On November 16, 1974, the Saenger Theatre suffered damage from a fire after a transformer exploded, destroying the theater’s roof. This happened during the 5:10 PM showing of “Impulse”, and the sprinkler system that was installed in the theater went off at 6:15 PM that evening. Harold “Odd Job” Sakata had just left the theater several hours beforehand after making a live appearance at the lobby earlier that afternoon.
Despite no moviegoer suffering any injury, this unfortunately turned into a disaster after one of the firemen’s air tanks attached to his back caught a high voltage line while climbing a ladder in route to the roof, injuring him but survived.
Opened on February 20, 1948 with Esther Williams in “Fiesta” (unknown if extras added). It was closed on September 19, 1970 with Walt Disney’s “The Love Bug” and “The Jungle Book” because of lack of patronage.
Actually, Interstate Theatres Corporation operated the Norwich Cinemas 2 throughout the 1980s. It wasn’t until May 17, 1989 (not 1980) that Hoyts took it over.
The Lakeland Cinema opened its doors as a single-screener in the early-1970s. It was later twinned in the 1980s and was quadrupled by the mid-1990s, although there’s not a lot of information that I can find about it.
On January 21, 1997, the Lakeland Cinema suffered minor damage after Screen 4’s projector caught fire in the projection booth. Then-owners Lou and Loni Eyer have already planned on renovating the theater at the time of the fire which they did. All auditoriums reopened slowly one-by-one, with Screen 3 reopening that March. It was immediately renovated right afterward, with Screens 5 and 6 being added later that same year and the Lakeland became a six-screen theater.
The Lakeland Cinema is now independently operated by Suick Theaters, which had been operating since around December 2017. The old Conway Theatres website is also dead.
The Gem Theatre was destroyed by a fire on November 1, 1947, and the fire happened during the near conclusion of Spencer Tracy’s “Boom Town”. Both prints of the movie and an unnamed Disney’s Pluto cartoon that comes along before the feature were both destroyed by the fire caused by a projection explosion at the booth.
Dean Sievert, its original projectionist, tried to reach the extinguisher to put out the blaze but the smoke from the burning film was so choking that he was immediately forced to leave, dropping the can to the ground. The smoke filled the entire auditorium and the building suffered damage but survived, costing an estimate $30,000 in damages. The popcorn machine was immediately rescued by staff. The marquee also survived the fire. The Gem’s scheduled showings of “Abie’s Irish Rose” (plus cartoon) and “They Won’t Believe Me” (plus RKO-Pathe SportScope and serial) were forced to cancel because of the fire. Despite over 100 people attended the showing, nobody was injured.
It was rebuilt and remodeled, reopening as the Valley Theatre on August 6, 1948 with John Wayne in “Tycoon” along with an unnamed cartoon.
This Gordon Theatre replaced an earlier Gordon Theatre that got destroyed by a fire on April 13, 1970. It was the second fire that the Gordon Theatre suffered, with the first being on January 31, 1940.
Located right next to a Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1003 siren that was removed during the early-2010s, the newer Gordon Theatre opened its doors on March 16, 1972 with Bud Spencer in “They Call Me Trinity” as a 250-seat single-screener featuring original installations of gunmetal upholstered bright scarlet fabric seats with ample leg room as well as red and black patterned aisles.
Opened with Humphrey Bogart in “Tokyo Joe” (unknown if extras added).
Correction: I don’t think the theater closed with “Home On The Range” at all. Since it had two screens, it closed with more than just one movie. I hope that I can find the actual closing attractions someday.
This first opened as the Clarion Cinema during the early-1970s. It most likely opened as a single-screener judging by a headline but that remains unknown at this time.
Closed by UA on September 6, 1995.
On November 16, 1974, the Saenger Theatre suffered damage from a fire after a transformer exploded, destroying the theater’s roof. This happened during the 5:10 PM showing of “Impulse”, and the sprinkler system that was installed in the theater went off at 6:15 PM that evening. Harold “Odd Job” Sakata had just left the theater several hours beforehand after making a live appearance at the lobby earlier that afternoon.
Despite no moviegoer suffering any injury, this unfortunately turned into a disaster after one of the firemen’s air tanks attached to his back caught a high voltage line while climbing a ladder in route to the roof, injuring him but survived.
Actual closing date is August 28, 2005, yes because of Katrina.
Expanded to five screens on September 23, 1994.
Opened on March 2, 1934 with Edmund Lowe in “Let’s Fall In Love” (unknown if extras added).
Opened in early-January 1935.
Opened on October 27, 1948.
Most likely closed with “Fletch”.
Closed in late-December 1998 or early-January 1999. It quickly became a church by the end of the month.
Opened on February 20, 1948 with Esther Williams in “Fiesta” (unknown if extras added). It was closed on September 19, 1970 with Walt Disney’s “The Love Bug” and “The Jungle Book” because of lack of patronage.
Opened on December 14, 1990.
Closed on September 23, 1984.
Opened on October 17, 2007.
Actually, Interstate Theatres Corporation operated the Norwich Cinemas 2 throughout the 1980s. It wasn’t until May 17, 1989 (not 1980) that Hoyts took it over.
Edited from my October 9, 2022 (3:01 PM) comment:
The Lakeland Cinema opened its doors as a single-screener in the early-1970s. It was later twinned in the 1980s and was quadrupled by the mid-1990s, although there’s not a lot of information that I can find about it.
On January 21, 1997, the Lakeland Cinema suffered minor damage after Screen 4’s projector caught fire in the projection booth. Then-owners Lou and Loni Eyer have already planned on renovating the theater at the time of the fire which they did. All auditoriums reopened slowly one-by-one, with Screen 3 reopening that March. It was immediately renovated right afterward, with Screens 5 and 6 being added later that same year and the Lakeland became a six-screen theater.
The Lakeland Cinema is now independently operated by Suick Theaters, which had been operating since around December 2017. The old Conway Theatres website is also dead.
The Gem Theatre was destroyed by a fire on November 1, 1947, and the fire happened during the near conclusion of Spencer Tracy’s “Boom Town”. Both prints of the movie and an unnamed Disney’s Pluto cartoon that comes along before the feature were both destroyed by the fire caused by a projection explosion at the booth.
Dean Sievert, its original projectionist, tried to reach the extinguisher to put out the blaze but the smoke from the burning film was so choking that he was immediately forced to leave, dropping the can to the ground. The smoke filled the entire auditorium and the building suffered damage but survived, costing an estimate $30,000 in damages. The popcorn machine was immediately rescued by staff. The marquee also survived the fire. The Gem’s scheduled showings of “Abie’s Irish Rose” (plus cartoon) and “They Won’t Believe Me” (plus RKO-Pathe SportScope and serial) were forced to cancel because of the fire. Despite over 100 people attended the showing, nobody was injured.
It was rebuilt and remodeled, reopening as the Valley Theatre on August 6, 1948 with John Wayne in “Tycoon” along with an unnamed cartoon.
What’s unique is that the Tom and Jerry cartoon “Mouse Into Space” was the most played film ever at the Dine-In.
Closed on September 28, 2000. This was once operated by R/C Theatres.
Closed on September 2, 1979, last operated by R/C Theatres.
This Gordon Theatre replaced an earlier Gordon Theatre that got destroyed by a fire on April 13, 1970. It was the second fire that the Gordon Theatre suffered, with the first being on January 31, 1940.
Located right next to a Federal Signal Thunderbolt 1003 siren that was removed during the early-2010s, the newer Gordon Theatre opened its doors on March 16, 1972 with Bud Spencer in “They Call Me Trinity” as a 250-seat single-screener featuring original installations of gunmetal upholstered bright scarlet fabric seats with ample leg room as well as red and black patterned aisles.
Closed on May 31, 1966 with “Agent 38-24-36”.
Closed on September 3, 1966 with “The Ghost And Mr. Chicken”.
Opened with Humphrey Bogart in “Tokyo Joe” (unknown if extras added).
This was last known as Captain Brady Theatre, screening adult movies. It appears that it stopped advertising on July 12, 1977.
This first opened as the Clarion Cinema during the early-1970s. It most likely opened as a single-screener judging by a headline but that remains unknown at this time.