Gateway Theatre
1820 E. Sunrise Boulevard,
Fort Lauderdale,
FL
33304
1820 E. Sunrise Boulevard,
Fort Lauderdale,
FL
33304
11 people
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Showing 1 - 25 of 50 comments
So is this theater closed currently?
The Fort Lauderdale Film Festival has signed a lease to reopen the Gateway post-lockdown, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. Plans are to continue the blend of art and mainstream film bookings. Eventual renovations are planned.
2 screens on June 17 1977. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
This opened on March 24th, 1951. Grand opening ad in the photo section. Articles and picture at
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News footage from the “WHERE THE BOYS ARE” world premiere can be seen here.
The 11/21/60 photo I just added was courtesy of Jeff Davies via the Historic Florida FB page. CT added the pic before I could finish the full description.
A photo of the original screen draperies of the Gateway Theatre can be seen at the top of this page of the September 1, 1951, issue of Boxoffice.
I wasn’t impressed with the Gateway. Went to see Religulous. I was looking for a well-preserved example of a proper old-style theater, what I found was they took the big auditorium and split it into 2 or 3.. and very very badly. The seating is still curved. You can tell this was a 1000+ seat house. But now, the curved seating remains, but the screens are “flat” instead of the curved one the original must’ve had to conform to that seating curve. So what happens? On the left most auditorium, the seats don’t line up with the screen. You sit at an angle to it. I can only surmise the right-most auditorium is the same.
I won’t be back. The worse “plexing” job I’ve seen ever.
Is there no single-screen 700+ seat house left in this state?! One that hasn’t been hacked up to ‘keep up’ with the megaplexes (who are now themselves dying off?)
I just uploaded 4 photos from last night. The theater is kept in reallynice shape by the new owners. One thing that hasn’t changed since I last was there in 05 is the screen in theater 3 isn’t wide enough for scope films. It still is off the screen on the right side.I am not sure what the problem is because you can see thwe screen is a great size.
Back in town for a few days so I am off to my favorite movie theater in Lauderdale to see a movie. Will give an update later.
We go there a lot. Great selection of independent and foreign movies. Hope it continues as it would be shame for a theater of this caliber to close.
Here’s the new, independent Gateway Website:
http://www.thegatewaytheatre.com/gateway.asp
I just called the theater and it is independantly owned and not by Sunrise cinema who was the previous owner. WHoever got it from the Frank theater chain I applaud you. Please update to independant owner.
Opps sorry I didn’t see the earlier Dec post.
Apparently Frank’s had to drop this from thier purchase. I will get more informatin when the theater opens after 1pm today. They are operating as Sunrise Gateway and an independant theater. This is great news. Frank theaters would have ruined it.
Fantastic!
Yes, please, tell!
Quinnda, please do tell us more about that event!
View link
(second row, last two on the right: these also appear in the book “Broward County: The Photography of Gene Hyde”)
A moment’s coverage from “News of the Day”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVvha70_84I
Does anyone have photos of the world premier of “Where The Boys Are”, I was there at the premier, but don’t have any pics of the occasion. I’m sure with all the people taking pictures there should be some out there somewhere. If you have any please post them and provide a link. Thanks
Frank Theatres is out of there. I’ll keep you posted if the Gateway launches its own free-standing website.
Some VERY promising news from the Gateway’s Facebook page (listed there as “Gateway Theatre”):
“We are now running as an independent theatre, and major renovations are planned for later this year!”
Landmark Theaters or another specialty operator: Please take this over from Frank!!!
To my knowledge, the Gateway was always only single-level. There are no signs of (nor room for) staircases.
And I was just reminiscing about the Smoking Loge in the back. Oddly enough, it was just in thinking about the Gateway itself that that came to mind, even though of course all theaters had them.
Ads for the roadshow of “Hello, Dolly!” only offer orchestra and “loge” seats, loge being the smoking section back then.
Quick question: In its single-screen days, did the Gateway have a balcony? I don’t remember one, but I also know not to rely on those memories. Back later with things I “know” I recall. Thanks.
Sorry – I meant “does NOT mean…”.