Wometco's 167th Theatre
295 NE 167th Street,
North Miami Beach,
FL
33162
295 NE 167th Street,
North Miami Beach,
FL
33162
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Added a color promo photo from the 1969 opening.
Samuel M. Puder of South Miami was the architect of the original Loew’s 167th project (sketch in photos.) The mural work and interior design were Rochester-based Patrick Casey and Joseph Schuler. It opened as the circuit’s 114th theater.
In 1985, Gen-Star took on the venue under the name of Gen-Star’s 167th Twin Theatre. Gen-Star also operated the Kendall, and Bay Harbor at that time. In February of 1986, Wometco took on the venue as its final operator under the name of Wometco’s 167th Twin Theatre. It closed with that name on September 7, 1990 with “Air America” and “Pump Up the Volume.” The theatre was said to have been demolished in 1992 for a new-build Pep Boys garage.
Before Wometco took over from Loews it seems 167th, Kendall and Bay Harbor were running under a company called Gen-Star. This is around 1986. Anyone familiar with this company? Added pic in photos.
One auditorium sat 800, the other 400. Closed on September 9th, 1990. 9/13/1990 Neighbors section of Miami Herald, NW edition on page 7 for info on closing.
The Loew’s 167th St. Twin opened on June 18th, 1949 with “Goodbye Columbus” showing every hour.
I saw “Star Trek The Motion Picture” (the really awful one that was 50% sweeping wide pans of the miniature Enterprise … gack that film BLEW) in this massive theatre when it was the Loew’s back in 1979. It was on par with the large screen at the mall theatre (NE 12th Avenue), but it was a lot newer and was superior as a facility. Yeah, the curtain opened and closed, but a lot of them still did that back in the day. I have to go to London to find a giant screen with proper exhibitor habits these days.
I take it those were the interiors; i.e., the curtains? Because I suspect the curtained wall coverings — especially if blue/green in theater #2 — might be what I’d remembered.
The June 18th, 1969 grand opening ad has been uploaded here. I added the colours* after.
I seem to recall a really modern sleek design with curtain wall coverings all around that made the screen area almost disappear when the curtains were closed.
The seats and leg room were nothing special and paled next to the high back ‘rocking chairs’ and leg space at the Bay Harbor and Sunny Isles.
Was there anything particularly unique about the design of this theater? I have only one memory of seeing anything there — “The Black Hole” in January 1980 (confirmed in the Miami News ads) — and in my mind’s eye there was something appealing about the interior…don’t ask me what…maybe nothing more than nice curtains or a particular color scheme.
So this theatre opened as a LOEWS.
Opening week ad.
View link
This is a different theater then the one in the movie. You’re thinking of the mall theater. This is the one that used to be across the street from Nathans(?) down the street. In the 80s it had a Coconuts Record store adacent to it in a mini-mall…
Actually in the film MAKING MR. RIGHT from 1987. They filmed inside the mall and you’re also able to see the front of the actual 163rd STREET theater from inside the garage looking out at the beginning of the mall scenes. The marquee reads THE PARENT TRAP.
While it may not be the greatest look at the mall, I think it may be the only cinematic document of how it existed circa the late 80’s other than local news.
Thanks AlAlvarez! I saw that one too…I wish I would of taken more pictures of back in the day! :) Who knew I’d be so nostalgic!
This is as close as I got, amyd.
http://www.pbase.com/image/80670007
Figaros Pizza! they played 3 stooges movies and had a mighty mouse cartoon box! also, coney island hot dog across the street! big folks, little folks hair cut place that served popcorn with your haircut?! does anybody know where i can find pictures of the inside of the 163rd street mall from the 1980’s?
The address was 295 NE 167th street.
Remember getting there early, buying my ticket and go next door to the Spec’s record store. What memories! Also, just down the street my parents would take us to Figaro’s Pizza. Loved that place!
167THSTREET THEATRE CLOSES
Miami Herald, The (FL) – September 13, 1990
Author: OLYMPIA ROSS Herald Staff Writer
The name of the movie was Pump Up The Volume, but the staff at the 167thStreet Theatre in North Miami Beach turned down the sound, dimmed the lights and closed the door on the movie house for good Sunday night.
It was the last night the 22-year-old theater would show films. The other feature was Air America.
“ Twin theaters are almost like dinosaurs now,” said Michael Brown, president of Wometco Enterprises Inc., which owned the theater. “It’s very hard for them to compete with multiplex theaters.”
Brown said heavy competition and low profits contributed to the decision to close the theater.
On Monday, employees stacked the big red letters that once hung from the marquee on 167thStreet and Northeast Second Avenue. Today, the marquee is bare and a “For Sale” sign stands next to it.
“The value of the property along that strip is increasing,” said Brown. “Unfortunately, the property became more valuable for real estate than for a theater.”
A buyer has not been found for the property, which the county valued at $1.1 million in the 1990 property tax assessment. Brown is asking about $2 million.
The theater was among the few remaining twin -screen movie houses in Northeast Dade. Newer theaters have six, eight and even 10 screens.
One auditorium of the 167thStreet Theatre seated 800 people, and the other seated 400 people. Brown said the theater’s size wasn’t always an asset.
Multiplex theaters have more variety in selecting movies and, consequently, a greater chance of turning a profit, said Brown. For the last year, the theater has been operating “marginally,” he said.
Converting the theater into a multiplex theater was not an option because of inadequate parking.
Brown said Wometco decided to close the theater now because of low attendance expected in coming months. Traditionally, September, October and November are poor months for any theater, he said.
“There just wasn’t a lot we could do with a twin theater there,” said Brown. “The movie business is pretty tricky.”
Also showed Raider of the Lost Ark, Star Trek II, Black Stallion, Incredible Machine, and Superman II. Also was the first movie theater I saw a filmed local advertisement at before the movie started (1970s – WPLG News crew playing instruments).
Yes, the Wometco was at 163rd Street.
Is the Wometco a different theater?
http://tinyurl.com/2bokwn
The copy above should have mentioned that this was a Loews house from the period when the Westchester, 170th Street, Riviera, Bay Harbor, Lauderhill and, eventually the short-lived Konover, made the Loews name well known in South Florida.