YOU KNOW, STAR WARS WAS SET FOR COLUMBIA SQUARE THEATERS. WE HAD ALL KINDS OF FLYERS . I BET A THOUSAND OR SO. THE ONE SHEETS RIGHT OFF THE PRESS. I DID SAVE ALL THREE ONE SHEETS BUT WE DUMPED THE FRYERS. WISH I WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM. I THINK THE BOOKERS IN CHARLOTTE HAD NO FAITH IN THIS LITTLE MOVIE. BECAUSE HAD LUCUS HAD TO PICK THE SCREEN FOR HIS MOVIE COLUMBIA SQUARE WOULD HAVE WON HANDS DOWN.
I CAN NOT BELIEVE I FINALLY FOUND THIS THEATRE. I KEPT PUNCHING IN TRYON MALL 1 and 2 THEATRES. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT HAD BEEN EXPANED LIKE EVERY THEATRE EVERYWHERE I GUSS THAT IS WHY THE SUITS RUN THE BUSINESS AND NOT THEATRE LOVERS. SHORT STORY, MY FRIEND JOHN MACKEY RAN THE 1 and 2 THEATRES FOR ABC THEATRES. HE STARTED IN ASHVILLE, SENT DOWN TO GEORGIA AT AUGUSTA' S BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE AND HE WAS MOVED TO THE GASTON MALL…THEN THE BIG CITY OF CHARLOTTE. MY FRIEND AND ASSISTANT MANAGER, TOMMY CAPERS AND MYSELF DROPPED IN TO SEE JOHN COMING BACK FROM THE BEACH. BOTH OF US WORKING FOR abc theatres WERE QUICKY PUT TO WORK HELPING HIM WITH JAWS 2 WE DID NOT MIND. I HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE WATCHING A PREVIEW OF THE MOVIE MIDWAY BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED. SAT IN THERE WITH ALL THE BIG FILM BOOKERS IN CHARLOTTE. for the record, I HATED JAWS 2.
I FOUND OUT THE NAME OF THE THEATRE ACROSS FROM THE OLD CAROLNA. IT WAS CALLED THE SKYLAND ARTS CINEMA AND WAS IN THE BALLROOM, ADINNER THEATRE. I WAS TOLD HE WAS OPEN FOR ABOUT 10 years. IT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE SKYLAND HOTEL.
ALSO BACK IN THOSE DAYS ALMOST ALL THEATRES PLAYED LATE SHOWS. HERE ARE THE LIST OF THE HIGHEST GROSSING LATE SHOWS EVER TO PLAY FROM 1974 TO 1975. THEY ARE MANY TYPES OF FILMS I CERTAINLY HOPE ONE OF YOURS IS LISTED HERE……… 2001, VANISHING POINT, SILENT RUNNING… DUCK SOUP, FRANKENSTEIN AND DRACULA 1931, WOODSTOCK, FRITZ THE CAT, EASY RIDER, STRAWBERRY STATEMENT , DEATH WISH, FRIENDS, ALOHA BOBBY AND ROSE, TOMMY, LET IT BE, IN COLD BLOOD,WIZARDS,HARRAD EXPERIMENT AND FRENZY. YOU CAN SEE FOR THE TIME NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE COVERED ALMOST EVERY TASTE IN FILM. WE THOUGHT BEFORE WE BOOKED ANYTHING AND I THINK OUR MOVIEGOERS REALLY LIKED WHAT WE PUT ON THAT BIG SCREEN.
WAY BEFORE COMPUTERS,SOMETHING IN ME SAID TO JOT DOWN EVENTS OF THAT THEATRE. I SPENT ALOT OF SATURDAYS THERE AS A 12 YEAR OLD WATCHING CHRISTOPHER LEE IN DRACULA OR BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID. HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS WAS A GREAT HORROR FILM THAT PLAYED A FEW WEEKS. IN 1974 I FINALLY GOT HIRED AFTER TRYING SO MANY TIMES. HERE ARE SOME REAL STORIES FROM NATIONAL HILLS. ONCE WHILE PLAYING A LATE SHOW; THE DUNWICH HORROR OUR OLD PROJECTIONIST MR.PETE HAD THE SOUND UP SO LOUD WE COULD HEAR IT IN THE MANAGERS OFFICE ACROSS THE HALL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS HORRIBLE DEVIL SCREAM BLASTS OUT OF THE SPEAKER IN THE BOOTH; WE JUMP UP. RUN IN AND FIND MR.PETE HOLDING HIS PANTS SAYING “ THAT DAMN SCREAM SCARED ME OFF THE TOILET!” A YOUNG ASSISTANT MANAGER, TOMMY CAPERS BEING TOLD THAT NO ONE COMES TO THE MOVIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY OPEN UP WITH THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE AND SELL OUT A 781 SEAT THEATRE WITH TOMMY and TWO CONCESSIONSTAND GIRLS AND A BOX OFFICE GIRL. ONE NIGHT ON A DISNEY DOUBLE FEATURE OUR PROJECTIONIST WAS TOLD TO RUN THE FIRST FEATURE ON THE DOULBE FEATURE BY A DRUNK THEATRE MANAGER AT A NEARBY BAR. UNION PROJECTIONIST. DOUBLE TIME THAT MANAGER WAS QUICKLY GONE. THE FAMOUS BOTTLE BANDIT ROBBER HIT THE BOX OFFICE ONE NIGHT WITH A COKE BOTTLE HIDDEN LIKE A GUN UNDER HIS JACKET. HE WAS CAUGHT BEFORE HE GOT OUT OF THE SHOOPING CENTER. THE LOCAL PAPER REPORTED IT AND A.P. PICKED UP THE STORY AND WENT NATIONWIDE. THE ROBBER DID TIME AT A LOCAL MEMTAL HOSPITAL. THE FIRST FEMALE ASSISTANT MANAGER WAS CINDY MUNS.UP TIL THEN THE GUYS WERE MANAGEMENT. WHEN JOHN MACKEY BOOKED A MARX BROTHERS LATE SHOW GREG SHAPPARD, CHARLES BRUNI AND MIKE ROGERS WERE DRESSED LIKE THE MARX BROTHERS. WHEN THE FIRST RUN ON THE LONGEST YARD PLAYED MACKEY HAD HIS USHERS AND DOORMEN TO DRESS IN FEMALE CHEERLEADING OUTFITS WHILE THE GIRLS ON STAFF HAS WILDSHOULDERPADS AND FOOTBALL JERSAYS ON. ONE TIME WHEN BILLY JACK WAS PLAYING , A OLDER WOMAN BOUGHT A TICKET AND WENT IN TO SEE THE MOVIE. IT WAS NOT A MINUTE BEFORE SHE CAME OUT SAYING ‘’ THAT IS NOT THE SOUND OF MUSIC'‘. ON HOT SUMMER DAYS THE CONESSION STAND GIRLS WOULD CHANGE INTO THEIR BATHING SUITS AND LAY ON THE LOBBY ROOF.SUNBATHING. THIS DID NOT GO UNNOTICED BY LEWIS ROBERTSON WHO THREW A BUCKET OF ICE ON THE SUNBATHING GIRLS FROM THE TOP OF THE THEATRE ROOF! WE PLAYED BENJI AT NATIONAL HILLS THE SAME TIME THE IMPERIAL HAD JAWS SO BOTH THEATRES WERE KICKING BUTT. WE DECIDED TO GIVE SOME PUPPIES AWAY IN THE LOBBY. AT NIGHT WE KEPT THEM UPSTAIRS IN THE SUPPLY / FURANCE ROOM. THEY WERE NOT HOUSEBROKEN AND THAT SUPPLY, WELL , WE NEVER DID GET THE STINK OUT.
I THINK I FOUND MY ANSWER ON THE TWIN THEATRE MENTIONED ABOVE. COULD I BE THINKING ABOUT THE ASPEN TWIN THEATRES;IT JUST CAME TO ME AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SUCH A TWIN IN WHEATON?
STAN, HAVE NOT HEARD LARRY ANDERSON’S NAME IN AWHILE. I WORKED WITH CRAIG ZACKER IN AUGUSTA AND LATER AT GEORGIA SQUARE. AROUND HIS ASSISTANTS HE WOULD HOLD COURT AND ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE HE HAD NO PULL WAS THE UNION PROJECTION BOOTH. I ENJOYED WORKING WITH CRAIG. WE WOULD CRAFT SOME GREAT MIDNIGHT SHOWS AND HE WAS EVER SO BIG ON DOING PROMOTIONS. HE SADLY, WAS ONE OF THE LAST REAL SHOWMEN I WORKED WITH A FEW AT ABC THEATRES , BUT YOU AND I BOTH GOT IN ON THE END GOING TO THE MOVIES WAS A SPECIAL EVENT. I NOTICE POLICE CARS HAVE TO BE STATIONED AT OUR NEARBY 14 PLEX. I NEVER IN 7 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS HAD TO CALL THE COPS FOR HELP.AND I SPENT SOME NIGHTS AT THE DOWNTOWN IMPERIAL THEATRE IN AUGUSTA. CRAIG DIED OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK IN THE EARLY 90’S. I WAS A PALLBEARER ALONG WITH RUSSELL SMEAK AND BARRY MORRISON. ALL GCC ASST.MANAGERS.
BACK IN 1956 YOU REALLY DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RADIO SOUND. I STOPPED BY THE COMERCE DRIVEIN THEATRE IN COMERCE ,GEORGIA AND TALK ABOUT SOMEONE OPERATING FOR GREED. THE OLD DRIVE IN WAS FINE.BUT THEY HAD PUT TWO SCREENS ON THE LOT ONE ALMOST SIDE BY SIDE.SO EACH FAMILY OWNED DRIVE IN IS RUN THAT WAY. THE BADLIN DRIVE IN IN THE LATE 50’S HELD 200 CARS AND WAS OWNED AT THE TIME IN1956 BY G,L, FAW. HE ALSO OWNED IN ALBERMARLE THE DRIVE IN IT HELD ONLY 150 CARS ONE OF THE SMALLEST DRIVE INS IN THE TAR HEEL STATE. SO YOU HAD IN THAT CITY THE DRIVE IN AND THE BADLIN DRIVE IN.
ed< i have a friend helping me >he might not have the weis drive in up or the clover leaf drivein> i think if you spell it clover leaf you might get it cause i think it is in the system.
ed< i have a friend helping me >he might not have the weis drive in up or the clover leaf drivein> i think if you spell it clover leaf you might get it cause i think it is in the system.
FOR THE RECORD OLIVER HARDY WAS BORN IN HARLEM .GEORGIA THAT HAS A NICE MUSEUM IN THIS HONOR AND THE FIRST WEEKEND THEY CELBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY AND THOUSANDS COME TO THIS SMALL GEORGIA TOWN IN THIS HONOR.THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER THIS TOWN USUALLY HAS 20,000 PEOPLE COME.I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. HARLEM IS RESTORING THE OLD COLUMBIA THEATRE BUILT REAL CLOSE TO THE HOUSE HE WAS BORN IN.
I REMEMBER SEEING THIS DRIVE IN GOING TO FALCONS GAMES FROM AUGUSTA. ONE TIME I LEFT EARLY TO EXPLORE. THE BOX OFFICE WAS DONE IN BEATIFUL STONE WORK. THE BOOTH AND CONCESSIONSTAND A TYPICAL WHITE BLOCK BUILDING. LITTLE BACKGOUND ON THIS DRIVE IN THE TV SERIES … IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT… SHOT ON THAT DRIVE IN LOCATION FOR A STORY IN THAT SHOW. YOU CAN SEE THE SCREEN AND BOOTH. IN 1956 THE MOON LITE DRIVE IN HELD 250 CARS AND WAS OWNED BY MRS. V.M. EDWARDS. TODAY I THINK THE OLD CONCESSIONSTAND MIGHT BE UP HAVE NOT BEEN UP THAT WAY IN AWHILE.
BOY, FOR THE LIFE OF ME I CANNNOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE TWIN THEATRE I VISTED WHEN I SPENT THE SUMMER WITH MY COUSINS IN WHEATON. FIRST WE WENT TO A DRIVE IN MOVIE AND SAW WILLARD AND THE SECOND FEATURE WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO. THAT WAS SOME WHERE NEARBY AND PRETTY NEW IT LOOKED FOR EARLY 70’S. AT THE TWIN I SAW OMEGA MAN, WHEN DINOS RULED THE EARTH AND ZEPPLIN ALL IN THE SAME TWIN THEATRE AND THEY WERE ALL PLAYING IN THE SAME THEATRE SO I NEVER GOT TO SEE A MOVIE IN THE OTHER THEATRE SORTA DROVE A 12 YEAR CRAZY. HAD NOT SEEN TWIN THEATRE YET IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
ON SEPT. 25 1967 KNOXVILLE HAD THE RATHER ADULT FEATURE BY ROGER VADIM STARRING JANE FONDA THE FILM, THE NAME OF THE GAME IS SEX! ADULTS ONLY. IT SHOWED AT 6;00 7;40 AND 9;35 PM. ALL THIS FOR THE MOVIE CALLED ‘’ THE GAME IS OVER ‘’ . HYPED UP ONLY LIKE THE 60’S COULD DO.
JACK. CEDAR BLUFF’S SISTER WAS LOCATED IN MARTINEZ GEORGIA,OR AUGUSTA,GEORGIA. COLUMBIA SQUARE CINEMAS IS THE SAME THEATRE JUST LIKE STONE MONT IN ATLANTA.ALL THREE THEATRE WERE ABC THEATRES UNTIL PLITT BOUGHT ABC OUT.ALL THREE WERE OPENED ABOUT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE A BIT OF HISTORY ON COLUMBIA SQUARE,BUT SADLY IT WAS SOLD TO GEORGIA THEATRES WHO HAVE A HABIT OF ADDING SCREENS SO MY COLUMBIA SQUARE BECAME A TINY FOUR PLEX. WE DID HAVE BEAUTIFUL SCREENS THAT EVEN 2001 WOULD HAVE LOKED GREAT. HOPE I HELPED.
NOW PLAYING AT THE TENNESSEE THEATRE SUNDAY SEPT,24 1967 ROBERT REDFORD AND JANE FONDA IN BARE FOOT IN THE PARK, WITH A WOODY WOODPECKER CARTOON TICKETS WENT ON SALE AT 1;20 PM. LAST SHOW WAS AT 9;30. TWO FOR THE ROAD WAS THE NEXT FEATURE TO PLAY AT THAT SHOWPALACE.
YES, YOU ARE RIGHT. BUT WHEN I WENT TO THAT MALL IN THE 70’S IT WAS A TWIN AND FROM WHAT I REMEMBER ONE OF THE WORST TWIN THEATRES EVER.DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THE DIANE 29 DRIVR IN I HAD HEARD A TRAGIC STORY ABOUT A MURDER OF THE DRIVE IN OWNERS DAUGHTER,NAMED DIANE. I HAD HEARD THAT IS WHY HE CLOSED THE TWIN DRIVE IN UP IN GASTONIA.
YOU KNOW I NEED TO COUNT THE THEATRES,BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHY I SAID MASTERS 8, I AM SURE IT HAS SEVEN SCREENS. I GUESS ONCE IT WENT SECOND RUN WHO CARES? MASTERS SEVEN.AND FOR A SECOND RUN THEATRE IT IS KEPT CLEAN AND THE PRINTS HAVE NOT BEEN RUN TO PIECES.
RAY, I HAD ALWAYS HOPED YOUR THEATRE WOULD MAKE IT AGAINST THE CHAINS AND I KNEW IT WOULD BE HARD. WHEN WE LEFT YOUR THEATRE THAT DAY MY MANAGER FROM GCC REALLY ADMIRED YOU AND I THINK A LITTLE ENVY SHOWED ON CRAIG’S FACE. I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY MOST OF THE FOLKS READING THIS ADMIRED YOUR DECISION TO OPEN A THEATRE WHEN LIKE YOU SAID SO MUCH OF THE PRODUCT WAS HORRIBLE LIKE PORKY’S OR VISTING HOURS. MIKE.
ED I DO KNOW ALOT ABOUT AUGUSTA THEATRES BUT IF YOU PULL UP SOUTHSIDE CINEMA IN AUGUSTA YOU WILL READ ABOUT RAY HUTTO WHO TOOK IT A STEP CLOSER AND BUILT A MOVIE THEATRE. HE KNOWS ALOT MORE THAN I ABOUT THOSE OLDER SITES YOU SEEM TO WANT TO KNOW ABOUT. RAY CERTAINLY LOVED THE IMPERIAL AND WHEN HE COULD NOT GET JOB THERE HE WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO THE MILLER THEATRE AND GOT A JOB,
HERE IS A GOOD ONE FOR YOU KNOXVILLE THEATRE LOVERS….MONDAY SEPT. 25 1967 THE RIVER BREEZE AND DIXIE LEE DRIVE IN THEATRES WERE PLAYING DAY AND DATE SOMETHING YOU NEED NOT SEE MUCH IN THOSE DAYS. THE DOUBLE FEATURE WAS FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE AND JOHNNY TIGER. THE NEXT TWO FEATURES FOR WED-SAT.WOULD BE THE WAY WEST AND SECOND FEATURE THE PLAINSMAN. SEEMS LIKE KNOXVILLE LIKES COWBOY MOVIES. HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY TO ADD TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
YOU KNOW, STAR WARS WAS SET FOR COLUMBIA SQUARE THEATERS. WE HAD ALL KINDS OF FLYERS . I BET A THOUSAND OR SO. THE ONE SHEETS RIGHT OFF THE PRESS. I DID SAVE ALL THREE ONE SHEETS BUT WE DUMPED THE FRYERS. WISH I WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM. I THINK THE BOOKERS IN CHARLOTTE HAD NO FAITH IN THIS LITTLE MOVIE. BECAUSE HAD LUCUS HAD TO PICK THE SCREEN FOR HIS MOVIE COLUMBIA SQUARE WOULD HAVE WON HANDS DOWN.
I CAN NOT BELIEVE I FINALLY FOUND THIS THEATRE. I KEPT PUNCHING IN TRYON MALL 1 and 2 THEATRES. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT HAD BEEN EXPANED LIKE EVERY THEATRE EVERYWHERE I GUSS THAT IS WHY THE SUITS RUN THE BUSINESS AND NOT THEATRE LOVERS. SHORT STORY, MY FRIEND JOHN MACKEY RAN THE 1 and 2 THEATRES FOR ABC THEATRES. HE STARTED IN ASHVILLE, SENT DOWN TO GEORGIA AT AUGUSTA' S BEAUTIFUL NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE AND HE WAS MOVED TO THE GASTON MALL…THEN THE BIG CITY OF CHARLOTTE. MY FRIEND AND ASSISTANT MANAGER, TOMMY CAPERS AND MYSELF DROPPED IN TO SEE JOHN COMING BACK FROM THE BEACH. BOTH OF US WORKING FOR abc theatres WERE QUICKY PUT TO WORK HELPING HIM WITH JAWS 2 WE DID NOT MIND. I HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE WATCHING A PREVIEW OF THE MOVIE MIDWAY BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED. SAT IN THERE WITH ALL THE BIG FILM BOOKERS IN CHARLOTTE. for the record, I HATED JAWS 2.
I FOUND OUT THE NAME OF THE THEATRE ACROSS FROM THE OLD CAROLNA. IT WAS CALLED THE SKYLAND ARTS CINEMA AND WAS IN THE BALLROOM, ADINNER THEATRE. I WAS TOLD HE WAS OPEN FOR ABOUT 10 years. IT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE SKYLAND HOTEL.
ALSO BACK IN THOSE DAYS ALMOST ALL THEATRES PLAYED LATE SHOWS. HERE ARE THE LIST OF THE HIGHEST GROSSING LATE SHOWS EVER TO PLAY FROM 1974 TO 1975. THEY ARE MANY TYPES OF FILMS I CERTAINLY HOPE ONE OF YOURS IS LISTED HERE……… 2001, VANISHING POINT, SILENT RUNNING… DUCK SOUP, FRANKENSTEIN AND DRACULA 1931, WOODSTOCK, FRITZ THE CAT, EASY RIDER, STRAWBERRY STATEMENT , DEATH WISH, FRIENDS, ALOHA BOBBY AND ROSE, TOMMY, LET IT BE, IN COLD BLOOD,WIZARDS,HARRAD EXPERIMENT AND FRENZY. YOU CAN SEE FOR THE TIME NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE COVERED ALMOST EVERY TASTE IN FILM. WE THOUGHT BEFORE WE BOOKED ANYTHING AND I THINK OUR MOVIEGOERS REALLY LIKED WHAT WE PUT ON THAT BIG SCREEN.
WAY BEFORE COMPUTERS,SOMETHING IN ME SAID TO JOT DOWN EVENTS OF THAT THEATRE. I SPENT ALOT OF SATURDAYS THERE AS A 12 YEAR OLD WATCHING CHRISTOPHER LEE IN DRACULA OR BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID. HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS WAS A GREAT HORROR FILM THAT PLAYED A FEW WEEKS. IN 1974 I FINALLY GOT HIRED AFTER TRYING SO MANY TIMES. HERE ARE SOME REAL STORIES FROM NATIONAL HILLS. ONCE WHILE PLAYING A LATE SHOW; THE DUNWICH HORROR OUR OLD PROJECTIONIST MR.PETE HAD THE SOUND UP SO LOUD WE COULD HEAR IT IN THE MANAGERS OFFICE ACROSS THE HALL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS HORRIBLE DEVIL SCREAM BLASTS OUT OF THE SPEAKER IN THE BOOTH; WE JUMP UP. RUN IN AND FIND MR.PETE HOLDING HIS PANTS SAYING “ THAT DAMN SCREAM SCARED ME OFF THE TOILET!” A YOUNG ASSISTANT MANAGER, TOMMY CAPERS BEING TOLD THAT NO ONE COMES TO THE MOVIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY OPEN UP WITH THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE AND SELL OUT A 781 SEAT THEATRE WITH TOMMY and TWO CONCESSIONSTAND GIRLS AND A BOX OFFICE GIRL. ONE NIGHT ON A DISNEY DOUBLE FEATURE OUR PROJECTIONIST WAS TOLD TO RUN THE FIRST FEATURE ON THE DOULBE FEATURE BY A DRUNK THEATRE MANAGER AT A NEARBY BAR. UNION PROJECTIONIST. DOUBLE TIME THAT MANAGER WAS QUICKLY GONE. THE FAMOUS BOTTLE BANDIT ROBBER HIT THE BOX OFFICE ONE NIGHT WITH A COKE BOTTLE HIDDEN LIKE A GUN UNDER HIS JACKET. HE WAS CAUGHT BEFORE HE GOT OUT OF THE SHOOPING CENTER. THE LOCAL PAPER REPORTED IT AND A.P. PICKED UP THE STORY AND WENT NATIONWIDE. THE ROBBER DID TIME AT A LOCAL MEMTAL HOSPITAL. THE FIRST FEMALE ASSISTANT MANAGER WAS CINDY MUNS.UP TIL THEN THE GUYS WERE MANAGEMENT. WHEN JOHN MACKEY BOOKED A MARX BROTHERS LATE SHOW GREG SHAPPARD, CHARLES BRUNI AND MIKE ROGERS WERE DRESSED LIKE THE MARX BROTHERS. WHEN THE FIRST RUN ON THE LONGEST YARD PLAYED MACKEY HAD HIS USHERS AND DOORMEN TO DRESS IN FEMALE CHEERLEADING OUTFITS WHILE THE GIRLS ON STAFF HAS WILDSHOULDERPADS AND FOOTBALL JERSAYS ON. ONE TIME WHEN BILLY JACK WAS PLAYING , A OLDER WOMAN BOUGHT A TICKET AND WENT IN TO SEE THE MOVIE. IT WAS NOT A MINUTE BEFORE SHE CAME OUT SAYING ‘’ THAT IS NOT THE SOUND OF MUSIC'‘. ON HOT SUMMER DAYS THE CONESSION STAND GIRLS WOULD CHANGE INTO THEIR BATHING SUITS AND LAY ON THE LOBBY ROOF.SUNBATHING. THIS DID NOT GO UNNOTICED BY LEWIS ROBERTSON WHO THREW A BUCKET OF ICE ON THE SUNBATHING GIRLS FROM THE TOP OF THE THEATRE ROOF! WE PLAYED BENJI AT NATIONAL HILLS THE SAME TIME THE IMPERIAL HAD JAWS SO BOTH THEATRES WERE KICKING BUTT. WE DECIDED TO GIVE SOME PUPPIES AWAY IN THE LOBBY. AT NIGHT WE KEPT THEM UPSTAIRS IN THE SUPPLY / FURANCE ROOM. THEY WERE NOT HOUSEBROKEN AND THAT SUPPLY, WELL , WE NEVER DID GET THE STINK OUT.
I THINK I FOUND MY ANSWER ON THE TWIN THEATRE MENTIONED ABOVE. COULD I BE THINKING ABOUT THE ASPEN TWIN THEATRES;IT JUST CAME TO ME AND I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SUCH A TWIN IN WHEATON?
COULD THIS DRIVE IN ONCE BEEN CALLED THE 309 Drive In? It was owned by MEL FOX AND PARKED 350 CARS.
THE RIALTO WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE IMPERIAL AND MODJESKA THEATRES FROM WHAT WAS TOLD. IT NEVER BY THE NEWSBUILDING.
STAN, HAVE NOT HEARD LARRY ANDERSON’S NAME IN AWHILE. I WORKED WITH CRAIG ZACKER IN AUGUSTA AND LATER AT GEORGIA SQUARE. AROUND HIS ASSISTANTS HE WOULD HOLD COURT AND ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE HE HAD NO PULL WAS THE UNION PROJECTION BOOTH. I ENJOYED WORKING WITH CRAIG. WE WOULD CRAFT SOME GREAT MIDNIGHT SHOWS AND HE WAS EVER SO BIG ON DOING PROMOTIONS. HE SADLY, WAS ONE OF THE LAST REAL SHOWMEN I WORKED WITH A FEW AT ABC THEATRES , BUT YOU AND I BOTH GOT IN ON THE END GOING TO THE MOVIES WAS A SPECIAL EVENT. I NOTICE POLICE CARS HAVE TO BE STATIONED AT OUR NEARBY 14 PLEX. I NEVER IN 7 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS HAD TO CALL THE COPS FOR HELP.AND I SPENT SOME NIGHTS AT THE DOWNTOWN IMPERIAL THEATRE IN AUGUSTA. CRAIG DIED OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK IN THE EARLY 90’S. I WAS A PALLBEARER ALONG WITH RUSSELL SMEAK AND BARRY MORRISON. ALL GCC ASST.MANAGERS.
BACK IN 1956 YOU REALLY DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RADIO SOUND. I STOPPED BY THE COMERCE DRIVEIN THEATRE IN COMERCE ,GEORGIA AND TALK ABOUT SOMEONE OPERATING FOR GREED. THE OLD DRIVE IN WAS FINE.BUT THEY HAD PUT TWO SCREENS ON THE LOT ONE ALMOST SIDE BY SIDE.SO EACH FAMILY OWNED DRIVE IN IS RUN THAT WAY. THE BADLIN DRIVE IN IN THE LATE 50’S HELD 200 CARS AND WAS OWNED AT THE TIME IN1956 BY G,L, FAW. HE ALSO OWNED IN ALBERMARLE THE DRIVE IN IT HELD ONLY 150 CARS ONE OF THE SMALLEST DRIVE INS IN THE TAR HEEL STATE. SO YOU HAD IN THAT CITY THE DRIVE IN AND THE BADLIN DRIVE IN.
ed< i have a friend helping me >he might not have the weis drive in up or the clover leaf drivein> i think if you spell it clover leaf you might get it cause i think it is in the system.
ed< i have a friend helping me >he might not have the weis drive in up or the clover leaf drivein> i think if you spell it clover leaf you might get it cause i think it is in the system.
THE FAMILY DRIVE IN HAD IN 1956 PARKING FOR 400 CARS AND WAS OWNED BY HANNA THEATRE SERVICE.
FOR THE RECORD OLIVER HARDY WAS BORN IN HARLEM .GEORGIA THAT HAS A NICE MUSEUM IN THIS HONOR AND THE FIRST WEEKEND THEY CELBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY AND THOUSANDS COME TO THIS SMALL GEORGIA TOWN IN THIS HONOR.THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER THIS TOWN USUALLY HAS 20,000 PEOPLE COME.I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. HARLEM IS RESTORING THE OLD COLUMBIA THEATRE BUILT REAL CLOSE TO THE HOUSE HE WAS BORN IN.
IN 1956 THE CIRCLE DRIVE IN PARKED 400 CARS AND AT THAT TIME WAS OWNED BY C.C. EZELL AND ASSOC.
I REMEMBER SEEING THIS DRIVE IN GOING TO FALCONS GAMES FROM AUGUSTA. ONE TIME I LEFT EARLY TO EXPLORE. THE BOX OFFICE WAS DONE IN BEATIFUL STONE WORK. THE BOOTH AND CONCESSIONSTAND A TYPICAL WHITE BLOCK BUILDING. LITTLE BACKGOUND ON THIS DRIVE IN THE TV SERIES … IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT… SHOT ON THAT DRIVE IN LOCATION FOR A STORY IN THAT SHOW. YOU CAN SEE THE SCREEN AND BOOTH. IN 1956 THE MOON LITE DRIVE IN HELD 250 CARS AND WAS OWNED BY MRS. V.M. EDWARDS. TODAY I THINK THE OLD CONCESSIONSTAND MIGHT BE UP HAVE NOT BEEN UP THAT WAY IN AWHILE.
BOY, FOR THE LIFE OF ME I CANNNOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE TWIN THEATRE I VISTED WHEN I SPENT THE SUMMER WITH MY COUSINS IN WHEATON. FIRST WE WENT TO A DRIVE IN MOVIE AND SAW WILLARD AND THE SECOND FEATURE WHO SLEW AUNTIE ROO. THAT WAS SOME WHERE NEARBY AND PRETTY NEW IT LOOKED FOR EARLY 70’S. AT THE TWIN I SAW OMEGA MAN, WHEN DINOS RULED THE EARTH AND ZEPPLIN ALL IN THE SAME TWIN THEATRE AND THEY WERE ALL PLAYING IN THE SAME THEATRE SO I NEVER GOT TO SEE A MOVIE IN THE OTHER THEATRE SORTA DROVE A 12 YEAR CRAZY. HAD NOT SEEN TWIN THEATRE YET IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
ON SEPT. 25 1967 KNOXVILLE HAD THE RATHER ADULT FEATURE BY ROGER VADIM STARRING JANE FONDA THE FILM, THE NAME OF THE GAME IS SEX! ADULTS ONLY. IT SHOWED AT 6;00 7;40 AND 9;35 PM. ALL THIS FOR THE MOVIE CALLED ‘’ THE GAME IS OVER ‘’ . HYPED UP ONLY LIKE THE 60’S COULD DO.
JACK. CEDAR BLUFF’S SISTER WAS LOCATED IN MARTINEZ GEORGIA,OR AUGUSTA,GEORGIA. COLUMBIA SQUARE CINEMAS IS THE SAME THEATRE JUST LIKE STONE MONT IN ATLANTA.ALL THREE THEATRE WERE ABC THEATRES UNTIL PLITT BOUGHT ABC OUT.ALL THREE WERE OPENED ABOUT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE A BIT OF HISTORY ON COLUMBIA SQUARE,BUT SADLY IT WAS SOLD TO GEORGIA THEATRES WHO HAVE A HABIT OF ADDING SCREENS SO MY COLUMBIA SQUARE BECAME A TINY FOUR PLEX. WE DID HAVE BEAUTIFUL SCREENS THAT EVEN 2001 WOULD HAVE LOKED GREAT. HOPE I HELPED.
NOW PLAYING AT THE TENNESSEE THEATRE SUNDAY SEPT,24 1967 ROBERT REDFORD AND JANE FONDA IN BARE FOOT IN THE PARK, WITH A WOODY WOODPECKER CARTOON TICKETS WENT ON SALE AT 1;20 PM. LAST SHOW WAS AT 9;30. TWO FOR THE ROAD WAS THE NEXT FEATURE TO PLAY AT THAT SHOWPALACE.
YES, YOU ARE RIGHT. BUT WHEN I WENT TO THAT MALL IN THE 70’S IT WAS A TWIN AND FROM WHAT I REMEMBER ONE OF THE WORST TWIN THEATRES EVER.DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THE DIANE 29 DRIVR IN I HAD HEARD A TRAGIC STORY ABOUT A MURDER OF THE DRIVE IN OWNERS DAUGHTER,NAMED DIANE. I HAD HEARD THAT IS WHY HE CLOSED THE TWIN DRIVE IN UP IN GASTONIA.
YOU KNOW I NEED TO COUNT THE THEATRES,BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHY I SAID MASTERS 8, I AM SURE IT HAS SEVEN SCREENS. I GUESS ONCE IT WENT SECOND RUN WHO CARES? MASTERS SEVEN.AND FOR A SECOND RUN THEATRE IT IS KEPT CLEAN AND THE PRINTS HAVE NOT BEEN RUN TO PIECES.
RAY, I HAD ALWAYS HOPED YOUR THEATRE WOULD MAKE IT AGAINST THE CHAINS AND I KNEW IT WOULD BE HARD. WHEN WE LEFT YOUR THEATRE THAT DAY MY MANAGER FROM GCC REALLY ADMIRED YOU AND I THINK A LITTLE ENVY SHOWED ON CRAIG’S FACE. I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY MOST OF THE FOLKS READING THIS ADMIRED YOUR DECISION TO OPEN A THEATRE WHEN LIKE YOU SAID SO MUCH OF THE PRODUCT WAS HORRIBLE LIKE PORKY’S OR VISTING HOURS. MIKE.
ED I DO KNOW ALOT ABOUT AUGUSTA THEATRES BUT IF YOU PULL UP SOUTHSIDE CINEMA IN AUGUSTA YOU WILL READ ABOUT RAY HUTTO WHO TOOK IT A STEP CLOSER AND BUILT A MOVIE THEATRE. HE KNOWS ALOT MORE THAN I ABOUT THOSE OLDER SITES YOU SEEM TO WANT TO KNOW ABOUT. RAY CERTAINLY LOVED THE IMPERIAL AND WHEN HE COULD NOT GET JOB THERE HE WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO THE MILLER THEATRE AND GOT A JOB,
HERE IS A GOOD ONE FOR YOU KNOXVILLE THEATRE LOVERS….MONDAY SEPT. 25 1967 THE RIVER BREEZE AND DIXIE LEE DRIVE IN THEATRES WERE PLAYING DAY AND DATE SOMETHING YOU NEED NOT SEE MUCH IN THOSE DAYS. THE DOUBLE FEATURE WAS FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE AND JOHNNY TIGER. THE NEXT TWO FEATURES FOR WED-SAT.WOULD BE THE WAY WEST AND SECOND FEATURE THE PLAINSMAN. SEEMS LIKE KNOXVILLE LIKES COWBOY MOVIES. HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY TO ADD TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.