As mentioned above, sometime in the early 90’s there were two people killed at the Westgate Mall Cinema. Both were shot execution style in a robbery by two former employees who were caught soon after and each were put to death for these crimes. In 98 the Westgate Cinema was torn down during mall expansion and relocated inside the mall on the second floor above the food court. A few years later, a 16 screen theatre, the Spartanburg 16 was opened a short distance away from the mall. I thought that would be the demise of the mall theatre, but thankfully it is still going. Over the years lots of theatres have come and gone in Spartanburg. It’s hard to believe that there were 5 different operating theatres (probably single or double screens) downtown back in the 50s. I saw An American Werewolf In London at Pinewood Cinema back in 1981. That was quite a treat for a 14 year old boy. I apologise for rambling…I’ll catch you folks later on down the trail…
The original Westgate Cinema (owned by Plitt Theatres) in Spartanburg was opened on W.O. Ezell Blvd. in the 70’s beside Paul M. Dorman High School. I think I saw JAWS there in the summer of 75 and Star Wars there in 77. I remember going to see the Bill Murray movie STRIPES there over 10 times in 81. haha Saw BLADE RUNNER there in 83. Clash of The Titans, Raiders of The Lost Ark, many others. Lots of great memories. I lived across the street from the theatre in Wadsworth Hills. Just a stroll across the street and I was at the movies. In 1984 they opened the other cinema behind the mall. I saw PURPLE RAIN there. The original cinema closed sometime in 86 I believe. It was later torn down and a Barnes and Noble bookstore is there now. Dorman High School was moved to Roebuck and the Dorman Centre with a Wal-Mart and loads of other stores replaced it.
As mentioned above, sometime in the early 90’s there were two people killed at the Westgate Mall Cinema. Both were shot execution style in a robbery by two former employees who were caught soon after and each were put to death for these crimes. In 98 the Westgate Cinema was torn down during mall expansion and relocated inside the mall on the second floor above the food court. A few years later, a 16 screen theatre, the Spartanburg 16 was opened a short distance away from the mall. I thought that would be the demise of the mall theatre, but thankfully it is still going. Over the years lots of theatres have come and gone in Spartanburg. It’s hard to believe that there were 5 different operating theatres (probably single or double screens) downtown back in the 50s. I saw An American Werewolf In London at Pinewood Cinema back in 1981. That was quite a treat for a 14 year old boy. I apologise for rambling…I’ll catch you folks later on down the trail…
The original Westgate Cinema (owned by Plitt Theatres) in Spartanburg was opened on W.O. Ezell Blvd. in the 70’s beside Paul M. Dorman High School. I think I saw JAWS there in the summer of 75 and Star Wars there in 77. I remember going to see the Bill Murray movie STRIPES there over 10 times in 81. haha Saw BLADE RUNNER there in 83. Clash of The Titans, Raiders of The Lost Ark, many others. Lots of great memories. I lived across the street from the theatre in Wadsworth Hills. Just a stroll across the street and I was at the movies. In 1984 they opened the other cinema behind the mall. I saw PURPLE RAIN there. The original cinema closed sometime in 86 I believe. It was later torn down and a Barnes and Noble bookstore is there now. Dorman High School was moved to Roebuck and the Dorman Centre with a Wal-Mart and loads of other stores replaced it.