In 1931, Dwight “Red” Harkins left home in Cincinnati, Ohio, to pursue a career in the “talkies” in Hollywood, California. He ran out of funds in Tempe, Arizona. After working for a few years, he decided to open his own movie house in Tempe, called the Star Theatre in 1933.
From these humble beginnings, Harkins Theatres has grown into a large movie chain in the Southwestern portion of the US. The company currently has 34 locations in 5 states, some of these through acquisition.
Every summer, Harkins Theatres hosts Summer Movie Fun, which is geared for children. The program features 10 children’s movies from the previous year. Harkins developed the program more than 30 years ago as a way to offer parents an affordable summer activity for children.
The company maintains headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.