According to the book Future Noir: The Making of “Blade Runner” by Paul M. Sammon, the first sneak preview of “Blade Runner” was held at the Continental on Friday, March 5, 1982. Other sneaks were at the Northpark in Dallas (3/6/82) & the Cinema 21 in San Diego (5/8/82).
I understand that MGM held a sneak preview of “Logan’s Run” somewhere in San Diego on Friday, May 7, 1976. Does anyone know which theatre? I wonder if it was Cinema 21, since sneaks for other films were held here in the ‘70s-'80s including “Blade Runner” in '82. Anybody know?
I went here a couple of times to see $1 movies in the spring of 1989. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was showing in auditorium #4, so it was at least a 4-plex.
This blog states that it had “six multiplex screens”:
According to Wikipedia, when it opened in 1968, Tri-City Mall was the first enclosed shopping center in the East Valley region of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The mall closed in 1998 and was demolished to make way for a new strip mall shopping center, Tri-City Pavilions. The last standing Tri-City Mall store (the gutted remains of JCPenney) was demolished in April 2006 to make way for a light rail transit station.
A good aerial postcard shot of the mall can be seen here: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wS7qhfsw7LU/TFdwF7YWonI/AAAAAAAAAgo/CviD9vOppgs/s1600/Mesa_Tri-CityMall.jpg
See also: http://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/2006/08/tri-city-mall.html
Info I’ve found says the Pickwick was open May 12, 1949 to September 15, 1989. It was operated by: Cal-Pac Drive-In Theatres, Inc., and then by Pacific Theatres. Vehicle capacity was around 750. Unfortunately I never saw a movie here but I remember driving by there just before it was closed in 1989. It was demolished around late-1989 and replaced by the “Rancho Marketplace” shopping center (Vons Pavillion, Denny’s). The Pickwick Gardens entertainment complex (banquet rooms, bowling, ice skating, etc.) is still in operation just to the south (behind the shopping center) on Riverside Drive.
The original 4-plex (then “Plitt Foothills Cinemas”) presumably opened along with the Foothills mall in 1983. A new IMAX® theatre opened at the AMC Loews Foothills 15 on September 3, 2010.
http://www.txtmovieclub.com/profiles/blogs/tucson-new-imaxr-theatre-opens?xg_source=activity
The current Google Maps street view mistakenly shows a spot near Likana Lane in the center of Kailua-Kona. The actual address (78-6831 Alii Drive) is in the Keauhou Shopping Village Shopping Center, about 6 or 7 miles to the south, still in Kailua-Kona, but farther from the center of town.
The Mann Glendale Marketplace was closed, but thankfully has reopened as the “Galaxy Glendale Marketplace”. The grand opening celebration was this past weekend February 10-12, 2012.
Logan5
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Forum IVon
Jan 30, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Officially opened in December 1974, this theatre was known and advertised as the “Forum IV” (note Roman numerals).
Had two screens when “The Great Waldo Pepper” was held over there in April 1975. Apparently part of the film was shot (at the Hays County Fairgrounds) in San Marcos.
As of June 2009 the space is actually occupied by a “Dollar Tree” variety store. Gold’s Gym occupies the unit that was once a (state operated) liquor store just to the south of the Sierra 3 site.
I think the building was originally a Food4Less grocery store before being converted to theatre space. Does anybody have any info on that? For the record, 8501 Hickman Road is actually in the City of Urbandale, which is not a district of Des Moines, but a separate city right next to Des Moines.
As of June 2009, the marquee at the Grand Avenue entrance (or at least the bottom portion of the marquee) is still standing – with Sands Volleyball Club signage. The box office is still standing as well, although the glass has been replaced or covered over with plywood. The screen and it’s supporting steel structure are no longer there.
Here’s the text of an interesting article about the opening of the Plantation Drive-In from the August 16, 1965 issue of BoxOffice Magazine:
Plantation Drive-In Opens in Des Moines
From North Central Edition
DES MOINES – The 950-car Plantation Drive-In opened here recently boasting the largest screen in the Midwest-50x120 feet. The airer is operated by Richard Davis and Clay Rusk, owners of the Pioneer Drive-In here, and Bob Fridley, who operates the Capri and Varsity (Des Moines), the King (Ida Grove) and Capri (Lake City), all indoor theatres.
The all-season airer is equipped with 402 auto heaters and an air-conditioned concessions building. First-run films are scheduled through October. Jim Walker is manager. Rodney Davis is his assistant.
Detective job: I remember this theatre being referred to as the “AMC Media Center” in its first years – before 2003 (when the mall was remodeled and renamed the “Burbank Town Center”). I have a ticket to a showing of “Blade Runner” dated November 1 (no year listed) that says “AMC Media” for the theatre. I don’t think this would have been 1991, since the re-release only played at the NuArt at that time and the Mall wasn’t open until later that month. To add to the mystery, this was a $4 ticket to an 8:30PM showing! Anybody know when “Blade Runner” showed here?
According to the book Future Noir: The Making of “Blade Runner” by Paul M. Sammon, the first sneak preview of “Blade Runner” was held at the Continental on Friday, March 5, 1982. Other sneaks were at the Northpark in Dallas (3/6/82) & the Cinema 21 in San Diego (5/8/82).
Yep, that Blade Runner screening must have been 1992. $4 doesn’t sound too bad now! Thanks for the info, KingBiscuits.
I understand that MGM held a sneak preview of “Logan’s Run” somewhere in San Diego on Friday, May 7, 1976. Does anyone know which theatre? I wonder if it was Cinema 21, since sneaks for other films were held here in the ‘70s-'80s including “Blade Runner” in '82. Anybody know?
I went here a couple of times to see $1 movies in the spring of 1989. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was showing in auditorium #4, so it was at least a 4-plex. This blog states that it had “six multiplex screens”:
http://arizona100.blogspot.com/2010/08/mesa-replaced-farms-with-charm-to.html
According to Wikipedia, when it opened in 1968, Tri-City Mall was the first enclosed shopping center in the East Valley region of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The mall closed in 1998 and was demolished to make way for a new strip mall shopping center, Tri-City Pavilions. The last standing Tri-City Mall store (the gutted remains of JCPenney) was demolished in April 2006 to make way for a light rail transit station.
A good aerial postcard shot of the mall can be seen here: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wS7qhfsw7LU/TFdwF7YWonI/AAAAAAAAAgo/CviD9vOppgs/s1600/Mesa_Tri-CityMall.jpg
See also: http://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/2006/08/tri-city-mall.html
Info I’ve found says the Pickwick was open May 12, 1949 to September 15, 1989. It was operated by: Cal-Pac Drive-In Theatres, Inc., and then by Pacific Theatres. Vehicle capacity was around 750. Unfortunately I never saw a movie here but I remember driving by there just before it was closed in 1989. It was demolished around late-1989 and replaced by the “Rancho Marketplace” shopping center (Vons Pavillion, Denny’s). The Pickwick Gardens entertainment complex (banquet rooms, bowling, ice skating, etc.) is still in operation just to the south (behind the shopping center) on Riverside Drive.
A fairly recent photo can be found here: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/vickifunes/Arizona%20Malls/FoothillsTheater.jpg
The original 4-plex (then “Plitt Foothills Cinemas”) presumably opened along with the Foothills mall in 1983. A new IMAX® theatre opened at the AMC Loews Foothills 15 on September 3, 2010. http://www.txtmovieclub.com/profiles/blogs/tucson-new-imaxr-theatre-opens?xg_source=activity
Does anyone have some better photos of the West-Vue Drive-In theatre? Meanwhile, more info can be found here: http://www.drive-ins.com/detail/iatwest
A photo of the front of the building (now a gym called “Pure Fitness”) can be seen here: http://pics3.city-data.com/businesses/p/9/5/4/7/5889547.JPG
My friends and I also visited this theater several times during my college days at ASU. The Cornerstone was owned/operated by MANN in the ‘80s.
The current Google Maps street view mistakenly shows a spot near Likana Lane in the center of Kailua-Kona. The actual address (78-6831 Alii Drive) is in the Keauhou Shopping Village Shopping Center, about 6 or 7 miles to the south, still in Kailua-Kona, but farther from the center of town.
The Mann Glendale Marketplace was closed, but thankfully has reopened as the “Galaxy Glendale Marketplace”. The grand opening celebration was this past weekend February 10-12, 2012.
Officially opened in December 1974, this theatre was known and advertised as the “Forum IV” (note Roman numerals).
The Merle Hay Mall Cinema was formerly the “Plaza Theatre” – when it opened c. 1967.
Photo taken Wednesday August 10, 2011.
The Beatles' “Yellow Submarine” played here in 1968: View link
The L.A. County Tax Assessor lists the address as 4403 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505
Had two screens when “The Great Waldo Pepper” was held over there in April 1975. Apparently part of the film was shot (at the Hays County Fairgrounds) in San Marcos.
One theatergoer says he “saw ‘Jaws’ and ‘The Great Waldo Pepper’ there the last day it was open – December 4, 1976."
View link
As of June 2009 the space is actually occupied by a “Dollar Tree” variety store. Gold’s Gym occupies the unit that was once a (state operated) liquor store just to the south of the Sierra 3 site.
I think the building was originally a Food4Less grocery store before being converted to theatre space. Does anybody have any info on that? For the record, 8501 Hickman Road is actually in the City of Urbandale, which is not a district of Des Moines, but a separate city right next to Des Moines.
As of June 2009, the marquee at the Grand Avenue entrance (or at least the bottom portion of the marquee) is still standing – with Sands Volleyball Club signage. The box office is still standing as well, although the glass has been replaced or covered over with plywood. The screen and it’s supporting steel structure are no longer there.
Here’s the text of an interesting article about the opening of the Plantation Drive-In from the August 16, 1965 issue of BoxOffice Magazine:
Plantation Drive-In Opens in Des Moines
From North Central Edition
DES MOINES – The 950-car Plantation Drive-In opened here recently boasting the largest screen in the Midwest-50x120 feet. The airer is operated by Richard Davis and Clay Rusk, owners of the Pioneer Drive-In here, and Bob Fridley, who operates the Capri and Varsity (Des Moines), the King (Ida Grove) and Capri (Lake City), all indoor theatres.
The all-season airer is equipped with 402 auto heaters and an air-conditioned concessions building. First-run films are scheduled through October. Jim Walker is manager. Rodney Davis is his assistant.
AKA “GCC Glendale Central 5 Theatres”. Zip code is 91203.
Address was/is 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge, CA 91324
Detective job: I remember this theatre being referred to as the “AMC Media Center” in its first years – before 2003 (when the mall was remodeled and renamed the “Burbank Town Center”). I have a ticket to a showing of “Blade Runner” dated November 1 (no year listed) that says “AMC Media” for the theatre. I don’t think this would have been 1991, since the re-release only played at the NuArt at that time and the Mall wasn’t open until later that month. To add to the mystery, this was a $4 ticket to an 8:30PM showing! Anybody know when “Blade Runner” showed here?