I worked at this theater from 1982-1985....... It was a great place to work. I had lots of fun times there. So many stories to tell. I really hated to leave when I got out of the military. Thanks for bringing back a lot of old memories........
For anyone who cares and wants to know what happened with General Cinema I can surely tell you. My father started his career with them as an usher and worked his way up to VP of operations of the midwest/east coast. General Cinema fell on hard times once everyone had a VCR in their homes and they just had too many theaters to maintain with a huge decrease in revenue. After over 30 years working for this company, once the #1 chain of theaters in America, he decided to retire, but he waited too long. AMC bought them out and his pension worth MILLIONS suddenly turned into $16,000 dollars of AMC stock. AMC tore down hundreds of the least profitable theaters and screwed over every General Cinema employee on a level that's hard to fathom. I will NEVER set foot in an AMC theater. What they did to General Cinema,its employees and their families is a sin I will never be able to forgive. RIP General Cinema, you were the best of the best.
Thank you so much for the info Kathy. What confounds me though is how was it that your AMCs, Cinemarks. Regals, United Artists were able to survive yet GC couldn't. All those chains went through the same evolving times and changes. What made it so that GC could not sustain?
Thanks for posting this video. I used to work at this exact same theater from 1983 to 1988. It was my very first job in high school. I remember the address well: General Cinema 5 (Unit 435), 7601 Scott Street. I worked every job there from doorman, to concessions, to popcorn popper. I’ve still got closets full of movie posters (“The Breakfast Club,” 1985) to prove it.
I love taking pics of theaters. I didn't get to this one before it was torn down but have pics of a few other General Cinemas in Fort Worth area. They just didn't build theaters that could last for a good amount of time. Shoebox auditoriums were horrendous even for the 70's and 80's...not that the same-era AMC's and United Artists were any better. The construction of the AMC Grand in Dallas changed everything...and the building of the UA Fossil Creek in Fort Worth
And somewhere I have 16 mm test footage for “Donny and the Doorman’s Nightmare.” The pictures you see in the children’s book were originally storyboards, since it was intended as a pre-feature short film. I sent the script to the then-president of General Cinema Corporation. He loved it. Too bad we couldn’t make the actual short film.
If I remember correctly, they closed this particular location down due to multiple robberies there. I worked at the Bedford General Cinema for 3 years, and one of our ex-coworkers was the manager at this location for 2 robberies.
@Interests2009 Many of the theaters that AMC acquired from General Cinema were already considered obsolete by today's standards. Few of them had stadium seating and stereo sound systems. And at least in Ohio, AMC is pretty much retreating after taking over both GCC and Loews. A Loews 20-plex at Richmond Mall was sold to Regal. A former GCC in Akron was sold to Cleveland Cinemas, and three other AMC's closed. AMC has two locations left in Cleveland, and two in Columbus.
I worked at Cinema V, too! Also a high school job for me. I was there 86-88, and summer of 89. Ms. Triber, Mr. Marx, and Randy Clay were mgrs.! It was a fun job! Sad when it became a dollar movie house. Thanks for the video!
Was kinda sad to learn recently that GCC was gone. Second job I ever had was at the Crossroads 8 GCC in Oklahoma City. Don't live there anymore, but checking on the net and Google Earth I found that the building is still there but is now home to a dollar theater.
This story was written in 1984, several years before the now famous “GCC Candy Band” made its first on-screen appearance (courtesy of George Lucas’ ILM) in the late ‘80s. Somewhere in my closet, there’s a couple of videos of the inside of this theater, featuring an old friend and fellow employee named Geronimo. Yes, that’s his real name.
Shuttered businesses are always eerie, especially if they were places you knew well. It's been years since I last saw this vid, and longer since it was posted, but lately, I've been moved to investigate the bygone businesses and faded billboards of my own community. So I understand the feelings behind this video's making, all too well.
bennjr, to answer your question, I am not sure. I assume everything was hauled out when it closed down as the case with all closed down cinemas. I would like to try to get in the building and look around myself. That day of the shoot, me and my friend tried to find a way to get it but with no such luck.
They should re-open it and show the movies that were shown on them a long time ago. I don't care how big your Home Theatre is you can't get this feeling at home or anywhere else. I would want to open this up to show classic movies of all genres.
the only gcc locations i've been to are clifton commons, bridgewater commons, and the totowa theater on 46. Out of them three, two are now AMCs, the second one a dine-in and the clifton location having a digital imax.
That was my favorite theater. Went to see Titanic there in 70mm with that THX sound system. Lochwood was a nice location as well. Sad to see AMC took over, never been impressed with them. The one at Northpark is nothing compared to the original cinema. Most theaters are expensive and the quality presentation is just not there. I hope that someone will create a new General Cinema, will not be easy.
Man, I’ve got a lot of stories I can tell you about this place: crazy managers, hanky panky in the projection booth, near-death adventures. It all happened, and it’s all true. In fact, I wrote a couple of stories about this theater. One of them is a little kid’s book, “Donny and the Doorman’s Nightmare,” self-published at Lulu.com. There’s a sample selection from the story on my WordPress blog. E-mail me on my YouTUBE channel if you’d like the link.
@dafunkymex What pictures do you have from other General Cinemas in Fort Worth? I know that the former Ridgmar location has since become a Movie Tavern.
@danhostler1985 I might have been working there when “La Bamba” opened. In fact, I think I’ve got that poster in my closet somewhere. Along with one of my favorites from that year, Chuck Norris in “Code of Silence.” I actually got to meet him a few years later.
@Shawnpaulstewart You are very welcome. I bet you have a lot of fun and wild stories from your time there. I was born in 1985 and saw "La Bamba" when I was two, barely remember it but it was my first movie I went to.
@abehammy GC was already dying when the premium concept was launched. It was a combination of several things on why they shut down but one that stands out is not being able to keep up with the changing industry and had this notion that the new "megaplex" concept that AMC was instituting would never work. By the time GC tried to catch up, it was already too late. I spoke with someone who was once a regional manager for GC, the attitude of malignant narcissism that corporate displayed did them in
@danhostler1985 North Hills 7, Arlington Park, the one on New York Ave in Arlington, and what is now the original Movie Tavern but only after it was the Movie Tavern. I usually go take pics once a week of theaters to upload them onto CinemaTour. Next week is closed down UA Plaza and closed down AMC Glen Lakes.
I actually went there a few times....the lobby was nice with some arcade games like Ninja Gaiden and the theater was good. I saw White Fang and The Rocketeer there.
Does anyone remember the GCC "University 8" theater in Amherst, NY? I believed it closed in 2002 after AMC bought out General Cinema since AMC already a theater down the street from University 8 theater. It was torn down short after it closed forever, so RIP General Cinemas.
Hate to say it but I worked as a manager at three GCC theatres that closed they left almost everyting in them when they left. They may have taken some projection equipment,
My local General Cinema turned into a amc theater, then in some point in 2009 it closed down, they didn't tear it down they turned it into something else "It's still a Movie Theater but not sure who owns it"
@mickeysalazar it was a combination of alot of things but one of them was because GC could not keep up with the changing cinema industry and lost out on the "Megaplex Era" that AMC was embracing. They filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and AMC acquired whatever was left of them.
@lexmarks567 Funny you mention that because a year ago the GCC trademark was auctioned off in NY, however I do not know the results of who it was bought from if it was bought at all...anyone can help?
@amctc10 But look at AMC now, they are in trouble with their 30 screen theaters...having to sell a couple to Regal in different markets. The theater landscape is changing again.
Well abehammy, they are no immediate plans the last I heard to do anything with it, its been sitting there decomposing for about 10 years now. It may end up being one of those closed buildings that just stands and nothing is ever done with it. Personally, I think it should remain as is to serve as a reminder that there was once a time going to the cinema show was more intimate and simple rather than the mass multi-megaplexes we have today.
Have ever been.......to a world, where precious memories are gone. That world is called Earth. The the 20th century has passed, Viacom is now the spawn of a demon, and worst of all, General Cinema is gone. It was once standing there, but now without a trace. General Cinema, the place where your dreams were. But now those dreams are gone. They are just memories. Depresion, Humiliation. The human society is now uncaring for others. The human society closed down General Cinema. R.I.P General Cinema. We miss you.
hate to say it but l worked as a manager at three gcc theatres that closed they left almost everything in them when they left they may have taken some projection equipment
@Shawnpaulstewart ARE YOU SERIOUS. CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG IS THS THE ONE THAT WAS IN WHITE SETTELMENT IN FORT WORTH. PLEASE GET BACK WITH ME JOHN FROM HOUSTON TEXAS
Ooooooh! nooooooooo! general cinema is dead in 2002 noooooooooooo! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! General Cinemaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Is dead!
I worked at this theater from 1982-1985....... It was a great place to work. I had lots of fun times there. So many stories to tell. I really hated to leave when I got out of the military. Thanks for bringing back a lot of old memories........
For anyone who cares and wants to know what happened with General Cinema I can surely tell you. My father started his career with them as an usher and worked his way up to VP of operations of the midwest/east coast. General Cinema fell on hard times once everyone had a VCR in their homes and they just had too many theaters to maintain with a huge decrease in revenue. After over 30 years working for this company, once the #1 chain of theaters in America, he decided to retire, but he waited too long. AMC bought them out and his pension worth MILLIONS suddenly turned into $16,000 dollars of AMC stock. AMC tore down hundreds of the least profitable theaters and screwed over every General Cinema employee on a level that's hard to fathom. I will NEVER set foot in an AMC theater. What they did to General Cinema,its employees and their families is a sin I will never be able to forgive. RIP General Cinema, you were the best of the best.
Thank you so much for the info Kathy. What confounds me though is how was it that your AMCs, Cinemarks. Regals, United Artists were able to survive yet GC couldn't. All those chains went through the same evolving times and changes. What made it so that GC could not sustain?
That's right, Dan. I actually made a short documentary on GCC back in summer of 2009. It features the Ridgmar GCC and can be found here on UA-cam.
Thanks for posting this video. I used to work at this exact same theater from 1983 to 1988. It was my very first job in high school. I remember the address well: General Cinema 5 (Unit 435), 7601 Scott Street. I worked every job there from doorman, to concessions, to popcorn popper. I’ve still got closets full of movie posters (“The Breakfast Club,” 1985) to prove it.
I love taking pics of theaters. I didn't get to this one before it was torn down but have pics of a few other General Cinemas in Fort Worth area. They just didn't build theaters that could last for a good amount of time. Shoebox auditoriums were horrendous even for the 70's and 80's...not that the same-era AMC's and United Artists were any better. The construction of the AMC Grand in Dallas changed everything...and the building of the UA Fossil Creek in Fort Worth
And somewhere I have 16 mm test footage for “Donny and the Doorman’s Nightmare.” The pictures you see in the children’s book were originally storyboards, since it was intended as a pre-feature short film. I sent the script to the then-president of General Cinema Corporation. He loved it. Too bad we couldn’t make the actual short film.
If I remember correctly, they closed this particular location down due to multiple robberies there. I worked at the Bedford General Cinema for 3 years, and one of our ex-coworkers was the manager at this location for 2 robberies.
That last shot is awesome
@Interests2009
Many of the theaters that AMC acquired from General Cinema were already considered obsolete by today's standards. Few of them had stadium seating and stereo sound systems. And at least in Ohio, AMC is pretty much retreating after taking over both GCC and Loews. A Loews 20-plex at Richmond Mall was sold to Regal. A former GCC in Akron was sold to Cleveland Cinemas, and three other AMC's closed. AMC has two locations left in Cleveland, and two in Columbus.
I worked at Cinema V, too! Also a high school job for me. I was there 86-88, and summer of 89. Ms. Triber, Mr. Marx, and Randy Clay were mgrs.! It was a fun job! Sad when it became a dollar movie house. Thanks for the video!
Was kinda sad to learn recently that GCC was gone. Second job I ever had was at the Crossroads 8 GCC in Oklahoma City. Don't live there anymore, but checking on the net and Google Earth I found that the building is still there but is now home to a dollar theater.
Very good. And thanks for the NIN music. It was perfect to set the mood.
This story was written in 1984, several years before the now famous “GCC Candy Band” made its first on-screen appearance (courtesy of George Lucas’ ILM) in the late ‘80s. Somewhere in my closet, there’s a couple of videos of the inside of this theater, featuring an old friend and fellow employee named Geronimo. Yes, that’s his real name.
R.i.p. General Cinema 1935- 2002 is dead
Shuttered businesses are always eerie, especially if they were places you knew well. It's been years since I last saw this vid, and longer since it was posted, but lately, I've been moved to investigate the bygone businesses and faded billboards of my own community. So I understand the feelings behind this video's making, all too well.
bennjr, to answer your question, I am not sure. I assume everything was hauled out when it closed down as the case with all closed down cinemas. I would like to try to get in the building and look around myself. That day of the shoot, me and my friend tried to find a way to get it but with no such luck.
They should re-open it and show the movies that were shown on them a long time ago. I don't care how big your Home Theatre is you can't get this feeling at home or anywhere else. I would want to open this up to show classic movies of all genres.
AMC also acquired Loews Cineplex Entertainment in 2006. And now they're about to acquire Kerasotes Theatres.
the only gcc locations i've been to are clifton commons, bridgewater commons, and the totowa theater on 46. Out of them three, two are now AMCs, the second one a dine-in and the clifton location having a digital imax.
Cinema V had the English and Spanish versions of La Bamba! It was a big movie for us !
I miss Northpark I & II, General Cinemas were pretty cool.
That was my favorite theater. Went to see Titanic there in 70mm with that THX sound system. Lochwood was a nice location as well. Sad to see AMC took over, never been impressed with them. The one at Northpark is nothing compared to the original cinema. Most theaters are expensive and the quality presentation is just not there. I hope that someone will create a new General Cinema, will not be easy.
Man, I’ve got a lot of stories I can tell you about this place: crazy managers, hanky panky in the projection booth, near-death adventures. It all happened, and it’s all true. In fact, I wrote a couple of stories about this theater. One of them is a little kid’s book, “Donny and the Doorman’s Nightmare,” self-published at Lulu.com. There’s a sample selection from the story on my WordPress blog. E-mail me on my YouTUBE channel if you’d like the link.
@dafunkymex What pictures do you have from other General Cinemas in Fort Worth? I know that the former Ridgmar location has since become a Movie Tavern.
The song, or songs is called "Ghosts, Parts 1 and 2"
Last movie I saw here was Back to the Future 2 right before the theater closed down.
They were acquired by AMC in 2002. Why the remaining GCC chains closed is a mystery to me.
@danhostler1985 I might have been working there when “La Bamba” opened. In fact, I think I’ve got that poster in my closet somewhere. Along with one of my favorites from that year, Chuck Norris in “Code of Silence.” I actually got to meet him a few years later.
@Shawnpaulstewart You are very welcome. I bet you have a lot of fun and wild stories from your time there. I was born in 1985 and saw "La Bamba" when I was two, barely remember it but it was my first movie I went to.
@abehammy GC was already dying when the premium concept was launched. It was a combination of several things on why they shut down but one that stands out is not being able to keep up with the changing industry and had this notion that the new "megaplex" concept that AMC was instituting would never work. By the time GC tried to catch up, it was already too late. I spoke with someone who was once a regional manager for GC, the attitude of malignant narcissism that corporate displayed did them in
@danhostler1985 North Hills 7, Arlington Park, the one on New York Ave in Arlington, and what is now the original Movie Tavern but only after it was the Movie Tavern. I usually go take pics once a week of theaters to upload them onto CinemaTour. Next week is closed down UA Plaza and closed down AMC Glen Lakes.
It's just been sitting there, rotting away
The General Cinema in Totowa, NJ closed down after a major fire burned it. It's now vacant retail space.
I actually went there a few times....the lobby was nice with some arcade games like Ninja Gaiden and the theater was good. I saw White Fang and The Rocketeer there.
Even thou I love amc theaters I do miss general cinema
oh man i used to go to this theater in my young years seeing it like this is heartbreaking.
Does anyone remember the GCC "University 8" theater in Amherst, NY? I believed it closed in 2002 after AMC bought out General Cinema since AMC already a theater down the street from University 8 theater. It was torn down short after it closed forever, so RIP General Cinemas.
I kind of miss the old General Cinemas.
Hate to say it but I worked as a manager at three GCC theatres that closed they left almost everyting in them when they left. They may have taken some projection equipment,
My local General Cinema turned into a amc theater, then in some point in 2009 it closed down, they didn't tear it down they turned it into something else "It's still a Movie Theater but not sure who owns it"
@mickeysalazar it was a combination of alot of things but one of them was because GC could not keep up with the changing cinema industry and lost out on the "Megaplex Era" that AMC was embracing. They filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and AMC acquired whatever was left of them.
@lexmarks567 Funny you mention that because a year ago the GCC trademark was auctioned off in NY, however I do not know the results of who it was bought from if it was bought at all...anyone can help?
@xanadu247 I do recall this building as well, next to the Chuck E Cheese I believe, sadly I do not have video or photo of that in my collection.
@amctc10 But look at AMC now, they are in trouble with their 30 screen theaters...having to sell a couple to Regal in different markets. The theater landscape is changing again.
Can you pinpoint a year when all these robberies happened? I'm thinking the GC closed around 2000...
Well abehammy, they are no immediate plans the last I heard to do anything with it, its been sitting there decomposing for about 10 years now. It may end up being one of those closed buildings that just stands and nothing is ever done with it. Personally, I think it should remain as is to serve as a reminder that there was once a time going to the cinema show was more intimate and simple rather than the mass multi-megaplexes we have today.
Have ever been.......to a world, where precious memories are gone. That world is called Earth. The the 20th century has passed, Viacom is now the spawn of a demon, and worst of all, General Cinema is gone. It was once standing there, but now without a trace. General Cinema, the place where your dreams were. But now those dreams are gone. They are just memories. Depresion, Humiliation. The human society is now uncaring for others. The human society closed down General Cinema. R.I.P General Cinema. We miss you.
im very sad because i been wasnt go to general cinema i was born 1976 . poor general cinema . when they gonig to re open.
Man i remember working the ridgemar one, it was great times
hate to say it but l worked as a manager at three gcc theatres that closed they left almost everything in them when they left they may have taken some projection equipment
remind me of the Halls Ferry 14 which was wehrenberg not GCC but it's in the same condition. Too bad you couldn't save the blue GCC logo on the back.
I may, if I ever have the time. This was done early in the year so who knows how much its decomposed in that time.
that's just really sad.
I couldn't agree more with you. Our generation's demographic has been completely bulldozed. I feel you pain my friend.
was this the one by toysrus?
Bet they could have survived if they had gotten more specific.
I'm already stocking up on weapons.
@amctc10 They did, see entire description
why they closed for
someone should buy the rights to the name GCC and reopen it. even as a 2nd run theater it would be something
I'll try my best
Anyone remember the General Cinema in Braintree MA?
jack ryan I do , do you remember the Fresh Pond ? My father was the manager there when it was just a twin cinema.
This is what the world will look like post-zombie apocalpyse.
I remember I went here when I was a kid the only movie I remember I saw was when my dad took me to see The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Sad.
whats NINtrack
well, this makes me want to die..wait i think im already dead and 2012 killed everyone i just dont know it yet
I miss General Cinema...and the popcorn and soda intro...now it's obnoxious amc with a lame into
@Shawnpaulstewart ARE YOU SERIOUS. CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG IS THS THE ONE THAT WAS IN WHITE SETTELMENT IN FORT WORTH. PLEASE GET BACK WITH ME JOHN FROM HOUSTON TEXAS
@danhostler1985 Kind of like Kmart they don't want to evolve......!
Ooooooh! nooooooooo! general cinema is dead in 2002 noooooooooooo! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! General Cinemaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Is dead!
The song, or songs is called "Ghosts, Parts 1 and 2"