7. Harkins Theatres
Seventh on the list and next in line we have the privately owned company, Harkins Theatres.
With locations throughout the Southwestern United States, the Harkins Theatres is operated by its parent company, Harkins Enterprises, LLC.
Putting $50 down on the lease to take over the State Theatre, Dwight “Red” Harkins opened the State Theatre in Tempe in 1933.
In 1934 he expanded to have an outdoor theatre in Tempe Beach Park, though it lasted that one summer.
After his death in 1974, Dwight Harkins left the near bankrupt company to his eldest son, Dan Harkins.
After reworking the company, DanHarkins extensively expanded the theatre chain from five locations in the Phoenix area to the current 30 locations in five states.
The Harkins Theatres company currently operates 30 theaters with 432 screens throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.
