Allen Theatres

(1884): Frank Allen arrives in New Mexico. He is 24 years old.
(1893): Frank moves to Farmington.
(1912): Allen Opera House opens. Shows first motion picture, only 10 cents per person. Frank's youngest daughter, Mary, "cues" the silent picture on the piano.
(1922): Allen Opera House burns down. Brand new theatre built, called "The Allen."
(1930): First "talkies" shown at Allen Theatre,. Founder Frank Allen dies.
(1937): First airconditioner installed by Augusta, Frank's widow.
(1941): Aztec Theatre in Aztec purchased and rebuilt.
(1946): Augusta Allen passed away.
(1947): First concession stand put in "The Allen."
(1949): Brand new theatre, the Totah, built and opened.
(1952): Russell Allen, Frank and Augusta's son, and his wife Helen, with business partners Kelly and Evelyn Crawford build two drive in theatres, The Apache Twin (1952) and The Valley (1954).
(1961): Russell Allen passed away.
(1962): Kelly and Evelyn Crawford leave the business.
(1963): Boyd Scottt becomes General Manager.
(1967): Bought 2 theatres in Cortez, Colorado.
(1971): Cameo Theatre opens in Farmington, NM. First fully automatic theatre in New Mexico.
(1975): Larry and Lane Allen buy Allen Theatres from Helen.
(1975): Totah Theatre changes to platter system from 2 projector system. Other theatres owned by the Allens follow suit over next two years.
(1982): Larry and Lane Allen, sons of Russell, buy all theatres in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a total of 11 screens.
(1990): Larry and Lane buy out big portion of United Artist's circuit in New Mexico, which included theatres in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Clovis, Roswell, Hobbs, Portales and Gallup.
(1995): Brand new theatre, Allen 8 built in Farmington. Largest theatre with the most screens to date for the circuit.
(1998): Brand new theatre, the Telshor Cinemas, built in Las Cruces, surpassing the Allen 8 as the largest theatre. Telshor Cinemas has 12 screens, all state of the art sound, with stadium seating.
(1999): Circuit currently has 21 theatres in 10 towns, for a total of 74 screens.
(2003): Brand new theatre, the Red Rock 6 in Gallup, NM include all Digital Sound and all stadium seating
(2003): Addition to the Allen Theatres chain, the Sierra Cinema in Ruidoso, NM
(2003): Installed computerized ticketing in all theatres throughout the chain.
(2004): Opening of the Eagle 7, formally the Cinema 3, in Hobbs, NM re-opens with 4 additional screens, all digital sound, all stadium seating as well extended new lobby and concession stand.
(2005): Contruction completed on the North Plains Theatre in Clovis, NM. Re-opened with 3 additional screens, all digital sound, all stadium seating as well extended new lobby and concession stand.

(2006): Construction completed of the new Galaxy 8 in Roswell, NM. 8 screens with all stadium seating.

(2006): Construction completed of the new Animas 10 in Farmington, NM. 10 screens with all stadium seating.

(2007): Construction completed on the Aviator 10 Theatre in Alamogordo. Opened with 10 screens and Christie Digital projectors.

(2007): Allen Theatres teams with AccessIT to install New Christie Digital Projectors & Doermi servers at Theatres in Las Cruces, Farmington, Roswell, Hobbs, Clovis, Alamogordo and Gallup, 77 screens total.

(2008): Contruction begins on the Cineport 10 in Las Cruces. 

(2008): 3D screens added to Las Cruces, Farmington, Roswell, Alamogordo, Gallup, Clovis & Hobbs.

(2009): Construction completed of the new Cineport 10 in Las Cruces, NM. 10 screens with all stadium seating, digital projection and the full service restaurant, THE LAUNCH PAD CAFE.

(2013): Contruction completed on the Red Rock 6 in Gallup, NM. Re-opened with 4 additional screens, now Red Rock 10.

(2016): Construction completed on Galaxy 8 in Roswell, NM. Luxury recliners are installed in every auditorium.

(2017): Construction completed on Telshor 12 in Las Cruces, NM. Luxury recliners are installed in every auditorium.

(2017): Construction completed on Allen 8 in Farmington, NM. Luxury recliners are installed in every auditorium.

(2017): New additions to the Allen Theatres chain, the Morenci Theatre in Morenci, AZ, and Stargazer 5 (formerly Sapphire 5) in Safford, AZ.

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