White Plains movie theaters open tomorrow, May 16th

Apple Cinemas will open its theater complex in downtown White Plains to the public on Thursday, May 16. The film screenings are scheduled to begin around 4 p.m. Apple has taken over the space previously occupied by National Amusements' Showcase Cinemas. Showcase operated with 15 halls.

Apple's schedule for showing the films starting Thursday called for eight features: “If;” “The Strangers;” “Back to Black”; “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”; “Not Another Church Movie”; “The Fall Guy”; “Challenger”; and “Kung Fu Panda.”

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach joined representatives from the movie theater chain, theater vendors and several invited guests for a private ribbon-cutting ceremony with a buffet and self-service popcorn from a new popcorn machine. The theater's lobby has been renovated and new signage welcomes visitors to the top floor of the downtown retail area on Mamaroneck Avenue.

Showcase had a 15-screen cinema operation but closed in October last year. Apple Cinemas is not affiliated with the computer company. It has 12 theaters in six states with more than 100 screens. The company was founded in 2010. It offers a wide range of films, from family entertainment to arthouse and foreign films.

The 15-screen theater was a star attraction when it opened on June 25, 2005 and has been a central downtown attraction ever since. It opened with about 3,200 seats, but seating capacity was reduced over time as the theater added wider, more luxurious seating. Apple opens with a total of around 1,400 seats in the various halls it uses. Showcase added an IMAX theater where films could be viewed on a nearly wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor screen. Apple says it will feature an advanced IMAX projection system with laser light.