Nighthawk1:
I heard about this too. Now that Rave Cinemas is selling off all of it’s theaters, AMC (American Multi-Cinemas) is set to take over Southpoint Cinemas…which will mark AMC Theatres first venue in the greater Triangle area[AMC Theatres operates three multiplexes in the greater Charlotte area……AMC also was a strong foothold when they opened the Carolina Circle Cinemas in 1976 the first AMC chain in the Carolinas]……AMC is set to open a huge megaplex cinema (30 screens)located in North Raleigh by Triangle Towne Center come mid-2013.
Other chains are interested in Southpoint Mall Cinemas too….Rumor has it that Carmike is set to take over and so is Regal Cinemas.
And if that happens..be ready….Southpoint Mall Cinemas in Durham is the only multiplex in the greater Triangle that has Tuesday Bargain Night where all shows all day are just five bucks….not to mention it’s showing of classic Hollywood movies on Tuesdays (from the 1930’s to the mid-1950’s)will be discontinued…..And Nighthawk 1…this isn’t anywhere else but here in Durham. Check the Rave Cinemas website.
The Cameron Village Theatre,aka The Village Twin became a center of controversy and spark numerous protests by civic leaders and angry parents when a screening of “SILENT NIGHT,DEADLY NIGHT” was booked there in December of 1984. This movie spark outrage as lines were picketed around the theatre and in the parking lot across the street from the cinema. The situation got so out of hand,that by the following week,the manager pulled the film from the venue. It was replaced by a Disney flick.
This theatre became a center of controversy and numerous protests in December of 1984 when the Yorktowne Twin Theatres being showing “SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT” first-run. The protesters who picketing around the theatre facing busy Chapel Hill Blvd. during the film’s booking got so out of hand,that Durham Police were apprehended to calm rowdy protesters and movie patrons. However,the movie didn’t stay long…it played for a week before the manager finally pulled it…it was replaced the following week with the sci-fi epic “DUNE” that played in its largest auditorium as the Yorktowne’s BIG Christmas attraction of 1984.
According to one of the articles about the Cary Theater from the December 2,2012 edition of the Raleigh Sunday News and Observer:
It states that the Cary Theater opened somewhere around 1941 and closed in 1960 when the theater was converted into a clothing store and later on an Auto Parts store.
The largest auditorium at the MISSION VALLEY had a seating capacity of 500 that was equipped with a full 180-degree widescreen projection that was equipped to show bigger presentations in the 70MM format.
The theatre opened on March 2,1973 as a twin cinema under Litchfeld Theatres and by 1983 expanded to five screens under United Artists Theatres and also Ambassador Entertainment Group.
This was also the same person who disrupted crowds during a screening of the James Bond “Skyfall” movie that also played at the Mission Valley Cinema that same night.
Disruption at local movie theater results in charges….
From the November 28, 2012 edition of the Raleigh News and Observer….during a screening of the new “Twilight” movie at Raleigh’s Mission Valley Cinema……
More details on this are located at this website…..
The Eastern North Carolina Premiere of “MY FAIR LADY” was a Reserved Seat Engagement that opened at Durham’s Center Theatre on January 14,1966. At the time this movie opened,it was one of two theatres in the state of North Carolina that played it(the other at Charlotte’s Capri Theatre,that opened on January 28,1965)…….other theatres within the state would not get the film until June of 1966 or August of 1966,even though it was originally released in 1964.
This theatre got a lot of the United Artists product…
The James Bond films ranging from “Dr. No” all the way to “Diamonds Are Forever” got first-run billing at the State Theatre.
Also played here first-run in 1964 were “A HARD DAYS NIGHT” starring The Beatles to sold out audiences.
“The Pink Panther” and its sequel “A Shot In The Dark” also played at the State Theatre first-run.
Chuck1231:
Sam Peckinpah’s 1969 western THE WILD BUNCH did not played here in the Triangle area as a exclusive engagement showing….The State Theatre was one of two cinemas in the Triangle on July 1,1969 that booked it first-run. The other was Durham’s Yorktowne Theatre.
Elvis Presley’s live show at Greensboro’s National Theatre was a major event on February 6,1956 with 2 matinee performances and 2 evening performances that were basically sold out within minutes of the beginning date.
Patsy, ncmark, and Chuck1231:
Regarding the concert dates for Elvis Presley. However in 1956, Elvis did two concert shows in Charlotte that were five months of each other…..one was in February and the other was in June of 1956.
First, ELVIS did four sold out concert shows at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre on February 10,1956. There were two matinee performances and also two evening performances.
Second,ELVIS also broke all attendance records when he made a second appearance to the Queen City for a sold out show at the Charlotte Coliseum on June 26,1956.
Elvis Presley did four full length concert appearances at Raleigh’s Ambassador Theatre on February 8, 1956. These were four performances(2 matinee and 2 evening shows)that were sold out within minutes.
Speaking of “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” Charlotte’s Imperial Theatre was the only movie venue in the state that presented this film in full widescreen VISTAVISION and was the only reserved seat engagement presentation within the Carolinas that opened on February 17,1957. Raleigh didn’t get the film until November.
Correction: Cecil B. DeMille’s “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” did not played at the Ambassador Theatre first-run in November of 1957. The film played first-run at Raleigh’s Varsity Theatre on November 23,1957. However,the Ambassador did get the film later on during one of it’s many re-releases.
William Wyler’s “BEN-HUR” also did not played first run at the Ambassador Theatre. The film was one of the exclusive engagement premiere showings first-run at the Cameron Village Theatre(aka The Village Theatre) that opened on August 19,1960.
“SOUTH PACIFIC” got first-run showing at the Ambassador Theatre on November 22,1959 for it’s Eastern North Carolina premiere showing.
OTHER MOVIES THAT PLAYED THE AMBASSADOR: “The Exorcist”
The DOBLY STEREO system was installed in it’s largest auditorium in 1977 for the showing of Steven Spielburg’s CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND that came out around Christmas as the premiere attraction….
The larger auditorium had more seating capacity as well as having a full 180 degree Ultravision screen capable of showing bigger presentation in 70MM.
Other movies that got the DOBLY STEREO treatment at the Terrace at Friendly Center….
“SUPERMAN:THE MOVIE”
Opened on October 27,1966 as a 750 seat single screen cinema that was owned and operated under Schneider-Merl Theatres. It was named the Village Theatre.
By mid-1975,the original auditorium of the Village Theatre was split into two sections creating two shoebox auditoriums with smaller screens. It was renamed the Village Twin Theatres under Atlanta-based Martin Theatres and Fuqua Group Entertainment. It remained under the Martin Theatres banner until the early-1980’s.
The Village Twin Theatres was one of the theatres in the greater Gastonia area that Carmike Cinemas acquired in 1982. By the mid-1980’s,the format of the Village Twin went from showing first-run features to becoming a second run moviehouse in order to stay afloat. It closed in 1994.
From the October 27,1966 ad of the Gastonia Post……
THE GRAND OPENING OF NORTH CAROLINA’S FIRST-EVER ROCKIN CHAIR THEATRE…THE STATE’S MOST LUXURIOUS THEATRE….
THE VILLAGE THEATRE….Dixie Village Shopping Center
OUR PREMIERE ATTRACTION….GASTONIA EXCLUSIVE SHOWING!!!!
Warren Beatty and Susannah York in “KALEIDOSCOPE” see it on our super PANAVISION widescreen in TECHNICOLOR!!!!
THE BIG ATTRACTIONS ARE COMING SOON TO THE VILLAGE!!!
-Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in “THE FORTUNE COOKIE”
-Don Knotts in “THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN”
-Fred MacMurray in Walt Disney’s “FOLLOW ME BOYS”
And the our BIGGEST epic of the year is COMING SOON…..
Only the VILLAGE THEATRE can bring you the movie event of 1966….Only on our super PANAVISION widescreen!!!
August 13,1974…NOW SHOWING AT THE RIVERVIEW CINEMA…Exclusive First Run Showing!!!!
The Incredible ISSAC HAYES as “TRUCK TURNER”
Exclusive Showing!!! No Passes Accepted Rated “R”
April 12,1974…NOW SHOWING AT THE RIVERVIEW CINEMA…
It’s Pam Grier-Exclusive Engagement! First Run!!!
“FOXY BROWN” Rated “R”
Sorry,No Passes or Special Discounts Accepted.
Special Late Shows Friday and Saturday Night!!!
CLEOPATRA was a reserved seat engagement at the Dilworth Theater on June 26,1963. It was the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. It was a phenomenol hit that played to capacity crowds for over a year before it ended its astounding run in mid-1964.
Cecil B. DeMille’s “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” played here as a Reserved Seat Exclusive Engagement Showing at the Imperial Theatre on February 28,1957. It was in fact the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. Tickets for this event when on sale in advance for its premiere showing in the Carolinas with two performances daily. Presented in Stereophonic Sound.
Nighthawk1: I heard about this too. Now that Rave Cinemas is selling off all of it’s theaters, AMC (American Multi-Cinemas) is set to take over Southpoint Cinemas…which will mark AMC Theatres first venue in the greater Triangle area[AMC Theatres operates three multiplexes in the greater Charlotte area……AMC also was a strong foothold when they opened the Carolina Circle Cinemas in 1976 the first AMC chain in the Carolinas]……AMC is set to open a huge megaplex cinema (30 screens)located in North Raleigh by Triangle Towne Center come mid-2013.
Other chains are interested in Southpoint Mall Cinemas too….Rumor has it that Carmike is set to take over and so is Regal Cinemas.
And if that happens..be ready….Southpoint Mall Cinemas in Durham is the only multiplex in the greater Triangle that has Tuesday Bargain Night where all shows all day are just five bucks….not to mention it’s showing of classic Hollywood movies on Tuesdays (from the 1930’s to the mid-1950’s)will be discontinued…..And Nighthawk 1…this isn’t anywhere else but here in Durham. Check the Rave Cinemas website.
The Cameron Village Theatre,aka The Village Twin became a center of controversy and spark numerous protests by civic leaders and angry parents when a screening of “SILENT NIGHT,DEADLY NIGHT” was booked there in December of 1984. This movie spark outrage as lines were picketed around the theatre and in the parking lot across the street from the cinema. The situation got so out of hand,that by the following week,the manager pulled the film from the venue. It was replaced by a Disney flick.
This theatre became a center of controversy and numerous protests in December of 1984 when the Yorktowne Twin Theatres being showing “SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT” first-run. The protesters who picketing around the theatre facing busy Chapel Hill Blvd. during the film’s booking got so out of hand,that Durham Police were apprehended to calm rowdy protesters and movie patrons. However,the movie didn’t stay long…it played for a week before the manager finally pulled it…it was replaced the following week with the sci-fi epic “DUNE” that played in its largest auditorium as the Yorktowne’s BIG Christmas attraction of 1984.
According to one of the articles about the Cary Theater from the December 2,2012 edition of the Raleigh Sunday News and Observer:
It states that the Cary Theater opened somewhere around 1941 and closed in 1960 when the theater was converted into a clothing store and later on an Auto Parts store.
The largest auditorium at the MISSION VALLEY had a seating capacity of 500 that was equipped with a full 180-degree widescreen projection that was equipped to show bigger presentations in the 70MM format.
The theatre opened on March 2,1973 as a twin cinema under Litchfeld Theatres and by 1983 expanded to five screens under United Artists Theatres and also Ambassador Entertainment Group.
This was also the same person who disrupted crowds during a screening of the James Bond “Skyfall” movie that also played at the Mission Valley Cinema that same night.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/27/2510253/raleigh-man-charged-with-disrupting.html.
Disruption at local movie theater results in charges…. From the November 28, 2012 edition of the Raleigh News and Observer….during a screening of the new “Twilight” movie at Raleigh’s Mission Valley Cinema……
More details on this are located at this website…..
http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/27/2510253/raleigh-man-charged-with-disrupting.html
The Eastern North Carolina Premiere of “MY FAIR LADY” was a Reserved Seat Engagement that opened at Durham’s Center Theatre on January 14,1966. At the time this movie opened,it was one of two theatres in the state of North Carolina that played it(the other at Charlotte’s Capri Theatre,that opened on January 28,1965)…….other theatres within the state would not get the film until June of 1966 or August of 1966,even though it was originally released in 1964.
This theatre got a lot of the United Artists product… The James Bond films ranging from “Dr. No” all the way to “Diamonds Are Forever” got first-run billing at the State Theatre.
Also played here first-run in 1964 were “A HARD DAYS NIGHT” starring The Beatles to sold out audiences.
“The Pink Panther” and its sequel “A Shot In The Dark” also played at the State Theatre first-run.
“MY FAIR LADY” played here at the State as a first-run Triangle exclusive on June 3,1966. It was not a reserved seat engagement.
Chuck1231: Sam Peckinpah’s 1969 western THE WILD BUNCH did not played here in the Triangle area as a exclusive engagement showing….The State Theatre was one of two cinemas in the Triangle on July 1,1969 that booked it first-run. The other was Durham’s Yorktowne Theatre.
“AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS” played here at a Reserved Seat Engagement at Raleigh’s State Theatre on November 21,1957 for its exclusive 14 week run.
Elvis Presley did two sold out live shows at High Point’s Center Theatre on February 7,1956 with 2 matinee performances and 2 evening performances.
Elvis Presley’s live show at Greensboro’s National Theatre was a major event on February 6,1956 with 2 matinee performances and 2 evening performances that were basically sold out within minutes of the beginning date.
Patsy, ncmark, and Chuck1231: Regarding the concert dates for Elvis Presley. However in 1956, Elvis did two concert shows in Charlotte that were five months of each other…..one was in February and the other was in June of 1956.
First, ELVIS did four sold out concert shows at Charlotte’s Carolina Theatre on February 10,1956. There were two matinee performances and also two evening performances.
Second,ELVIS also broke all attendance records when he made a second appearance to the Queen City for a sold out show at the Charlotte Coliseum on June 26,1956.
Elvis Presley did four full length concert appearances at Raleigh’s Ambassador Theatre on February 8, 1956. These were four performances(2 matinee and 2 evening shows)that were sold out within minutes.
Speaking of “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” Charlotte’s Imperial Theatre was the only movie venue in the state that presented this film in full widescreen VISTAVISION and was the only reserved seat engagement presentation within the Carolinas that opened on February 17,1957. Raleigh didn’t get the film until November.
Correction: Cecil B. DeMille’s “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” did not played at the Ambassador Theatre first-run in November of 1957. The film played first-run at Raleigh’s Varsity Theatre on November 23,1957. However,the Ambassador did get the film later on during one of it’s many re-releases.
William Wyler’s “BEN-HUR” also did not played first run at the Ambassador Theatre. The film was one of the exclusive engagement premiere showings first-run at the Cameron Village Theatre(aka The Village Theatre) that opened on August 19,1960.
“SOUTH PACIFIC” got first-run showing at the Ambassador Theatre on November 22,1959 for it’s Eastern North Carolina premiere showing.
OTHER MOVIES THAT PLAYED THE AMBASSADOR:
“The Exorcist”
“Family Plot”–[the final Alfred Hitchcock movie]
“King Kong”-the 1976 version first-run
The DOBLY STEREO system was installed in it’s largest auditorium in 1977 for the showing of Steven Spielburg’s CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND that came out around Christmas as the premiere attraction….
The larger auditorium had more seating capacity as well as having a full 180 degree Ultravision screen capable of showing bigger presentation in 70MM.
Other movies that got the DOBLY STEREO treatment at the Terrace at Friendly Center…. “SUPERMAN:THE MOVIE”
“POLTERGEIST”
“DISNEY’S THE BLACK HOLE”
“STAR TREK II:THE WRATH OF KHAN”
“BACK TO THE FUTURE”
Opened on October 27,1966 as a 750 seat single screen cinema that was owned and operated under Schneider-Merl Theatres. It was named the Village Theatre.
By mid-1975,the original auditorium of the Village Theatre was split into two sections creating two shoebox auditoriums with smaller screens. It was renamed the Village Twin Theatres under Atlanta-based Martin Theatres and Fuqua Group Entertainment. It remained under the Martin Theatres banner until the early-1980’s.
The Village Twin Theatres was one of the theatres in the greater Gastonia area that Carmike Cinemas acquired in 1982. By the mid-1980’s,the format of the Village Twin went from showing first-run features to becoming a second run moviehouse in order to stay afloat. It closed in 1994.
From the October 27,1966 ad of the Gastonia Post…… THE GRAND OPENING OF NORTH CAROLINA’S FIRST-EVER ROCKIN CHAIR THEATRE…THE STATE’S MOST LUXURIOUS THEATRE…. THE VILLAGE THEATRE….Dixie Village Shopping Center
OUR PREMIERE ATTRACTION….GASTONIA EXCLUSIVE SHOWING!!!! Warren Beatty and Susannah York in “KALEIDOSCOPE” see it on our super PANAVISION widescreen in TECHNICOLOR!!!!
THE BIG ATTRACTIONS ARE COMING SOON TO THE VILLAGE!!!
-Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in “THE FORTUNE COOKIE”
-Don Knotts in “THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN”
-Fred MacMurray in Walt Disney’s “FOLLOW ME BOYS”
And the our BIGGEST epic of the year is COMING SOON….. Only the VILLAGE THEATRE can bring you the movie event of 1966….Only on our super PANAVISION widescreen!!!
-Richard Harris and Julie Andrews in “HAWAII”
August 13,1974…NOW SHOWING AT THE RIVERVIEW CINEMA…Exclusive First Run Showing!!!! The Incredible ISSAC HAYES as “TRUCK TURNER” Exclusive Showing!!! No Passes Accepted Rated “R”
COMING SOON……
“THE EDUCATION OF SONNY CARSON”
“MACON COUNTY LINE”
“WILLIE DYNAMITE”
“THE BLACK CONNECTION”
April 12,1974…NOW SHOWING AT THE RIVERVIEW CINEMA… It’s Pam Grier-Exclusive Engagement! First Run!!! “FOXY BROWN” Rated “R” Sorry,No Passes or Special Discounts Accepted. Special Late Shows Friday and Saturday Night!!!
CLEOPATRA was a reserved seat engagement at the Dilworth Theater on June 26,1963. It was the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. It was a phenomenol hit that played to capacity crowds for over a year before it ended its astounding run in mid-1964.
Cecil B. DeMille’s “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS” played here as a Reserved Seat Exclusive Engagement Showing at the Imperial Theatre on February 28,1957. It was in fact the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. Tickets for this event when on sale in advance for its premiere showing in the Carolinas with two performances daily. Presented in Stereophonic Sound.