Showcase Cinemas Milan
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107 Tenth Ave W Milan IL
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| Record #10627 |
Opened: October 30, 1968
Closed: January 20, 2002
Demolished: 2004
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Capacity:
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
National Register:
Current Organ: none |
Also Known As: Cinema 1 & 2, Cinema 1-3, Cinema 1-6, Cinema 1-8, Showcase 70 |
Previously operated by: Northeast Theatre Corporation, National Amusements |
The theatre opened as a twin on 30 October 1968 on a part of the Memri Drive-In Theatre property.
The theatre was equipped for 70mm and stereophonic sound. Opening attractions were "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Gone With The Wind." The theatre expanded numerous times over the years.
According to the Quad-City Times on 2/13/1971, a third screen was recently opened as a separate Cinema 3 . At that time Cinema 1 was color coded blue, green for Cinema 2 and red for Cinema 3. A planned Cinema 4 was expected to be purple.
An article in the 8/30/1973 paper announced that Cinema I was being split to form two 500-seat theatres. The article suggested that a similar split was happening at five key Redstone locations. The split Cinemas opened in 1973.
An article in the 7/23/1974 edition of the paper announced a projected Thanksgiving day opening for Cinemas 5 & 6 "...would be accomplished by knocking out the south glass wall and adding on the new theaters so that the main lobby will be shared by the complex of theaters."
The Showcase Cinemas Milan thrived until the Super Cinemas Davenport opened in 1990. (Ironically, the Super Cinemas Davenport was killed off ten years later by the Showcase Cinemas 53. All three theatres were operated by National Amusements.) The Milan struggled along as an 11-screen complex until the summer of 2002. It was announced in the fall of 2002 that the property the Showcase Milan and the Memri Drive-In sat on would be used for a new grocery store.
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Last featured 7/3/2004. Last edited 8/27/2023.
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