Let’s not forget that was the era before the video game rooms in the lobby. That was back when a manager was allowed to manage their theater. We promoted our films. We were pillars in the community, etc. Most managers in the Houston area speak very broken English, never promote the films or the theaters. We recently had the grand opening of a new 12-plex in our area. I could not believe they opened with no promotions, no advanced advertising in the local newspaper, no newspaper artice about the theater. They just unlocked the doors and turned on the lights.
I went to see a movie about a week after they opened. The manager was sitting at the coffee bar wearing his headphones. All doormen and ushers wear them as well. No one speaks to customers, and employees no longer must be clean cut, or for that matter, clean.
I was the manager during the time when the large auditorium was twinned. It originally seated 954. The smaller auditorium only seated 525.
Interesting side note. The opening movie for the newly twinned theater was the World Premier of Up In Smoke. It was such a huge success, we had to run it on both new screens. We also had Cheech and Chong there for the premier. Cheech was wild and was climbibg over seats during the screening, but Chong sat in the office and talked about Dallas Cowboy football.
The original manager there was Fred Riley who was transferred from Tampa Florida by the District Manager, Billy Wilson. Frwed remained there for many years until his retirement from General Cinema. He now resides in Wisconsin.
Bob Bibeaux was the manager there for many years. Gene Spieckermann was the first House Manager of the expansion screens at the second building. He later transferred to the Gateway Cinema in Beaumont Texas, but returned to New Orleans long enough to marry one of his former cashiers in the late 70’s.
I worked for General Cinema during the 70’s in Houston. The original manager of the Galleria Cinmema in Houston was Frank Joines. He is still in the Houston area and I would bet he has a copy of the intro. He gave me a couple of the window stickers a few years back. I know he has a few of the Blue ushers jackets and maybe one or two of the orange ones.
Let’s not forget that was the era before the video game rooms in the lobby. That was back when a manager was allowed to manage their theater. We promoted our films. We were pillars in the community, etc. Most managers in the Houston area speak very broken English, never promote the films or the theaters. We recently had the grand opening of a new 12-plex in our area. I could not believe they opened with no promotions, no advanced advertising in the local newspaper, no newspaper artice about the theater. They just unlocked the doors and turned on the lights.
I went to see a movie about a week after they opened. The manager was sitting at the coffee bar wearing his headphones. All doormen and ushers wear them as well. No one speaks to customers, and employees no longer must be clean cut, or for that matter, clean.
Oh well, I’m getting on my soapbox. Sorry guys!
I put a call in to Frank. Hopefully I will hear back shortly.
I was the manager during the time when the large auditorium was twinned. It originally seated 954. The smaller auditorium only seated 525.
Interesting side note. The opening movie for the newly twinned theater was the World Premier of Up In Smoke. It was such a huge success, we had to run it on both new screens. We also had Cheech and Chong there for the premier. Cheech was wild and was climbibg over seats during the screening, but Chong sat in the office and talked about Dallas Cowboy football.
The original manager there was Fred Riley who was transferred from Tampa Florida by the District Manager, Billy Wilson. Frwed remained there for many years until his retirement from General Cinema. He now resides in Wisconsin.
Bob Bibeaux was the manager there for many years. Gene Spieckermann was the first House Manager of the expansion screens at the second building. He later transferred to the Gateway Cinema in Beaumont Texas, but returned to New Orleans long enough to marry one of his former cashiers in the late 70’s.
I worked for General Cinema during the 70’s in Houston. The original manager of the Galleria Cinmema in Houston was Frank Joines. He is still in the Houston area and I would bet he has a copy of the intro. He gave me a couple of the window stickers a few years back. I know he has a few of the Blue ushers jackets and maybe one or two of the orange ones.