I understand that Consolidated Theaters is privately owned, actually family owned, that's where "The Stone Group" comes from. I don't think it does, but does is there any relation between this company and the Consolidated Cinemas in Hawaii? Just curious.

Here is what I can tell you based on my visits to several of their theaters. In total, I have visited...
Phillips Place- Charlotte,NC
Arboretum Cinemas- Charlotte,NC
Raleigh Grande- Raleigh,NC
Crossroads 20, Cary,NC
Columbiana Grande- Columbia,SC

Since this company is only 12 years old, most of their cinemas are visually stunning inside and out, with the exception to the oldest Charlotte cinemas. They are not bad theaters, just not as fancy as the newer construction the offer now. You can see photos of some of their theaters on their web site.

Most of the newer construction ranges from 15 to 20 screens.

All locations offer stadium seating although every theater I have visited has a different style. The older seats are much like what Carmike Cinemas offers now but in either dark blue or in a forest green color on 12 inch risers. The second kind is a very high backed seat with head support pillows and adjustable arm rests on 18 inch risers. The third style are rocker seats.

Sound offered is DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital EX in select locations and screens. From all my experiences visiting, this is the only major downfall. With the exception to one movie at the Arboretum Cinemas in Charlotte, I have never been thrilled with the sound quality at a Consolidated Theater.

Overall, the theaters I have visited so far in my opinion have been first rate with the exception to sound.

What is your opinion of Consolidated Theaters? Also if you have any info on how they are doing, and what future locations will be added, that would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan

P.S. I noticed they just opened a new theater in Durham, NC this past week at the brand new Southpoint mall.
 

There was an article in the paper a couple of weeks ago that said that Consolidated was going to pay to have a crosswalk put in at the busy intersection that leads into the theater. Their parking lot is too small and as a result some people have to park in the lot of a shopping mall across the street. That seems like a pretty nice thing to do considering no pedestrians have yet to be hit, but maybe it’s just good insurance.

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Colin Wiseley
Lyric Theatre
Blacksburg, VA
www.thelyric.com
 

I also went to the Manor Theatre just to check it out as it was playing Art films and appeared to be an independent, surprised to find out it was owned by Eastern Federal. I believe they have some ties with the Charlotte Film Society.

I also visited the Cinemark in Salisbury, NC. Anyone know if the old theatre by the mall in Salisbury is still open?, I heard someone was going to open it as a discount, wondering if it ever got off of the ground.
 

I've never heard any real complaints about their operations, and I was in a position where I would have been one of the first to know (competing theatre - hiring from same employee pool). My overall impression was that the owner and operation was just good solid operations oriented exhibition.
 

What became of the "Consolidated Theaters" that our old friend Mel Miller worked for? Or for that matter, where did they come from? When I first worked at the Greenwich Plaza, Consolidated owned it, but then it changed to Trans-Lux.

Mel once came to the booth with a box of 40 watt bulbs and wanted me to remove the 60 watt ones to reduce the electric bill.
 

steve

 

If Bob Maar says someone is one of the good guys, it is time to listen. Be glad you work for a good company.

 

I also know where the Greensboro Grande Cinema is. I have also heard very good things about that theater from a friend that used to live there. If I am ever in Greensboro long enough to catch a movie I will stop by. It looks very nice from the outside in the picture on their web site.

I often come across critical when it comes to sound because it is the most important aspect of my visit to the theater. I quickly got spoiled from my old theater before I moved that used to blast the audience away in THX certified auditoriums. I wish Consolidated would get a few of their larger auditoriums that offer Dolby Digital EX certified. Then I would go to them exclusively because I think everything else they offer is excellent.

It's nice to see they are adding at least one cinema in each large city in North Carolina. Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Cary, Monroe. The only odd ball left out is Winston Salem, and High Point. I wonder how much longer before they reach these cities? In my opinion, Winston Salem needs one badly.
 

quote:

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Steve, LOL. Your leaders were in Birmingham, you just don't know it yet. I met Herman when Centerpoint 6 opened a week before his Bama 6 opened, back in July of 1982. Consolidated had theatres in Centerpoint, Hoover, Tuscaloosa, and I think Huntsville AL. Situations change.

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Yes.

Here are all the Consolidated theatres I have information for from my own newspaper investigations:

Birmingham:

Bama 6, Center Point Plaza Shopping Center, became Carmike in July 1988 to July 1990 time range, was still operating July 1998, closed since then.

Riverchase 6, Lorna Rd., Hoover, became Carmike in July 1988 to July 1990 time range, closed in July 1990 to July 1992 time period.

Huntsville:

University 4, 4040 Independence Drive, NW (not far from the corner of University Drive (US 72) and Jordan Ln. (AL 53), opened June 17, 1977, almost a year after Consolidated built two similar theatres in Nashville. This theatre was upgraded to a 6-plex, completed April 30, 1982. This theatre late became a Carmike location and became a second-run theatre when the Cobb Hollywood 16 opened on July 15, 1994, and closed not too long after. Last night of business seems to be May 16, 1996.

Nashville:

Cinema North: 4-plex located near Rivergate Mall. Opened July 2, 1976. The exit from I-65 to SR 386 has an overpass that now goes over part of the parking lot. During July 1982 to July 1984 time period, was upgraded to a 6-plex. Carmike took it over during July 1988 to July 1990 time period. Was still operating July 1998, and has closed since then.

Cinema South: 4-plex located on US 31A near 100 Oaks Mall. Opened July 2, 1976. Carmike took it over during July 1988 to July 1990 time period. It closed during the July 1996 to July 1998 time period. The building is now a club called "The Outer Limit".

Both of the above theatres opened on the same day and were referred to as "The Octopus".

Lions Head 3. White Bridge Road. Opened during July 1978 to July 1980 time period. Became Carmike during July 1988 to July 1990 time period. Became a 5-plex during the July 1988 to July 1990 time period. Was still operating July 1998, and has closed since then.

Bell Road 3. Bell Road (duh). Opened during the July 1978 to July 1980 time period. Carmike took it over in the July 1988 to July 1990 time period. Closed during the July 1996 to July 1998 time period.

Mall Cinemas 3. Hickory Hollow Mall. Opened during July 1978 to July 1980 time operiod. Became Carmike during July 1988 to July 1990 time period. Closed during July 1994 to July 1996 time period. I wonder if this theatre closed, or was expanded or rebuilt as another theatre?

Does anybody have any details to improve on, add, or correct? For example, the date that Carmike took over all these theatres? They seemed to take them over at the same time.

I need to make more trips to the Birmingham and Nashville libraries so I can give these cities the treatment I gave Huntsville, Decatur, and the Shoals in the historical section of my www site hsvmovies.com .

Mel Miller and Harry Brandt were partners in the Consolidated theatres in the 40's, 50's 60's and 70's. When Harry Brandt passed away his theatres went to Richard and his sister. When Trans-Lux moved their plant from Long Island City to Norwalk in the 70's Mel was running the theatres. He put all his eggs in one basket with the opening of King Kong. Richard then stepped in and bought the consolidated chain for Trans-Lux. At this time it consisted of Greenwich (single screen) Ridgeway (single screen) both road show houses. Danbury Cine (single screen) Parkway Mount Vernon NY (single screen). Trans Lux had al-ready made it's presence know with the opening of the Landmark Square Twin. We then Tripled Greenwich, Twined the Ridgeway, Tripled the Danbury Cine we bought the RKO Palace and the RKO North Street Cinema. We bought the Avon single and twined it. Mel and I shared operational duties for awhile and he retired in the early eighties. Are you hinting that Mel was cheap? I have no idea but I always paid and I left the tip.
 

The mall cinemas @ Hickory Hollow are about 2 1/2 miles from my house. The theatres inside the mall have been closed and are now used as a fitness center. I remember them gutting the theatres to convert them to the fitness center. Not sure if the fitness center is still open. Although only 2 1/2 miles from the house, we rarely go to the mall for any reason. Usually way too many thug-looking teenagers with baggy pants hanging below their knees.

I'm not sure about the "Bell Road 3" cinemas. I do know that Carmike operates both the 8 screen theatre in the parking lot of the mall and the Bell Forge 10 - about a half a mile away.

The theatre in the parking lot of the mall was torn completely to the ground several years ago and rebuilt. However when they did rebuild it, the new theatre did not feature "stadium seating". I don't really know if they've remodeled it since, as me and my family don't go to indoor theatres.

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Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)
 

They (hawaii consolidated) were attempting to purchase the Waikiki Three Cinema when I was living there. They had a big complex there in Honolulu/Waikiki but I cannot remember the name of it. I really liked working a little at Waikiki3.

Has anyone ever been to the 5 screen theatre on the island of Kauai? I saw a show of "Something About Mary" there and after the show wound up talking to the very sweet woman who owns the theatre. I got a tour of the booth upstairs where her husband asked if I would help him change a xenon bulb. My family thinks I'm nuts to visit a theatre on vacation, but I love the business and enjoy seeing the different ways things are done.