Great info Stan, makes sense. I remember SD would get Jaws 2, Grease, Heaven Can Wait, Foul Play, and Jungle Book that summer. Saw those movies there or the Glenwood Drive In. Boy, talk about timing. I would say summer 1978 was the first official blockbuster summer as we would come to know it. (Star Wars, of course, kicking things off the summer before with Jaws as a primer in ‘75.)
Like you, and as more of a youngster moviegoer, I was saddened with the butchering of SD into a quad. That being said, they sure got to play a lot of successful product, and nobody seemed to care as I can remember packed houses, lines outside past the Barrel of Fun. (Although I do remember long line down the mall for Freaky Friday on a Saturday when it was a twin!) I think they were the only quad around except Akers Mill at the time.
As for the Lenox Square, my Dad talks about what a great theatre it was when a single. I saw Scrooged there when I think it was a 6. Can you imagine a theatre being tied to a particular studio today? Jeez. I am sure Woody Allen and the James Bond movies played to good crowds there though. I liked Sleeper, and I need to see Love and Death. Anyway, sorry for straying off topic Stan. Thanks so much for your valuable feedback and knowledge. I love this era!!! It was a unique transitional time. Movie palaces were being torn down and we were not quite at the multi/megaplex level yet that was to come in the mid-80’s.
Talk about average and just blah. Went here a few times in the ‘80’s as my Dad lived off Memorial for a year or so and it was closeby. Most bland theatre, and too pricey when you got the $4.50 student discount at AMC Northlake!
Cool to see this open again. This was THE PLACE to see big hits in the mid-to-late ‘80’s. “Top Gun” in 70MM and “Indiana Jones Last Crusade” 70MM as well. I remember midnight show for “Total Recall” being packed, and they would have shows start as late as 1AM on weekends. Of course, I was in high school/early college at this time, haha.
This was a very nice mulitplex as I defected from AMC Northlake Festival since this was a closer drive. Too bad it was built past it’s prime. I saw a lot of movies here in ‘89; “Skin Deep”, “Turner and Hooch”, and James Bond “License to Kill”. WAY WAY too many theatres along the Memorial Drive (and adjacent) corridor at that time. Ironically, are there any theatres standing since that area tanked in the 90’s?
In reference to Stan’s comments on the Salem Gate, I am very surprised GTC did not buy this one up as it would have been perfect to protect South Dekalb and play the spillover/moveovers. I believe the theater was near the end of the Grant Shopping Center next to a dry cleaners?
Great Stan, thanks always for the valuable info. Only went to this theatre once I think. It probably shut down in the mid 80’s especially when AMC Northalake 8 came along.
Saw the original “Superman” here the summer of 1979. Packed house. “The Deer Hunter” was playing next door. Did this theater do good business as a discount house? I remember the auditorium being a good size. Even a little bigger than South Dekalb since it got quadded.
Went to this theater once when I was twelve I believe. I saw “Treasure of the 4 Crowns” in 3D. It was one of those early ‘80’s 3D exploitation flicks, and a “Raiders of the Lost Ark” ripoff. Not bad 3D though as I remember. Anyway, I believe it was split and taken over by GTC? Thought I could remember it still being open as I worked on Hwy 278 up until '87. Could be wrong though.
Stan and Evan, thanks for the valuable info. Always interesting. Salem Gate had a great run though (like the Stonemont I imagine) in that it could play exclusive runs as South Dekalb and Newton Cinema were the only theatres even close to proximity. I think Moonlit would play third run? Anwyay, that changed of course with the original Conyers Cinema 4 (later 8). I remember when GTC took over, Salem Gate would still get Return of the Jedi and Beverly Hills Cop. That was not to last long though as you mentioned.
That’s really interesting news about Salem Gate competing with the Conyers Cinema 8 down the street. I posted under “dmorg” years ago and grew up going to Salem Gate. I have to say, if GTC thought they could quad Salem Gate, those auditoriums would have been TINY. No way. Salem Gate ain’t no South Dekalb. Haha. Thanks for the update.
Great info Stan, makes sense. I remember SD would get Jaws 2, Grease, Heaven Can Wait, Foul Play, and Jungle Book that summer. Saw those movies there or the Glenwood Drive In. Boy, talk about timing. I would say summer 1978 was the first official blockbuster summer as we would come to know it. (Star Wars, of course, kicking things off the summer before with Jaws as a primer in ‘75.)
Like you, and as more of a youngster moviegoer, I was saddened with the butchering of SD into a quad. That being said, they sure got to play a lot of successful product, and nobody seemed to care as I can remember packed houses, lines outside past the Barrel of Fun. (Although I do remember long line down the mall for Freaky Friday on a Saturday when it was a twin!) I think they were the only quad around except Akers Mill at the time.
As for the Lenox Square, my Dad talks about what a great theatre it was when a single. I saw Scrooged there when I think it was a 6. Can you imagine a theatre being tied to a particular studio today? Jeez. I am sure Woody Allen and the James Bond movies played to good crowds there though. I liked Sleeper, and I need to see Love and Death. Anyway, sorry for straying off topic Stan. Thanks so much for your valuable feedback and knowledge. I love this era!!! It was a unique transitional time. Movie palaces were being torn down and we were not quite at the multi/megaplex level yet that was to come in the mid-80’s.
Talk about average and just blah. Went here a few times in the ‘80’s as my Dad lived off Memorial for a year or so and it was closeby. Most bland theatre, and too pricey when you got the $4.50 student discount at AMC Northlake!
Cool to see this open again. This was THE PLACE to see big hits in the mid-to-late ‘80’s. “Top Gun” in 70MM and “Indiana Jones Last Crusade” 70MM as well. I remember midnight show for “Total Recall” being packed, and they would have shows start as late as 1AM on weekends. Of course, I was in high school/early college at this time, haha.
This was a very nice mulitplex as I defected from AMC Northlake Festival since this was a closer drive. Too bad it was built past it’s prime. I saw a lot of movies here in ‘89; “Skin Deep”, “Turner and Hooch”, and James Bond “License to Kill”. WAY WAY too many theatres along the Memorial Drive (and adjacent) corridor at that time. Ironically, are there any theatres standing since that area tanked in the 90’s?
In reference to Stan’s comments on the Salem Gate, I am very surprised GTC did not buy this one up as it would have been perfect to protect South Dekalb and play the spillover/moveovers. I believe the theater was near the end of the Grant Shopping Center next to a dry cleaners?
Great Stan, thanks always for the valuable info. Only went to this theatre once I think. It probably shut down in the mid 80’s especially when AMC Northalake 8 came along.
Saw the original “Superman” here the summer of 1979. Packed house. “The Deer Hunter” was playing next door. Did this theater do good business as a discount house? I remember the auditorium being a good size. Even a little bigger than South Dekalb since it got quadded.
Went to this theater once when I was twelve I believe. I saw “Treasure of the 4 Crowns” in 3D. It was one of those early ‘80’s 3D exploitation flicks, and a “Raiders of the Lost Ark” ripoff. Not bad 3D though as I remember. Anyway, I believe it was split and taken over by GTC? Thought I could remember it still being open as I worked on Hwy 278 up until '87. Could be wrong though.
Stan and Evan, thanks for the valuable info. Always interesting. Salem Gate had a great run though (like the Stonemont I imagine) in that it could play exclusive runs as South Dekalb and Newton Cinema were the only theatres even close to proximity. I think Moonlit would play third run? Anwyay, that changed of course with the original Conyers Cinema 4 (later 8). I remember when GTC took over, Salem Gate would still get Return of the Jedi and Beverly Hills Cop. That was not to last long though as you mentioned.
That’s really interesting news about Salem Gate competing with the Conyers Cinema 8 down the street. I posted under “dmorg” years ago and grew up going to Salem Gate. I have to say, if GTC thought they could quad Salem Gate, those auditoriums would have been TINY. No way. Salem Gate ain’t no South Dekalb. Haha. Thanks for the update.