Chapter 12
The Mega-Plex
It’s March 28, 1995 – Dallas, Texas. AMC opens the first stadium-
style seating theatre. It featured 24 screens in one location.
New Orleans’ first stadium theatre was opened by Teddy Solomon of
Gulf States Theatres. Premiering in May of 1997, The Palace 20 in
Harahan.
The following is a list of openings and closings from 1996 to present
day:
OPENINGS CLOSINGS
1996 IMAX Pitt
Prytania
1997 Palace 20 Harahan Cobb’s Lakeside 4
Prytania Elmwood 4
1998 Uptown Square 2
1999
2000 Palace 16 Westbank Plaza (March)
UA Bell Promenade
GC Lakeside
GC Esplanade
UA Village Aurora
UA Eastlake
Plaza (June) Oakridge
Movie Pitchers
Joy’s Cinema City
2001 Palace 12 – Clearview
Hollywood 9 – Kenner
2002 The Grand – East N.O. Plaza
AMC Galleria
2003 Downtown Joy
In 1996, the large screen format IMAX opened. With all the closures,
only three theatres re-opened… The Hollywood 9 in Kenner (formerly
a General Cinema,) the Prytania Uptown and the Plaza in New Orleans
East. In 2002, AMC acquires all three palace theatres in New Orleans
and in December 2002, The Grand in New Orleans East opened. This
causes the permanent closure of The Plaza in Lake Forest and the
downtown Joy on Canal Street.
©2005 Rock Productions
