Harkins Theatres is an American movie theater chain with locations throughout the Southwestern United States. Harkins Theatres is privately owned and operated by its parent company, Harkins Enterprises, LLC. The company currently operates 33 theaters with 501 screens throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.
History
Founding
In 1931, at the age of sixteen, Dwight “Red†Harkins left Cincinnati, Ohio, on his Harley Davidson motorcycle for Hollywood. Dwight planned to pursue a role in one of the new "talkies." By the time he arrived in Tempe, Arizona, he could no longer afford to continue his quest. After several years in Tempe, he sought out a new career operating a movie-house. In 1933, he opened the State Theatre in Tempe, at the age of 18 after putting $50 down on the lease to take over the State Theatre. The State Theatre was originally the Goodwin Opera House, opened c. 1907.
Early years
In 1934, Red Harkins expanded to have an outdoor theater in Tempe Beach Park; however this only lasted for one summer. The next true theater that Harkins built in 1940 was the College Theater (currently Harkins Valley Art). The theater contained innovations such as glow-in-the-dark carpet, headphones for the hearing impaired, and automatic drinking fountains. This theater is significant in that it's Tempe's only depression-era theater.
The last theater opened by Red Harkins was the Camelview 5 Theater in 1973. The Camelview 5 closed down in December 2015, and the "Camelview at Fashion Square" opened as a new 14 theater space in Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall.
Dan Harkins
In 1974, Dwight Harkins died, leaving the company to his eldest son, Dan Harkins. At that time the company was near bankruptcy. After reworking the company, Dan extensively expanded the theatre chain from five locations in the Phoenix, Arizona area to the current 33 locations in five states - Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Southern California.
Harkins Theatres struggled financially because it was unable to book many first-run movies. In 1977, Dan Harkins filed a lawsuit against a group of film distributors alleging they had prevented Harkins from booking many top first-run movie titles. Movie studios began settling with Harkins. As a result of the lawsuit, Harkins Theatres was able to show a run of Walt Disney's & RKO Radio Pictures Fantasia in May 1982, starting a string of successful releases.
Dan Harkins has won several awards for his work in the exhibitor industry and his community involvement.
- Phoenix Film Festival Visionary Award (2010)
- Arizona Culture Keepers (2010)
- United Motion Picture Association of America National Showman of the Year (1976, 1980 & 1982)
- American Institute of Architects Community Vision Award (1996)
===Expansion===
In the late 1980s, Harkins acquired several theaters operated by Mann Theatres. Most of the theaters acquired were a result of a lawsuit.
In 1988, Harkins re-opened the Cine Capri theater in Phoenix. The original Cine Capri had the largest screen in Arizona, measuring more than 70 feet (21 m) long. Despite over 200,000 signatures in an effort to save the theater led primarily by KTAR's Pat McMahon, the theater was demolished in 1998.
In 2003, the new version of the Cine Capri theater opened at the Scottsdale 101 14 multiplex. Harkins Theatres has also built Cine Capri theaters at its Bricktown 16 (Oklahoma City, OK), Northfield 18 (Denver, CO), Southlake 14 (Southlake, TX) and Tempe Marketplace 16 (Tempe, AZ) locations.
In 2006, Harkins Theatres opened two theaters in California, Moreno Valley 16 (Moreno Valley, CA) and Chino Hills 18 (Chino Hills, CA).
Since then two more locations were opened in California in 2016. Mountain Grove 16 (Redlands, Ca) and Cerritos 16 (Cerritos, Ca). Both theaters include: Harkins Ultimate Lounger recliner chairs, reserved seating, an in Lobby Bar that serves local craft beers and wine, a playcenter, and the all new Cinè 1 theater. Cinè 1 is more of a modern take of the original Cinè Capri. Cinè 1 features an over 80' foot screen, state of the art laser projection, and Dolby Atmos sound. The Cinè 1 can also seat over 400 guests.
On December 10, 2009, Harkins Theatres began to lease the IMAX theater right next to its own theater at Arizona Mills from IMAX Corporation. That location was immediately renamed the Harkins Arizona Mills Luxury 25 Cimemas with IMAX and features Arizona’s only full sized IMAX screen. The first movie to be shown in the newly acquired theater was James Cameron's Avatar from 20th Century Fox in IMAX 3D.
In May 2013, Harkins Re-opened former Tower Theaters in Tucson, Arizona to be called Harkins Arizona Pavilions 12 Theatre. The theater holds 12 screens and is now the second theater in Tucson and the third in southern Arizona.
In December 2015, Harkins merged two of its popular theaters together in Scottsdale, Arizona while closing two of their former facilities. On December 7, 2015, Harkins closed Fashion Square 7 and on December 10, Camelview 5 was also shut down. Camelview's spirit of independent and art circuit films, plus the running of mainstream movies were brought into the all-new Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square 14 that opened on December 17 prior to the opening of Disney's globally-anticipated release of Lucasfilm Ltd.'s Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens.
“This theater will be a moviegoer’s dream come true,†said company owner Dan Harkins. “We intend to transplant the soul of our beloved Camelview into this amazing new cinema. Independent, foreign, and art films are a part of our DNA and we are proud to be able to continue and expand Camelview’s legacy to include even more films in a dazzling new venue.â€
Camelview at Fashion Square 14 becomes the crown jewel of Harkins Theatres with highlights of amenities that include more art, independent and foreign films than ever before; Harkins’ Ultimate Lounger - plush leather reclining seats; reserved seating; 14 curved, wall-to-wall screens; 4K digital projection and Dolby digital sound; Gourmet concessions stand with an expanded menu including Harkins’ award-winning popcorn and a variety of hot food items; Harkins’ Lobby Café featuring espresso drinks, enticing desserts and savory small plates; The Vérité Lounge - a unique amenity with an indoor/outdoor rooftop terrace where moviegoers can enjoy cocktails, wine and beer including local craft favorites and architecturally minimalist modern movie palace decor inside.
Art and independent film
The Harkins Art Film Society brings art and independent films to the theater chain. Harkins Valley Art and Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square 14 are dedicated to foreign and independent films.
Harkins also broadcasts opera and ballet performances throughout the year. These broadcasts include both live and taped ballet performances from around the world.
Harkins Theatres hosts several film festivals each year.
- The Phoenix Film Festival â€" Harkins Theatres Scottsdale 101 (Scottsdale, Arizona)
- The Scottsdale International Film Festival â€" Harkins Theatres Shea 14 (Scottsdale, Arizona)
- The Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival â€" Harkins Theatres Camelview at Fashion Square 14 (Scottsdale, Arizona)
- DeadCENTER Film Festival â€" Harkins Theatres Bricktown 16 (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Features
In 1997, Harkins Theatres Superstition Springs 25 was the first theater in Arizona to obtain THX Certification in all 25 auditoriums.
In 2011, Harkins Theatres upgraded more than 400 of its screens to digital projection.
Harkins Theatres sells souvenir loyalty cups and loyalty T-shirts each year with a different movie-related theme. Customers who purchase a loyalty cup can bring it back to receive $1.50 refills for the year. If they wear a loyalty T-shirt, they receive a free medium-sized popcorn during each visit throughout the year. A percentage of the proceeds go to the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
In 2001 Harkins Theatres began introducing PlayCenters in their theaters, allowing parents to see a movie while their children are in a supervised environment.
Each summer, Harkins Theatres hosts Summer Movie Fun, which is a summer movie program for children. The program features 10 children’s movies from the previous year. Harkins developed the program more than 30 years ago as a way to offer parents an affordable summer activity for children.
Trivia
- Before the opening of each new theater, Dan Harkins and his family have a hand print dedication ceremony similar to that at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. He then proceeds to purchase the first ticket.
- A premiere of The Bourne Ultimatum was held in downtown Oklahoma City on July 31, 2007, at the Harkins Theatres Bricktown 16 to benefit The Children's Center, located in suburban Bethany. The film was shown simultaneously on three screens. Star Matt Damon was at the event to greet guests.
- 20th Century Fox held a YouTube contest to determine where the world premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine would be held. Tempe, Arizona won the contest and the world premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was held at Harkins Theatres Tempe Marketplace 16 on April 27, 2009.
Main Competitors
- AMC Theatres
- Cinemark Theatres
References
External links
- Harkins Theatres
- More on Dwight (Red) Harkins
