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Throwback Thursday: That’s Entertainment!

By Russell Weil, Contributing writer | January 21, 2016

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Remember this jingle? This iconic opening to General Cinema Corporation movies was can't-get-this-out-of-your-head catchy. (1977)

From musical performances to movie premiers, Houston has a rich history of playing host to legendary events. Even more iconic than the actual events are the places where Houstonians have enjoyed movies and music events. I thought it would be fun to take a look back at one beloved local movie theater from Houston’s past.

During the 1960’s, changes began to take shape for the Houston movie theater scene. Because of the economics from more screens meaning more dollars, General Cinema Corporation spearheaded this local change in 1965 with the opening of the General Cinema II theaters in Meyerland, Gulfgate and Northline, all using the same “butterfly” design, with a center lobby and two auditoriums on either side.

1968 Houston Post ad for "Oliver" playing at the General Cinema Theaters in Houston. (Photo: cinematreasures.org)

Most of my own childhood and teenage movie adventures took place at Meyerland General Cinema. (Do you remember this jingle?) Just a bike ride away, this theater was my entertainment destination. From The Monkey’s Uncle to Shampoo, this movie house was very popular. Movie patrons especially enjoyed the comfortable red velvet rocking chairs in the larger auditorium.

Meyerland Cinema was the only one in the local General Cinema chain to survive auditorium splitting from two screens to three, which became popular in the 1970s and '80s, and became one of the top five spots to screen a film until the early-1990s.

Buzz-area resident and medical administrative professional Kenda Moritz recalls, “I seem to remember tickets being 50 cents. Some of the first movies I remember seeing were Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Sound of Music. I ended up working there in high school.”

With competing chains opening up larger megaplex screens nearby, the original theater was demolished and eight screens were placed in a new structure in its place. While nothing more than an updated version of the original, the auditoriums were very small and had unimpressive screens. Eventually, as large multi-screen auditoriums gained a presence in the area, the Meyerland Theater sadly closed and was torn down in 2003.

Where did you see movies growing up?

Editor’s Note: Writer Russell Weil will provide nostalgia posts weekly as part of our Throwback Thursday series. Read some of his past, popular nostalgia stories: Restaurant Memories: A look back at Houston’s dining past, Mealtime Memories: Childhood hits and misses, Rodeo Memories: Then and now at Houston’s big show and Amusement Parks: Where Houston used to play. We invite you to share your Houston memories in the comments section below or submit your story here.