Gateway Cinema I & II
8001 Dr M.L.K Jr Street N.,
St. Petersburg,
FL
33702
8001 Dr M.L.K Jr Street N.,
St. Petersburg,
FL
33702
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The mall also had a dinner theater. The one time I was there the Gateway had the Dolly Parton movie Rhinestone
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. Gateway Mall’s lengthy run is mentioned in the piece.
Went to a lot of movies in the 80’s at this theatre. Mad Max Thunderdome for one. Yes, the theatre was on the north side, on an L at the end. The middle of the mall was as described in the first comment. It also had a fitness center – I used to work out there. Goldome bank was near the NW end. Lots of little shops. The elderly in un-air conditioned apts. would ride the buses from one mall to another and Gateway was one of their favorites. There was a jeweler’s kiosk and several smaller shops. Does anybody know when they tore it down? It must have been after ‘96. That’s when I left for the NW.
An better scan of the grand opening ad:
Found on Newspapers.com
I was a relief projectionist at the Gateway after it was purchased by General Cinema. The projection booth was equipped with Century projection and sound heads and Strong “Futura” arc lamps. When it was made into a twin, the Century equipment was retained and duplicated for the second screen and now had Christie AutoWind 2 platters. The theatre never had the capability to run 70mm. The entire closed mall was demolished and is now an open air mall. Mr. E. J. Hanchett was the last projectionist/manager. As previously noted, the mall contained a health spa and it was located next to the theatre. There were times that the chlorine smell was overpowering in the projection booth. I have photos of the booth, lobby and entrance of the theatre.
I use to go to this theater as a child. I remember seeing Star Wars there. I even remember the General Cinenas opening promo reel for some reason. I remeber the ashtrays in in armrests that always had gum wrappers crammed in them. Towards the end of its life it showed $1 movies.
The Mall was very old fashion and toward the end was catering to an older crowd. It had a spa, Woolworths, J Byrons, Radio Shack, post office, dinner theater, drug store and an Orange Julius. One end was anchored by a Zayers. It was completely demolished and replaced with a Target, Office Depot, TJ Maxx and other large outdoor retailers. Nothing is left of the small mall.