The theatre worked well and had great grosses, it was that GST never could find a way to add screens. The lobby was in the middle with two screens to the north and two screens to the south. The east front was the parking lot and another store and the west was an RV site and the property was not owned by the landlords. Surfside Four had a ton of great films and did well. It was just old and run down in it’s last years.
I agree with FredSliman on the closing date. I worked for Gulf States Theatres in the 70’s, which operated the Clarke Theatre. During the early 70’s only the Clarke and Trace Town Twin (Why is that theatre not listed) were operating in the town. The Ritz was gone by 1971.
The theatre did not close until around 1979, very soon after Hurricane Frederick. When Gulf States Theatre merged with Royal Theatres out of Merdian, this theatre was renamed The Moss Point Cinema. There was a very kind and nice lady named Mrs. Bemer that managed the theatre and kept all in order.
What was cool about passing the Varia Drive-In was the Alamo Motel next to it and the Borden Milk Company on the other side with that giant cow on the sign. Saw THE WIZARD OF MARS here.
ABC Mid-South Theatres which operated the DeVille and Paramount theaters bought this theatre from Alco about the time the Paramount closed. They operated it a few more years and closed it in the early 80’s. Since Jackson was a one-run town at the time, I remember seeing THEY SHOOT HORSES DON’T THEY, EARTHQUAKE (in Senseround), WHAT’S UP DOC, and NEVER GIVE AN INCH. They tried to show Disney films but the family trade would not go that far south, the same with Ellis Isle Twin. What I hated about the theatre was they did not have a popper, but bought pre-popped popcorn and heated it. But it did have a great presentation and a huge screen.
The theatre worked well and had great grosses, it was that GST never could find a way to add screens. The lobby was in the middle with two screens to the north and two screens to the south. The east front was the parking lot and another store and the west was an RV site and the property was not owned by the landlords. Surfside Four had a ton of great films and did well. It was just old and run down in it’s last years.
I agree with FredSliman on the closing date. I worked for Gulf States Theatres in the 70’s, which operated the Clarke Theatre. During the early 70’s only the Clarke and Trace Town Twin (Why is that theatre not listed) were operating in the town. The Ritz was gone by 1971.
The theatre did not close until around 1979, very soon after Hurricane Frederick. When Gulf States Theatre merged with Royal Theatres out of Merdian, this theatre was renamed The Moss Point Cinema. There was a very kind and nice lady named Mrs. Bemer that managed the theatre and kept all in order.
What was cool about passing the Varia Drive-In was the Alamo Motel next to it and the Borden Milk Company on the other side with that giant cow on the sign. Saw THE WIZARD OF MARS here.
ABC Mid-South Theatres which operated the DeVille and Paramount theaters bought this theatre from Alco about the time the Paramount closed. They operated it a few more years and closed it in the early 80’s. Since Jackson was a one-run town at the time, I remember seeing THEY SHOOT HORSES DON’T THEY, EARTHQUAKE (in Senseround), WHAT’S UP DOC, and NEVER GIVE AN INCH. They tried to show Disney films but the family trade would not go that far south, the same with Ellis Isle Twin. What I hated about the theatre was they did not have a popper, but bought pre-popped popcorn and heated it. But it did have a great presentation and a huge screen.