Gateway Cinema
Located at the intersection of East Sunrise Blvd and Federal Highway, few living in or visiting Fort Lauderdale fail to drive by the Gateway Cinema without noticing the renowned neon marquee. The once 1,600-seat movie palace opened March 24th, 1951 (70 years ago) and gained national recognition with the 1960 star-studded, World Premiere of the iconic Spring Break film, “Where The Boys Are." With the increased popularity of multiplex theatres, the auditorium was reconstructed to create a fourplex. With the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic in March of 2020, the Gateway was shuttered for more than a year. In May of 2021 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) reopened the beloved theater programming both American Independent and foreign language films, as well as mainstream movies. The neglected neon marquee was recently restored, and FLIFF plans to revive the cinema by renovating the restrooms, concession stand, and adding a bar.
