Hickory Ridge Mall Cinema
3727 S. Hickory Ridge Mall,
Memphis,
TN
38115
3727 S. Hickory Ridge Mall,
Memphis,
TN
38115
1 person
favorited this theater
This 4-screen cinema was opened by General Cinema on August 21, 1981. The cinema was closed on April 15, 1999. It still exists in the Hickory Ridge Mall which is now owned by World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church. The mall was purchased in the wake of serious tornado damage in 2008. The future of the cinema space is unknown.
Contributed by
Jack Coursey, Vincent Astor
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Saw several shows there in the early 1980s including “Time Bandits” and “The King of Comedy.” It was still running when I left Memphis in 1983. The entrance was in the mall and if the last show ended afterthe mall closed, you had to go out the back exits through winding corridors to the parking lot. Other than that, I can’t remember much about it—a typical anonymous mall multiplex of the period. Best wishes.
I think the last movie I saw there was “Silence of The Lambs” in 1991. It was in an ideal location, right next to the food court and a video arcade. It was still running in the early 90s. Vaguely remember seeing Karate Kid 2 there in 1986. It was a decent movie theater, and I believe the rooms had nice little cup troughs running left and right in front of the chairs.
Man I was so mad to see this go!! I wish they would open the theater back up.
I was finally out that way and took photos. The mall and grounds are beautifully kept though the former cinema is boarded up. The outside shots show the rear of the cinema section with its manicured bushes. The mall was struck by a tornado on February 5, 2008, which caused damage to the center court atrium and adjacent tenant spaces. The Sears store, the Macy’s store, and the mall’s main entrance were heavily damaged; temporary repairs made at record speed allowed Sears to reopen on Sunday, February 10, 2008. Later in 2008, World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church began to progressively purchase the property, totaling $2.7M, including the empty Macy’s and Dillard’s stores. It is now a combination of retail and community services offices.
I recall seeing the following at this place: Tootsie, Karate Kid II, Romancing the Stone, The Fly, Masters of the Universe, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Edward Scissorhands, Dick Tracy, Big, Octopussy, Never Say Never Again, Gremlins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Splash, Crocodile Dundee, Jewel of the Nile, and more I can’t recall.
The mall opened in 1981. Willing to bet that this cinema also opened in 1981 as well. No microfilms have been scanned yet.
Internal document from General Cinema lists the opening date as 8/21/1981, closing 4/15/1999.
Thanks.
Grand opening ad posted.