Popular Gold Coast cinema set to close after three decades

Yet another cinema on the Gold Coast is closing its curtains for the final time this month. Do you think cinemas are done and dusted with the rise of streaming services? VOTE NOW.

IT’S been the site of laughter, tears, sticky floors and spilt popcorn for over three decades.

An iconic Gold Coast cinema will show its last flick on March 9.

Coolangatta cinema joins the ranks of other much-loved movie theatres on the glitter strip that have shut up shop and turned off the projectors for good.

Coolangatta Cinema is closing and Duty Manager Yaz Burnett encourages everyone to come down, grab a popcorn and drink and watch a movie before the end. Picture Glenn Hampson

In a statement from Event Cinemas, a spokesperson said: “We have made the difficult decision to permanently close BCC Cinemas Coolangatta after the last session on March 9, 2022.

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“This decision is based on our commitment to continue reinvesting in Event Cinemas Robina and Event Cinemas Pacific Fair.

Exterior shot of Coolangatta Showcase, with the cinemas sign up top. Griffith Street, Coolangatta. PIC: David Clark

“Over the years we’ve shared magical movie moments, first dates, family outings, birthday celebrations, romantic anniversaries, huge belly-laughs, exciting adventures and nightmarish scary scenes. We’ve shared these memories with the Coolangatta community and loved every minute.”

The original Cooly theatre. Capitol Cinema in Coolangatta Picture: J Pitt

In a post on Facebook some lamented the closure while others supported it.

“So many great memories. I remember going to see double features there,” one wrote.

“Smells like urine constantly, it needs to close,” said another.

“Cinemas can’t survive with Netflix,” read another comment.

The first iteration of the Coolangatta Cinema, The Capitol Theatre, was opened in 1924 by Ben-Hur star Ramon Novarro.

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It was demolished in 1989 along with the nearby Regal Theatre to make way for the development of the Coolangatta Showcase Shopping Centre on the same site, which included the new Coolangatta cinemas. They were opened by Birch Carroll and Coyle on April 4, 1990.