#TBT: Corpus Christi's Mann National Twin Theatre opened in 1970
In these days of huge multiplexes, IMAX screens, and lounge seating, it's interesting to look back at days when a double-screen theater was the latest innovation.
National Twin Theatres opened with great fanfare on June 10, 1970, with “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” in one theater, sequel to the popular “Planet of the Apes” from two years earlier, and the second of an eventual five movie series. The other theater shows “Norwood,” a largely forgotten film starring “True Grit” co-stars Glen Campbell and Kim Darby, plus Joe Namath in his movie debut.
An 8-page advertising supplement from theater owner NGC in the Caller-Times lauded the theater for its contemporary styling; wide, spacious aisles; a giant, seamless screen; and modern air conditioning and heating. The two auditoriums had the largest capacity in the city, with seating for 684 viewers in one and 563 in the other.
An article stated the new theater was part of a “full-blown, coast-to-coast boom in theater building,” pairing the new theaters with nearby shopping centers. Rather than theaters in a city's downtown, or drive-in theaters on the outskirts of town, these new theaters were close to residential neighborhoods with ample parking lots for suburban movie-goers. National Twin Theatres fit this perfectly, located on South Staples Street at Rosedale and close to several shopping centers along Staples.
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Special guests at the opening were Corpus Christi Mayor Jack Blackmon and Western actor Chill Wills, known for parts in “The Alamo,” “Giant,” “The City that Never Sleeps,” and the voice of Francis the Talking Mule.
The theater was put out of commission just two months after opening due to damage from Hurricane Celia in August 1970, but was back up and running by the following month. The theater also advertised its policy that if one theater was showing an R-rated movie, the other theater would be reserved for a G-rated film for matinees so children wouldn’t miss out on the fun. In 1973, the NGC theater group was acquired by Mann Theatres.
By the 1980s, the multiplexes were pushing out the older two-auditorium cinemas. In 1986, the large movie house chain Gulf & Western bought out Mann Theatres but kept the name, and National Twin was closed down the following year due to poor economic performances.
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In December 1988, the chain announced the National Twin would re-open and show first-run movies, this time mostly Disney first-run titles, coinciding with the resurgence of animated Disney films like “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” The company noted that economic conditions had improved, so they were willing to upgrade the theater with $86,000 in renovations that included a new air conditioning and heating system, new projection system and new concession stand, along with an interior remodel.
But the resurgence didn’t last long. The local manager was notified by the chain’s owners, Cinamerica and Paramount Pictures, that the theater could not continue to operate due to a downturn in the economy. The last movies played on March 24, 1992, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Medicine Man.” Since its closure as a theater, the building has been repurposed as a church, and is now the home of charter school Richard Milburn Academy.
Allison Ehrlich writes about things to do in South Texas and has a weekly Throwback Thursday column on local history.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: #TBT: Corpus Christi's Mann National Twin Theatre opened in 1970
