Newtowne 1 & 2

1515 E. Broad Street,
Statesville, NC 28625

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Carmike Cinemas, Martin Theatres, Statesville Theater Corp.

Architects: Thomas H. Hutchens

Functions: Retail

Previous Names: Newtowne Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Newtowne 1 & 2

The Newtowne Theatre was opened on April 26, 1967 as a single screen cinema, with a seating capacity of 530. Owned and operated by Statesville Theatre Corporation under Fuller Sams. The architect was Thomas H. Hutchens. The premiere attraction at the grand opening was the showing of “Hombre” starring Paul Newman. By 1978, Martin Theatres took over this theatre and twinned it on March 26, 1982. Later, Carmike Cinemas would acquire operations until its closing on September 14, 2000.

The only outside highlights are huge poster frames and the marquee of the building. Even the pillars on the front of the building are brick.

Over the years, the interior has been remodeled and the Art Deco concession stand has been painted over and stripped of its former metallic accents. In a few sections of the lobby, you can also see where the carpet is covering up a rather nice wooden floor.

The box office has also been stripped to nothing but a bare floor, an old counter top, a torn ‘CLOSED’ curtain, and a microphone with a short in it.

What business was left after the opening of AM Star and Eastern Federal megaplexes down the road, in Mooresville and Hunterville, was eaten up by a sister theatre across the highway.

Contributed by UAGirl, Raysson

Recent comments (view all 23 comments)

raysson
raysson on October 8, 2013 at 12:29 pm

Was twinned by 1978 when ownership changed to Atlanta-based Martin Theatres and renamed the Newtowne Twin split it into two sections with a seating capacity of 265 each.

Carmike Cinemas took over this theatre in 1986 until it closed in 2000 when it was a second-run discount house.

raysson
raysson on October 8, 2013 at 12:32 pm

I have the ads if you need to see them

Mmandarano
Mmandarano on October 9, 2013 at 8:50 am

Newtowne is actually beside the JR Tobacco Discount Outlet. It’s still standing unless it’s been torn down in the past month or two. It’s sandwiched in between the JR Outlet on the left side near the highway and the pizza place with the high pointed triangular roof that is right off the highway.

Mmandarano
Mmandarano on October 14, 2013 at 6:12 am

We have several decent photos of the exterior in the photos section now. Could we get one of them to replace the empty sign as the main photo? I was out there the other day and that sign has been removed too at this point.

reluctantpopstar
reluctantpopstar on December 29, 2016 at 11:48 pm

Video of this theater on You Tube as of 12/29/16. Recorded in April 2016. Theater and surrounding restaurants closed but still there. Shots of the interior only of what could seen through the front windows. Lots of mold but everything still intact. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzZRcLMIh6k

Mmandarano
Mmandarano on February 5, 2021 at 6:45 pm

Newtowne still stands. Old site of Village Inn Pizza was demolished a few months ago. Weird seeing it from the highway without the old Village Inn A-frame there. I’d imagine Newtowne is not much further from demolition. This whole area is pretty much a ghosttown outside of the Starbucks near the front.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 6, 2023 at 4:37 pm

Two screens on March 26th, 1982. Another ad posted.

Rainbow Angels Ensemble
Rainbow Angels Ensemble on September 25, 2023 at 9:07 am

The final films screened there were chicken run and Thomas and the magic railroad

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