This is topic Currently operating Ex-GCC locations.... in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 12-02-2015, 09:02 PM:
 
Howdy. I tried doing a search and trying to piece information together from the search results to no avail.

I'm looking for a list of theater locations that were built and opened by General Cinema that are still operating as a movie theater. Even if they've been remodeled, I would like to try and visit as many of these locations as possible. Especially any old locations from the '60's and '70's. (I know that's a long shot...)

I know of a few locations so I will start the list:

Silverdale, WA - AMC Kitsap Mall 8
Federal Way, WA - Gateway 8
Seattle, WA - AMC Pacific Place 11
Bedford, TX - Movie Tavern Central Park
Irving, TX - AMC Irving Mall 14

Where else? Thanks in advance....

 

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Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 12-02-2015, 09:53 PM:
 
Theatres at Mall of America, Bloomington, MN.

Opened with the mall in 1992, later AMC, now operated independently by the mall.

Supposedly GCC's most profitable theatre by a wide margin.
 

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Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 12-02-2015, 11:55 PM:
 
In Atlanta...

AMC Parkway Pointe 15
Lefont Sandy Springs 8
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-03-2015, 12:39 AM:
 
Don't bother with Irving, TX. It was not a classic GCC build. AMC already had their hands in it well before they opened. We even installed the "AMC package" of Simplex/Strong gear.
 

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Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 12-03-2015, 02:17 AM:
 
Cinemark Movies 6, Mishawaka, IN
Movie Tavern Ridgmar, Fort Worth, TX
AMC Yorktown 18, Lombard, IL

I think there are a handful also in Florida but I don't know them off the top of my head.

AJG
 

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Posted by Jason McMillan (Member # 5542) on 12-03-2015, 09:45 AM:
 
Movie Tavern Deerbrook Commons - Houston, TX
 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 12-03-2015, 10:29 AM:
 
AMC Clifton Commons 16 - Clifton NJ

On This List of GCC locations from 1983, only the Hudson Mall Cinemas and Menlo Park are still open as movie theatres.

I tried copying the list into this post, but something in the list was upsetting the forum's inappropriate word filter.
 

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Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 12-04-2015, 08:33 AM:
 
Brad, thanks for the heads up on Irving Mall.

Aaron, thanks for the heads up on the Ridgmar Movie Tavern. I went there yesterday and it's almost still intact!
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 12-04-2015, 08:39 AM:
 
In Mass.:

AMC Burlington 10
AMC Braintree 10
AMC F ramingham 16
AMC North Dartmouth Mall 11
AMC Tyngsboro 12
Regal (nee AMC) Fenway 13
Apple Cinemas Fresh Pond (which was, at various times, run by GCC, Loews, Entertainment Cinemas, and now Apple Cinemas)

The Chestnut Hill Cinema closed in 2013, but the building still stands.

Some of these (definitely Burlington and Braintree) have recently had their movie seats replaced with reclining lounge chairs on some or all screens.
 

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Posted by Paul H. Rayton (Member # 1817) on 12-05-2015, 07:56 PM:
 
The former GCC AVCO Center Cinemas (a purpose-built triplex from 1972, on Wilshire Blvd. out near Westwood and UCLA) is in business these days as one of the "iPic" branded locations. (iPic web page )

For those who may recall the AVCO, it was the location of the first THX installation in L.A., and was noted for 70mm performances of all the original "Star Wars" movies when they first opened. The main house, on the ground floor, was quite large, IIRC around 1100 seats, and a grand place to watch a movie.

During the time I worked there (1984-1991), GCC kind of woke up to improving the presentation there and did some things like getting new projection lenses, and painting the white ceiling tiles to black (to minimize the light reflections back on to the screen). We played "Edward Scissorhands" there in the ill-fated CDS system, keeping a log of the error reporting on every show. Some selected other big 70mm shows I recall during that time were "Alien" and "Aliens", "Die Hard", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", and "Out Of Africa".

Sadly, GCC eventually succumbed to the mantra of "more is better" and in 1993 split the main screen auditorium in half, to make the place a complex of 4 screens. A lot of good that did, because, soon after that, everything went bust and the next thing we knew, AMC was running it (1999). That (AMC) lasted for a few years and they closed the AVCO toward the end of 2011. (Some photos from around 2008 are here )

Next thing we knew, it was sold again and remodeled to the current iPic operation with 6 screens. Have not been in there now for years myself, but iPic seems to get mostly decent marks on Yelp from the younger folks who go there for food + beverages + movies.
 

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Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 12-05-2015, 08:33 PM:
 
In South Florida:

Cinépolis Deerfield Beach (GCC Deerfield Mall 8)
Frank Coral Square Stadium 8 (No Stadium with GCC)
iPic North Miami Beach Intracoastal (GCC Intracoastal 8)
 

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Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 12-08-2015, 09:18 AM:
 
Thank you for the replies so far. Any other locations in any other parts of the country still operating?

I am mainly looking for locations that might not have been "reclinered" or remodeled yet, that still have their GCC feel on some level...
 

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Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 12-08-2015, 12:23 PM:
 
In the Chicago area, the current AMC Randhurst 12 is not the same as the former Randhurst 16, opened by GCC in 1996, razed in 2011. The 16 had replaced an older theatre, that had been twinned and augmented but that was before I ever went there. The 1996 plex was modern enough to have been built stadium and was just a few hundred feet from the current one.

I'm sure theatres close all the time but I'd bet it's unusual for one to be replaced by another at essentially the same location, by the same operator, as young as 15. And not a huge size difference either.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 12-08-2015, 03:45 PM:
 
In Oklahoma City AMC currently operates the Penn Square Mall 10 theater. Dickinson Theaters had it before AMC and Hollywood Theaters took it after GCC went bust.

I visited that theater several times when General Cinemas was operating it. Back then it had one THX certified screen that was pretty good. The THX house was equipped for 70mm Dolby mag and DTS. I watched movies like True Lies and Carlito's Way in that house. They added Dolby Digital to another house in 1996 (watched Mars Attacks in that room).

When Hollywood Theaters took over the Penn Square Mall 10 they maintained the THX certification for a short time, but then dropped THX chain-wide. My guess is some of Hollywood's newer theaters did a pretty crappy job with THX, like their Spotlight 14 location in Norman and all-THX Promenade Palace 12 in Tulsa. They had the logos and what not, but sure didn't sound like any real THX theater should. The THX people must have given them a pass the first go-round and then refused to re-certify later.
 

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Posted by Mark Campbell (Member # 4411) on 12-08-2015, 03:54 PM:
 
Sherman Oaks (LA) CA: Pacific Sherman Oaks 5 (used to be GCC 3-7). Still 35mm

West Hills (LA) CA: AMC Fallbrook Terrace 7 (was GCC 10, then an AMC, then Laemmle 7, now AMC again with recliners.
 

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Posted by Connor Wilson (Member # 6088) on 12-11-2015, 07:40 PM:
 
The theater at the Mazza Gallerie in Washington D.C. was one of the last GCC builds from 2000. It's still THX-certified. I went there once four years ago to see The Muppets (in screen four) and I was surprised that it was still running 35mm. The print was almost spotless, but the dumb projectionist showed the tail of the film pass-through the projector. Supposedly, it upgraded to 100% digital by Fall 2012.

And the AMC Essex Orange was once a GCC. I saw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on their big screen (formerly THX before the switch to Dine-In) and it held up very well, but I prefer eating at Alamo over AMC Dine-In.

AMC Bay Plaza Cinema 13 was initially a mid-90s GCC.

Spoiler Alert - Click to Toggle

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It's not very good.

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quote: Aaron Garman

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AMC Yorktown 18, Lombard, IL

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quote: Connor Wilson

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And the AMC Essex Orange was once a GCC

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quote: Eric Hooper

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I am mainly looking for locations that might not have been "reclinered" or remodeled yet, that still have their GCC feel on some level...

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