Boynton Twin Cinema

Boynton Cinema opened for Orange State Theatres, Inc. on June 1, 1966 on a 25-year leasing agreement. It was situated in the Sunshine Square Shopping Center. That commercial project was announced and approved by the Boynton Beach zoning board anchored by a theatre, a drug store and a laundromat at 528 SE 15th Avenue. The timing was good as the suburban luxury cinema movement was going strong with new theatres constructed in malls and strip shopping centers with acres of free parking. This new breed of movie theatres was replacing a base of aging theatres often landlocked without free parking and sometimes with decrepit conditions.

The new Boynton Cinema would ostensibly replace the aging Boynton Theatre a mile away. The Sunshine Square Center opened in 1965 – but the theatre didn’t immediately materialize. In fact, a Royals Department Store was announced, built, and opened in 1965 before the cinema ever appeared. But the Boynton Cinema finally did open for Florida State Theatres, Inc. on June 1, 1966. The 900-seat theatre launched with “The Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines".

On December 16, 1967, Loews Theatres acquired both the Boynton Beach Cinema and the Cinema 70 owned by Orange State Theatres Inc. The Boynton’s name changed to the Loews Boynton Cinema Theatre. One year later, Loews dropped the venue as it concentrated its Florida efforts into its own built suburban luxuries. A company called Sunland Cinemas took on the venue. In 1972 it became a Silver Dollar Theatre location and positioned as a dollar, discount house.

Independent operator Sanford “Sandy” Gray took on the Boynton in 1976. He closed it on November 7, 1976 as it was converted to a twin-screen operation with identical 450-seat auditoriums. On November 24, 1976, Gray reopened it as the Boynton Twin Cinema with “Midway” and “Futureworld". The opening of the multiplex, UA Movies at Boynton Beach, led to such a downturn in business that the venue operated as a weekend-only movie house for selected stretches.

The discount house ran 15 years under Gray’s watch. It closed at the end of its leasing period with “JFK” and “Deceived” on January 2, 1992. While some theatres are recalled for their halcyon days, apparently the Boynton Twin was almost fondly remembered for its final days. A report on its closing called the theatre both popular and “seedy” and that it was notorious for its sticky floors and “lack of glamour". The writer concluded the theatre had “run its last out-of-focus film.” Touché. It has since been demolished.

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