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Car lots, clothing stores and now the local movie theater.

Residents of New Castle have experienced the closing of many businesses in recent years. Now no one will be able to enjoy a movie at the local theater, known as, the Castle.

The theater, located on Main Street, opened its doors Oct. 10, 1935, at the peak of Hollywood cinema.

Kerasotes owned the theater until it was sold to AMC last week. Clair Malo, Kerasotes director of marketing, would not comment on why the theater in New Castle was closing. She did state that Thursday would be its final day.

Generations of New Castle residents have many memories of watching their favorite movies at the Castle.

Amy Glaser, State Farm Insurance agent, and lifelong resident of New Castle, said she went to the theater as a child, and now her own teenage daughter goes to the movies there.  

"The Castle closing is very sad," Glaser said. "It's been a part of New Castle for a long time. My parents went to the Castle Theater. My kids go there, I've grown up there. It will be very missed in town."

The manager of the business, Keith Yockey, said he had a lot of good memories at the Castle, and that makes it hard to pinpoint a favorite. Yockey said almost everyone from town came to the Castle to watch a movie at least once.

"I always liked the variety," Yockey said. "You know there was always something a little different everyday. We do different things everyday, the variety is the best thing."

The building is full of history and nostalgia. Newspaper clippings of advertisements for blockbuster movies from the late 1930s and 40s line the lobby hall of the building.

An aerial map of the city of New Castle from the 1940s is still present in the lobby. Yockey said it does not matter how long it has been since someone has been to the theater, they always remember the map.

The building is also a gift that keeps giving. When the property was purchased in 1935, it was bought as a trust fund for Riley Hospital. A plaque still hangs outside the box office to show that money still goes to the children's hospital in Indianapolis. 

Yockey said he hopes someone will buy the theater to help the children and keep the history going.

The last movie will show at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28, and will feature Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel.