The Cinema 10 had a interesting history before it even opened. In the early 1990’s United Artists Theatres broke ground on the United Artists Genesee Valley Cinemas located just north of the Genesee Valley shopping center. Around the same time, National Amusements purchased the former Utley Junior High School and tore it down for a planned Showcase Cinemas and GKC Theatres planned an expansion of their Genesee Valley Cinemas.
Then National Amusements bought out the GKC Theatres Flint area operations. This led United Artists to abandon their theater project after constructing a parking lot and a foundation for the theater. National Amusements converted the Genesee Valley Cinemas into a second run house and closed the Towne Cinemas, eventually building the Showcase Cinemas Flint West where the school used to stand. National Amusements also took over the theater project abandoned by United Artists Theatres, building the Cinema which opened in 1997, replacing the Genesee Valley Cinemas which closed upon the opening of the Cinema 10.
The Genesee Valley Cinemas was eventually torn down to make rooom for new retail development. The Cinema was originally a bargain priced second run house, but a couple of years ago, National Amusements reorganized their Flint area operations and made the Cinema 10 a full priced first run house showing major Hollywood as well as art house releases. The Cinema 10 was closed in October 2007. [Cinema Treasures Charles Van Bibber]