General Cinemas
General Cinema Corporation
History
The General Cinema Corporation was founded as a drive-in theater in 1935 by Philip Smith, who had previously owned a small chain of silent film theaters. Smith had chosen to open the chain after noticing the increasing sales of local Massachusetts theatres, and the introduction of films that were able to accommodate a synchronized sound and voice track into their reels. Originally, Smith planned to open indoor theatres, but had decided to open a small number of outdoor theatres instead, but later decided to open some indoor theatres as well. The company did not see much growth until 1939, when World War II started, due to heavy sales of news printed on film.
After the war ended, the company had assumed new leadership under Richard A. Smith, who had decided on pushing the company towards indoor movie theaters for all future expansions and had opened the country's first shopping-center theatre, in Framingham Mall.
Starting in the 1960s General Cinema diversified into other businesses. At times they owned the department store Neiman Marcus, the publisher Harcourt Brace, radio stations in several major markets (notably WEFM in Chicago, KRBE in Houston, WZGC in Atlanta, WGCL in Cleveland, and WIFI in Philadelphia), and TV station WCIX in Miami. They formed a joint venture theater chain with Hoyts, known as Hoyts General Cinema, that had locations throughout South America.
In 1976, the company teamed up with Lew Grade's Associated Television Corporation to form Associated General Films, which produced films including Voyage of the Damned and Capricorn One but the partnership ended the following year and ATV's ITC Entertainment subsidiary started financing films on its own.
In April 1992, the company collaborated with Lucasfilm to create mascots for the company. Within less than a year, the then-iconic Candy Band was created. Soon after, two more mascots were developed and named Popcorn Bob, and Pepsi Sue. All three developments were used in preshow reels from 1993 to 2002.
In 2007, General Cinema introduced GCC Big!, a premium large-screen format, and The Ovation by GCC dine-in movie theater chain.
Circuits
- Century Theatres
- CinéArts
- Cinemark
- General Cinemas
- GCC Classic - Movie Theaters (1 to 4 screens; second-run movie theaters)
- GCC Drive-Ins - Drive-In Theaters
- Ovation by GCC - The cinemas offer full-service dining where food can be ordered and brought to oversized, automatic recliners. Also available is a lounge, with sofas and a fireplace, serving cocktails, wine, and craft beers from around the state. The menu includes chicken wings, shrimp, onion rings, nachos, cheese quesadillas, salads, wraps, pizza, and sandwiches. Locations always have one GCC Big! auditorium.
- Rave Cinemas
- Tinseltown USA
See also
- AMC Theatres - competitor
- List of General Cinema locations
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