Spotlight Theater of Hornell

dallasmovietheaters on April 18, 2020 at 9:07 pm

Hornell Cinema Corp. became the newest franchisee of the Jerry Lewis Cinema Circuit in 1972 at 191 Main Street. The Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema opened in downtown Hornell on October 25, 1972 with Richard Burton as “Bluebeard” and Robert Redford as “The Candidate.” The Circuit promised family fare and the JLC parent company provided automated equipment that promised one-button, turnkey operation.

One year later, Lewis parted ways with Network Cinema Corporation as the business operation was hurtling toward bankruptcy. Unshackled from the family fare self-regulation, this venue began showing porno chic, X-Rated films. The city could take no more dramatically seizing “The Cheerleaders” from the projection room in 1974. The theater owners sued the city for $150,000. That was enough to get the film back and the suit was dropped. The theater became the Hornell Twin Cinema 1 & 2 and reverted to mainstream Hollywood fare.

The theatre closed and reopened December 19, 2014 as the Spotlight Theater of Hornell where it was in business into the 2020s.