Westgate Cinema (Racine, Wisconsin)
Coordinates: 42°43′04″N 87°50′25″W / 42.71774°N 87.84017°W
| Westgate Cinema | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Cinema |
| Location | 5101 Washington Avenue Racine, Wisconsin |
| Opening | May 29, 1968 |
| Closed | September 24, 2006 |
| Demolished | 2017 |
Westgate Cinema, also known as Cinema I and II, was a movie theater located at 5101 Washington Avenue in Racine, Wisconsin.
History
With the construction of the Perry Avenue Water Tower in 1930, the Racine Water Utility acquired what would become the site of Westgate Cinema, as well as the West Racine Post Office. In March 1961, the Papas-Spheeris Company, owners of the Westgate Outdoor Theatre, announced plans to build Westgate Family Center, a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) discount department store immediately north of the theater. Although Spiro J. Papas owned the land extending north to Washington Avenue from the theater, his plan required purchasing land west of Perry Avenue from the Racine Water Department for part of the store's parking lot.[1] The Water Department agreed to sell the land for $27,750. By July 1961, Papas had come to an agreement with the Chicago-based Jewel Tea Company grocery store chain, which would open its first department store in the new building. The planned store was downsized to 90,000 square feet (8,400 m2), allowing a larger parking lot in front of the store and making the land purchased from the Water Department unnecessary for parking. Instead, Papas announced that the land would be used for a motel, Clayton House, with 65 to 70 units and a possible attached restaurant.[2]
Papas announced plans for a two-screen indoor movie theater next to Clayton House on May 22, 1967. The new building, intended to be finished by the end of the year, was designed by William Riseman Associates of Boston, Massachusetts and Camburas & Theodore of Chicago, Illinois.[3] After Spiro J. Papas' death on July 24, 1967, the cinema's groundbreaking ceremony planned for July 28 was postponed.[4] Constance Papas received a permit for the construction of the theater in October 1967.[5]
References
- ↑ "Westgate to Build Store Containing 50 Departments", Racine Journal Times, April 6, 1961, page six.
- ↑ "Plan New Motel of 65-70 Units", Racine Journal Times, July 28, 1961, page 4.
- ↑ "Twin Indoor Theaters Slated for West Side", Racine Journal Times, May 22, 1967, front page.
- ↑ "Business Developer, Spiro J. Papas, Dies", Racine Journal Times, July 25, 1967, page 4A.
- ↑ "Building Starts in October at 13 Year Low", Racine Journal Times, November 4, 1967, page 3A.
See also
- Westgate Cinemas at Cinema Treasures