yes, that was the same person… he was one of the most “down to earth” guys I had ever met, especially with him being a multi-millionaire. First time I ever met him was at his home in Easley, SC …he was dressed in shorts and barefoot … a far contrast of my later years with Fuquay Industries (Martin Theatres) who had real-to-life bodyguards (guns and all!). When Winyah Bay sold out to Martin, the Park Theatre went with them as well. I remember the Trans-Lux as well… their manager was a good friend of mine … we used to always kid him about the ‘digital’ movie house not being a real theater and it being so “boxy” and small. Not sure if S&E bought the Park in late 70’s prior to closing, don’t think so.
I was the first Manager of the Cinema II Theatre in Asheboro, NC and was present during it’s construction and grand opening – I was transferred from the Park Theater in Kinston to open and manager the theater. It originally opened as a single screen in October, 1971 with 500 seats. Our first movie on the screen was John Wayne’s “The Cowboys”, which opened to a sell-out capacity crowd. The theater was originally owned and built by Winyah Bay Theaters of Easley, SC, who had previously bought out the Eastern Federal Theater group.
When the Cinema II opened, it was the “latest and greatest” in movie entertainment – sound system, digital projection equipment, state of the art concession, etc. etc. As part of the construction process, I actually had duct work installed directly over the popcorn machine and piped into the auditorium. We had a “caliope” type popcorn machine that was ooooooo sooooo good…. Just after the feature film would start, I would make sure we popped an entire kettle of fresh corn… you could smell it throughout the auditorium. Also, about half-way into the film, I would do the same thing – we had the largest concession sales of any of Winyah’s theaters, lol. Projection equipment was on a single pan with a xenon bulb…..awesome equipment – didn’t need a projectionist!
At the time of our opening, the Asheboro Zoo was in the process of being built and the local radio station changed it’s call letters to “WZOO”, of course, being a new theater in town, we were the stations' biggest advertiser and well as a huge spender for the local newspaper. As I learned from my experience as assistant manager at the Park Theater in Kinston, we would always have some type of static or dynamic display in the lobby to coincide with the movie we were playing. We also did late shows on Friday nights, as well as kiddie movies on Saturday morning and afternoon.
There were two other competitors at the time, a walk-in called the Sunset Theater, and a drive in called teh North 220. We eventually bought the Sunset as well.
From the time from of opening through late ‘72, Winyah Bay owned both.. In early – mid '73, Martin Theaters bought it out. I left Asheboro in November '73 and it was still a single screen at that time.
While in high school, I worked at the Park Theater in Kinston from 1969 – 1972 as doorman, concession attendant and Assistant Manager. Manager at the theater at the time was Bryan Mercer, I was Assistant Manager, projectionist upstairs was named John Price. Concession attendant’s name was Janice Hughes (who eventually became my wife) and another doorman’s name was Royce Thigpen – my best friend.
The theater was beautiful inside, mirrored walls, carpeted lobby, sound proof balcony for children, huge large screen, seated around 750 total. We would always begin the movie with the screen curtain closed, opening them up at “just the right moment” when the American Flag would show on the screen and the national anthem would begin to play – another of life’s great lessons, being truly patriotic and a deep-seated respect for our country, our flag and what it stands for.
The theater had a beautiful wrap-around marquee on the front with chasing yellow bulbs – I changed many letters on the marquee while standing on a ladder and my manager was a stickler about making sure everything was exactly centered and spelled correctly, again, a task that would serve me well later in life.
Bryan (manager) was a huge believer in setting up displays that coincided with the movie being played – Herbie Rides Again – we gave away a VW bug – John Wayne movies we had cowboy displays, etc., etc. I learned a lot about visual merchandising from him.
In ‘69, the theater was owned by Eastern Federal, but later was sold to Winyah Bay Theaters out of Easley, SC. Guy by name of Foster McKissick (multi-millionaire) owned Winyah Bay Theaters. District Supervisors’ name was Jim Clark (great guy) who later promoted me to manager of the brand new digital Cinema II Theater in Asheboro, NC.
Should I ever win the “lottery”, I plan on buying the theater property and returning it to it’s glory years… it’s a shame the theaters of today don’t have the glamour and glory of those of years gone by.
RIP Park Theater – you will always hold a fond memory in my heart!
yes, that was the same person… he was one of the most “down to earth” guys I had ever met, especially with him being a multi-millionaire. First time I ever met him was at his home in Easley, SC …he was dressed in shorts and barefoot … a far contrast of my later years with Fuquay Industries (Martin Theatres) who had real-to-life bodyguards (guns and all!). When Winyah Bay sold out to Martin, the Park Theatre went with them as well. I remember the Trans-Lux as well… their manager was a good friend of mine … we used to always kid him about the ‘digital’ movie house not being a real theater and it being so “boxy” and small. Not sure if S&E bought the Park in late 70’s prior to closing, don’t think so.
I was the first Manager of the Cinema II Theatre in Asheboro, NC and was present during it’s construction and grand opening – I was transferred from the Park Theater in Kinston to open and manager the theater. It originally opened as a single screen in October, 1971 with 500 seats. Our first movie on the screen was John Wayne’s “The Cowboys”, which opened to a sell-out capacity crowd. The theater was originally owned and built by Winyah Bay Theaters of Easley, SC, who had previously bought out the Eastern Federal Theater group.
When the Cinema II opened, it was the “latest and greatest” in movie entertainment – sound system, digital projection equipment, state of the art concession, etc. etc. As part of the construction process, I actually had duct work installed directly over the popcorn machine and piped into the auditorium. We had a “caliope” type popcorn machine that was ooooooo sooooo good…. Just after the feature film would start, I would make sure we popped an entire kettle of fresh corn… you could smell it throughout the auditorium. Also, about half-way into the film, I would do the same thing – we had the largest concession sales of any of Winyah’s theaters, lol. Projection equipment was on a single pan with a xenon bulb…..awesome equipment – didn’t need a projectionist!
At the time of our opening, the Asheboro Zoo was in the process of being built and the local radio station changed it’s call letters to “WZOO”, of course, being a new theater in town, we were the stations' biggest advertiser and well as a huge spender for the local newspaper. As I learned from my experience as assistant manager at the Park Theater in Kinston, we would always have some type of static or dynamic display in the lobby to coincide with the movie we were playing. We also did late shows on Friday nights, as well as kiddie movies on Saturday morning and afternoon.
There were two other competitors at the time, a walk-in called the Sunset Theater, and a drive in called teh North 220. We eventually bought the Sunset as well.
From the time from of opening through late ‘72, Winyah Bay owned both.. In early – mid '73, Martin Theaters bought it out. I left Asheboro in November '73 and it was still a single screen at that time.
Charles Phillips
While in high school, I worked at the Park Theater in Kinston from 1969 – 1972 as doorman, concession attendant and Assistant Manager. Manager at the theater at the time was Bryan Mercer, I was Assistant Manager, projectionist upstairs was named John Price. Concession attendant’s name was Janice Hughes (who eventually became my wife) and another doorman’s name was Royce Thigpen – my best friend.
The theater was beautiful inside, mirrored walls, carpeted lobby, sound proof balcony for children, huge large screen, seated around 750 total. We would always begin the movie with the screen curtain closed, opening them up at “just the right moment” when the American Flag would show on the screen and the national anthem would begin to play – another of life’s great lessons, being truly patriotic and a deep-seated respect for our country, our flag and what it stands for.
The theater had a beautiful wrap-around marquee on the front with chasing yellow bulbs – I changed many letters on the marquee while standing on a ladder and my manager was a stickler about making sure everything was exactly centered and spelled correctly, again, a task that would serve me well later in life.
Bryan (manager) was a huge believer in setting up displays that coincided with the movie being played – Herbie Rides Again – we gave away a VW bug – John Wayne movies we had cowboy displays, etc., etc. I learned a lot about visual merchandising from him.
In ‘69, the theater was owned by Eastern Federal, but later was sold to Winyah Bay Theaters out of Easley, SC. Guy by name of Foster McKissick (multi-millionaire) owned Winyah Bay Theaters. District Supervisors’ name was Jim Clark (great guy) who later promoted me to manager of the brand new digital Cinema II Theater in Asheboro, NC.
Should I ever win the “lottery”, I plan on buying the theater property and returning it to it’s glory years… it’s a shame the theaters of today don’t have the glamour and glory of those of years gone by.
RIP Park Theater – you will always hold a fond memory in my heart!
Charles Phillips