Jack Loeks

John "Jack" Loeks (1918 – February 22, 2004), was an American movie theatre pioneer, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jack, who had tried many other previous business ventures in his life, opened the single screen Midtown Theatre in downtown Grand Rapids, in 1944.

Not only did Jack open the first 12 screen and first 20 screen theatres in the world, but also opened some of the first drive-ins in West Michigan, and also opened a number of other cinemas across Michigan. Jack also participated in a law suit against Hollywood which opened the way for privately owned theatres to show first-run Hollywood movies.

Jack had two sons, Jim and John Jr. Jim, married to Barrie Lawson, broke off from the Jack Loeks Theatres company and started his own movie theater, Star Theatre, backed by Sony, which is now owned by AMC. His other son, John Loeks Jr. has since become the owner and CEO of Jack Loeks Theatres, which is now known as Celebration! Cinema, the logo designed by local artist Tim De Groot.

External links

* [http://www.bigscreenmovies.com Celebration! Cinema]