Heads up: The last, last picture show
By Wade Kwon
Birmingham-based Cobb Theatres was once the only game in town. It was sold to Regal Cinema in Knoxville, which has gradually closed all but one of its locations in the metro area. Brook Highland 10 closed Sunday.
Along the way were the Green Springs 6, Hoover Twin, Hoover Square 6, Center Point 6, Wildwood 14, Festival 18, Galleria 10 and the lone survivor, Regal Trussville 16. Rave has become the dominant player with locations at Vestavia Hills, Lee Branch and Patton Creek, and Carmike still has the Summit, Wynnsong and bargain Carmike in Hoover. And AmStar has one location in Hoover.
Arthouse fare had had a home at the Galleria, and then at Brook Highland. A few can be seen sometimes at Summit. Still, Safari Cup, Workplay, Rojo, McWane’s IMAX and Sidewalk have opened up new options for indie and non-mainstream films, and UAB will have its 25th annual three-day International Film Festival starting Friday.
By the way, Cobb Theatres quietly resumed operations in 2000 in Birmingham, with locations in Tuscaloosa, Jasper, Gulf Shores, several cities in Florida, soon to be in Savannah, Ga. — and none in Birmingham. Thank you, and enjoy the movie.
• Birmingham News: Brook Highland Cinema to close
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Saturday, January 20, 2007, 12:27 pm
Cobb also operated the Center Point Six. You used to could see 2nd run movies for a buck fifty.
Sunday, January 21, 2007, 4:09 pm
Good memory and good catch — I added yours to the list. Thanks.