Opened as the CINEMA I & II on November 6,1963 as North Carolina’s first-ever twin theaters under General Cinema Corporation.
The opening attraction that played on both screens was Debbie Reynolds in “MARY,MARY”………
The Coming Attractions for the CINEMA I & II:
“IT’S A MAD,MAD,MAD WORLD” with Spencer Tracy
“THE PINK PANTHER” with Peter Sellers and David Niven
THE EASTGATE CINEMA opened on August 29,1969 as Goldsboro’s First-Ever suburban movie theatre under Stewart and Everett.
The opening attraction for its grand opening feature presentation:
“HOW TO COMMIT MARRIAGE” in Technicolor and Panavision
Starring Bob Hope and the “GREAT ONE” Jackie Gleason!!!! Rated G
The Coming Attractions are on the way to the EASTGATE CINEMA!!!
“RUN WILD,RUN FREE”-Starring Mark Lester,that brilliant young star of the Oscar winning “Oliver!” comes a motion picture for the whole family!
“THE WILD BUNCH”-It’s Ernest Borgnine and William Holden in the movie event of 1969! The movie everyone is waiting to see!!!
“WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL”-Its family fun and laughs galore with Doris Day and Brian Keith in a outrageous comedy!!!
“THE LEARNING TREE”-Comes a tale about growing up in the American Midwest of the 1920’s
“ICE STATION ZEBRA”-Action packed cold war super thriller starring Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown and Patrick McGoohan on Goldsboro’s super widescreen event!!!
“CHITTY,CHITTY,BANG BANG”-Wonderful musical smash of the year with Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes in glorious Technicolor!!!
Not only VALLEY OF THE DOLLS played here but also Raquel Welch in MYRA BRECKINRIDGE played here first-run as part a double feature of “X” rated films that played at the Valley Theatres 1 & 2 in 1971. But were re-releases
NightHawk1 and piecesoftheater: Recently I found the original ad in the Goldsboro News and Argus for the grand opening of the Eastgate Cinema. Pieces is right…….The Eastgate Cinema was Goldsboro’s first indoor suburban theater that was an alternative to the Downtown Goldsboro movie houses(the Center and the Paramount). The Eastgate Cinema was Goldsboro’s modern theatre that had seating capacity of 450. It remained the Eastgate Cinema until 1981 where it given the split down the middle technique into two sections creating shoebox auditoriums with smaller screens and it renamed the Eastgate Cinema 1 & 2 under Stewart and Everett. It went through another change by 1986 when Carmike Cinemas acquired this along with the Berkeley Cinema 4 from Stewart and Everett. It was renamed the Eastgate Twin Cinemas. By the late-1980’s,it was having stiff competition from the Berkeley Cinema 4 and the Litchfield Cinema 4 and the Eastgate Twin Cinemas were reduced to showing second-run films until it closed in 1995 by Carmike.
I have the original ads for the Eastgate Cinema’s August 26,1969 grand opening.
Closed in 2000 and was demolished in December 2001 to make room for the expansion of the Friendly Center on Northline Avenue where the former section of the Friendly Center-Forum VI was also demolished.
It opened on December 20,1968 with the exclusive Eastern North Carolina engagement showing of “Yellow Submarine”,which was an animated cartoon featuring the voices of The Beatles.
Janus II had the Swedish foreign film “Elvira Madigan”.
The Janus Theatres 1 & 2 was the South’s most elegant theatre when it opened on December 20,1968 as North Carolina’s second twin theatre after Charlotte’s Charlottetowne Mall Cinema 1 & 2 that opened in 1963.
These new back-to-back theatres are the first to open in the South between Washington and Atlanta to have full automated projection and stereophonic sound in both auditoriums. By 1970,it expanded to three screens and by 1975 four more screens were added when it expanded to seven screens. It became a eight-screen theatre by 1981. It closed in 2000 as the Janus 8.
By 2000,the Terrace was reduced to showing second-run films and became a discount dollar house when the Greensboro Grande Cinemas opened. It closed in 2000 not 2001. Was demolished in 2002 to make room for the expansion of the Friendly Center. This will be revised.
Mike Rogers:
This was one of the theatres CARMIKE abandon and left it for a dump when they closed it in 2000. Bill Peebles of Ambassador Entertainment basically saved this theatre from the wrecking ball and did a million dollar restoration and reopened in 2003.
Opened on December 21,1977 as the Fitzgerald Screening Room that consisted of two auditoriums seating 300(which had a total of 150 seats each in both auditoriums).
Atlanta-based Martin Theatres acquired this theatre in 1978 when the Fitzgerald Screening Room closed and was renamed the Falls Twin Theatres. Carmike Cinemas acquired it in 1982 after Carmike bought out Martin Theatres. By 1989,the Falls Twin Theatres went from showing first-run features to showing second-run films at discount prices in order to stay afloat. Carmike Cinemas closed this theatre in 1993. The Falls Twin Theatres sat vacant for three years until 1996 when a local independent chain bought the property and being a renovation and refurnishing the former Falls Twin Theatres under it’s new name The Raleighwood Cinema Grill complete with full restaurant and sports bar.
This was one of the theatres CARMIKE CINEMAS operated during the late-1980’s and early-1990’s when the Falls Twin Theatres was a virtual dump. When CARMIKE operated it, it was a second-run discount theatre where the auditoriums were dirty and don’t get me started on the seats and whatever else was under them. One employee who worked at this theatre told me it was so much garbage underneath the seats you wouldn’t believe it….a pair of someone’s underwear was under the seats,and it wasn’t very pretty. This is why they closed the Falls Twin Theatres in 1993.
It sat vacant for three years until 1996,when new owners took this theatre and renovated everything including the restrooms and gave this former theatre a major upgrade when it became the Raleighwood Cinema Grill and Restaurant. It was a major improvement!!!!
I heard they added a sports bar on the other side of the Raleighwood Cinema Grill,which used to be the manager’s office of the Falls Twin.
During the 1970’s and by the 1980’s Goldsboro had two Downtown moviehouses: The Paramount and The Center. The Paramount closed in 1986(as a twin theatre) and the Center closed in 1984,but reopened as the Variety Theatre as a discount second-run moviehouse before it closed for good by 1989.
By 1982,this theatre was twinned by Martin Theatres where the original 500 seats were split into two sections with 250 seats each in both auditoriums before it closed by the mid-1980’s.
Correction:
The Berkeley Cinema became a three screen by December 25,1980 and it became a triple screen theatre under Stewart and Everett Theatres. Opening Attractions:
I-“Nine To Five”
II-“The Private Eyes”
III-“Flash Gordon”
By April 15,1983 it became a quad screener renamed the Berkeley Cinema 4 under Stewart and Everett Theatres. The opening attractions for the Berkeley Cinema 4 on April 15,1983….
Chuck1231:
The TERRACE THEATRE upon it original opening on December 25,1966 had a 180-degree ULTRAVISION screen which was a single screener with a seating capacity of 750. By March 1,1974, a second auditorium was built adjanct to the original auditorium with a seating capacity of 600,bringing the seating capacity to 1,350 when it was the TERRACE THEATRES 1 & 2.
By 1981,the second auditorium was split into two sections adding 300 seats each when it was the TERRACE THEATRES 1-2-3 under Plitt Southern.
By 1986,the original auditorium of 750 seats was split down the middle adding 375 seats each when it went from a three screen cinema to a four screener. bringing the total seating capacity to 2,025. Two more auditorium was added with 280 seats each bringing the total number of seats to 2,585 under Janus Theatres until its closing in 2001.
You’re absolutely right Chuck about the calculations.
The original auditorium with 750 seats wasn’t chopped up until 1986. I saw THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in 70mm there with its huge auditorium and widescreen vision!!
Opened as the CINEMA I & II on November 6,1963 as North Carolina’s first-ever twin theaters under General Cinema Corporation. The opening attraction that played on both screens was Debbie Reynolds in “MARY,MARY”………
The Coming Attractions for the CINEMA I & II:
“IT’S A MAD,MAD,MAD WORLD” with Spencer Tracy
“THE PINK PANTHER” with Peter Sellers and David Niven
“RIO COCHOS” with Richard Boone and Jim Brown
“FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE” Sean Connery 007!
When this was the CINEMA I & II that opened on November 6,1963….
Screen 1: had 700 seats
Screen 2: had 600 seats
total capacity seats of 1,300 under General Cinema Corporation.
By 1975 screen 1 was split into two sections at 350 seats each keeping the second auditorium intact as the Charlottetowne Mall Cinema I-II-III
By 1981 screen 2 was split into two sections at 300 seats each becoming the Charlottetown Mall Cinema I-II-III-IV under General Cinema Theatres.
Total seating capacity: 1,950 seats until it closed in 1994.
THE EASTGATE CINEMA opened on August 29,1969 as Goldsboro’s First-Ever suburban movie theatre under Stewart and Everett.
The opening attraction for its grand opening feature presentation: “HOW TO COMMIT MARRIAGE” in Technicolor and Panavision Starring Bob Hope and the “GREAT ONE” Jackie Gleason!!!! Rated G
The Coming Attractions are on the way to the EASTGATE CINEMA!!!
“RUN WILD,RUN FREE”-Starring Mark Lester,that brilliant young star of the Oscar winning “Oliver!” comes a motion picture for the whole family!
“THE WILD BUNCH”-It’s Ernest Borgnine and William Holden in the movie event of 1969! The movie everyone is waiting to see!!!
“WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL”-Its family fun and laughs galore with Doris Day and Brian Keith in a outrageous comedy!!!
“THE LEARNING TREE”-Comes a tale about growing up in the American Midwest of the 1920’s
“ICE STATION ZEBRA”-Action packed cold war super thriller starring Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown and Patrick McGoohan on Goldsboro’s super widescreen event!!!
“CHITTY,CHITTY,BANG BANG”-Wonderful musical smash of the year with Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes in glorious Technicolor!!!
And many more to come to the EASTGATE CINEMA!!!
Not only VALLEY OF THE DOLLS played here but also Raquel Welch in MYRA BRECKINRIDGE played here first-run as part a double feature of “X” rated films that played at the Valley Theatres 1 & 2 in 1971. But were re-releases
Opened on December 16,1983 as Goldsboro’s newest theatre and the first quad screen cinema East of Raleigh under Litchfield Theatres.
The opening attractions were:
Al Pacino in SCARFACE [ID required]
Jack Nicholson in TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
Irene Cara and Mr. T. in DC CAB
Seating Capacity for this theatre was 1,233.
Screens 1 and 2 seated 214 each
Screen 3 was the largest auditorium at 300
Screen 4 seated 175
Screen 5 seated 170
Screen 6 seated 160
Closed in 1984 by Martin Theatres.
NightHawk:
The Eastgate Cinema was twinned in 1981 into two sections seating 225 each in both auditoriums until 1995.
The original auditorium seated 450.
NightHawk1 and piecesoftheater: Recently I found the original ad in the Goldsboro News and Argus for the grand opening of the Eastgate Cinema. Pieces is right…….The Eastgate Cinema was Goldsboro’s first indoor suburban theater that was an alternative to the Downtown Goldsboro movie houses(the Center and the Paramount). The Eastgate Cinema was Goldsboro’s modern theatre that had seating capacity of 450. It remained the Eastgate Cinema until 1981 where it given the split down the middle technique into two sections creating shoebox auditoriums with smaller screens and it renamed the Eastgate Cinema 1 & 2 under Stewart and Everett. It went through another change by 1986 when Carmike Cinemas acquired this along with the Berkeley Cinema 4 from Stewart and Everett. It was renamed the Eastgate Twin Cinemas. By the late-1980’s,it was having stiff competition from the Berkeley Cinema 4 and the Litchfield Cinema 4 and the Eastgate Twin Cinemas were reduced to showing second-run films until it closed in 1995 by Carmike.
I have the original ads for the Eastgate Cinema’s August 26,1969 grand opening.
E-mail me at
Closed in 2000 and was demolished in December 2001 to make room for the expansion of the Friendly Center on Northline Avenue where the former section of the Friendly Center-Forum VI was also demolished.
THEATRE HISTORY:
1966-1971 Wilby-Kincey/Paramount Theatres
1971-1978 ABC Southeastern Theatres
1978-1986 Plitt Southern Theatres
1986-1988 Cineplex Odeon Corporation
1988-2000 Janus Theatres
It opened on December 20,1968 with the exclusive Eastern North Carolina engagement showing of “Yellow Submarine”,which was an animated cartoon featuring the voices of The Beatles.
Janus II had the Swedish foreign film “Elvira Madigan”.
The Coming Attractions for the Janus 1 & 2 were:
-Richard Harris in CAMELOT
-Alan Arkin and Rita Moreno in PAPI
-Malcolm McDowell in Lindsay Anderson’s IF
The Janus Theatres 1 & 2 was the South’s most elegant theatre when it opened on December 20,1968 as North Carolina’s second twin theatre after Charlotte’s Charlottetowne Mall Cinema 1 & 2 that opened in 1963.
These new back-to-back theatres are the first to open in the South between Washington and Atlanta to have full automated projection and stereophonic sound in both auditoriums. By 1970,it expanded to three screens and by 1975 four more screens were added when it expanded to seven screens. It became a eight-screen theatre by 1981. It closed in 2000 as the Janus 8.
By 2000,the Terrace was reduced to showing second-run films and became a discount dollar house when the Greensboro Grande Cinemas opened. It closed in 2000 not 2001. Was demolished in 2002 to make room for the expansion of the Friendly Center. This will be revised.
I pass by this the other day and the cinema has been demolished.
A vacant lot now sits where the TOWER MERCHANTS 6 once stood.
Mike Rogers: This was one of the theatres CARMIKE abandon and left it for a dump when they closed it in 2000. Bill Peebles of Ambassador Entertainment basically saved this theatre from the wrecking ball and did a million dollar restoration and reopened in 2003.
Opened on December 21,1977 as the Fitzgerald Screening Room that consisted of two auditoriums seating 300(which had a total of 150 seats each in both auditoriums).
Atlanta-based Martin Theatres acquired this theatre in 1978 when the Fitzgerald Screening Room closed and was renamed the Falls Twin Theatres. Carmike Cinemas acquired it in 1982 after Carmike bought out Martin Theatres. By 1989,the Falls Twin Theatres went from showing first-run features to showing second-run films at discount prices in order to stay afloat. Carmike Cinemas closed this theatre in 1993. The Falls Twin Theatres sat vacant for three years until 1996 when a local independent chain bought the property and being a renovation and refurnishing the former Falls Twin Theatres under it’s new name The Raleighwood Cinema Grill complete with full restaurant and sports bar.
Mike Rogers and NightHawk 1:
This was one of the theatres CARMIKE CINEMAS operated during the late-1980’s and early-1990’s when the Falls Twin Theatres was a virtual dump. When CARMIKE operated it, it was a second-run discount theatre where the auditoriums were dirty and don’t get me started on the seats and whatever else was under them. One employee who worked at this theatre told me it was so much garbage underneath the seats you wouldn’t believe it….a pair of someone’s underwear was under the seats,and it wasn’t very pretty. This is why they closed the Falls Twin Theatres in 1993.
It sat vacant for three years until 1996,when new owners took this theatre and renovated everything including the restrooms and gave this former theatre a major upgrade when it became the Raleighwood Cinema Grill and Restaurant. It was a major improvement!!!!
I heard they added a sports bar on the other side of the Raleighwood Cinema Grill,which used to be the manager’s office of the Falls Twin.
During the 1970’s and by the 1980’s Goldsboro had two Downtown moviehouses: The Paramount and The Center. The Paramount closed in 1986(as a twin theatre) and the Center closed in 1984,but reopened as the Variety Theatre as a discount second-run moviehouse before it closed for good by 1989.
By 1982,this theatre was twinned by Martin Theatres where the original 500 seats were split into two sections with 250 seats each in both auditoriums before it closed by the mid-1980’s.
Correction: The Berkeley Cinema became a three screen by December 25,1980 and it became a triple screen theatre under Stewart and Everett Theatres. Opening Attractions:
I-“Nine To Five”
II-“The Private Eyes”
III-“Flash Gordon”
By April 15,1983 it became a quad screener renamed the Berkeley Cinema 4 under Stewart and Everett Theatres. The opening attractions for the Berkeley Cinema 4 on April 15,1983….
I-“Sophie’s Choice”
II-“Lone Wolf McQuade”
III-“Flashdance”
IV-“An Officer and a Gentlemen”–(Re-release)
Chuck1231: The TERRACE THEATRE upon it original opening on December 25,1966 had a 180-degree ULTRAVISION screen which was a single screener with a seating capacity of 750. By March 1,1974, a second auditorium was built adjanct to the original auditorium with a seating capacity of 600,bringing the seating capacity to 1,350 when it was the TERRACE THEATRES 1 & 2.
By 1981,the second auditorium was split into two sections adding 300 seats each when it was the TERRACE THEATRES 1-2-3 under Plitt Southern.
By 1986,the original auditorium of 750 seats was split down the middle adding 375 seats each when it went from a three screen cinema to a four screener. bringing the total seating capacity to 2,025. Two more auditorium was added with 280 seats each bringing the total number of seats to 2,585 under Janus Theatres until its closing in 2001.
You’re absolutely right Chuck about the calculations. The original auditorium with 750 seats wasn’t chopped up until 1986. I saw THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in 70mm there with its huge auditorium and widescreen vision!!
The WILRIK Theatre closed in 1985 under Stewart and Everett Theatres.
During the 1970’s and even into the early 1980’s,Stewart and Everett control all of the moviehouses in Sanford.
Address:
2901 Cashwell Drive Eastgate Shopping Center Goldsboro, NC 27530
I have the opening ad to the grand opening of the Belvedere Theatre from December 25,1950 from The Charlotte Observer.