South County Cinema

October 22nd, 1976 grand opening as twin also in photo section.

I worked there from 1976 to 1979. Had a great time, especially after hours!

Actually, Needy, my last post should have said Wehrenberg bought out the remaining GCC theaters IN ST. LOUIS in 1990. There were still GCC theaters in other parts of the country, as I discovered when I moved to Southern California in 1991.

Also, I apologize for my poor spelling in my original post. This editor started acting strange by not scrolling down once I came to the bottom of the box. I’m using the Firefox browser…could that have something to do with that happening?

Also, I believe it was Wehrenberg that bought out GCC in StL

I suppose that another chain might want to go head-to-head with the Wehrenberg Ronnie’s 20 by building a megaplex closer to South County Mall; after all, the AMC operation competes with Wehrenberg’s Galaxy in Chesterfield. Except for the discount Keller 8, the area does seem underscreened. However, South County may not be seen as econonmically attractive. I do not think that there is any doubt that AMC will eventually close its Crestwood theaters, and that in time the whole Crestwood Plaza will be redeveloped just as the Jamestown Mall will be soon.

Sorry JAlex, you are mistaken. The CVS is located where the 905 store once stood, later replaced by a Western Auto. Pollo Loco is where the McDonald’s was once located. Then the outlot where Macaroni Grill was located.

When the South County Cinema was a wonderful one screen showplace in 1975 it was one of the lucky places to play “Jaws” that summer to packed houses. I recall the shark teeth on the marquee and the “Jaws” wording in between – wish someone would post a picture!

Sensurround was introduced in St. Louis at the South County for “Earthquake” in 1974 and it was so loud the first weekend that the Exit lights blinked which made several patrons understandably nervous. The Sensurround gadget took out the last two rows of seats on the left and right sides.

In 1977 when the South County was split in two, the theatre lost its simple lustre and was no longer the fun place it had been. When Sensurround returned in 1977 for “Rollercoaster” the patrons in the unfortunate other part of the theatre that was seeing “The Rescuers” got a full blast of Sensurround whenever the rumble scenes of “Rollercoaster” would take place.

When it was a single screen place, the screen itself had a magical blue glow in between shows that was Perfect for “Jaws” and other films.

“The Andromeda Strain” in 1971 and “Midway” in Sensurround in 1976 were two memorable attractions at the South County.

The first weekend of “Jaws” the crowds went completely around the South County theatre. The modern blockbuster film phenomenon was born. “Jaws” played at the South County from June all the way through September of 1975.

The single screen South County Cinema was, in its own way, a St. Louis theatre paradise.

I believe everyone except Chuck1231. He’s wrong on every post he’s made about every single theater. Chuck, please go through your old posts and edit them. Every user has pointed out to the fact that you’re wrong about everything

I opened this theatre in 1966. Wilton J Colonna was the Manager and Laurabel Finley was the Assistant. Colonna came from the Manchester Drive-In and Laurabel was from the Airway Drive-in and Manchester.
Actual seat count was closer to 909.
This was General Cinema unit #509.
Some of the original guys were Dan Schuhwerk, Tom Hubbard, Gary Moll, Joe Voyles. The gals with the sweets were Andrea Jo Frenz, Connie Holzum, Pat Holzum, Linda Weismiller, Bonnie Schaefer, Vickie D'Alessandro, Janet Johannes. I will strain my brain and come up with another 25 early employees.
South County Bank opened in 1963 on the site of the USBank, right next door.
The Texaco station was behind the theatre on top of the hill, later a donut shop and an optical shop, and a McDonald’s was built up there.
I worked there 1966 to 1969, with a break of 5 months in there.
-gary

Anybody from circa 1967-1980. Good times were had by all!

General Cinema sold the Pepsi operations long before they went bankrupt. The proceeds of the Pepsi sale is what they used to buy Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. They had been in the restaurant business back in the 60s, owning Richards Drive-In, Peter Pan Snack Shops and Amy Joy Donut shops (Amy Joy is Richard A. Smith’s daughter). They also had the food operations in the various bowling alleys that they owned. Today, all they (the Smith family) are involved in is the Nieman Marcus-Bergdorf Goodman stores and a small asset management firm.

Theatre division into 2-screens occurred in late 1976.