Edwards Begins Theater Closures

SAN DIEGO-In another casualty of an industry rapidly fading from black inkto red, Edwards Theatres Circuit Inc. has filed for bankruptcyprotection and closed four theaters—including a 7-screen complex in the North County suburb of Mira Mesa.

In addition to the seven-screen theater on Camino Ruiz, the Newport Beach-basedchain—one of the largest in Southern California—closed a theater in theOrange County city of Stanton and two more in the Inland Empire. Edwards says its other San Diego-area complexes will remain open.

The closed theaters screened their last picture show the night of Aug. 22, asEdwards filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in US Bankruptcy Court inSanta Ana. The chain now operates 70 theaters in California, Texas andIdaho and will continue to operate its remaining properties during thereorganization.