS
2/18/83- WITHOUT A TRACE
4/15/83- MONTY PYTHON’S MEANING OF LIFE
5/25/83- BLUE THUNDER
6/10/83- TRADING PLACES
9/23/83- WARGAMES plus FLASHDANCE
9/30/83- FLASHDANCE plus CHAINED HEAT
10/21/83 THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW
10/28/83- THE FINAL TERROR
11/23/83- THE BIG CHILL
12/9/83- SUDDEN IMPACT
5/11/84- ALPHABET CITY plus HARDBODIES
9/21/84- GREMLINS
10/26/84- THE RAZOR’S EDGE
12/5/84- SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT
12/14/84- FALLING IN LOVE
3/22/85- THE BREAKFAST CLUB
4/26/85- JUST ONE OF THE GUYS
7/5/85- RED SONJA
10/11/85- BETTER OFF DEAD
2/21/86- THE COLOR PURPLE
4/18/86- MURPHY’S LAW
8/15/86- THE KARATE KID PART 2
9/12/86- AMERICAN JUSTICE
10/3/86- SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT
11/21/86- 52 PICK-UP
1/16/87- AN AMERICAN TAIL plus CRIMES OF THE HEART
4/24/87- EVIL DEAD 2
5/1/87- AMERICAN NINJA 2: THE CONFRONTATION
5/20/87- ISHTAR
7/17/87- FULL METAL JACKET
10/9/87- THREE O'CLOCK HIGH
2/12/88- SATISFACTION
¾/88- THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW
5/6/88- BLOODSPORT
7/20/88- BIG
5/19/89- MISS FIRECRACKER
6/9/89- FRIGHT NIGHT PART 2
9/15/89- NIGHT GAME
Of note, a lot of these movies may have opened here earlier. It’ll take me a while to gather up all the stuff I have for 3,4.
Awesome! Thank you. I wish I had got to go here. Everyone tells me that it was a nice place up there with the other RO screens. I’ll post my booking list in a few.
Thanks for the list JRS40. Now I know where my dad saw “The Onion Field” & “Prince of the City”. I’ve got a list for theaters 2,3,&4 myself, and I’ll look through them and post it here.
JodarMovieFan, I have this idea that blends 70MM with digital projection. I don’t know how or if it could be done, but what do you think? I’m glad to see that someone else wants 70MM back. I’ve always thought, why should we pay $12.00 to see something blown up in a widescreen format when we could have 70MM and pay $6.00.
Did the side-walls at 2-3 have that brick style like #4? And do you remember the color of the lobby? The reason why I ask is this: I’m trying to get my movie chain off the ground, and if I can, I would like to build a multiplex somewhere at River Oaks. But I want all screens to be replicated off the older screens that have come and gone. I would have screens based off RO 1-4, 2-3, one based off of #5, and another based off of #7(including that little side curve that screen had). It would be kinda like the Lincoln Square in New York, where all screens were modeled off past Loews movie palaces from the 30s. And the screens would be sepreated by a very large concession stand with lots of food to choose from. Of course, the seating capacity in the screen modeled after #1 would have to be a little smaller. Instead of 1600 seats, I would have it at around 750-800. What do you think of my idea?
Oh, I would love to see the bookings for 2,3,4. Thanks.
JRS40, I figured that “Godfather Part 3” opened here. From some articles I’ve read, it was a big deal when it came out. I believe at the Water Tower, Cineplex Odeon saved three screens just for this movie. I might be going to the library next week, so I’ll be diging through a lot of stuff.
But I do have some from 1993.
3/12/93- CB4
7/23/93- POETIC JUSTICE
8/6/93- THE FUGITIVE
Also, I wanted to ask you some questions. 1, do you remember what year RO and other theaters started issuing ticket stubs like this?(mainly the one on the right) http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbcastro/223545948/
Also, do you remember what RO 2-3 looked like? I’ve never been there. It closed the year before I was born. And do you remember what 1-4 looked liked before the 1994 remodel? I’m curious.
BREAKING NEWS! On November 30th, all shows(older movies) will be free, and starting December 1st, it will turn into a 2nd run discount house with all shows being $2.00.
JRS40, “The Fourth War” came out on March 23rd, 1990. I don’t have the microfilm ad for it….yet. I guess that did so bad at RO’s big screen that they opened “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on both 9&10 the very next week(March 30th). Also, I have a few corrections to your list.
I have the Plitt directory for 12/8/82, and they have “First Blood” playing in #1, with “48 Hrs” in #6 (later known as #12). Could that be a misprint on their part?
Is the 11/11/83 date for “Terms of Endearment” a studio preview? Because it came out 11/23/83, and it was in River Oaks #7.
For 12/9/83, Plitt lists “Scarface” playing in both 1&4, with “Sudden Impact” in #2. Perhaps “Impact” moved to #1 on 12/16?
I have the one for 9/21/84, and they have “The Evil That Men Do” in #1. Since “Ninja 3” came out on 9/14, maybe that’s when it opened in #1.
“Temple of Doom” opened there on 5/23/84. Of Course, they had showings the night before.
“At Close Range” came out 4/18/86. It was in RO #1.
I’m hoping you can clear this up. They’re known to misprint stuff sometimes. I remember when “Blade” came out, and they listed that in 7-8, but when we went to see it the next day, it was really in 9-10. Anyway, I’ll try and get to the library next week and do some more research. I like having an idea of where my Dad may have seen some of these movies.
BTW: I have one more Plitt directory I found. Here it goes:
2/21/86- 9 ½ WEEKS
Well, that’s all for now. Post if you remember more movies that you saw or played at 1&4 aka 9&10.
Uhh, 7 screens & only 800 seats? That’s waaay too small. They should try to at least get it to 7 screens, 1100, maybe 1200 seats in total. If they go with the 800 seat capacity, they those rooms will be smaller & more cramped than Water Tower during an event film.
I searched through some microfilm I got a while back, and I have a little more stuff from RO 1.
10/26/84- FIRSTBORN
11/9/84- BODY DOUBLE(Note, it may have opened here a week earlier because BD didn’t open at RO until 11/2.)
11/21/84- FALLING IN LOVE(I think it was 11/21)
12/7/84- 2010-70MM
JRS40, can you remember what was playing in 1&4 on the week of 11/1/85? I’m curious because Death Wish 3 & To Live and Die in LA came out that day.
I looked at the showtimes for this upcoming week, and eight of the eleven screens will be open. I imagine that those are the original screens. I won’t be able to get down here to check it out for a while, so if anyone gets down here before me, please give me the lowdown… and maybe a photo.
BTW, “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” opened at 1-4 on 11/26/86. I believe it was in 70MM, but I don’t know because I don’t have the ad from that day yet.
More from the great River Oaks #1 (later known as #9)
10/21/83- THE RIGHT STUFF-70MM (Note: RO 7-8 opens with The Dead Zone & Rumble Fish)
10/28/83- RICHARD PRYOR: HERE AND NOW (Note: Right Sutff moves to #4 in 70MM)
12/9/83- SCARFACE(Both 1&4)
9/21/84- THE EVIL THAT MEN DO(Can’t get over this one)
11/21/86- FIREWALKER
5/8/87- LETHAL WEAPON(Moved here from RO 2-3)
5/15/87- ISHTAR
5/20/87- BEVERLY HILLS COP II(Both 1&4)
3/11/88- OFF LIMITS
6/9/89- STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER(70MM in #1)
5/1/92- SPLIT SECOND(Why?)
8/4/95- VIRTUOSITY
I’m still trying to get my head around a little movie like “Split Second” in both 9&10. Wow.
When it opened in 1968, it was a Brotman & Sherman theater. Esssaness took over in the early 80’s, possibly 1981. I’ll be going to the library next week, so I’ll look into that.
Oh, I believe that after the balcony was split into two screens, the main floor screen sat about 778 people. That’s 28 more seats than the McClurg Court, whose main screen sat about 750 after their balcony was split.
More from RO 1
1/22/82- ON GOLDEN POND
12/16/83- SUDDEN IMPACT
8/17/84- PURPLE RAIN
3/6/87- LETHAL WEAPON
11/11/88- SPLIT DECISIONS
11/18/88- THE LAND BEFORE TIME
12/2/88- COCOON: THE RETURN-70MM
More coming soon.
I’ve seen them. I might try and stop by sometime next week.
JRS40, I saw those. Thanks for posting. I added a page for River Oaks 7-8. Be sure to check it out. Also, I’ll be gathering up a list of movies that played on those screens from 1983-1990. Look for it soon.
Okay, here’s what I’ve got for RO #3. Movies that had just opened on #3 are marked with a star*
4/23/82- WALT DISNEY’S FANTASIA
6/11/82- STAR TREK 2 (Was also in #4)
6/25/82- MEGAFORCE
7/9/82- THE THING plus FIREFOX
9/3/82- THE ROAD WARRIOR
2/18/83- 48 HRS
4/15/83- BAD BOYS
5/25/83- BREATHLESS
6/10/83- BLUE THUNDER plus THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS
9/23/83- RISKY BUSINESS
9/30/83- THE BIG CHILL
10/21/83- NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
12/9/83- TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
5/11/84- 16 CANDLES
9/21/84- ALL OF ME
10/26/84- A SOLDIER’S STORY
12/14/84- BEVERLY HILLS COP (Moveover from #8)
3/23/85- WITNESS
4/26/85- HELLHOLE
7/5/85- PALE RIDER
10/11/85- REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS…
2/21/86- WILDCATS
8/15/86- THE FLY
4/18/86- POLICE ACADEMY 3
10/3/86- CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD
11/21/86- AN AMERICAN TAIL
1/16/87- CRITICAL CONDITION
4/24/87- LETHAL WEAPON
5/8/87- GARDENS OF STONE
5/15/87- THE GATE
5/20/87- CREEPSHOW 2 (moveover from #4)
7/24/87- LA BAMBA
7/31/87- ROBOCOP (Moveover from #1)
8/5/87- THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (Moveover from #1)
10/9/87- THE PRINCESS BRIDE
2/12/88- ACTION JACKSON
¾/88- MOVING
3/11/88- MASQUERADE
5/6/88- DEAD HEAT
7/20/88- MIDNIGHT RUN
5/19/89- THE DREAM TEAM
6/2/89- FAST FOOD
6/9/89- MAJOR LEAGUE
9/15/89- TURNER & HOOCH
Bookings for #4 will follow soon.
Here’s a listing of what I’ve got for #2 thanks to the microfilm.
4/23/82- CAT PEOPLE
6/11/82- HANKY PANKY plus VISITING HOURS
6/25/82- BLADE RUNNER
8/13/82- BAMBI
9/3/82- INCUBUS
2/18/83- WITHOUT A TRACE
4/15/83- MONTY PYTHON’S MEANING OF LIFE
5/25/83- BLUE THUNDER
6/10/83- TRADING PLACES
9/23/83- WARGAMES plus FLASHDANCE
9/30/83- FLASHDANCE plus CHAINED HEAT
10/21/83 THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW
10/28/83- THE FINAL TERROR
11/23/83- THE BIG CHILL
12/9/83- SUDDEN IMPACT
5/11/84- ALPHABET CITY plus HARDBODIES
9/21/84- GREMLINS
10/26/84- THE RAZOR’S EDGE
12/5/84- SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT
12/14/84- FALLING IN LOVE
3/22/85- THE BREAKFAST CLUB
4/26/85- JUST ONE OF THE GUYS
7/5/85- RED SONJA
10/11/85- BETTER OFF DEAD
2/21/86- THE COLOR PURPLE
4/18/86- MURPHY’S LAW
8/15/86- THE KARATE KID PART 2
9/12/86- AMERICAN JUSTICE
10/3/86- SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT
11/21/86- 52 PICK-UP
1/16/87- AN AMERICAN TAIL plus CRIMES OF THE HEART
4/24/87- EVIL DEAD 2
5/1/87- AMERICAN NINJA 2: THE CONFRONTATION
5/20/87- ISHTAR
7/17/87- FULL METAL JACKET
10/9/87- THREE O'CLOCK HIGH
2/12/88- SATISFACTION
¾/88- THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW
5/6/88- BLOODSPORT
7/20/88- BIG
5/19/89- MISS FIRECRACKER
6/9/89- FRIGHT NIGHT PART 2
9/15/89- NIGHT GAME
Of note, a lot of these movies may have opened here earlier. It’ll take me a while to gather up all the stuff I have for 3,4.
Awesome! Thank you. I wish I had got to go here. Everyone tells me that it was a nice place up there with the other RO screens. I’ll post my booking list in a few.
Thanks for the list JRS40. Now I know where my dad saw “The Onion Field” & “Prince of the City”. I’ve got a list for theaters 2,3,&4 myself, and I’ll look through them and post it here.
JodarMovieFan, I have this idea that blends 70MM with digital projection. I don’t know how or if it could be done, but what do you think? I’m glad to see that someone else wants 70MM back. I’ve always thought, why should we pay $12.00 to see something blown up in a widescreen format when we could have 70MM and pay $6.00.
I’ve never seen a movie in 70MM though.
Take note, Village Theatres!
Did the side-walls at 2-3 have that brick style like #4? And do you remember the color of the lobby? The reason why I ask is this: I’m trying to get my movie chain off the ground, and if I can, I would like to build a multiplex somewhere at River Oaks. But I want all screens to be replicated off the older screens that have come and gone. I would have screens based off RO 1-4, 2-3, one based off of #5, and another based off of #7(including that little side curve that screen had). It would be kinda like the Lincoln Square in New York, where all screens were modeled off past Loews movie palaces from the 30s. And the screens would be sepreated by a very large concession stand with lots of food to choose from. Of course, the seating capacity in the screen modeled after #1 would have to be a little smaller. Instead of 1600 seats, I would have it at around 750-800. What do you think of my idea?
Oh, I would love to see the bookings for 2,3,4. Thanks.
JRS40, I figured that “Godfather Part 3” opened here. From some articles I’ve read, it was a big deal when it came out. I believe at the Water Tower, Cineplex Odeon saved three screens just for this movie. I might be going to the library next week, so I’ll be diging through a lot of stuff.
But I do have some from 1993.
3/12/93- CB4
7/23/93- POETIC JUSTICE
8/6/93- THE FUGITIVE
Also, I wanted to ask you some questions. 1, do you remember what year RO and other theaters started issuing ticket stubs like this?(mainly the one on the right)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbcastro/223545948/
Also, do you remember what RO 2-3 looked like? I’ve never been there. It closed the year before I was born. And do you remember what 1-4 looked liked before the 1994 remodel? I’m curious.
Looking at the showtimes for this Friday, it looks like cinemas 9 thru 11 will reopen, making all 11 screens fully operational.
BREAKING NEWS! On November 30th, all shows(older movies) will be free, and starting December 1st, it will turn into a 2nd run discount house with all shows being $2.00.
I’d like to hear thoughts on this.
It’s a seven screener. But they just have an eighth slot should they decide to add another screen.
JRS40, “The Fourth War” came out on March 23rd, 1990. I don’t have the microfilm ad for it….yet. I guess that did so bad at RO’s big screen that they opened “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on both 9&10 the very next week(March 30th). Also, I have a few corrections to your list.
I have the Plitt directory for 12/8/82, and they have “First Blood” playing in #1, with “48 Hrs” in #6 (later known as #12). Could that be a misprint on their part?
Is the 11/11/83 date for “Terms of Endearment” a studio preview? Because it came out 11/23/83, and it was in River Oaks #7.
For 12/9/83, Plitt lists “Scarface” playing in both 1&4, with “Sudden Impact” in #2. Perhaps “Impact” moved to #1 on 12/16?
I have the one for 9/21/84, and they have “The Evil That Men Do” in #1. Since “Ninja 3” came out on 9/14, maybe that’s when it opened in #1.
“Temple of Doom” opened there on 5/23/84. Of Course, they had showings the night before.
“At Close Range” came out 4/18/86. It was in RO #1.
I’m hoping you can clear this up. They’re known to misprint stuff sometimes. I remember when “Blade” came out, and they listed that in 7-8, but when we went to see it the next day, it was really in 9-10. Anyway, I’ll try and get to the library next week and do some more research. I like having an idea of where my Dad may have seen some of these movies.
BTW: I have one more Plitt directory I found. Here it goes:
2/21/86- 9 ½ WEEKS
Well, that’s all for now. Post if you remember more movies that you saw or played at 1&4 aka 9&10.
Uhh, 7 screens & only 800 seats? That’s waaay too small. They should try to at least get it to 7 screens, 1100, maybe 1200 seats in total. If they go with the 800 seat capacity, they those rooms will be smaller & more cramped than Water Tower during an event film.
I searched through some microfilm I got a while back, and I have a little more stuff from RO 1.
10/26/84- FIRSTBORN
11/9/84- BODY DOUBLE(Note, it may have opened here a week earlier because BD didn’t open at RO until 11/2.)
11/21/84- FALLING IN LOVE(I think it was 11/21)
12/7/84- 2010-70MM
JRS40, can you remember what was playing in 1&4 on the week of 11/1/85? I’m curious because Death Wish 3 & To Live and Die in LA came out that day.
I looked at the showtimes for this upcoming week, and eight of the eleven screens will be open. I imagine that those are the original screens. I won’t be able to get down here to check it out for a while, so if anyone gets down here before me, please give me the lowdown… and maybe a photo.
Can’t wait to see that. Cool.
BTW, “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” opened at 1-4 on 11/26/86. I believe it was in 70MM, but I don’t know because I don’t have the ad from that day yet.
More from the great River Oaks #1 (later known as #9)
10/21/83- THE RIGHT STUFF-70MM (Note: RO 7-8 opens with The Dead Zone & Rumble Fish)
10/28/83- RICHARD PRYOR: HERE AND NOW (Note: Right Sutff moves to #4 in 70MM)
12/9/83- SCARFACE(Both 1&4)
9/21/84- THE EVIL THAT MEN DO(Can’t get over this one)
11/21/86- FIREWALKER
5/8/87- LETHAL WEAPON(Moved here from RO 2-3)
5/15/87- ISHTAR
5/20/87- BEVERLY HILLS COP II(Both 1&4)
3/11/88- OFF LIMITS
6/9/89- STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER(70MM in #1)
5/1/92- SPLIT SECOND(Why?)
8/4/95- VIRTUOSITY
I’m still trying to get my head around a little movie like “Split Second” in both 9&10. Wow.
Oh, it’s rare that they update their website. I think they’re lazy.
At least they want to keep the movie theater. I’m still planning to get down there to check it out, and go to that pizza place a few blocks away.
When it opened in 1968, it was a Brotman & Sherman theater. Esssaness took over in the early 80’s, possibly 1981. I’ll be going to the library next week, so I’ll look into that.
Oh, I believe that after the balcony was split into two screens, the main floor screen sat about 778 people. That’s 28 more seats than the McClurg Court, whose main screen sat about 750 after their balcony was split.
I would love to see photos of the large screens here.
I’m gonna miss the decoration in auditoriums 1-8, along with the purple velvet rocking chairs. sighs
Well, hopefully the new interior will look like Showplace 12 @ Golf Mill, but better. And keep the screens big like they are.
Oh, Webster Place opened as a M&R 8 screener on 7/22/88. I’ll post some stuff from the ad tomorrow.