Clovis movie theater closes after 40 years. Remembering the last of its kind
After 40 years in business, a Clovis movie theater that was the last of its era in the Fresno-Clovis area has closed.
The Regal-run UA Clovis Movies 8 at Shaw and Villa avenues didn’t have stadium seating or big reclining seats. For most of its recent life, it ran $3 second-run movies weeks after they premiered at their big-sibling counterpart theaters.
“It’s always sad when you see theaters close down. It was our last second-run cheapo theater,” said Roque Rodriguez, a Fresno film buff and founder of Cen Cal Cinema, an effort to bring the communal movie-going experience to places far from theaters.
The UA Clovis Movies 8 theater closed quietly last month.
The building was sold for nearly $3 million to a new owner, according to Fresno County property records.
The deed includes a stipulation that the property not be used as a movie theater for 20 years.
The new owner is a limited liability company connected to an investment company associated with Fast N Esy gas stations in town. The person connection to the company is out of the country and could not be reached for comment.
Nostalgia for the Clovis movie theater
The theater opened in 1985, its grand opening announcement in The Fresno Bee advertising it as an “ultra-modern, deluxe 8 screen complex.” It showed a free screening of “Return of the Jedi” opening weekend, followed by regular screenings of “White Nights” and “Spies Like Us.”
In 2005, it launched “Flashback Flicks,” showing old films such as “The Lost Boys” and “Scarface” on the big screen.
The theaters went by various names over the years, including the Clovis Towne Center.
In 2008, it cut prices to $3 and started showing second-run movies full time.
Customers mourned the theater — and all its changeless vibe over the years — on the website Reddit.
“I live within walking distance and remember going fondly. Since it was largely unchanged inside the memories always flooded in upon my entry,” said user bramstokersbakula.
Said user FGN5: “Shout out to the very dated seating arrangement and the worst chairs since the medieval times. I loved that theater when they played movies from a few months prior for $3.”
People have memories of seeing certain movies there with family, Rodriguez said.
“Automatically, you start thinking ‘I saw all these movies here’ — movies that leave a mark on you,” he said. “I’m in my 40s and going to the movies was such a big deal.”
He saw his first Christopher Nolan film there (“Memento”) and remembers driving from his hometown in Firebaugh with his mom and sister to see “Batman Returns” and eating at Olive Garden across the street after.
Customers loved the free movies for seniors, but reviews complained about the dark screens and poor audio quality. Recently, the theater upped its prices and switched to first-run films.
Where to find discount/retro films
Fresno still has places to view discount and older movies on a big screen. They include the $5 movies at the Crest Theatre, $11 movies at Tower Theatre and the Neon Film Club’s retro movies at The Layover downtown. Maya Cinemas and Regal also host discounted movies on Tuesdays at certain theaters.
The theater largely stayed the same over the decades. Others didn’t, however. Theaters such as the one in River Park remodeled and new ones opened with reclining seats, online reservations, and 4DX with effects like wind, water and scents.
“For a smaller theater to come in an do something like that, it’s nearly impossible,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a tough business model.”
The time between movies appearing on the big screen and showing up on streaming services also narrowed when people stayed home during the pandemic — meaning less need for theaters such as UA Clovis Movies 8. And movie-going habits are changing in general, he noted.
“It’s sad, the reality of it is that anyone can watch a movie on their phone now,” Rodriguez said. “That’s the reality nowadays.”
