Prior to this theater was occupied by several stores, including a jewelry store operated by H. Oppenheimer during the early-1890s, and the Excelsior Trunk Factory owned by N.M. Freleng in the early-1900s.
It was later renamed the Mercier Cinema in 1976, and around that time it was operated by Kerasotes, who also last operated the theater. It was twinned on November 14, 1980, and closed for the final time on September 10, 1986 with “One Crazy Summer” in Screen 1 and “Flight Of The Navigator” in Screen 2. During its days as a twin, it was last known as Mercier Cinema 1 & 2.
The Orris Theatre opened its doors on January 11, 1933 with Leslie Howard in “The Animal Kingdom” along with a few unnamed short subjects, featuring installations of RCA Photophone. It was closed on February 25, 1977 with “Norman… Is That You” but later reopened as a special events theater. It now houses a nightclub and a restaurant.
Tom Moyer Luxury Theatres opened the Valley Theatre on April 10, 1968 with “Where Angels Go… Trouble Comes” and “Young Americans”. Two more screens were added in 1974.
The Strand Theatre opened in late-Spring 1924, and the auditorium once suffered destruction from a fire on December 16, 1928. It reopened in late-February or early-March 1929. It was closed as a movie theater in September 1937 but continued to operate as a special events theater.
The Welden Theatre opened its doors on September 27, 1937 with Joe Penner in “The Life Of A Party” along with an unnamed cartoon, a few shorts, and a newsreel.
During its second year of operation, a midnight showing of “The Watchmen” on April 6, 2009 turned into tragedy after a 24-year-old local man pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the head during the middle of the movie. Patrons told theater employees that they first heard a popping noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the employees called police afterward.
Also opened with “Kansas Territory”. What’s strange is that “When You’re Smiling” only ran on opening day and “Kansas Territory” ran on both opening day and the following day.
On October 12, 2009, the AMC Muncie 12 became national headlines after a 21-year-old National Guard soldier from Farmland, Indiana, committed suicide in one of the auditoriums during a showing of “Zombieland”, with friends and siblings sitting around him. Police reported that he shot himself in the head at approximately 20 minutes into the movie after requested his friend who hand over a 9mm handgun, which for some weird reason snuck into the theater.
This was all in connection of an epidemic that underscores the psychological damage done to soldiers charged with carrying out the brutal colonial occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the man’s behavior before the film reveals that the war’s violence was on his mind. When asked by the theater manager for identification proving the group was of age to see the movie, the man reportedly snapped at him, saying that “he shot 18 people [during the war] and you want to see my identification?”
This opened as the Bedford Theatre, and was renamed the Bridge Theatre in August 1929. It was closed on June 21, 1954 with Bob Hope in “Casanova’s Big Night” (unknown if extras added), but continued to operate as a special events theater for another several years.
The Bridge Theatre opened its doors on June 6, 1938 with Deanna Durbin in “Mad About Music” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was closed on October 11, 1959 with Danny Kaye in “The Five Pennies” and Paul Newman in “Rally Round The Flag Boys” with no extras, and the former theater was converted into a Westinghouse Laundromat afterward.
Operated as early as 1977.
Prior to this theater was occupied by several stores, including a jewelry store operated by H. Oppenheimer during the early-1890s, and the Excelsior Trunk Factory owned by N.M. Freleng in the early-1900s.
A third screen was added during the mid-1980s.
Closed on October 6, 1982 with “E.T.”.
NOTE: “Top Gun” already ran at the Mercier a few weeks prior to closure.
The Hilltop Drive-In opened its gates on July 8, 1949 with “Three Little Girls In Blue” (unknown if extras added). It was closed on September 6, 1981.
It was later renamed the Mercier Cinema in 1976, and around that time it was operated by Kerasotes, who also last operated the theater. It was twinned on November 14, 1980, and closed for the final time on September 10, 1986 with “One Crazy Summer” in Screen 1 and “Flight Of The Navigator” in Screen 2. During its days as a twin, it was last known as Mercier Cinema 1 & 2.
The Orris Theatre opened its doors on January 11, 1933 with Leslie Howard in “The Animal Kingdom” along with a few unnamed short subjects, featuring installations of RCA Photophone. It was closed on February 25, 1977 with “Norman… Is That You” but later reopened as a special events theater. It now houses a nightclub and a restaurant.
Closed on October 10, 2001.
Tom Moyer Luxury Theatres opened the Valley Theatre on April 10, 1968 with “Where Angels Go… Trouble Comes” and “Young Americans”. Two more screens were added in 1974.
Current functions are first-run and second-run.
Closed on October 7, 1999.
Still abandoned in October 2025.
The Strand Theatre opened in late-Spring 1924, and the auditorium once suffered destruction from a fire on December 16, 1928. It reopened in late-February or early-March 1929. It was closed as a movie theater in September 1937 but continued to operate as a special events theater.
Renamed the Studio Theatre on August 18, 1950, and closed on August 13, 1955 with “Spy Chasers” and “Doctor In The House”.
The Welden Theatre opened its doors on September 27, 1937 with Joe Penner in “The Life Of A Party” along with an unnamed cartoon, a few shorts, and a newsreel.
Closed on April 28, 1963 with “Operation Bikini” and “Invasion Of The Star Creatures”. This opened as early as 1916.
During its second year of operation, a midnight showing of “The Watchmen” on April 6, 2009 turned into tragedy after a 24-year-old local man pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the head during the middle of the movie. Patrons told theater employees that they first heard a popping noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the employees called police afterward.
Also opened with “Kansas Territory”. What’s strange is that “When You’re Smiling” only ran on opening day and “Kansas Territory” ran on both opening day and the following day.
On October 12, 2009, the AMC Muncie 12 became national headlines after a 21-year-old National Guard soldier from Farmland, Indiana, committed suicide in one of the auditoriums during a showing of “Zombieland”, with friends and siblings sitting around him. Police reported that he shot himself in the head at approximately 20 minutes into the movie after requested his friend who hand over a 9mm handgun, which for some weird reason snuck into the theater.
This was all in connection of an epidemic that underscores the psychological damage done to soldiers charged with carrying out the brutal colonial occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the man’s behavior before the film reveals that the war’s violence was on his mind. When asked by the theater manager for identification proving the group was of age to see the movie, the man reportedly snapped at him, saying that “he shot 18 people [during the war] and you want to see my identification?”
Opened on August 13, 1948 with “Angel And The Badman” (unknown if extras added).
Closed on February 26, 1989 with “Working Girl”.
This opened as the Bedford Theatre, and was renamed the Bridge Theatre in August 1929. It was closed on June 21, 1954 with Bob Hope in “Casanova’s Big Night” (unknown if extras added), but continued to operate as a special events theater for another several years.
The Bridge Theatre opened its doors on June 6, 1938 with Deanna Durbin in “Mad About Music” along with a few unnamed shorts. It was closed on October 11, 1959 with Danny Kaye in “The Five Pennies” and Paul Newman in “Rally Round The Flag Boys” with no extras, and the former theater was converted into a Westinghouse Laundromat afterward.
This opened in Spring 2000, although I cannot find the exact opening date.