J a c k s o n v i l l e , N C
T h e a t e r s
VISITORS HAVE VIEWED THIS SITE
Part of the North Carolina drive-in graveyard: Marine Drive-in on Lejeune Blvd.
Yours truly up in the booth. It's showtime!
Where I'm currently employed - The Base Theater aboard Camp Lejeune
This theater is equipped with state-of-the-art Christie projection
equipment and a Dolby surround sound system. It seats around 1,450!
I occasionally also work at this theater - The Midway Park Theater
If you would like to check out what's now playing at the Base Theater click this projector 
My interest in movie theaters goes back to my early teens. It was then that my parents bought me a super 8mm projector
for Christmas and I soon started buying super 8mm movie highlight films. These silent films
contained highlights of feature length movies. After awhile my collection grew large and my parents let me
convert the basement of the house that we lived in at the time into a miniature movie theater.
Years later I bought a 16mm sound projector and I began buying old tv shows and feature length
movies. In 1975 I was hired as a doorman at the Cardinal Theater on Lejeune Blvd. and eventually
moved up to the position of projectionist. Back then the Cardinal was a one screen theater
with the largest size screen in town. It's really a shame that, with the trend today towards multiple
screen theaters, there are not many large single screen theaters left. It's also a shame
that there are very few drive-in movie theaters around either. Maybe one day there will
be a resurgence in the popularity of these theaters.
Theaters in Jacksonville, NC (past and present):
Brynn Marr Cinema -Brynn Marr Shopping Center (closed down)
This theater was originally a twin. Another screen was added on the left side of the building to make it a triple. It's last day of operation was June 26, 2003
check out the ad for the opening day for Brynn Marr Cinema by clicking here
Cardinal Theater -1411 Lejeune Blvd (closed down)
Opening in 1969, this theater was originally a single screen theater. The first movie to be shown there was "True Grit". Another screen was added on the right side of the building to make it a twin. Later on, walls were constructed on both sides to make it into a quadraplex. I worked at this theater for 10 years (1975 - 85) and was there to see all of the additions. It's last day of operation was June 3, 1999. It is now a night club (The Party Zone).
Carmike 7 -1038 Henderson Drive (closed down)
This theater's last day of operation was June 26, 2003.
Carmike 16 -Jacksonville Mall
This is Jacksonville's newest and only theater. It opened on June 27, 2003.
Center Theater -New River Shopping Center (closed down)
This theater was originally a single screen theater. A wall was constructed to make it into a twin.
Cinema 6 -College Plaza (closed down)
I worked at this theater for 3 years (1985 - 88). It's last day of operation was February 27, 2003. Nothing remains of this theater. A Home Depot store now resides in the area it used to occupy.
check out the ad for the opening day for Cinema 6 by clicking here
check out the first movies shown at the Cinema 6 by clicking here
Iwo Jima Theater -New Bridge Street (closed down)
It was at this theater that I first seen my favorite movie of all time, "Wait Until Dark". If you have never seen this movie, click here to see an ad for it. Radio stations are now in the building.
check out a picture of the Iwo Jima Theater on it's opening day (April 8, 1953) by clicking here
check out the ad for the movie shown on the opening day of the Iwo Jima Theater by clicking here
Northwoods Theater -2445 Onslow Drive (closed down)
This theater was originally a single screen theater. Another screen was added on the right side of the building to make it a twin. It's last day of operation was September 18, 1997. Nothing remains of this theater.
check out the ad for the opening day for Northwoods Theater by clicking here
Onslow Theater -Court Street (closed down)
State Theater -Old Bridge Street (closed down)
Cinema Drive-in -Bell Fork Road (closed down)
All that remains of this drive-in is the skeleton of the marquee. A van lines company now resides in the area it used to occupy.
check out a "coming attractions" flyer for the Cinema Drive-in by clicking here
Marine Drive-in -Lejeune Blvd (closed down)
Nothing remains of this drive-in. A storage rental business now resides in the area it used to occupy.
South 17 Twin Drive-in -Hwy 17 South (closed down)
Nothing remains of this drive-in. A mobile home park now resides in the area it used to occupy.
check out a "coming attractions" flyer for the South 17 Twin Drive-in by clicking here
Starlite Drive-in -Hwy 17 South (closed down)
The only thing that remains of this drive-in is the concession stand which has been turned into a business.
check out a closer view of the concession stand of the Starlite Drive-in by clicking here
check out the logo for the Starlite Drive-in by clicking here
Check out these great theater links:
A great site for fans of drive-in theaters. Pretty extensive!
This section of The Evil Sam's Theatre Guide details drive-ins that have been closed in North Carolina. The 4 entries describing Jacksonville drive-ins are my personal contributions to his site!
This site is about IMAX films. If you haven't seen an IMAX film, you are really missing something incredible! I know, because I was lucky enough to see one!
A very nice site for checking out the latest movie releases now showing in theaters nationwide
If you would like to check out what's now playing at Jacksonville theaters go to Local movies.com
If you have any old pictures of the Jacksonville, N.C. indoor and outdoor theaters mentioned here or information about them that you would like to contribute to this page or you just would like to make some comments, click here.
Click here
to go back to Chuck's Dark Rides