Oakdale Cinema

The opening gala at the Walnut Wood Holiday Cinema 1 & 2 was held on November 30, 1979. The official grand opening was held on December 1, 1979 with the films, “The Villain,” and “Hot Stuff.” It was located in what was originally known as the Walnut Wood Shopping Center. The theatre appears to have opened and closed eight different times under a variety of operators. The architect of the theatre was John Elphick and launched with 476 seats (224 Cinema I and 252 in Cinema II).

Under new owners, the theatre relaunched as the Oakdale Cinema 1 and 2 on May 27, 1981 known as the Oakdale Cinemas. In 1982, the Walnut Wood Shopping Center signage was removed as the plaza became known as the Oakdale Plaza. Though the theatre retained its original Walnut Wood Cinema attractor, the operation became known as the Oakdale Plaza Cinema 1 & 2. The owners of the cinema went bankrupt and the theatre closed in the Spring of 1983.

The theatre had a grand re-opening May 27, 1983 under new operators. The cinema closed again at the end of its lease on September 28, 1986. But the theatre would relaunch on October 24, 1986 under new operators. Those operators closed the theatre on September 30, 1997. On February 13, 1998, the cinema reopened under new operators. The cinema closed on September 8, 1999.

The cinema re-emerged as noted above operating from July 16, 2004 to its next closing on September 4, 2005. Then the theatre was opened from 2007 to closing in 2013.