MALL THEATER TO PLAY FINAL SHOW

When Wehrenberg Theatres opened the West Park 4 Cine in 1983, its four screens and equipment represented the newest in moviegoing technology.

In July 1997, the company opened the state-of-the-art 14-screen Cape West across the interstate and relegated West Park 4 Cine to showing second-run movies for $1.

West Park 4 Cine will close for good today after the last shows of "Rush Hour," "Urban Legends" "Meet Joe Black," "There's Something About Mary" and "Antz."

Ron Krueger II, director of operations for Wehrenberg, said "economics" forced the company to close the doors when the theater's lease ran out at West Park Mall.

"We have the 14-plex across the highway we feel is meeting the needs of the market," he said. "Our focus is on the first-run business at Cape West 14."

For Kevin Dillon, who managed West Park 4 Cine from 1985 until assuming the same position when Cape West opened, the closing evokes memories of regular customers and an especially big rain storm.

In 1987, a 10-inch rain blocked off the surrounding roads and stranded 60 or 70 people who were at the theater for the late show. The staff ran another movie for them and served free popcorn and soda.

"We had a flood party," Dillon said.

Another highlight of the theater's run for Dillon was the role it played in the founding of LaCroix United Methodist Church. The church, now located in a new building on Lexington Avenue, got its start by meeting in one of the theaters at West Park 4 Cine, remaining there for seven years.

Mall general manager Jim Govero said no occupant has yet been found for the 11,000 square feet of space. He said other movie companies, including competitor Kerasotes, have been contacted. Kerasotes operates the Town Plaza Cinemas in Cape Girardeau.

"It's hard when you've got 14 state-of-the-art screens with stadium seating across the street," Govero said. "It might be a hard play."

He said the closing of the Venture store at the same end of the mall certainly had an effect on the West Park Cine. "Nine million in sales equates to a lot of foot traffic," he said.

"The reason this one did so well for so many years is a lot of foot traffic passed by those billboards."

The Shopco store that will occupy the space Venture once did is expected to open at the end of March or early in April.

Govero thinks moviegoers are looking for an event when they shun their satellite to go out to a movie.

"Consumers are ready to spend the money, and if it's not state of the art they don't feel they're getting what they paid for," he said.

Kerasotes previously closed its dollar movie, the Broadway. Company officials could not be reached for comment on how the West Park 4 Cine closing would affect their operations in Cape Girardeau.