Hoyts Waterville 6
250 Kennedy Memorial Drive,
Waterville,
ME
04941
250 Kennedy Memorial Drive,
Waterville,
ME
04941
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Up for sale
On May 12th, 1971, it became the largest cinema complex in Maine when screens 3 & 4 opened. Screen 5 opened by subdivision opened on July 1st, 1977, and screen 6 opened by another subdivision on June 1st, 1979. SBC sold it to Hoyt’s from Australia in 1986 who closed it in April 2002. Grand opening ad posted.
Opened February 21st, 1968
It really should be listed as “Cinema Center” since that’s how it was known for 30 years, first under Lockwood & Gordon and later under SBC Theatres. Hoyts purchased in late 90s and ran it into the ground due to poor management & lack of upkeep. For several years, between maybe 1970-1985….it was notable as the highest-grossing theatre complex in all of New England/ per person based on the size of the community.
I remember this movie theater. It was my favorite movie theater. I saw movies there growing up. I miss it very, very much! I was sad when it closed down in 2002. But there’s now Flagship Cinemas which is located across the street and that now is my favorite movie theater!
Lockwood & Gordon built this twin cinema after the Haines theatre downtown burned to the ground. It was first opened as “Cinema 1 and 2” and later re-named “Cinema Center” when 2 additional screens were added. Did not have rocking chair seats but they did recline (red seats in all auditoriums). Longest-running feature was “Smokey and the Bandit” at 26 weeks, (and it returned several times afterwards) biggest bomb was “Harold and Maude”(3days, 17 patrons).
Cinema 1 was the setting for a riot in the mid 70’s when “Midnight shows” became a popular fad. “Night of the Living Dead” oversold and unruly patrons overturned the boxoffice and broke windows.
Waterville was also home to one of the few “Jerry Lewis Cinemas” which became the “PLaza Cinema” and eventually a porn house. It was located on Upper Main Street where “Arby’s” is currently located and seated 325.
The marque always had Cinema Center on the top with Cinema 1 and Cinema 2 underneath. If a film switched theaters they would change the switch the 1 & 2 on the marquee. When they added the additional 2 theaters the numbers would be switched inside. I saw “Harold and Maude” in Cinema 1. It actually played 3 days. Sunday through Tuesday before “The Godfather” opened that Wednesday. That was still during the time when theaters booked select films Wednesday through Saturday and Sunday through Tuesday. During the period when it was still Cinema 1 and 2, they had what was call Cinema Center Series when select foreign films would play for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days. Such as “Ulysses”, “Elvira Madigan”, “The Two of Us”, “The Bride Wore Black”. Films that would not be able to play for a full week. These series would run for 2 weeks 2 or 3 times a year.
My Dad was the manager at this theater when it was Cinema 1 and 2. I remember collecting for the Jimmy Fund…we would go and help him. Many nights he would bring home the left over popcorn!
It was an SBC theater as early as mid 70’s. I am not sure but was a Lockwood & Gordon theater when built. They aslo owned the State theater in Waterville as well as the Haines Theater.
PLEASE ADD TO THE ADDRESS:
250 KENNEDY MEMORIAL DR 04901.
AKA:
CINEMA CENTER SIXPLEX.
OWNERS:
1980-1985 SBC Management Corporation?
1990-2002 Hoyts Cinema Corporation?