Harkins Theatres Explained

Harkins Theatres
Type:Private subsidiary of Harkins Enterprises
Founder:Dwight "Red" Harkins
Area Served:Arizona, California, Colorado and Oklahoma
Key People:Mike Bowers, CEO
Industry:Entertainment (movie theaters)
Owner:Dan Harkins
Num Employees:about 3,000 (as of May 2009)[1]
Parent:Harkins Enterprises, LLC
Locations:35 theatres with 487 screens (2023)
Foundation:1933
Location:Scottsdale, Arizona[2]
Homepage:Official Website

Harkins Theatres is an American movie theater chain with locations throughout the Southwestern United States. Harkins Theatres is privately owned and operated by its parent company, Harkins Enterprises, LLC. The company operates 35 theaters with 487 screens throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, and Oklahoma. It is the 7th largest movie theater circuit in North America and the largest family-owned theater chain in the United States.[3] [4]

History

Founding

In 1931, at the age of 16, Dwight "Red" Harkins left Cincinnati, Ohio, for Los Angeles, California hoping to become involved in the film scene there.[5] However, by the time he arrived in Tempe, Arizona, he could no longer afford to reach Los Angeles. In 1933, he opened the State Theatre in Tempe, which was originally the Goodwin Opera House that opened in 1907.[6] [7]

Early years

In 1934, Red Harkins built an outdoor theater in Tempe Beach Park, which lasted for only one summer. In 1940 Harkins built the College Theater (later Harkins Valley Art).

The last theater opened by Red Harkins was the "Camelview 5" theater in 1973.[8] The Camelview 5 closed down in December 2015 and the "Camelview at Fashion Square" location opened as a 14-theater space in the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall.

Dan Harkins

In 1974, Dwight Harkins died, leaving the company to his wife, Viola. Dwight had 6 children. The company was near bankruptcy at that time. After reworking the company, Dwight's fourth son Dan expanded the theatre chain from five locations in the Phoenix, Arizona area to 33 locations in four states - Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, and Southern California. The Southlake, Texas location was operational until November 2, 2020.

Being unable to secure many first-run movies caused Harkins Theatres to experience financial difficulties. Dan Harkins sued a group of movie distributors in 1977, claiming they had stopped him from scheduling a number of high-profile first-run films.[9] After Harkins won the lawsuit, the chain was able to show a run of the 1940 Walt Disney animated film Fantasia in May 1982, starting a string of successful releases.[10]

Dan Harkins has won several awards for his work in the exhibitor industry and his community involvement.

Expansion

In the early 1990s, Harkins acquired several theaters operated by Mann Theatres. Most of the theaters acquired were a result of a lawsuit.[10]

In 1988, Harkins re-opened the Cine Capri theater in Phoenix. The original Cine Capri was the largest screen in Arizona, measuring more than 70 feet (21 m) long.[15] [16] Despite over 200,000 signatures in a preservation effort led primarily by KTAR's Pat McMahon, the theater was demolished in 1998.[17] [18]

In 2003, a newer version of the Cine Capri theater opened at the Scottsdale 101 14 multiplex.[19] Harkins Theatres also built Cine Capri auditoriums at its Bricktown 16 (Oklahoma City, OK), Northfield 18 (Denver, CO),[20] Southlake 14 (Southlake, TX) and Tempe Marketplace 16 (Tempe, AZ) locations.[21] The Southlake 14 location would close in 2020.[22]

In November 2004, Harkins opened its Yuma Palms 14 location in Yuma, Arizona. The first film shown at this location was The Polar Express.[23] [24]

In 2023, with the closure and bulldozing of Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix, Harkins Metro 12 was also permanently closed on May 29 after 31 years in operation. According to William Olson, senior executive vice-president for Concord Wilshire Companies and project leader for the Metrocenter redevelopment, a new version of the theater will be considered.[25]

In 2023, Harkins announced that they're opening up a "new family entertainment concept" in North Phoenix called BackLot in 2024. Themed after movie backlots, it will include a restaurant with a bar, a sports-viewing area, bowling lanes, an outdoor patio, and immersive virtual-reality experiences.[26] [27]

Premium formats

Art and independent film

The Harkins Art Film Society brings art and independent films to the theater chain. Harkins Valley Art and Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square 14 are dedicated to foreign and independent films.

Harkins Theatres hosts several film festivals each year.

References

  1. HARKINS THEATRES 75TH SPECIAL PT 2 OF 5. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9CciLrG5Zm8 . 2021-12-21 . live. Harkins Theatres. 20 May 2009. YouTube.
  2. Web site: August 1, 2019 . Harkins Theatres Announces New $32 Million Headquarters and Retail Campus . May 12, 2023 . boxoffice pro.
  3. Web site: Harkins Theatres . May 12, 2023.
  4. Web site: Outhier . Craig . 2008-09-25 . Harkins marks 75th anniversary . 2023-09-06 . East Valley Tribune . en.
  5. Web site: Harkins History . 2023-09-23 . harkins.com . en.
  6. Web site: Dwight Harkins Biography. 22 July 2023. 2 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160702022059/http://www.azmusichalloffame.org/pages/bio_Dwight_Harkins.html. dead.
  7. Web site: Mark . Jay . Piece of Tempe history bought on eBay for $50 . 2023-09-06 . The Arizona Republic . en-US.
  8. Web site: Harkins Valley Art maintains its historical charm. www.azcentral.com.
  9. Web site: Harkins Amusement Ent. v. General Cinema Corp., 850 F.2d 477 Casetext Search + Citator . 2023-09-06 . casetext.com.
  10. Web site: Harkins comes to town: All-digital theater opens Friday. www.mobilitytechzone.com.
  11. Web site: PHXated - Politics and More. Lots More.. phxated.com. 2012-05-08. https://archive.today/20120713114101/http://phxated.com/phxated/dan-harkins-getting-a-visionary-award-at-phoenix-film-fest-in-april/. 2012-07-13. dead.
  12. Web site: Valley moviegoers ignoring the recession. www.azcentral.com.
  13. Web site: 70 Years of Harkins. Michelle. Burgess. 7 September 2003 .
  14. Web site: Weekly Guests - 80's, Now and Everything in Between . 2012-05-08 . https://archive.today/20120912081514/http://www.my929.com/pages/weeklyguests.html . 2012-09-12 . dead .
  15. Web site: Grady . Michael . 2007-06-29 . Harkins opens new (really) big screen with Tempe's Cine Capri . 2023-09-29 . East Valley Tribune . en.
  16. Web site: The Completed Cine Capri – The Original Cine Capri Theatre . 2023-09-29 . cinecapri.com.
  17. News: Cine Capri owner vows to save theater. The Daily Courier. October 5, 1997. Google News.
  18. News: Cine Capri theater closes after three decades. The Daily Courier. December 29, 1997. Google News.
  19. Web site: Ciné Capri recaptures film glory. Paul. Giblin. 21 June 2003 .
  20. News: Movie theater chain enters market . March 27, 2006.
  21. Web site: Help Center - the Arizona Republic.
  22. Web site: Harkins movie theater in Southlake Town Square to close permanently . 29 October 2020 .
  23. Web site: Harkins Yuma Palms 14 . Cinema Treasures . May 29, 2018.
  24. Web site: 14 screens, no waiting . Lobeck . Joyce . November 11, 2004 . Yuma Sun . May 29, 2018.
  25. Web site: Demolition, farewell set for Metrocenter . May 2023 .
  26. Web site: Harkins Theatres is going beyond movies. Here's what to expect with 'BackLot' .
  27. Web site: Rivera . SuElen . 2023-03-28 . New Harkins entertainment center concept BackLot coming to Phoenix . 2023-09-29 . KTAR.com . en.
  28. News: Harkins acquires Imax at Arizona Mills . December 11, 2009.
  29. News: Steven Totten . Why Harkins is getting rid of the Cine Capri name . 22 July 2023 . Biz Journals . Phoenix Business Journal . 12 October 2016. (subscription required)
  30. Web site: 3 upgrades coming to all Harkins Theaters . 6 April 2018 .
  31. Web site: Premium Experiences .
  32. Web site: Harkins Theatres . 2023-09-29 . harkins.com . en.
  33. Web site: McHugh . Joe . 2023-08-11 . Harkins Theatres opens Ciné Grill in Peoria . 2023-09-29 . Peoriatimes.com . en.
  34. Web site: O'Sullivan . Serena . 2023-08-01 . Harkins Ciné Grill with in-movie dining to open in Peoria . 2023-09-29 . KTAR.com . en.
  35. Web site: Center seeks lift from Phoenix Film Festival.
  36. Web site: Upcoming Scottsdale International Film Festival Moves to Harkins Shea. Claire. Lawton. 19 July 2011.
  37. Web site: Film Threat - 2009 Deadcenter Film Festival Announces Dates . 2012-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120518035701/http://www.filmthreat.com/festivals/2210/ . 2012-05-18 . dead .

External links

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