National Twin
3512 S. Staples Street,
Corpus Christi,
TX
78411
3512 S. Staples Street,
Corpus Christi,
TX
78411
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Mann Theatres, National General Theatres
Functions: Church
Previous Names: National I & II
Nearby Theaters
The National Twin was opened by National General Corporation on June 10, 1970 with James Franciscus in “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” & Glen Campbell in “Norwood”.
Mann Theatres acquired the NGC properties in 1973.
Long-run hits to play here included "Star Wars" in 1977 (16 weeks).
It was closed on May 7, 1987, and became a Sinai Evangelistic Center.
Contributed by
Michael Coate
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
It’s funny how questions get (mis)interpreted. In my question from yesterday, I was asking about theaters specifically with the name “National,” not any theaters built by National General Corporation. But it’s all good info just the same, guys!
Any photos?
From what I am reading is that National General originally built this theatre as a twin. If that is what I am reading there were very very few theatres that NGC specifically built as a twin, because Mann did a lot of twinning. This theatre does look very similar to the Fox VIllage in Tuscon,
I managed the National Twin in 1971/72. It was built as a twin and was beautiful with good presentation. I opened the Cypress Village in 1969 which was the last single screen theatre built by National General. I also worked at National General theatres in Lansing, Ann Arbor, Tucson and Lubbock. Of those only the Spartin was built as a twin. This was a very impressive theatre in it’s day.
National General built at least one other single-screener after Cypress Village: the National in Los Angeles, which opened in March of 1970.
Saw Earthquake, Superman and Star Wars here as a child. Whilst I recall Superman and Star Wars being mono, Earthquake was in full-on Sensurround. I remember being given a Kryptonite rock leaving the Superman showing. Might have been the premiere? An excellent neighborhood theater, wish it were still around.
Google 3D model now has a “for lease” sign on the building, which had seen better days.
Opened on June 10th, 1970 with Chill Wills in person. Grand opening ads posted.
The Mann National Twin closed on May 7, 1987 with “Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol,” “My Demon Lover,” and “Campus Man.” Its neighbor - three blocks away - the Movies 1 & 2 would survive just seven months longer closing in January of 1988.
An article in the March 24, 1992 edition of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times detailed this theatre’s closing, noting that it was closed in 1987 so that the HVAC, projectors, and concessions stand could be updated.