Valentino Super Discount Cinemas
8524 SW Eighth Street,
Miami,
FL
33144
8524 SW Eighth Street,
Miami,
FL
33144
3 people
favorited this theater
Opened on June 3, 1983 as the Americas Triple Cinemas. In April 1984 it was taken over by National Cinemas. This triplex struggled with the multiplex boom and closed in 1990.
On July 30 1993 it was re-opened as the Valentino Super Discount Cinemas. It lasted until 2007.
Contributed by
Al Alvarez
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Here is part of an article in June 2005 from the Miami Herald. A church is listed at the theater’s address now, but it’s unclear if this theater was in a mall which encompasses several different businesses, or was a stand-alone theater.
THE LANGUAGE OF FILM
In an age when multiplexes and chain cinemas dominate the silver screens, Valentino Cinema is an anomaly. The Westchester theater is family owned, has three screens – and is one of the only places in Miami-Dade County to solely show movies with Spanish subtitles. New releases, too. When Batman Begins rolled out this week in theaters nationwide, Valentino had it – and owner Andres del Campo was there to greet theater-goers, sell them tickets and even flip the switch to get the film…
The site where this theatre was is a shopping center. Originally this property was the YWCA or a YWHA. It was huge and it had a grand pool. I can’t remember when the YW was demolished, but the shopping center has been there for quite some time now.
The Valentino name started at the 1993 re-opening.
AMERICA TRIPLE AD 6/24/1983
The America was up in running in 1983 according to an ad I found and the theater seemed to be owned by the same people who owned the Trianon and the Midway at the time.
Hello there,
I was raised in this theater! My family ran and owned this theater for many years. It was the only Spanish-subtitles theater for many years in Miami. Many local artists would come by to visit my grandfather, Andres Marrero del Campo. My father, Andrew Marrero and grandfather were owners of several theaters in Florida.
I feel very blessed to have been able to grow up in an environment of creative people and movies! My brother, cousins and I would work the Concession stands and the film projection. My mom’s dad, Pedro Rene Hernandez, worked in the Concession stands as well.
It was a gem in Miami culture, and we were all very sad when they had to close the theater.
Thank you for keeping this website up to date and reminding future generations of the treasures that surround us.
Priscilla
I found an article length Miami Herald obituary for Andres Marrero del Campo, the owner of the Valentino, from January 4th, 2017, describing his life and career as a film exhibitor, in which his granddaughter Pricilla, who’s comment is above mine, is quoted:
“Theater owner who brought American movies to Spanish-speaking audiences dies at 82”
I saw “The Legend of Bagger Vance” at the Valentino in 2000 and believe I remember him, smiling, as I bought my ticket and entered.
I would often think of the theater while driving past on 8th Street to and from Miccosukee Indian Gaming back in those days. It was the last business at the western edge of the strip mall with its entrance facing north, not a stand alone building.
I found what I remember as the Valentino, now a Planet Fitness gym, at the back of the strip mall on Google Street View. I tried to include a hyperlink here but the link won’t work.
kencmcintyre: Yes, to correct my previous comment I can see now it was a stand alone building since it was close but not physically connected to the one next to it. In the Street View image from 8th Street it is straight back all the way to the rear of the mall though too far away to see. Yes I remember it being a church when I was last in the area years ago.
First Miami Hearld listings for this theatre started on June 3rd, 1983. Reopened in 1984 by National Cinemas.
This became the Valentino Super Discount cinemas on July 30th, 1993. No grand opening ad found.