The 170th Street Cinema was originally constructed and operated by Loews Theatres. This theater was built across the street from the ocean in an almost Hollywood setting. Unfortunately the construction was done as if this theatre was being constructed in a northern location.
Instead of building the theatre up with the auditorium going down to ground level it was built at ground level with the auditorium being dug down. This caused many problems in the Miami Beach location. The water table was higher than the depth of the auditorium. To prevent flooding during the time the water table was at normal or high levels a sump pump system had to be built into the final faze of construction.
This theatre was later purchased by General Cinema Corporation as it purchased all of the Loews theatres in the Florida area. Only one Loews theatre failed to transfer to General Cinema Corporation that being the Loews 163rd Street Theatre.
At the time of the sale multiplex cinemas were fast becoming the only way to stay in business. General Cinema made plans to convert this theatre into a multiplex theatre to be able to continue selling tickets and showing movies at this location. This theatre closed its doors as a single auditorium operation at its end of the run of JAWS. This movie had such an impact the hotels across the street were advertising “Shark Free Poolsâ€
Approximately two months later this theatre reopened as a “twin†operation. One of the two movies was “Rooster Cogburn†staring John Wayne. The process of creating two auditoriums did change the look of the auditoriums but did allow the company to operate as a money making operation for many more years. With the twinning of this theatre it allowed many more opportunities to enjoy great movies at this unique theatre.
The Lakeside Cinemas were first built as a “Twin†cinema. This comprised Cinema 1 and Cinema 2. The design used is sometimes referred to as a “butterfly†because of the auditoriums being on the opposite sides of the building.
Cinema 1 had a seating capacity of around 1200. Cinema 2 had a seating capacity of over 600. When the larger of the two auditoriums was “twined†they then became Cinema 2 and 3. The old Cinema 2 then became Cinema 1.
Due to delays in the construction the local competition, also under construction, opened ahead of General Cinemas Lakeside Cinema. The local competition was the Cobb family. They opened their theatre across Veterans Blvd and called it the Lakeside Theatre.
Several years after the opening another “Twin†theatre was built and opened next to the original Lakeside Cinema. This newer theatre became known as Lakeside Cinema 4 & 5. This newer cinema had auditoriums that could seat approximately 500 each.
At two times during the operation these theatres were operated by the same overall manager. The longest one person managed both was by Bill Day. He was the manager of both Lakeside 1-3 and the city manager for General Cinema for five years. He managed both the Lakeside Cinema 1-3 and Lakeside Cinema 4-5 for a period exceeding two years. The only position that was common between the two during this time was the Manager. The two did operate independently for the remanding time of operation. Behind these two theatres was a “Winn Dixie†grocery store.
These two theatres were the premier theatres in the Metairie area for many years. There were many premiers held there. During these premiers many top name entertainers visited and took part. Around 1988 Lakeside Cinema 1-3 underwent an extensive remodeling which added new life to the aging theatre.
The Lakeside Cinemas started their decline around 1989 or 1990. General Cinema, the parent company, itself started a downward spiral a few years later. This came about after a realignment of the management structure of the company. Many poor business decisions were made and the company, several years later, in the early 2000s was under bankruptcy.
This once second most powerful theatre company in the USA began closing selling off and closing more and more of it’s’ theatres in the early 1990s. Two of these theatres were two Lakeside Cinemas. These closings and sell offs were done until once rival AMC purchased what was left of this company. Ironically many years earlier AMC was being looked at by General Cinema as possible purchasing to expand GCC.
The 170th Street Cinema was originally constructed and operated by Loews Theatres. This theater was built across the street from the ocean in an almost Hollywood setting. Unfortunately the construction was done as if this theatre was being constructed in a northern location.
Instead of building the theatre up with the auditorium going down to ground level it was built at ground level with the auditorium being dug down. This caused many problems in the Miami Beach location. The water table was higher than the depth of the auditorium. To prevent flooding during the time the water table was at normal or high levels a sump pump system had to be built into the final faze of construction.
This theatre was later purchased by General Cinema Corporation as it purchased all of the Loews theatres in the Florida area. Only one Loews theatre failed to transfer to General Cinema Corporation that being the Loews 163rd Street Theatre.
At the time of the sale multiplex cinemas were fast becoming the only way to stay in business. General Cinema made plans to convert this theatre into a multiplex theatre to be able to continue selling tickets and showing movies at this location. This theatre closed its doors as a single auditorium operation at its end of the run of JAWS. This movie had such an impact the hotels across the street were advertising “Shark Free Poolsâ€
Approximately two months later this theatre reopened as a “twin†operation. One of the two movies was “Rooster Cogburn†staring John Wayne. The process of creating two auditoriums did change the look of the auditoriums but did allow the company to operate as a money making operation for many more years. With the twinning of this theatre it allowed many more opportunities to enjoy great movies at this unique theatre.
The Lakeside Cinemas were first built as a “Twin†cinema. This comprised Cinema 1 and Cinema 2. The design used is sometimes referred to as a “butterfly†because of the auditoriums being on the opposite sides of the building.
Cinema 1 had a seating capacity of around 1200. Cinema 2 had a seating capacity of over 600. When the larger of the two auditoriums was “twined†they then became Cinema 2 and 3. The old Cinema 2 then became Cinema 1.
Due to delays in the construction the local competition, also under construction, opened ahead of General Cinemas Lakeside Cinema. The local competition was the Cobb family. They opened their theatre across Veterans Blvd and called it the Lakeside Theatre.
Several years after the opening another “Twin†theatre was built and opened next to the original Lakeside Cinema. This newer theatre became known as Lakeside Cinema 4 & 5. This newer cinema had auditoriums that could seat approximately 500 each.
At two times during the operation these theatres were operated by the same overall manager. The longest one person managed both was by Bill Day. He was the manager of both Lakeside 1-3 and the city manager for General Cinema for five years. He managed both the Lakeside Cinema 1-3 and Lakeside Cinema 4-5 for a period exceeding two years. The only position that was common between the two during this time was the Manager. The two did operate independently for the remanding time of operation. Behind these two theatres was a “Winn Dixie†grocery store.
These two theatres were the premier theatres in the Metairie area for many years. There were many premiers held there. During these premiers many top name entertainers visited and took part. Around 1988 Lakeside Cinema 1-3 underwent an extensive remodeling which added new life to the aging theatre.
The Lakeside Cinemas started their decline around 1989 or 1990. General Cinema, the parent company, itself started a downward spiral a few years later. This came about after a realignment of the management structure of the company. Many poor business decisions were made and the company, several years later, in the early 2000s was under bankruptcy.
This once second most powerful theatre company in the USA began closing selling off and closing more and more of it’s’ theatres in the early 1990s. Two of these theatres were two Lakeside Cinemas. These closings and sell offs were done until once rival AMC purchased what was left of this company. Ironically many years earlier AMC was being looked at by General Cinema as possible purchasing to expand GCC.