Independence Square Cinema 1975

One of my all time favorite theaters growing up was the Independence Square theater on the Square in my hometown of Independence, MO. It opened on June 20, 1975 to great fanfare.



I saw a ton of movies there growing up including Star Wars, Superman, Grease, Flash Gordon, and many more. My mom worked next door and dropped me off there often. My junior high was down the street and I'd walk down there to go to the movies and play video games next door at the Electric Company arcade. It was awesome being a kid in the early '80's. The theater stayed open as a dollar house throughout the '90's but it started to get really run down. Luckily Globe Cinemas renovated the place in the early 2000's and made it a nice theater again. Here's a picture of the original marquee in 2006 right before the exterior was changed. Thanks to my pal Neato Coolville for the picture.



It was renamed the Pharaoh and is now my favorite place to see movies. It's smaller than the multiplexes but it reminds me of my childhood and the crowds are much smaller. I'm thrilled to see one of my childhood haunts still doing well.