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 company_logo   = Image:Logo century theatres.gif

Century Theatres is a movie theater chain which operates many multiplexes in the western United States; primarily in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. In recent years, they have expanded into the inter-mountain states, the Pacific Northwest, Texas, and parts of the Midwest. Founded in 1941, the chain is headquartered in San Rafael, California.

A Picture of a Century Theatre at Night

Originally, the Century Theater chain was named Syufy Enterprises, after its founder Ray Syufy (senior). Syufy built his first theater in Vallejo, CA, in 1941, but the first Century theater was the Century 21 in San Jose, California, which opened in 1963 adjacent to the Winchester Mystery House. The current manager of Century 21 is Rhiannon C. Newton, better known for her role on CBS' hit comedy Yes, Dear. According to popular belief, the naming was a tactic used to promote an "Adult audience" This image was bolstered further by the lobby's distinct "bubbled lights" and metallic gold accents. The large orange metal ornament on the top of the domed-theater was functional in addition to being decorative--theater employees rappelled from it when the dome's outer track-lighting needed to be maintained. The first film presented at the Century 21 was It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Century has a long history of litigation against its much larger competitor, AMC Theatres, for allegedly anticompetitive behavior. However, since the late-1990s, both sides have generally refrained from suing each other.

On August 8, 2006, Texas-based chain Cinemark Theatres announced that it had completed a purchase agreement under which Century Theatres will be acquired with a combination of cash and stock from Cinemark's parent company. [1] The transition to Cinemark was completed on Thursday, October 5, 2006, with the exception of the Century 21, 22, and 23 theatres in San Jose, which were transferred back to their original company, Syufy Enterprises.

Most theaters now serve Starbucks coffee as well as Nathan's Famous Hotdogs. The concessions area of each century will typically sell a large selection of candy, pretzel bites, nachos, pizza, popcorn, Kettle Corn, ICEEs, sodas, ice cream treats and water. The cafe section of consessions sells cakes, Starbucks coffees, teas, cookies and other treats.

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