Four Seasons Cinemas

Mike Rogers on February 7, 2011 at 4:06 pm

when I first went in that booth I had only seen Platters,not reels on the walls.It was different,for sure.Ray ended up servicing all the Regal Cinemas in that area when Projection problems arose.

Mike Rogers on February 14, 2010 at 7:53 pm

RIPSIN, I am working a history on the SKYLAND ARTS CINEMA in Hendersonville.Hopefully, you will be able to comment on this Art theatre which opened when the CAROLINA 1 and 2 were sold for a bank.

Ripshin on February 14, 2010 at 6:33 pm

Well, I started going there soon after it opened, and never cared for it. A sister lived in town, so I only went a few times a year. By the early 90s, I refused to see films there at all. I do remember that the building seemed “bad” from the outset. The Carolina had been horribly butchered by twinning. My regional favorite was the lost Ultra-Vision Mall Theatre behind the Asheville Mall – oval theaters, great design. (Most of its life, was called The Mall Twin Theater, I believe.)

Fondest theater memory from childhood was in 60s/70s Florida – the Sunny Isle Twin in Miami. It also had oval theaters – with spectacular tile work in the lobby, and two different color themes for the auditoriums….Aquamarine,(blue) and Driftwood (orange……rocking plush chairs….wow.

Mike Rogers on January 9, 2010 at 3:52 pm

More on the Four Seasons with a interview with the last real theatre manager there,Ray Rogers.

Mike: the theatre had different look inside at the time.

Ray: Yes, it was of Austrian waterfall screen curtains and full stereo sound,a far cry from the Carolina in town.

Mike; What the booth?

Ray: Mike, it was impressive the first time i took over. So much room. We had Film Systems Consoles Christie projector heads. I got so good in the booth often i would be in Asheville fixing problems in those theatres. We had full Kintek sound. The booth also had wall mounted film transport systems. and like so many theatres we had interlock on all 4 houses.

Mike: I know all theatre guys have a story,What’s yours?

Ray:{laughing} I remember a customer came out and said you have a hole in wall somewhere! I can hear the wind whistling around. He didn’t realize it was the sound effectsof the movie he was hearing and not the weather outside. That is a good sound system.

Mike: I have to agree.haven’t read that yet on CT, Special Needs?

Ray: I was proud to hire Special needs employees. and out theatre was equipped in the cinemas for such folks.

Mike:Not alot managers managed that theatre,Must have a great place for a guy to stay for awhile,

Ray: Mike,you are right,not many at all, Keith was the first.David White was an Assistant to help Keith Black. Ed Webb came in and i was brought in mainly because of my Booth experience and managing at the CAROLINA 1 and 2 {on CT}, Litchfield was the chain.

Mike: Different chains took over?

Ray: Yes, United Artists,and several off shoots,then REGAL and finally Epic who simply walked away like the above post MIKEOAKLANDPARK wrote.

Mike: Keeping it clean? a problem?

Ray: No, Both the interior and exterior walls were painted making maintance easy. {Scored concrete blocks}

Mike: Some debate on opening day.

Ray; It opened Feb.14 1985 with good weather,for here. I held the “fort” down from 1985 to 2006. Heck, that is probably a theatre manager record.
I would also like to add unlike new theatres and like you I hate saying “cinemas” so much ours had lots of leg room and Our seats were offset just right so you could always see the screen. We were using neon way before alot of theatres today.

Mike: Anything else I know our CT readers always want more.

Ray ; Just a pity to see “her” there now, Dark.

Mike: Ray, That is the cry of so many readers,thanks for the time.