I gave the manager a couple of weeks off when the Storey Chain owned the place. This was in the early 80’s and we had midnight shows every night. A long time manager……Cliff….operated it for a few years….
I was the General Manager in the late 80’s to about 92 or so. I loved this theatre. I loved the fact that it had an office on the ground floor. Also, I had a great staff and two excellent projectionist. Also, I worked with a lady who was an old time employee of Storey Theatres…Betty….she was so kind and a joy to work with. God rest her soul….she passed a few years ago.
I managed the Tara for a few years in the early 90’s. Hoyts owned the circit then. I loved the theatre. During this time we showed a mixture of Art movies as well as main stream movies. In addition, we had a few foreign and ‘off beat’ features.
Theatre # 4 had it’s own projection booth. One would walk down a down a long hallway which was an addition to get to the auditorum and booth. This screen was small and seating limited. I think only 125 to 150 seats.
Theatre #1 was to the left of the concession was refered to number 1 an had a very bad ‘keystone’ problem. Also, this theatre and number two (the theatre to the right of concessions) were refered to as ‘shot gun’ theatres. They are long and narrow. Theatre #4 was an addition and made for a great movie viewing experience.
George Lefont had a plate glass window in his office and I assume he watched movies from his own office. The offices next door and connected to the theatre were vacant when I was there.
During my time managing the Tara, Hoyts re-did the lobby. These changes are what you see today.
I had managed the Toco Hill, which is a short distance down LaVista Road, therefore, I knew a lot of the customers which made my experience all the more enjoyable.
I found the home office personnel very professional but the home team that oversaw the Atlanta Hoyts operations a bit unprofessional. ( I am trying to be nice here)
Famous people would visit the theatre some were: The Governor, Ted Turner, Jane Fonda various music and film stars.
Lots of stories……to much to tell in too little space
The North Springs was the very first theatre I worked. I began in late 1979……it seems so long ago. I had just moved to Atlanta and lived across the street. I needed to find a part time job to help pay the bills.
Eastern Federal owned the place and when I was first employed they had those god awful towers. Some time around 1980 or 81 they got a 5 tier platter system.
The office was on the ground floor and one could open the door and see the front door and concession stand. I’ll never forget the day when a new district manager walked in and found me eating in the office with the concession/doorperson. I was shocked. Most of the time I worked with EFC, Mr. Denham was the District Manager. He liked me a lot and got me out of at least one bad ‘checker reports.’
Of course, I helped him out with many bad managers that came and went during the time I was there. I wanted to name one here….but maybe I should not…..he was one of the most dumbest persons I have ever met. We had problems with our safe and put petty cash in a bag…….with extra change…..quaters, dimes ect…..
On one night this stupid person took this bag and dropped it in the bank night drop!!! The bank, being tired of other past problems, ran it as a deposit……( it was funny….at least to me) During this time I took a few weeks off and Mr. Denham called me at home to beg me to come back to get the place back in order until he could find a manager. (I had a full time job) I returned and the ROSE was playing. The staff told me that the movie had broken several times and that it was so bad that the customers would complain about it.
I then walked in to watch a bit of it. The end of the movie was near and Bete Midler was singing. All of a sudden you could see her singing but up-side-down. I laughed all that night.
Boy, I could tell you more stories……it was a fun theatre to run…….The A&P had a store in the same center…..I remember a Senior Dental student who had worked there 9 years and was telling me that he planned to open a Dental Office in Duluth GA.
I didn’t know there THAT was…….but, of course, I do now….he is probably rich now!!!
I worked at Toco Hills for about 5 years during the 80’s. I never knew it as ‘Lefont Toco Hill.’ It was known as Toco Hill Theatre and Storey Theatres owned it.
Mr. Storey and his wife would come by to watch a film at times. I liked him and only wish I had known him when he was in his prime. The district manager was Rick Adams and we got along well.
The theatre was responsible for the ‘call-in’ sheet. We took all the figures from the other locations and took the paper to the office each and every night. (No fax but when they did get one I wasn’t allowed send it from my home…….the Toco never had a fax….I had one at my home)
The projector was a Century SA with a Simplex platter. The concession stand was small. Our crowds arrived all at the same time. For these reasons, and the fact that the customers were older and well established, our per-cap was always low. Mr. Coulon, who was over the concession sales, and I went round and round with this issue. However, I came to respect him by the time I left Storey. God rest him……he recently passed.
The seating was about 766…….and we packed them in many times. I must say that a LOT of weird people came to the place.
I always had a good staff. I employed kids in the neighborhood either High School or College aged kids. Some worked with me many years and I still am in contact with some of them to this day.
I enjoyed the time running this single screen theatre. It was a fun time. I could go on and on with stories……about the theatre, staff and customers. I will not go into them here….too many to relate.
Storey wanted to twin the place in 87 or so but the landlord raised cain. Storey had a few more years left on their lease and thought they might make more money. The landlord wanted more money; therefore, refused to allow this to happen. In about the fall of 87, business fell off a lot! I guess videos were the cause. It was almost like someone putting on the brakes or something.
Seeing the writing on the wall, I began to press my boss to transfer me to a multi-screen location. After much debate, I got my wish. I worked for Storey for over 8 years. WOW……..I worked at the North Springs when it was an Eastern Federal Theatre, Shannon 7 with Storey, Tara under Hoyts. I also gave managers breaks for their vacations under Storey at the Lakewood, North 85 Drive-In and The North Dekalb. In addition, I ran the Gwinnett Drive-In under Storey. I even worked as the District Mgr for Storey’s Ganinsville locations during a short time.
I must say however that the Toco will always remain in my heart and mind with the greatest of memories!!!
The theatre is closed. The last show was in July 2015. It’s sad to see.
I gave the manager a couple of weeks off when the Storey Chain owned the place. This was in the early 80’s and we had midnight shows every night. A long time manager……Cliff….operated it for a few years….
I was the General Manager in the late 80’s to about 92 or so. I loved this theatre. I loved the fact that it had an office on the ground floor. Also, I had a great staff and two excellent projectionist. Also, I worked with a lady who was an old time employee of Storey Theatres…Betty….she was so kind and a joy to work with. God rest her soul….she passed a few years ago.
I managed the Tara for a few years in the early 90’s. Hoyts owned the circit then. I loved the theatre. During this time we showed a mixture of Art movies as well as main stream movies. In addition, we had a few foreign and ‘off beat’ features.
Theatre # 4 had it’s own projection booth. One would walk down a down a long hallway which was an addition to get to the auditorum and booth. This screen was small and seating limited. I think only 125 to 150 seats.
Theatre #1 was to the left of the concession was refered to number 1 an had a very bad ‘keystone’ problem. Also, this theatre and number two (the theatre to the right of concessions) were refered to as ‘shot gun’ theatres. They are long and narrow. Theatre #4 was an addition and made for a great movie viewing experience.
George Lefont had a plate glass window in his office and I assume he watched movies from his own office. The offices next door and connected to the theatre were vacant when I was there.
During my time managing the Tara, Hoyts re-did the lobby. These changes are what you see today.
I had managed the Toco Hill, which is a short distance down LaVista Road, therefore, I knew a lot of the customers which made my experience all the more enjoyable.
I found the home office personnel very professional but the home team that oversaw the Atlanta Hoyts operations a bit unprofessional. ( I am trying to be nice here)
Famous people would visit the theatre some were: The Governor, Ted Turner, Jane Fonda various music and film stars.
Lots of stories……to much to tell in too little space
The North Springs was the very first theatre I worked. I began in late 1979……it seems so long ago. I had just moved to Atlanta and lived across the street. I needed to find a part time job to help pay the bills.
Eastern Federal owned the place and when I was first employed they had those god awful towers. Some time around 1980 or 81 they got a 5 tier platter system.
The office was on the ground floor and one could open the door and see the front door and concession stand. I’ll never forget the day when a new district manager walked in and found me eating in the office with the concession/doorperson. I was shocked. Most of the time I worked with EFC, Mr. Denham was the District Manager. He liked me a lot and got me out of at least one bad ‘checker reports.’
Of course, I helped him out with many bad managers that came and went during the time I was there. I wanted to name one here….but maybe I should not…..he was one of the most dumbest persons I have ever met. We had problems with our safe and put petty cash in a bag…….with extra change…..quaters, dimes ect…..
On one night this stupid person took this bag and dropped it in the bank night drop!!! The bank, being tired of other past problems, ran it as a deposit……( it was funny….at least to me) During this time I took a few weeks off and Mr. Denham called me at home to beg me to come back to get the place back in order until he could find a manager. (I had a full time job) I returned and the ROSE was playing. The staff told me that the movie had broken several times and that it was so bad that the customers would complain about it.
I then walked in to watch a bit of it. The end of the movie was near and Bete Midler was singing. All of a sudden you could see her singing but up-side-down. I laughed all that night.
Boy, I could tell you more stories……it was a fun theatre to run…….The A&P had a store in the same center…..I remember a Senior Dental student who had worked there 9 years and was telling me that he planned to open a Dental Office in Duluth GA.
I didn’t know there THAT was…….but, of course, I do now….he is probably rich now!!!
I worked at Toco Hills for about 5 years during the 80’s. I never knew it as ‘Lefont Toco Hill.’ It was known as Toco Hill Theatre and Storey Theatres owned it.
Mr. Storey and his wife would come by to watch a film at times. I liked him and only wish I had known him when he was in his prime. The district manager was Rick Adams and we got along well.
The theatre was responsible for the ‘call-in’ sheet. We took all the figures from the other locations and took the paper to the office each and every night. (No fax but when they did get one I wasn’t allowed send it from my home…….the Toco never had a fax….I had one at my home)
The projector was a Century SA with a Simplex platter. The concession stand was small. Our crowds arrived all at the same time. For these reasons, and the fact that the customers were older and well established, our per-cap was always low. Mr. Coulon, who was over the concession sales, and I went round and round with this issue. However, I came to respect him by the time I left Storey. God rest him……he recently passed.
The seating was about 766…….and we packed them in many times. I must say that a LOT of weird people came to the place.
I always had a good staff. I employed kids in the neighborhood either High School or College aged kids. Some worked with me many years and I still am in contact with some of them to this day.
I enjoyed the time running this single screen theatre. It was a fun time. I could go on and on with stories……about the theatre, staff and customers. I will not go into them here….too many to relate.
Storey wanted to twin the place in 87 or so but the landlord raised cain. Storey had a few more years left on their lease and thought they might make more money. The landlord wanted more money; therefore, refused to allow this to happen. In about the fall of 87, business fell off a lot! I guess videos were the cause. It was almost like someone putting on the brakes or something.
Seeing the writing on the wall, I began to press my boss to transfer me to a multi-screen location. After much debate, I got my wish. I worked for Storey for over 8 years. WOW……..I worked at the North Springs when it was an Eastern Federal Theatre, Shannon 7 with Storey, Tara under Hoyts. I also gave managers breaks for their vacations under Storey at the Lakewood, North 85 Drive-In and The North Dekalb. In addition, I ran the Gwinnett Drive-In under Storey. I even worked as the District Mgr for Storey’s Ganinsville locations during a short time.
I must say however that the Toco will always remain in my heart and mind with the greatest of memories!!!