When my grandfather, Harry Kellam, opened this theater it was a Jerry Lewis Cinema. The Jerry Lewis Cinema company went under, and because of this it was very difficult for my grandfather to receive the popular first-run movies at the time. He tried to make it a family-oriented theater using the films he had access to, but it wasn’t enough. He later sold the theater.
My grandfather was the one who opened the original “left side” theater when the shopping center was built. Being the guy that he is, he couldn’t bring himself to charge what was needed for sodas and snacks in order to keep the theater afloat. So he sold it. I might still have the newspaper clipping from the Raleigh Times when the theater opened. I’ll see if I can find it.
When my grandfather, Harry Kellam, opened this theater it was a Jerry Lewis Cinema. The Jerry Lewis Cinema company went under, and because of this it was very difficult for my grandfather to receive the popular first-run movies at the time. He tried to make it a family-oriented theater using the films he had access to, but it wasn’t enough. He later sold the theater.
My grandfather was the one who opened the original “left side” theater when the shopping center was built. Being the guy that he is, he couldn’t bring himself to charge what was needed for sodas and snacks in order to keep the theater afloat. So he sold it. I might still have the newspaper clipping from the Raleigh Times when the theater opened. I’ll see if I can find it.