It appears that it stopped advertising on December 30, 1972 with Walt Disney’s “Snowball Express”, the Disney featurette “The Magic Of Walt Disney World”, and the featurette “African Lions”. The screen was already gone by 1980.
The Westgate Mall Cinemas I-VI opened its doors on General Cinema on February 17, 1984, but was taken over by Litchfield Theatres in 1989, and was renamed Westgate Mall Cinemas. Unfortunately, the theater went into a serious dark path during its life as a Litchfield theater.
The Westgate Mall Cinemas became statewide headlines following the murders of employee Alexander George Hopps and assistant manager James Todd Green who worked at the Westgate Mall Cinemas on the evening of January 7, 1991.
According to authorities, two 22-year-old men, Richard Longworth of Lake Lanier and David Rocheville of Duncan, employees from the Converse Cinemas nearby also operated by Litchfield, walked into the unattended front of the theater, entered into one of the auditoriums, and watched “Dances With Wolves” for a short time. Both Rocheville and Longworth are born eight days apart in January 1968. While watching “Wolves”, they silently planning on the attack. Longworth gave Rocheville his .44 Magnum pistol and told detectives that he planned to knock one of the employees, 19-year-old Alexander George Hopps of Spartanburg, unconscious and leave him out back of the theater. Instead, Hopps was shot in the left temple, killing him.
Rocheville gave the gun back to Longworth and the men went around front. 24-year-old James Todd Green of Pacolet, the assistant manager of the theater, let them in. After that, Longworth drew the gun on Green and said “Sorry, we’re going to rob the theater” right after entering back. Longworth said Green became so nervous that it took him three attempts to open the safe. Green was forced outside to an unknown-modeled minivan belonging to Longworth’s father. Rocheville went through Green’s car looking for bank deposit bags of money. In the van, Longworth gave Rocheville the gun and said, “If he moves, shoot him”. Longworth said that he told Green that he wouldn’t be hurt, and Green promised not to identify Rocheville and Longworth if they would let him go.
The two drove to Bishop Road off U.S. Highway 176 near Inman, and Longworth said he told Green to get out, walk five paces, kneel down and look straight ahead. Both men got out and shot Green in the back of the head as he pleaded for his life. Green’s body was later discovered the following day with his hands clasped in a prayerful manner. Longworth and Rocheville were arrested the next day, after Rocheville led law enforcement officers to Green’s body. After Longworth was arrested, he provided officers with a detailed statement of the crimes that he and Rocheville had committed. Rocheville admitted that he killed Green but said that he was coerced into it and claimed that he was afraid that Longworth would kill him. Longworth claimed in his appeals that he had ineffective counsel during his trial. His trial attorney represented both Longworth and his parents, which he said resulted in a conflict of interest. Longworth said that his mother’s history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse were mitigating circumstances that were withheld from the jury due to this conflict of interest. His mother had requested the information be kept secret as she would have lost her position as a foster parents. Each was indicted on two counts of murder, one count of kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery.
Rocheville’s parents, originally from Massachusetts, broke down into tears during testimony in July 1991, adding that “they’re proud of their son, but not what happened. Without their son, there would be a piece missing”. They added that “they want their son to live, and wanted him to live for all the good he has done”. Unfortunately, the parents' lives shattered that same week. Separate juries convicted them and sentenced them to death. Rocheville was sentenced to death on July 15, 1991, while Longworth was sentenced to death on September 10, 1991. Spending the rest of their lives at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, Rocheville was executed on December 3, 1999, while Longworth was executed more than five years later, on April 15, 2005.
Longworth was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. after being executed by lethal injection at the Broad River Correctional Institution. It was the 958th execution in the United States since the Gregg v. Georgia decision in 1976. For his last meal, Longworth had a hamburger, French fries, and a chocolate milkshake. Longworth wrote his final statement before his execution:
“I am morally and legally responsible for what happened. I hope they also know how deeply, truly sorry I am for what I have done. I hope my death brings them the peace they deserve. I hope my family knows how much I love them, and how ashamed I am that I have tarnished their name. For the last 14 years I have tried to live my life as cleanly and as honorably as I was raised.” – Richard Longworth
Litchfield Theatres continued to operate the theater after the murders, but Regal ended up taking the theater over in June 1994, but retained the Litchfield branding until October 25, 1996.
Opened with Gary Cooper in “High Noon” along with an unnamed cartoon. The 69 Drive-In has a capacity of 200 cars featuring installations of RCA sound, and its original screen measures 40x37ft with its tower measuring 47x42ft.
Opened with Walt Disney’s “The Love Bug” and the Disney featurette “The Alaskan Eskimo” plus a special in-person appearance by Sergeant Sacto of “Captain Detroit”, a local children’s television host from Kaiser Broadcasting independent station WKBD-TV (now a CW affiliate).
Closed on July 20, 1988 with the following in screen order: “Coming To America” and “Eddie Murphy Raw” in Screen 1, “Phantasm II” and “Red Heat” in Screen 2, and “Arthur 2: On The Rocks” and “Bull Durham” in Screen 3.
The Westgate Twin Cinema launched by ABC Southeastern Theatres on Christmas Day 1975 with “The Hindenburg” in Screen 1 and Walt Disney’s “Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs” and Disney’s featurette “Fantasy On Skis” in Screen 2. The Westgate Twin most likely closed around the same time Carmike bought all 24 Cineplex Odeon theaters across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee in January 1990, which the Westgate Twin is not part of the buyout.
The Hillcrest Twin Theatre opened its doors on December 10, 1971 with “Law Man” in Screen 1 and “Black Beauty” in Screen 2. A third screen was added in 1981. Roth Theatres closed the theater in 1992 because of the Hillcrest Mall’s bankruptcy, and was demolished on March 31, 1993.
The Royal Twin Theatre opened its doors on May 2, 1975 with “The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud” in Screen 1 and “The Four Musketeers” in Screen 2, featuring an original capacity of 832 seats (416 seats inside both auditoriums). A third screen was added later in the 1970s, and expanded to five screens in July 1983.
Opened on August 24, 1999.
During its final years of operation, the Viking ran a mix of films and special events, but the Viking leaned more towards special events than films.
Most likely closed on October 23, 1968 with “Journey To Shiloh” along with an unnamed cartoon.
Closed on June 1, 1970 with “Topaz”.
Actual opening date is December 22, 1972, destroyed by a fire on January 16, 1977.
Closed on October 17, 1983 with “Never Say, Never Again” and “Blue Thunder”.
Closed on December 26, 1996.
It appears that it stopped advertising on December 30, 1972 with Walt Disney’s “Snowball Express”, the Disney featurette “The Magic Of Walt Disney World”, and the featurette “African Lions”. The screen was already gone by 1980.
Opened on March 6, 1987.
The Westgate Mall Cinemas I-VI opened its doors on General Cinema on February 17, 1984, but was taken over by Litchfield Theatres in 1989, and was renamed Westgate Mall Cinemas. Unfortunately, the theater went into a serious dark path during its life as a Litchfield theater.
The Westgate Mall Cinemas became statewide headlines following the murders of employee Alexander George Hopps and assistant manager James Todd Green who worked at the Westgate Mall Cinemas on the evening of January 7, 1991.
According to authorities, two 22-year-old men, Richard Longworth of Lake Lanier and David Rocheville of Duncan, employees from the Converse Cinemas nearby also operated by Litchfield, walked into the unattended front of the theater, entered into one of the auditoriums, and watched “Dances With Wolves” for a short time. Both Rocheville and Longworth are born eight days apart in January 1968. While watching “Wolves”, they silently planning on the attack. Longworth gave Rocheville his .44 Magnum pistol and told detectives that he planned to knock one of the employees, 19-year-old Alexander George Hopps of Spartanburg, unconscious and leave him out back of the theater. Instead, Hopps was shot in the left temple, killing him.
Rocheville gave the gun back to Longworth and the men went around front. 24-year-old James Todd Green of Pacolet, the assistant manager of the theater, let them in. After that, Longworth drew the gun on Green and said “Sorry, we’re going to rob the theater” right after entering back. Longworth said Green became so nervous that it took him three attempts to open the safe. Green was forced outside to an unknown-modeled minivan belonging to Longworth’s father. Rocheville went through Green’s car looking for bank deposit bags of money. In the van, Longworth gave Rocheville the gun and said, “If he moves, shoot him”. Longworth said that he told Green that he wouldn’t be hurt, and Green promised not to identify Rocheville and Longworth if they would let him go.
The two drove to Bishop Road off U.S. Highway 176 near Inman, and Longworth said he told Green to get out, walk five paces, kneel down and look straight ahead. Both men got out and shot Green in the back of the head as he pleaded for his life. Green’s body was later discovered the following day with his hands clasped in a prayerful manner. Longworth and Rocheville were arrested the next day, after Rocheville led law enforcement officers to Green’s body. After Longworth was arrested, he provided officers with a detailed statement of the crimes that he and Rocheville had committed. Rocheville admitted that he killed Green but said that he was coerced into it and claimed that he was afraid that Longworth would kill him. Longworth claimed in his appeals that he had ineffective counsel during his trial. His trial attorney represented both Longworth and his parents, which he said resulted in a conflict of interest. Longworth said that his mother’s history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse were mitigating circumstances that were withheld from the jury due to this conflict of interest. His mother had requested the information be kept secret as she would have lost her position as a foster parents. Each was indicted on two counts of murder, one count of kidnapping, and one count of armed robbery.
Rocheville’s parents, originally from Massachusetts, broke down into tears during testimony in July 1991, adding that “they’re proud of their son, but not what happened. Without their son, there would be a piece missing”. They added that “they want their son to live, and wanted him to live for all the good he has done”. Unfortunately, the parents' lives shattered that same week. Separate juries convicted them and sentenced them to death. Rocheville was sentenced to death on July 15, 1991, while Longworth was sentenced to death on September 10, 1991. Spending the rest of their lives at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, Rocheville was executed on December 3, 1999, while Longworth was executed more than five years later, on April 15, 2005.
Longworth was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. after being executed by lethal injection at the Broad River Correctional Institution. It was the 958th execution in the United States since the Gregg v. Georgia decision in 1976. For his last meal, Longworth had a hamburger, French fries, and a chocolate milkshake. Longworth wrote his final statement before his execution:
Litchfield Theatres continued to operate the theater after the murders, but Regal ended up taking the theater over in June 1994, but retained the Litchfield branding until October 25, 1996.
Also, the “Dances With Wolves” double-killings happened at the other Westgate Mall Cinemas, not the Westgate Twin Cinema.
Opened with “Run, Tenderfoot, Ride” along with an unnamed cartoon, serial, and Metro News (possibly “MGM News Of The Day”).
Closed as Mai Kai on January 3, 1988 with “Suspect”.
You mean October, not November?
Opened with Gary Cooper in “High Noon” along with an unnamed cartoon. The 69 Drive-In has a capacity of 200 cars featuring installations of RCA sound, and its original screen measures 40x37ft with its tower measuring 47x42ft.
Actual 1996 closing date is January 7, 1996 with “Money Train”.
Opened with Walt Disney’s “The Love Bug” and the Disney featurette “The Alaskan Eskimo” plus a special in-person appearance by Sergeant Sacto of “Captain Detroit”, a local children’s television host from Kaiser Broadcasting independent station WKBD-TV (now a CW affiliate).
Closed on July 20, 1988 with the following in screen order: “Coming To America” and “Eddie Murphy Raw” in Screen 1, “Phantasm II” and “Red Heat” in Screen 2, and “Arthur 2: On The Rocks” and “Bull Durham” in Screen 3.
Closed on September 3, 1984 with “C.H.U.D” and “Ninja Mission” in Screen 1 and “Flashpoint” and “Party Animal” in Screen 2.
It last operated with five screens.
Opened with “Lord Jim” in Screen 1 and “Agent 8 3⁄4” in Screen 2 along with a matinee of “The Magic World of Topo Gigio” the following day.
The Westgate Twin Cinema launched by ABC Southeastern Theatres on Christmas Day 1975 with “The Hindenburg” in Screen 1 and Walt Disney’s “Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs” and Disney’s featurette “Fantasy On Skis” in Screen 2. The Westgate Twin most likely closed around the same time Carmike bought all 24 Cineplex Odeon theaters across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee in January 1990, which the Westgate Twin is not part of the buyout.
The Hillcrest Twin Theatre opened its doors on December 10, 1971 with “Law Man” in Screen 1 and “Black Beauty” in Screen 2. A third screen was added in 1981. Roth Theatres closed the theater in 1992 because of the Hillcrest Mall’s bankruptcy, and was demolished on March 31, 1993.
The Royal Twin Theatre opened its doors on May 2, 1975 with “The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud” in Screen 1 and “The Four Musketeers” in Screen 2, featuring an original capacity of 832 seats (416 seats inside both auditoriums). A third screen was added later in the 1970s, and expanded to five screens in July 1983.
Opened by Consolidated on July 13, 1966 with Bob Hope in “Boy! Did I Get A Wrong Number?” along with a few unnamed cartoons.