Edward's Theatres Circuit Inc history

Depression Era Beginnings: 1930--50

In 1939 he created what some consider to be the first movie multiplex by buying the building next to his theater in Alhambra, California and installing a second screen.

The freeway, which opened in 1954, provided a direct, convenient route between Los Angeles and the Orange County cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana.

1961 Stanley Durwood becomes CEO of the company and renames it American Multi-cinema.

1962 AMC opens the world's first multiplex, the Parkway Twin in Kansas City.

1981 AMC becomes the first theatre chain to add cupholder armrests.

1991 Introduces Clip®, a "film strip" character to serve as an ambassador of the brand and its Silence is Golden® program.

1995 AMC opens the world's first megaplex.

In 1996 Edwards took the industry's 'bigger is better' trend to a new level by building a $27 million, state-of-the-art megaplex in Irvine, California.

Edwards' Boise 21 opened in December of 1997--just in time for the holiday movie rush.

By the time the Houston Grand Palace opened on October 22, 1999, the company was already working on a second 24-screen theater in Houston, which was scheduled to open by Christmas.

2000 AMC co-founds online ticket services to add convenience to even the busiest AMC theatres like Empire 25 in New York City, which is recognized as the busiest theatre in the world.

2005 AMC co-founds National CineMedia, which runs all of AMC's preshow entertainment and in-theatre advertising.

2007 AMC partners with IMAX to bring approximately 125 IMAX large-screen digital projection systems to AMC locations around the country.

2009 AMC partners with Sony and RealD to implement digital and 3D technology.

2011 AMC launches its AMC Stubs rewards program, which provides members with new benefits like concessions upgrades and dollars back for every dollar they spend.