The State Theatre did had a very unique history because of its “movie studio focus” and not on placing a top hit one after another.
The State Theatre at first primarily showed Columbia films (yes because of its slogan), but would also add films by RKO, United Artists, and Selznick into its lineup during World War II. By the end of World War II, the State Theatre primarily showed RKO movies (including titles by its predecessor Liberty Films) despite the State Theatre being independently-operated and not owned by the chain, but the State Theatre would eventually bring back its original Columbia formula in 1949.
It continued into the 1950s alongside its CinemaScope installation during its boom, but it wasn’t until 1956 when the State Theatre tossed the table. The State Theatre then primarily screened United Artists films, and one of those titles ran at the State is the smash “Around The World In 80 Days” that same year. Another smash that ran during its time with UA is “West Side Story” in the Summer of 1962.
NOTE: The State Theatre was NOT operated by United Artists themselves at the time. It was independently-operated and was the management’s choice of movies made by the studio. It was definitely NOT owned by the circuit themselves.
Finally in the mid-1960s, the State Theatre began showing MGM films until its closure on September 7, 1971 with “Fortune And Men’s Eyes” due to storm damage.
The Chisholm did attract some controversy in 1990, when the theater staff booked the NC-17 movie “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover”. They dropped it after only two weeks, due to the theater having under pressure from residents, including the then-mayor of Plano despite him not seeing the movie.
The mayor concluded on the basis of its original rating that it wasn’t appropriate for the city of Plano. The mayor even suggested that officials have went to the city council to pass a law prohibiting future NC-17 rated films from being screened in Plano, but unfortunately this did not last long, as “Showgirls” did play at the Chisholm five years later.
During its final year of operation, the Hope Cinema briefly went under the name “New Hope Cinema” for almost a year screening both first-run and classic movies until its closure on August 27, 2024 with one last run of “E.T.” due to poor business, marking the end of almost 80 years of operation since the theater’s opening on December 19, 1944 as the Hope Theatre.
The theater immediately went up for sale but Mayor Victor Smith replied that the district isn’t planning to buy the beloved-but-unprofitable cultural institution. Smith gave special gratitude to the operators by applauding to them who support the operations of the theater.
The Trail Drive-In appeared that it most likely closed in the mid-1980s. The theater remained abandoned for years, but the screen was removed either in the late-1990s or early-2000s.
The Majestic Theatre opened as early as 1931. Bowie also had the Ritz Theatre and the Texan Theatre later in its history. The Majestic Theatre once suffered major damage from a fire on May 21, 1953 alongside the neighboring Perry’s 5 & 10 cent store, which forced its schedule to move over to the nearby Ritz Theatre for a time until the Majestic was quickly rebuilt.
It appears that the Brunson Theatre closed as a first-run theater in the early-1980s. It reopened later on in February 1983 as a Spanish movie house under the name “Cine Brunson” but that didn’t last long at all, and it closed around three months later.
The State Theatre did had a very unique history because of its “movie studio focus” and not on placing a top hit one after another.
The State Theatre at first primarily showed Columbia films (yes because of its slogan), but would also add films by RKO, United Artists, and Selznick into its lineup during World War II. By the end of World War II, the State Theatre primarily showed RKO movies (including titles by its predecessor Liberty Films) despite the State Theatre being independently-operated and not owned by the chain, but the State Theatre would eventually bring back its original Columbia formula in 1949.
It continued into the 1950s alongside its CinemaScope installation during its boom, but it wasn’t until 1956 when the State Theatre tossed the table. The State Theatre then primarily screened United Artists films, and one of those titles ran at the State is the smash “Around The World In 80 Days” that same year. Another smash that ran during its time with UA is “West Side Story” in the Summer of 1962.
Finally in the mid-1960s, the State Theatre began showing MGM films until its closure on September 7, 1971 with “Fortune And Men’s Eyes” due to storm damage.
The Chisholm did attract some controversy in 1990, when the theater staff booked the NC-17 movie “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, And Her Lover”. They dropped it after only two weeks, due to the theater having under pressure from residents, including the then-mayor of Plano despite him not seeing the movie.
The mayor concluded on the basis of its original rating that it wasn’t appropriate for the city of Plano. The mayor even suggested that officials have went to the city council to pass a law prohibiting future NC-17 rated films from being screened in Plano, but unfortunately this did not last long, as “Showgirls” did play at the Chisholm five years later.
Closed on October 26, 1986.
Opened on August 11, 1995.
The Hope Cinema is closed.
During its final year of operation, the Hope Cinema briefly went under the name “New Hope Cinema” for almost a year screening both first-run and classic movies until its closure on August 27, 2024 with one last run of “E.T.” due to poor business, marking the end of almost 80 years of operation since the theater’s opening on December 19, 1944 as the Hope Theatre.
The theater immediately went up for sale but Mayor Victor Smith replied that the district isn’t planning to buy the beloved-but-unprofitable cultural institution. Smith gave special gratitude to the operators by applauding to them who support the operations of the theater.
Closed on September 4, 2000.
Expanded to 7 screens on May 20, 1983.
Opened on November 24, 1995.
Opened on December 14, 1950 with Dean Stockwell in “The Happy Years” (unknown if extras added).
It did had the name New Drive-In after Rowley United took over, but retained its original Lilly’s name through newspaper advertisements and showtimes.
Closed in 1921.
Opened on June 19, 1913.
Opened on September 26, 1914.
Opened on July 24, 1930 with Charles Bickford in “The Sea Bat” along with an unnamed comedy and Paramount News. It was twinned in 1980.
Actual closing date is October 11, 1997.
The Trail Drive-In appeared that it most likely closed in the mid-1980s. The theater remained abandoned for years, but the screen was removed either in the late-1990s or early-2000s.
Renamed the Ruth Theatre in October 1945, and later as the Rex Theatre in April 1947. It was still open in 1965.
Still open in 1948.
The Corral Drive-In also has an indoor seating room, but that same exact room suffered damage from a fire on November 30, 1958.
Operated as early as 1936.
The Majestic Theatre opened as early as 1931. Bowie also had the Ritz Theatre and the Texan Theatre later in its history. The Majestic Theatre once suffered major damage from a fire on May 21, 1953 alongside the neighboring Perry’s 5 & 10 cent store, which forced its schedule to move over to the nearby Ritz Theatre for a time until the Majestic was quickly rebuilt.
Opened on June 20, 1950.
The original Walmart operated from January 31, 1990 until around 2004.
It appears that the Brunson Theatre closed as a first-run theater in the early-1980s. It reopened later on in February 1983 as a Spanish movie house under the name “Cine Brunson” but that didn’t last long at all, and it closed around three months later.
Opened on July 3, 1929 with “The Broadway Melody” (unknown if extras added).