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In 1931, he rode out of his hometown of Cincinnati on a Harley Davidson
determined to seek his fortune in Hollywood by landing a role in
the exciting world of talking pictures. Lucky for Arizona movie lovers,
Red never made it to Hollywood. After a brief stop in Flagstaff,
he arrived in Tempe almost penniless, but eager to pursue a new
Hollywood dream: opening his own movie house. It was 1933, the height
of the Depression, when Red opened the first Harkins Theatre, The
State Theatre in Tempe. He was just 18 and probably the youngest
theater operator in the world.
In 1940, already a renowned showman, inventor and community leader
at age 25, Red built his dream movie house, the College Theatre
(today's Valley Art). The College was full of fantastic new innovations
like glow-in-the-dark carpeting, headphones for the hearing impaired
and electronically controlled drinking fountains. It set a new standard
for theaters and established a Harkins' tradition of employing the
latest technology to constantly improve the movie-going experience.
Over the years, Red's eagerness to experiment with the latest technology
led to other firsts. In the 1950's, Red helped revolutionize the
broadcast industry by inventing FM multiplex radio and launching
the first radio station to transmit mutitrack sound. Later, Red pioneered
the Valley's second television station, Channel 12.
When Red passed away in 1974, he left an enduring legacy of business
and community service. The family theater business was left in the
hands of his eldest son Dan, a pre-law major at ASU. Dan was no
newcomer to the business of running theaters, having spent most
of his childhood helping out in his father's movie houses.
Using the same showmanship and innovative thinking his father was
famous for, Dan immediately set about expanding the original chain
of 5 theaters and upgrading every facility with a new generation
of sound and projection technology. Today, the success Dan has brought
to Harkins rivals that of his father. With nearly 75 years of colorful
history, Harkins Theatres remains the Southwest's premier entertainment
company.
Harkins' leadership and creativity goes beyond the world of movies. Over
the past 20 years, Harkins Theatres has helped set a new standard for
charitable giving in the Western U.S. through charity benefit premieres
and screenings, souvenir and holiday gift sales and public service
announcements on the movie screens. The company has helped many schools and
organizations raise millions of dollars. Harkins Theatres has worked with
dozens of groups, including Boys & Girls
Clubs in Metro Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Denver, March of Dimes,
Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Alzheimer's Association, Phoenix Children's Hospital, The
Children's Center in Oklahoma City, The Humane Society and many more.
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