Movie Tavern by Marcus Denton
916 W. University Drive,
Denton,
TX
76201
916 W. University Drive,
Denton,
TX
76201
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Anyone have any pictures of this theatre as a Cineplex Odeon?
The ABC Cinema opened on May 20th, 1970 with “Barquero”. Its grand opening ad has been posted. In the mid-1980’s it became Cinema 5 as it is taken over by Cineplex Odeon and later Carmike Cinemas, who closed it in 2000. Reopened as Movie Tavern in 2005.
This theatre was included in Marcus Theatres purchase of Movie Tavern and as such as of February 1, 2019 is now operated by Marcus Theatres. This theatre is now “Movie Tavern by Marcus Denton” and all relevant information is now on the Marcus Theatres website, www.marcustheatres.com. Given the information on the Marcus website this complex currently appears to have 9 screens, as there are showtimes for 9 different auditoriums.
An article about the ABC Cinema was featured in the “Modern Theatre” section of Boxoffice on August 30, 1971. On opening, the single-screen house had 700 seats. The article confirms John Rowland Thompson (John R. Thompson & Associates) as the architect of this theater.
Also, Movie Tavern’s official page for this house currently lists it with only four screens, not five.
Thirteen sheets of drawings for the Denton Theatre and a house called the Varsity Theatre are preserved in the Interstate Theatre Collection at the Dallas Public Library. The plans are by Dallas architect John Rowland Thompson, and are dated c1969. I don’t see a Varsity Theatre listed for Denton at Cinema Treasures. It was located on Hinkle Drive.
The auditorium was split down the center to form a twin theater. Later other screens were added. At one time it was the Plitt Cinema 5. Currently operates as Movie Tavern.
A 1975 Marx Brothers movie ad for “Animal Crackers” from the ABC Cinema in Denton.