Cinema 1-2-3
130 Laurens Street NW,
Aiken,
SC
29801
130 Laurens Street NW,
Aiken,
SC
29801
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 27 comments
Opened On January 14, 1950 With Robert Mitchum In “Holiday Affair”.
This became Cinema on February 16th, 1962 and Cinema 1-2-3 on June 10th, 1983. Grand opening ads posted.
Yeah, Carmike was good at closing theatres,plus REgal opened a small 8 plex outside the Aiken Mall, John.
According to an article in the Aiken Standard of April 3, 2001, the Cinema was to close on April 5, 2001. The Cinema was formerly the Rosemary Theater. It was leased from Mr. Ram, who opened it in 1950. Stewart & Everett leased both the Patricia and Rosemary Theaters in 1952. It closed because Carmick was in Chapter 11.
Sept 7 1964,BOXOFFICE, Jerry Ballard becomes the new manager of the CINEMA.Gary Jones is going to the Valley Drive-in in the same County.{Gloversville}.He was the manager at the CINEMA.
Movies that played the CINEMA
June 25 1966 “BAMBI”
June 2 1966 “SHAGGY DOG” and “ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR”
June 1 1968 “SGT.O'FARRELL”
June 14 1968 “SPEEDWAY”
July 4 1969 “CHITTY,CHITTY,BANG,BANG”
July 26 1968 “GREEN BERETS”
Sept.24 1971 “THE LAST RUN”
Now showing June 19 1970 “SLEEPING BEAUTY”
June 25 1971 This had to have been second run.“LOVE STORY”.
8-24-69 “GOODBYE,COLUMBUS” Goodbye spelt Goodby in newspaper ads.
Nov.28 1969 “CHRISTMAS TREE”,
July 7 1967 “UP THE DOWNSTAIRS CASE”
Dec 25 1970 “RIO LOBO” Showing at the Imperial in Augusta.
Dec. 18 1970 “WUSA”
June 26 1970 “1932:MOONSHINE WAR”.
i wish all of you guys that never did would have had a chance because it was a great job during my years 1974 1979 1981 – 1983.
Also Maximos, this is great place for theatre stories.I woked several theatres in Augusta in Management and filled those theatres with stories,I hope you can do the same. Most of the CT members enjoy the tales of the Theatre.Quite a few,never worked a movie house.
Thanks Maximos.I live over in Evans,Georgia and was doing my best to get these Aiken Screens on.I have a friend who shot a video tape of closing night at the Cinema,Bill Barkley of Bath,S.C.
The Cinema was expanded to a triple in the early 80’s when it was owned by Stewart and Everett It was sold to Carmike in 1987 ( they bought the whole company). Carmike owned the other theatre in town was also owned by Carmike Cinemas. I was the assistant manager there from 1984 to 1987.
Mark II is on Cinema Treasures,cinejazz.
Cinejazz,I guess you do not remember Aiken’s Drive-ins.
Thanks cinejazz.Glad someone in Aiken is on CT.
The Mark II Theatres of Aiken, SC closed in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s. The current Aiken Playhouse was built on the site around 1995 or so. I grew up in Aiken, and saw many films there as a teenager. It was originally a single screen theater until 1985 or so. I remember going to see “Raiders of the Lost Ark” there when it was a single, and “A View to a a Kill,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and “Moonstruck” when it was twined. The original screen was quite big, and it was sad to see it twinned back in 1985.
iam not going to be able to find much more on this theatre except on March 27.1999 the Cinema was now called CINEMA TRIPLE a Carmike theatre they are showing “DOUG’S FIRST MOVIE”. “SAVING PRIVATE RYAN” and on the third screen is “ANALYZE THIS” and “WING COMMANDER”. There was no MARK 1 and 2 Theatres listed,so they must have closed up.
JUNE 7 1964 NOW SHOWING FLIPPERS NEW ADVENTURE . Coming VIVA LAS VEGAS.
June 6 1965 NOW SHOWING MASQUERADE and TICKLE ME coming.
JUne 3 1966 now showing TIKO AND THE SHARK.
JULY 9 1970 NOW SHOWING THE BOATNICKS.
Nov.23 1963 a sad day for America.Some theatres have cancalled shows. THE CINEMA in Aiken is playing FUN IN ACAPULCO. on a late show at 10pm.
July 28 1969 Now Playing Jack Lemmon and Catherine Deneuve in THE APRIL FOOLS Rated M shows at 1-3-5-7 & 9.
SASQUATCH not that anyone could care came through this town in 1977. Winter 1977. Augusta, Aiken, and yes, Barnwell.
Well, THE CINEMA is playing day and date with COLUMBIA ONE in Augusta with SASQUATCH a movie about Bigfoot. It might sell on this side of the river, but i predict a quick death at COLUMBIA ONE. heck it is just finishing a run at the SOUTHHILL DRIVE IN in Barnwell, S.C. a new theatre like COLUMBIA ONE SHOULD NOT be picking up product from a run down drive in in Barnwell!
SEPT. 10 1971
NOW PLAYING …….SHAFT…RATED R. Starting next Thursday LITTLE BIG MAN …Rated GP.
NOW PLAYING AT THE CINEMA
Walt Disney’s THE MIRACLE OF THE WHITE STALLIONS.
April 27 1965
Now Playing at the CINEMA
TRUE GRIT rated G JOHN WAYNE.
According to Bill Barkley THE PATRICIA THEATRE was the first movie house in Aiken S.C. IT was owned by Bert Ram. He named the theatre after his oldest daughter.
Where i am having trouble, is Barkley insists the ROSEMARY THEATRE became the CINEMA. But i swear i remember seeing an old ad i have somewhere that had PATRICIA
ROSEMARY
CINEMA
on a newspaper ad meaning there were 3 theatres! until i can disprove it i will add what Bill gave me
According to Bill Barkley THE ROSEMARY was built sometime later and again named for a child.It had a stage and dressing rooms.It was quite modern and run first run films. Augusta could not bother them because of a ten mile rule. The LOCAL PROJECTIONISTS 518 could not touch them because they fell under COLUMBIA S.C. juriisdiction. They charged less than downtown Augusta and i know alot folks that headed to Aiken for a movie.
They also sent out a monthly schedule of coming attractions for their patrons on a mailing list.
Okay, here is where we could differ, but by Bill’s facts CARMIKE bought the ROSEMARY, named CHANGED and later they added two screens for a triple. that is a fact, 3 screens. The projection booth was on the same level as the original one. the projectors were Century and lamps by Strong. At the entrance a concessionstand served all 3 theatres.
THe entrance to theatre number 2 was straight from the lobby while the other theatres had an entrance with doors to the left.
I talked with the Manager,Bill Barkley said and Bill said the manager didn’t know why they were closing becuse they were doing good business.But Bill, like me. figured the new REGAL at the mall was the place.{ I have seen the 8 plex at Aiken Mall and it is a joke} Mike Rogers.
I also heard the seats came from a cinema hit by HURRICANE HUGO.Makes sense with these companies today. MIKE ROGERS.
THANKS TO BILL BARKLEY. After being corrected on COLUMBIA SQUARE CINEMAS MY OWN THEATRE !!!!!!!!! If anyone has any proof about the three theatres in Aiken let me know. I will hunt for the Ad and if i am right I will let you know. BUT I SURE remember looking at an old newspaper ad and it had…PATRICIA ROSEMARY & CINEMA. Maybe I am wrong. JUST want the facts 100%.
THANKS, Chuck 1231.Do you have any info on the MARK 1 ?