50 years ago (1974): Cinemas East opened in Wichita

50 years ago on this day (1974), Wichita's newest movie theaters, Cinemas East, opened its doors for business on Rock Road between Central & Douglas.

This was the second of American Entertainment Theatres located in Wichita; Cinemas East was operated by Bill Warren, who was on his way to becoming a movie theater mogul in Wichita.

The original plan was to have Cinemas East located in the Eastgate shopping center at Kellogg & Rock, but a different site was chosen to the north along Rock Road.

Cinemas East was originally built with four screens, and two more were added later after being sold to Commonwealth.

The old chairs from Cinemas East are still in use as floor seating in the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Wichita.

This story was heard this morning on "The Blur", entertainment news every weekday morning at 8:35 a.m. on Steve & Ted in the Morning, 98.7 and 1330 KNSS.