Comments from Mike Rogers

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Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about National Hills Theatre on Oct 7, 2009 at 5:36 pm

Bill, I worked at Columbia Square Cinemas And GCC’s REGENCY 1.2.3 in AUGUSTA;IF YOU have not checked those sites out. I am trying to get my ABC theatres guys to write.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Regency Exchange Cinema on Oct 7, 2009 at 5:31 pm

HEY, RUSSELL, we really had it great at GCC. i know one you got on the calulator and figured out on salsry you and me were making about $ 1.25 an hour when you factored in those regular run features that always had to start at 10;15PM!

Then the kiddie shows and MIDNIGHT SHOWS!!! I REMEMBER one time when ROCKY HORROR was kicking butt Zacker asked you and me and DRAY IF WE WOULD STAY FOR A 2;30 AM SHOWING AGAIN FOR THAT crazy movie. I would not have done it for any other man,and i know you and chuck felt the same way. YOU DO IT FOR THE SHOW. aND MY I ADD THAT CASE OF BUD SURE WAS GOOD THAT NIGHT, never figured out how he got that case that late at night. MAN, THAT IS THE REAL THEATRE BUSINESS. These places today are hardly the showmanship we had. About GCC there are a lot of GCC THEATRES listed with comments. MAYBE stan knows.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Imperial Theatre on Oct 7, 2009 at 5:15 pm

It might have seated 1159 folks with old wooden seats,but when the rocking chairs went in in the mid to late 60’s that theatre held 881 people , I know that beacuse of one movie,,JAWS.
ANOTHER POPULAR SHOW was the PEPSI/ KELLY BUDDY ClUB kid shows every saturday morning.Bring 4 pepsi bootle caps and 2 kelly hamburger wrappers to see a free movie and WIN prizes given away by TROOPER TERRY a WJBF KID SHOW HOST.Every kid in AUGUSTA would want to have their birthday party on tv 6 every afternoon. The Imperial would be packed with kids. 881 seats!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Gaston Mall Theatre on Oct 7, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Okay, I MESSED UP! John Mackey was NOT in the theatre business when this ad was run in the local paper witha painted on skirt. I HEARD the story either from John or my cousin Ray who managed a twin in Hendersonville,N.C. SORRY JOHN, but i have learned quickly to have facts 100%.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Florida Theatre on Oct 7, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Nick, you better be right about those films! There are guys on here that ssem to know everything about the theatre business except for where i got my theatre jacket dry cleaned. AND According to Rochelle i did not get it cleaned enought!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Columbia Square Cinemas on Oct 7, 2009 at 4:27 pm

When we played THE EYES OF LARUA MARS we had a promotion; something you never hear much about nowadays;with WBBQ the largest radio station in Augusta, We gave away a very expensive 35mm camera to a lucky moviegoer that had won tickets on the radio. The first show was for radio winnners only.We about filled up COLUMBIA 2 that night.

Also remember getting hyped up for THE DEEP. It was written by PETER Benchly the guy that gave us JAWS.THE DEEP did okay for a couple of weeks. IT WAS NO JAWS!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Theater goes from part-time job to intense hobby for man on Oct 3, 2009 at 1:46 pm

It always amazed me to hear projectionists cry about losing their jobs. Back, in 1976 when i saw my first platter; heck. i knew the writing was on the wall. HECK, who has to worry about a change over. What’s CARBON ARCS! I KNEW AUTOMATION would kill that profession.WHILE i was in management at ABC THEARES AND later Plitt i had no problem with operators.Let them worry about the booth. By the time i got to GCC I could see it really ending. IF YOU ARE STILL RUNNING A BOOTH YOU HAVE A STRONG LOCAL. The local here in Augusta Local 518 had to merge with the Stagehands Local 629 which i am now a member. I still can’t understand why Hollywood will use UNION people to make a film and then turn it over to some usher or concessionstand girl to run the booth. Might be me ,but i never could figure out why they would turn their product over to a seventeen year old kid at your local 30 Plex

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Palmetto Theatre on Oct 3, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Dickie, I WORKED for ABC/ PLITT THEATRES and everynight i had to call our figures into COLUMBIA and i think you guys were the ABC THEATRE we called from Augusta.Wasn’t our D.M. Mr, Biggs? Anyways, We would almost everynight talk to a girl named PEGGY. I Wonder if i have the right theatre. I know the girl was Peggy.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Southgate Cinema on Oct 3, 2009 at 1:08 pm

YOU GUYS! After being corrected on the opening of COLUMBIA 1 and 2 Theatres. I MIGHT be off a few days. But i really think LOVE STORY opened this theatre. I GUESS IF i had the time i could look at mircofilm from the paper and really know. That is how i found out about MASH being the last film to play at Forest Hills Drive-in.
After, Southgate closed and it just sit for months empty i went by and took down the two poster frames for my one sheets. I am surprized Georgia Theatres left them.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about National Hills Theatre on Oct 3, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Bill, you know what the sad part is and i have gone out of my mind, but there are at least 10 friends of mine who meet up everyonce in awhile and talk nothing but the theatre, THE REAL THEATRE business from the 70’s.Some of those guys could add so much if nothing more than a strong history of Augusta Theatres. Sadly, most of our projectionists are gone. They have so much info.THEY LIKE reading my stories,BUT NOOOOOOOOO, they are too shy to join in.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Plitt and Cineplex-Odeon in Chicago on Oct 3, 2009 at 12:47 pm

Believe it or not, I still have my Plitt Theatre Employees' card. WONDER how many are still around.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Happy 30th birthday, Superman!!! on Oct 3, 2009 at 12:43 pm

Superman was really one of the last big blockbusters to play at the Imperial in Augusta.I remember the employees from the Plitt Theatres going down the night before it opened for a sneak preview.I was able to get the one sheet out to Columbia Square for a cross plug.
OF COURSE, I kept it.If i REMEMBER right didn’t it sorta begin this area of listing everyone in the credits including food services. I know alot of nights when no one stayed behind we would cut off the lamps to save carbon arcs. Sometimes,the boothwould just shut down.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Florida Theatre on Oct 3, 2009 at 12:32 pm

SOUNDER opened at NATIONAL HILLS . LADY SINGS THE BLUES opened at the MILLER. You know SHAFT was Directed by GORDON PARKS. Wasn’t HIERONYMUS rated X when it was Released. From dealing with the black moviegoer of the early 70’s i know SOUNDER would have died a slow death at the IMPERIAL. I Bet it performed bad at the FLORDIA.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Tennessee Theatre on Oct 3, 2009 at 12:03 pm

I Saw in the Knoxville paper a write-up on the Tennessee Theatre. Saw those 35mm projectors. WOW, YOU GUYS must use real projectionists that know a cue mark from a splice!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Peach Orchard Cinemas on Oct 3, 2009 at 10:26 am

Christmas movies at the Weis are KING KONG,Billed as THE MOST ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE OF OUR TIME. What a joke! Just noticed they had showings that started at noon and the last show was at midnight. CAR WASH was in the other cinema. While the Weis Drive -IN was showing 3-D WIDE SCREEN ..HARD CANDY with the second feature SWINGING COEDS. CHRISTMAS 1976.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Columbia Square Cinemas on Oct 3, 2009 at 10:19 am

Well you are right again about MY theatre. I HAVE the tear sheet from the AUGUSTA CHRONICLE and what threw me off is the big 1977 celebration with bells. I GUESS JERRY TINNEY WAS LOOKING TOWARD THE NEW YEAR. I guess we did open in the latter part of 1976. We had NICKELODEON and STAR IS BORN. NATIONAL HILLS HAD THE GREAT ADVENTURE while the Imperial had THE ENFORCER.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Webb Theatre on Oct 3, 2009 at 10:02 am

Mark in N.C. DO YOU KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THE DIANA 29 DRIVE IN GASTONIA? I HAD HEARD THE OWNER HAD COME HOME AFTER CLOSING THE DRIVE-IN FOR THE NIGHT TO FIND HIS FAMILY KILLED AND HE NEVER OPENED THE DRIVE-IN UP. IT WAS A TWIN DRIVE-IN.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about No. 1 Drive-In on Oct 2, 2009 at 8:54 pm

RAY, thanks so much for taking the time and help me with our city’s history of movie theatres. I’VE GOT AT LEAST 8 OR 10 GUYS I WORKED WITH AT ABC THEATRES AND GCC THAT COULD ADD SO MUCH,BUT I CANNNOT GET THEM TO WRITE A THING! I MEAN THEY WILL SIT AROUND FOR HOURS TALKING OF THE OLD DAYS,ENJOY READING WHAT I SUBMIT,BUT THEY WILL NOT LIFT A FINGER. BILL BARKLEY HAS TONS OF STORIES!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about 40 Years of 2001: A Space Odyssey! on Oct 2, 2009 at 8:43 pm

YOU KNOW IT IS A MOVIE I REMEMBER SEEING ON THAT LARGE SCREEN IN 70MM AT NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE.IT IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME. I SAW IT WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AND REMEMBER THE INTERMISSION AND WALKING AROUND THE LOBBY LIISTENING TO ADULTS DISCUSSING IT. THE ONLY PLACE TO SEE A MOVIE LIKE THIS IS ON A REAL MOVIE SCREEN
WE PLAYED IT AT REGENCY 1.2.3. ON A LATE SHOW AND THAT SMALL GCC SCREEN WAS JUST A JOKE.I COULDN’T WATCH IT. AND I THINK AT A DRIVE-IN THE SOUND WOULD NOT BE UP TO PAR

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Manring Theatre on Oct 2, 2009 at 8:08 pm

I REMEMBER GOING TO MIDDLESBORO WITH MY GRANDMOTHER TO HER DOCTOR. SHE LIVED OVER IN TENN.WHILE SHE WAS THERE I WOULD ALWAYS WALK OVER TO THE MANRING THEATRE. IT WAS ALWAYS CLOSED,BUT I WOULD LOOK AT THE ONE SHEETS AND STILLS. ONE TIME I SPOTTED A …FILM CAN…IN THE LOBBY WITH THE TITLE SECRET CEREMONY…A REAL FILM CAN .FOR A 12 YEAR OLD I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. IN MY HOMETOWN OF AUGUSTA,GA. I WAS NEVER SO LUCKY.
I WENT BACK IN THE LATE 80’S AND SAW A LOUSY BANK THERE. HAVING SEEN A SMALL MULTPLEX IN THE MALL, I ASSUMED THE OLD THEATRE JUSTWENT DARK. NEVER KNEW A FIRE GOT IT, DID VISIT THE SITE OF THE OLD ROSA DRIVE-IN. SURPRIZED NONE OF YOU LOCALS HAVE DONE A HISTORY ON THE DRIVE-INS.
MIDDLESBORO MOVIE GOERS CERTAINLY HAD SOME GREAT FILMS PLAY AT THE MANRING. …..THE DIRTY DOZEN {NICE AD]….at the same time the ROSA DRIVE IN on pineville road was playing..EASY COME AND EASY GO..WITH ELVIS.SECOND FEATURE WAS … THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED… THE BIRDS PLAYED AT THE MANRING WITH A SPECIAL MATINEE AT 1;30. AT THE ROSA DRIVE -IN SOMETHING CALLED…I HATE YOUR GUTS…THE AD SAYS ‘'HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE AND PERVERTED’‘ this is the 60’s. THE MANRING PLAYED …IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT,,,SAT AND SUNDAY SHOWS AT 2;00 AND 8;00. THE PHONENUMBER TO THE BOXOFFICE WAS 248-5718.IN THOSE DAYS I BET YOU GOT A REAL PERSON. THE MANRING ALSO PLAYED …CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED. WITH A CO-HIT…7 GLADIATORS.WHILE THE SAME NIGHT THE ROSA DRIVE-IN WAS PLAYING….
TARZAN AND THE SHE DEVIL. ALSO THE RETURN OF JESSE JAMES.
THE FEATURES CHANGED THE NEXT NIGHT TO ..ARMORED ATTACK..DAKOTA INCIDENT AND THE THIRD MOVIE ….THE WORLD BY NIGHT.. I BET MOST FOLKS IN MIDDLESBORO WOULD RATHER HAVE THESE TWO SHOWPLACES THAN THAT LITTLE MULTIPLEX IN THAT LITTLE MALL.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Paris & Beekman projectionist pickets on Oct 2, 2009 at 7:33 pm

I SAW THE END OF REAL PROJECTIONISTS BACK IN THE MIDDLE 70’S. I SAW A PLATTER AND THOUGHT GREAT NOW THEATRE MANAGEMENT WILL NOT ONLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FLOOR, BUT THE BOOTH TOO. I WAS SO LUCKY TO WORK FOR ABC THEATRES AND GCC BOTH UNION HOUSES, BUT SADLY I SAW THE UNION HAVE TO GIVE AWAY. LIKE HAVE THE MANAGER CUT THE PROJECTORS OFF AND LET THE PROJECTIONIST HIT THE ROAD WHEN THE LAST FEATURE STATED.
YES, IT WAS MORE HEADACHE FOR VERY UNDERPAID MANAGERS AND ASSISTANTS WHO OFTEN GOT STUCK WITH THE DIRTY TASK. YOU SPEAK OF DIGITAL, WELL, TO ME CARRYING FILM CANS IS THE REAL, AND MEAN, REAL THEATRE BUSINESS!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Le Jeune Drive-In on Oct 2, 2009 at 7:18 pm

FOR SOME REASON WHEN YOU MENTION MIAMI YOU TEND NOT TO THINK OF DRIVE-IN THEATRES. THE LE JEUNE AUTO DRIVE- IN THEATRE PARKED 700 CARS IN THE LATE 50’S AND WAS OWNED BY LE JEUNE AUTO , INC.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Capri Theatre on Oct 2, 2009 at 7:10 pm

GEEZ, I JUST NOTICE WE ARE DOING ALL THIS ON THE CAPRI LISTING. I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE IT OVER TO GCC.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Capri Theatre on Oct 2, 2009 at 7:08 pm

RUSSELL, HOW ABOUT SOME GCC STORIES. IT IS YOU AND ME LEFT UNLESS YOU CAN GET BARRY INTO WRITING. WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT STORIES AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THIS SITE EAT THOSE STORIES UP. ONLY THE G RATED. AND NOT THE PHONE CALL…I GOT BLAMED FOR!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers commented about Columbia Square Cinemas on Oct 2, 2009 at 7:02 pm

I WAS WRONG ON STAR WARS BEING BOOKED INTO COLUMBIA 1 AND 2 THEATRES. SEE WEIS CINEMA CENTRE FOR MORE INFO ON THIS GOOF-UP.