Buford Highway Twin Cinema
5805 Buford Highway NE,
Doraville,
GA
30340
5805 Buford Highway NE,
Doraville,
GA
30340
4 people
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The Treasure Village Shopping Center on Buford Highway was anchored by a new-build Jerry Lewis Cinema. By the time the venue opened, Network Cinema’s phones were disconnected and Jerry Lewis had ankled the project. Star Cinemas took on this location just three months after it had opened along the Jerry Lewis Old Dixie, Mableton, and Roswell locations in May of 1973. It was renamed as the Buford Highway Twin Cinema I & II.
In 1975, the venues were then under the Septum Twin Cinemas / Septum Cinemas banner. “Star Wars” had a record run there making over $150,000 23 weeks playing in Dolby Stereo from December 23, 1977. As competition increased, the venue used one auditorium for X-rated fare beginning in the 1980s which had an amazing ten-plus year run. In 1991, the venue began booking Indian films under Monty Hadda’s watch which proved so popular that others copied the move. The Buford would move back to full time adult cinema capping an amazing run in June of 2015. Considering that 185 out of 200 Jerry Lewis locations reportedly lost money, the Buford and the Roswell locations were easily two of the Jerry Lewis Cinema Circuit’s most profitable locations that stayed with their original screen count.
The building is still standing. They removed the signage but looks about the same as it did when it closed.
“touch of country in the city, Doraville, it ain’t much but it’s home”
Clockwork Orange has shown
This opened as a Jerry Lewis cinema on February 16th, 1973. Isn’t this in Doraville?
According to a March 2017 Google Street View the building is still standing and is for lease if I am seeing the blurry sign correctly.
Demolished?
The theatre is closed. The last show was in July 2015. It’s sad to see.
This theatre was the start of Septum Cinemas. Built as a Jerry Lewis Twin Cinema, ownership changed when the theatre failed. Star Wars opened 2nd run at Christmas but this theatre was the only theatre in metro Atlanta showing it so lines were long. The Weis Doraville theatre, across the street, had the first run of Star Wars. Septum’s corporate offices were upstairs, in between the projection units of the cinemas. The film Superman, opened here exclusively as the only theatre on the north side, and established Septum’s foray into first run films. Septum management did use the theatre for softcore x rated films as well and sometimes would have an x rated film in one auditorium and a PG or R film in the other. Eventually, the theatre was sold in order to focus on being an x rated theatre only and Septum’s corporate offices were moved to Holcomb Woods. Of amazement to me is that this theatre is the one and only Septum theatre to still be open, some 28 years after Septum was sold to Cineplex Odeon,.
One of our favorite lines is “you know you’ve lived in Atlanta a long time if you saw a non-porn film at the Buford Twin”…which I did…Star Wars and I am sure a few others.
Stan, do you have any photos of these old theatres? Please click on my name and then contact me by the email there to let me know. Thanks!
Ijust figured if i hit an Atlanta theatre someone would be able to explain the WEIS Cinemas because i couldn’t remember the names,but I knew they had screens in Macon and Savannah. A Mr.Crisp was the manager of the Capri,because I have an ad for that theatre when 2001 played there{on very small screens]and he is the contact person for group rates.
Mike, This is an odd page to bring up the Weis chain since this theatre was never operated by Weis and has spent the vast majority of its life as a porno house. However, since you asked, all of the Weis theatres in Atlanta have pages and comments on this site. They are:
Capri: /theaters/11420/
Fine Art: /theaters/11485/
Broadview: /theaters/12132/
Weis Cinema: /theaters/11690/
Peachtree Battle: /theaters/12131/
Atlanta: /theaters/4784/
Sandy Springs: /theaters/12161/
Doraville: /theaters/11795/
Candler Road: /theaters/16454/
Franklin Road: /theaters/12863/
Arrowhead: /theaters/12974/
Only the last two were actually built by Weis. All of the others were already operating, sometimes under different names, when purchased by Weis. You will have to read down into the comments section to get to the Weis information on these.
How come someone from Atlanta has not written on all the WEIS cinemas in your city. Albert Weis had Savannah all wrapped up.Had screens in Augusta and Macon. He was a big player in your city during the 70’s. Just asking.
I know the Canton Corners Twin was the first theater around Atlanta to have “Star Wars” in Dolby. But in 1977, it was not widely considered part of metro Atlanta. Outside of that, in the 5-county metro area, The Buford Highway Twin was the first to have “Star Wars in Dolby.
I have not seen the Canton Corners Twin listed. Maybe you should list it.
The CANTON CORNERS TWIN in Marietta was actually the first Atlanta area theater to have a Dolby Stereo presentation of “Star Wars.” Their engagement began November 24, 1977, four weeks before the BUFORD HIGHWAY TWIN began their run.
How the mighty have fallen. I remember after “Star Wars” ended it first run at the metro Atlanta theaters, it played as a second run here for almost 6 months. This was the first Atlanta theater to play “Star Wars” in Dolby Stereo.
Here is a photo from July 2007 of this former Jerry Lewis Cinema. The stucco façade was not part of the original décor and was added about twenty years ago.
Theater is still open and playing xxx…From the outside theater is in good shape..Located in the heart of the ASIAN district in Atlanta.
this still open?
any couples come tonie