The discussion concerning early video rental stores made me think of local movie theaters that existed in my town back in the day, but no more. I can think of at least three cinema houses (usually of the smaller one or two screen variety) that have gone out of business in my old northeast Ohio hometown since the 80s. The first place I saw a movie was the Southern Park Mall cinema, not far from where I grew up. I saw dozens of flicks there before it was shut down and remodeled for a restaurant sometime in the early 90s. Since then, the bigger multi-screen theaters have opened up or expanded nearby and sucked the life out of any remaining independent cinemas in the neighborhood. Because of the intense competition a three-screen cinema I used to go to has been through about three different owners since the mid-90s. To add insult to injury, a Regal eight-screen multiplex opened up right behind the old theater's location!  :-\\

Anybody else have a similar story to tell? 

Awhile back in Thunder Bay where I used to live, there at aleast four, Capital, Cinplex Odeon, Cumberland, Court, and Victoria, and one drive in theatre.  Currently there are only two, Famous Players Silver City and Cumberland. The others went out of business years ago.

Now adays small movie theatres, drive in theatres, and theatres within malls, are a dying breed.  Mainly because of large mega theatres, video stores, movies on demand, and ordering movies over the net.

Oaville, where I live now had once three, including a drive in. Oakville Mews, Oakville Town Center, and Encore Cinema. Now there is AMC Winston Churchill and Encore Cinema Mews.

Awhile back in Thunder Bay where I used to live, there at aleast four, Capital, Cinplex Odeon, Cumberland, Court, and Victoria, and one one drive in theatre.  Currently there are only two, Famous Players Silver City and Cumberland. The others went out of business years ago.

Now adays small movie theatres, drive in theatres, and theatres within malls, are a dying breed.  Mainly because of large mega theatres, video stores, movies on demand, and ordering movies over the net.

Oaville, where I live now had once three, including a drive in. Oakville Mews, Oakville Town Center, and Encore Cinema. Now there is AMC Winston Churchill and Encore Cinema Mews.


Don't tell me they still had freaking DRIVE-INS in the eighties!  :\'(

Mall theatres, I'm more familiar with.  :)

We had about three or four we went to:

The El Campanil - one theatre inside, built in the 1930s. Shutdown around 1992. I last saw "Doc Hollywood" there in 1992. It's now a concert theatre and movie theatre now that it has been renovated :0)
The Stamm - the newer one, built in the 1950s. Closed in 1993. I last saw "The Coneheads" there, and it shortly shut down afterwards.
The Metro Four - It had two screens, alternating four movies - built probably in late 1970's - it had a pizza shop next door called Rico's, and even though Rico's had AWFUL pizza, people still went there after the movies.
Brendan 8 - Opened just at the end of the decade in 1989. Still open, but is even a shadow of it's former self.

We also had two drive ins.
The Bridgehead - near our Antioch Bridge, closed before the 80's ended but can't remember the exact year.
The Solano - Near Martinez/Concord. If you drove on the freeway, you could still see movies playing. This actually just closed maybe only in the last two years.  :\'(

*** The Metro Four closed around 1991 or 1992 because of the Brendan's success.

Don't tell me they still had freaking DRIVE-INS in the eighties!  :\'(

Mall theatres, I'm more familiar with.  :)


There's still a drive in not too far from here.

We had about three or four we went to:

The El Campanil - one theatre inside, built in the 1930s
The Stamm - the newer one, built in the 1950s
The Metro Four (two screens, alternating four movies - built probably in late 1970's - it had a pizza shop next door called Rico's, and even though Rico's had AWFUL pizza, people still went there after the movies)
Brendan 8 - Opened just at the end of the decade in 1989.

We also had two drive ins.
The Bridgehead - near our Antioch Bridge, closed before the 80's ended but can't remember the exact year.
The Solano - Near Martinez/Concord. If you drove on the freeway, you could still see movies playing. This actually just closed maybe only in the last two years.  :\'(




Concord Represent!  :)

My hope from early 1995 to March 1998.

Concord Represent!  :)

My hope from early 1995 to March 1998.


Some kids from Concord are trying to save the property because I think some Big Wigs want to turn the Solano into a retail market - Errghh!

There is still a Drive-In here in my city, but it's way out past downtown, going towards the stix

Years ago, there was a Drive-In right in the heart of the township.  Last movie I can recall seeing there was "The Last Starfighter" in 1984 ;D

There used to be two theatres in the downtown area.  A Cineplex Odeon and the Capitol Cinemas.  The Cineplex was turned into a bar & grill years ago, and the Capitol Theatre became the Famous Players Capitol 7 Theatre

The Cineplex Odeon that was here in the township was converted into a Pet Cetera store about like 7 years ago, when the new Jumbo Cineplex with the super sized curved screens opened up. 

Some kids from Concord are trying to save the property because I think some Big Wigs want to turn the Solano into a retail market - Errghh!


Grrr!

Off topic, but have you ever been to the Jungle? 

Grrr!

Off topic, but have you ever been to the Jungle? 


My cousin worked there in 1996. I think I was passed the age to actually enjoy it when it opened. It was that place that was like a big jungle gym for kids, right? Sorta like a Chuckee-Cheese kinda thing?

My cousin worked there in 1996. I think I was passed the age to actually enjoy it when it opened. It was that place that was like a big jungle gym for kids, right? Sorta like a Chuckee-Cheese kinda thing?


Exactly.  I was like 7 when I went there, maybe 6 (it was probably '97, maybe '96).

I probably saw your cousin  ;D

Exactly.  I was like 7 when I went there, maybe 6 (it was probably '97, maybe '96).

I probably saw your cousin  ;D


Was this jungle place like discovery zone, you ever hear of that?

Exactly.  I was like 7 when I went there, maybe 6 (it was probably '97, maybe '96).

I probably saw your cousin  ;D


Yes, she was about 18 at the time, and I remember her coming to our house (she lived about two blocks from us) and being totally exhausted from it, lol. You may have seen her. I even have a picture of her in her work clothes from there, lol.

Was this jungle place like discovery zone, you ever hear of that?


Ahh, the Discovery Zone. I was going to mention it, but I couldn't remember the exact name of the place. NOW that's were we frequented A LOT! I had SO much fun there. I was about ten, I believe, so that was in 1992, I guess!

Yes, she was about 18 at the time, and I remember her coming to our house (she lived about two blocks from us) and being totally exhausted from it, lol. You may have seen her. I even have a picture of her in her work clothes from there, lol.


Well that is sure odd!  ;D

When did it open?  I think the Chucky Cheese sort of places started around 1995, when the classic arcade era was drawing to a close.

Was this jungle place like discovery zone, you ever hear of that?


Yes!  Very much so.  I also went to one of those, circa 1998.

Well that is sure odd!  ;D

When did it open?  I think the Chucky Cheese sort of places started around 1995, when the classic arcade era was drawing to a close.


Yeah, actually the Jungle place opened just when that Willows Shopping Center had closed the Chuckee Cheese a year or two prior. Chuckee Cheese is some place I haven't been to in about 18 years.  :\'(

Yes!  Very much so.  I also went to one of those, circa 1998.


Yea I went there right after they opened up one of the first ones around here. I used to go there sometimes. The old DZ here in Parma is now a Chucky Cheese place.

Yea I went there right after they opened up one of the first ones around here. I used to go there sometimes. The old DZ here in Parma is now a Chucky Cheese place.


Of course now, we're near adults (or in your case, an adult) and don't go to kiddle places anymore  ;D

When I was 7, the Jungle seemed like a freaking, well jungle.  When I went back in '02 it seemed pretty small.

Of course now, we're near adults (or in your case, an adult) and don't go to kiddle places anymore  ;D

When I was 7, the Jungle seemed like a freaking, well jungle.  When I went back in '02 it seemed pretty small.


I used to go to that chucky place all the time, I loved that place, even though all they did was steal my money. I haven't been to a kiddie place for quite a while, probably the last time was like 1999 or so.

Don't tell me they still had freaking DRIVE-INS in the eighties!  :\'(

Mall theatres, I'm more familiar with.  :)


Yes pretty much, the drive in theatre was really popular up until the early 90's.  Now it's really hard to find one, now adays.

Yes pretty much, the drive in theatre was really popular up until the early 90's.  Now it's really hard to find one, now adays.


Do you mean until or including the early '90s?  Because I was born in 1990, were they still popular then or was the late 1980s their last cry?

gmann,
would that be the Southern Park Mall in Boardman, OH????
cuz i used to go to the same one!!!!!

I saw Return of the Jedi there!!!!
too bad its gone now

gmann,
would that be the Southern Park Mall in Boardman, OH????
cuz i used to go to the same one!!!!!

I saw Return of the Jedi there!!!!
too bad its gone now


Yes, indeedly doodly! Southern Park Mall in Boardman.