East Gate 1 & 2 Theatres

50sSNIPES on August 10, 2022 at 8:24 pm

Both Eastgate I & II and Eastgate III were separated theaters.

General Cinema opened the Eastgate Cinemas I & II on October 27, 1966 with Don O'Kelly in “The Hostage” (with short subjects added) shown in both screens.

On November 26, 1969, Eastgate III opened its gates as an adult theater, with it being located separately away from the I & II.

During the afternoon hours on May 5, 1982, a male teenager entered the Eastgate III, approached to one of the theater’s employees and pointed a gun in front of his face. He then stole $200 out of the cashier and ran. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Thomas C. Bell of Des Moines.

The Eastgate I & II closed for the final time in late 1989, leaving the Eastgate III running, and yes, still as an adult theater. This lasted for a decade-and-a-half, but there were incidents in its last couple years of operation. Developers sued the owners of the Eastgate III in November 2001 over its activities stymie efforts to lure big stores at the site. Its terms and leases have been filed at previous days beforehand in Polk County court.

In October 2003, an overman blamed owners of the Eastgate III, saying that he wants to shut the theater down. But exactly a year and a month later, the theater finally had its chance to close for the final time in late November 2004.

JJ on December 13, 2014 at 7:51 pm

I worked there in 1969 as an usher during high school. The Davis family that owned the place were very nice people & treated their employees well.

rivest266 on July 25, 2012 at 7:47 pm

This was opened by General Cinemas* on October 26th, 1966. Dubinsky must has taken it over shortly after.

• typical General Cinema ad design.