Safari Twin Cinema I & II
917 W. Marshall Drive,
Grand Prairie,
TX
75051
917 W. Marshall Drive,
Grand Prairie,
TX
75051
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Jerry Lewis Cinemas
Firms: H.F. Smith & Company
Functions: Church
Previous Names: Jerry Lewis Cinema
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Built for $40,000 by Don Broome and Bill Paradise of Grand Prairie, TX, and intended to be a Jerry Lewis Cinema to open on November 1, 1973, but that date was passed because the Jerry Lewis Cinemas chain went bankrupt in the Fall of 1973. The opening was delayed until February 8, 1974 with Cecily Tyson in “Sounder” & Steve McQueen in “On Any Sunday”. The Safari Twin Cinema I & II was designed by H.F. Smith & Co. of Arlington, TX. It featured a red, green, gold and orange interior color scheme and equipment from National Theatre Supply, Simplex and American Desk.
Contributed by
John Story
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Designed to be the first Jerry Lewis Cinema in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, bankruptcy of the circuit delayed the intended November 1, 1973 opening to February 8, 1974 when the theatre opened independently as the Safari Twin Cinema with the films, “Sounder” and “On Any Sunday.” The theatre was not a success and closed. It reopened with a second grand opening on May 23, 1975 under Texas Amusement Circuit. The theatre did not stay open continuously.
NTAC took on the theatre with a road show engagement of “Gone With The Wind” changing the name of the theatre to G.P. (Grand Prairie) Cinema I & II in January of 1976. New operators in April of 1976 changed it to the Safari Cinemas. The theatre got what appears to be its fifth and final new management in November of 1976 trying again as a sub-run, discount theatre called the New Safari Cinema 1 & 2. But like those who had come before them, the Safari did not bag its audience and appears to have closed after three years and five operators. In the 2010s, the venue was home to the Bibleway Apostolic Family Church.