This first manager this theatre had was Charles Hopkins. He was quite possibly the best theatre exhibitor/manager I ever worked for. He managed in Savannah at the Tara, where he was also city manager. Nashville, TN (Hermitage), Easley and others.
He taught me everything, now making me the best theatre exhibitor to ever exist. I helped Charlie design this theatre, only minor adjustments were made and others used this type design.
Charlie will always be the best. “Run'em, Turner.” The first battle cry of my youth.
Mr. Cook was a wonderful individual to work for. He knew everybody who was anybody in Greenville, SC. Knowing him opened a lot of doors for a lot of people. He could draw theatre ads like know one else I ever have ever seen before. His ads were not the carnival barker type “hook'em and rook'em” stuff. They were class all the way. I believe his family values stood in the way of him being in a booking and advertising office. Plus, He loved the front lines of the theatre business.
I learned from him to be on the floor and accessible to employees and customers at showtime. I was so sorry to hear that he had passed away.
THE THEATRE FIRST OPENED AS AN ART HOUSE SHOWING CLASSIC MOVIES. IT EVENTUALLY BECAME AN ADULT THEATRE. THE BUILDING AT THE TIME WAS OWNED BY A POLITICAL/LEGAL VIP FROM THE AREA.
AN AMUSEMENT COMPANY TOOK IT OVER AND TURNED IT INTO A X HOUSE. IT RAN AS AN ADULT THEATRE UNTIL IT CLOSED DUE TO VIDEO. ONE FORMER EMPLOYEE GOT MAD AT THE BUSINESS OWNER AND DECIDED TO OPEN HIS OWN X THEATRE. IT WAS QUICKLY SHUT DOWN. AH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF EXHIBITION. IT HAD A PIZZA INN RESTAURANT LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING, WITH SEPERATE ENTRANCES OF COURSE.
IN DEFENSE OF THE THEATRE, THIS WAS DURING THE TACKY ADVERTISING DAYS RELATED TO THE PORN INDUSTRY. IT NEVER HAD A MARQUEE. ONLY A SIGN WITH THE NAME AND A ONE SHEET OUTSIDE AND A SMALL AD IN THE THEATRE SECTION OF THE GREENVILL NEWS. YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO BE LOOKING FOR THIS THEATRE TO FIND IT.
I WAS THE LAST OWNER OF THIS LOCATION. THE THEATRE WAS BUILT IN 1949 BY HAROLD ARMISTEAD, TWINED IN 1975 AND CLOSED IN MARCH OF 2004. THE ARMISTEAD FAMILY ALSO WAS INVOLVED THE THEATRE EXHIBITION INDUSTRY IN EASLEY PRIOR TO THE COLONY.
LIST OF OWNERSHIP:
MR. HAROLD ARMISTEAD
WINYAH BAY THEATRES – FAIRLANE/LITCHFIELD THEATRES
UNITED ARTIST THEATRES – PROPERTY OWNED BY
MR W.C. CRANE, JR.
MARQUIS THEATRES – JEFF AND WENDY SNEAD
G.J. TURNER ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY – GREGORY TURNER
CLOSED JUNE 21, 1979
LAST FILM SHOWN BURT REYNOLDS IN “HOOPER”
I WORKED FOR PIEDMONT THEATRES AT THE TIME AND HELPED CLOSE IT.
mhlt are you Mike Talbert? Please respond to:
I also worked for Mr McKinnney when he came to Greenville.
This first manager this theatre had was Charles Hopkins. He was quite possibly the best theatre exhibitor/manager I ever worked for. He managed in Savannah at the Tara, where he was also city manager. Nashville, TN (Hermitage), Easley and others.
He taught me everything, now making me the best theatre exhibitor to ever exist. I helped Charlie design this theatre, only minor adjustments were made and others used this type design.
Charlie will always be the best. “Run'em, Turner.” The first battle cry of my youth.
Worked at this location in the late seventies for Mr John Vassey as relief projectionist. We ran Hardcore at that time.
ORIGINALLY PART OF THE LITCHFIELD THEATRES, LTD CHAIN.
Mr. Cook was a wonderful individual to work for. He knew everybody who was anybody in Greenville, SC. Knowing him opened a lot of doors for a lot of people. He could draw theatre ads like know one else I ever have ever seen before. His ads were not the carnival barker type “hook'em and rook'em” stuff. They were class all the way. I believe his family values stood in the way of him being in a booking and advertising office. Plus, He loved the front lines of the theatre business.
I learned from him to be on the floor and accessible to employees and customers at showtime. I was so sorry to hear that he had passed away.
It’s 6:00 PM right now Mr. C, “go get'em.”
A great theatre man that they don’t make anymore!
THE CONCRETE SIDEWALK HAS BE BEEN TORN UP FOR A PARKING LOT.
OPENED IN 1947 AND CLOSED IN 1975.
HAD SPEAKERS FOR 300 CARS AT THE END.
NOW A CHEMICAL PLANT.
EASLEY’S AFRICAN AMERCAN THEATRE. CONCRETE SIDEWALK ENTRANCE STILL STANDS.
OPERATED AROUND 1920
THE THEATRE FIRST OPENED AS AN ART HOUSE SHOWING CLASSIC MOVIES. IT EVENTUALLY BECAME AN ADULT THEATRE. THE BUILDING AT THE TIME WAS OWNED BY A POLITICAL/LEGAL VIP FROM THE AREA.
AN AMUSEMENT COMPANY TOOK IT OVER AND TURNED IT INTO A X HOUSE. IT RAN AS AN ADULT THEATRE UNTIL IT CLOSED DUE TO VIDEO. ONE FORMER EMPLOYEE GOT MAD AT THE BUSINESS OWNER AND DECIDED TO OPEN HIS OWN X THEATRE. IT WAS QUICKLY SHUT DOWN. AH, THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF EXHIBITION. IT HAD A PIZZA INN RESTAURANT LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING, WITH SEPERATE ENTRANCES OF COURSE.
IN DEFENSE OF THE THEATRE, THIS WAS DURING THE TACKY ADVERTISING DAYS RELATED TO THE PORN INDUSTRY. IT NEVER HAD A MARQUEE. ONLY A SIGN WITH THE NAME AND A ONE SHEET OUTSIDE AND A SMALL AD IN THE THEATRE SECTION OF THE GREENVILL NEWS. YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO BE LOOKING FOR THIS THEATRE TO FIND IT.
THE BIJOU CINEMAS HAD THE FOLLOWING SEATING:
1: 388
2: 244
3: 256
4: 168
5: 344
6: 264
7: 398
8: 238
I WAS THE LAST OWNER OF THIS LOCATION. THE THEATRE WAS BUILT IN 1949 BY HAROLD ARMISTEAD, TWINED IN 1975 AND CLOSED IN MARCH OF 2004. THE ARMISTEAD FAMILY ALSO WAS INVOLVED THE THEATRE EXHIBITION INDUSTRY IN EASLEY PRIOR TO THE COLONY.
LIST OF OWNERSHIP: MR. HAROLD ARMISTEAD WINYAH BAY THEATRES – FAIRLANE/LITCHFIELD THEATRES UNITED ARTIST THEATRES – PROPERTY OWNED BY MR W.C. CRANE, JR. MARQUIS THEATRES – JEFF AND WENDY SNEAD G.J. TURNER ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY – GREGORY TURNER
PROPERTY IS NOW OWNED BY ROBINSON FUNERAL HOME
ANY QUESTIONS: