THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 6, 1994 TAG: 9408060204
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
A Greensboro entertainment company has a fairy-tale ending planned for cinema-starved residents who have spent the summer without a local movie theater.
Gilmore Entertainment Corp., which announced two months ago its plans to take over the defunct Gateway Cinema near Southgate Mall, is riding into town on a white horse this month to sweep film fans off their feet.
``We'll start working on it right away,'' said Gilmore co-owner Howard Gainey, who said he signed the theater lease Friday. ``It'll be like new.''
The theater will probably be ready to open by the last week of September, Gainey said.
Among the promises made Friday by Gainey: A ``completely reworked'' theater with surround sound and new concessions booths, rocking seats with cup holders in each of the theater's two auditoriums, and $2 admission for ``all seats, all times, all ages.''
The low admission price means the theater will introduce films a few weeks behind their scheduled opening date, but Gainey said patrons will be willing to wait.
``I'd rather have a lot of people in the theater at $2 than 20 people in there at $5,'' he said.
The deal between Gilmore and the Raleigh-based property owners, Plaza Associates, was nearly closed in early June, but ``technicalities'' held up the agreement, Gainey said.
``Sometimes it just takes longer to get deals done than others,'' said Bobbie Cross, director of leasing for Plaza Associates. ``But we're very pleased.''
A Georgia-based entertainment company, Carmike Cinemas Inc., closed the Gateway theater in early June, citing declining attendance and revenue figures.
The theater went dark just months after the Carolina Theater downtown shut its doors and left Elizabeth City without an operating movie house.
``I know the people in Elizabeth City probably missed a theater,'' Gainey said. ``Once we get it open, I think everybody there will be pleased.'' by CNB