My favorite memory of the Sherman: I met David Lynch and John Nance
after the screening of ERASERHEAD in 1978. Mr. Lynch was a very down to earth and humorous person (especially recounting his amazing stories of how long it took to get ERASERHEAD made).
I began working at Paramount Studios in 1979 and again met Mr. Lynch while discussing the distribution of his upcoming new picture,
THE ELEPHANT MAN.
I remember patronizing the Encore in the late 70s when it was a revival house. My favorite memories of the Encore: meeting King Vidor and Peter Bogdanovich after screening of their films.
My best friend would drag his unhappy wife to see Japanese Samurai Martial Arts marathons at the Encore (and they’re still married).
I lived near Beverly Hills so pilgrimages to the Vagabond were always adventures (from 1982 -1986). After Vermont Street, the further East you drove down Wilshire Blvd. towards the Vagabond, the more you prayed to God for protection and forgiveness. On many occasions I parked on side streets between office buildings on Wilshire Blvd. and feared that I wouldn’t make it back to my car after leaving the Vagabond late at night (at least I got to see two classic movies).
However, back in those days classic movie patrons were dedicated and courageous people. The Vagabond showed many pristine 20th Century Fox 35mm prints and it’s where I began my appreciation of their colorful musicals and Betty Grable.
While the Vagabond was the most rundown of all the revival houses I attended in my ten years in LA (compared to the Encore, Nuart, Sherman, Fox Venice, Vista, New Beverly, Tiffany, etc.), the prints were outstanding and the patrons interesting (I met several Directors there, including Rouben Mamoulian).
Come to think of it, I did have a lot of courage when I patronized revival houses in LA.
I remember regularly riding my bike from Mar Vista (and I never was harrassed) from 1979 – 1981 to see movies at the Fox Venice. I loved the design of the theater, it’s great double features, inexpensive admission tickets, and large selections of hot teas at the concession stand.
It’s very sad that contemporary audiences (except in select major cities) will probably never see movies in these single screen majestic palaces. They can’t imagine the experiences they’re missing.
I regularly patronized the Nuart for the ten years I lived in LA
(1977-1987).I was always fascinated by the double feature presentations of foreign and American classics, obscure foreign and independent features, the discount card you purchased that was punched at the boxoffice, the very colorful monthly calendars, and the huge crowds that constantly attended every daily screening. To this day, I still remember 600 of us crammed together watching a musical double feature of CAMELOT and MY FAIR LADY. For those of you who know the combined length of these features, we were a dedicated bunch of Nuart patrons (however, my girlfriend wasn’t very happy with the double features length). I also vividly remember attending numerous combo screenings of THE THREE MUSKETEERS and THE FOUR MUSKETEERS.
I also attended many presentations at the Fox Venice when I lived in Mar Vista. While the film scheduling was pretty much the same as the Nuart, the Fox Venice was my favorite of the two cinemas since it offered numerous varieties of hot tea at the concession stand and I like the spacious layout of the interior more.
How sad: instead of promoting culture, entertainment, and memories, the Garden will sell pizza, clothes, and other disposable items. That’s just what King Street needs these days, more cheap retailers.
How ironic: Charleston has such a “poverty of riches” that it can afford to allow the more recent historical landmarks to disappear.
Besides, who needs the 20th Century? What’s so important about vaudeville, movies, radio, television, and other forms of entertainment/communication?
For all those uncounted thousands who experienced the Garden, we say thank you for your efforts John, Mark, and Ralph.
And to the grand old Garden, a final thanks for the memories!
Was the World Premiere of THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT held at the Beverly?
I lived in LA for 10 years and attended screenings at the New Beverly regularly (until 1987). Several years ago I saw a short film of the THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT premiere on TCM and it reminded me of the New Beverly.
Two of my fondest memories of the theatre: watching double features of THE THREE MUSKETEERS/THE FOUR MUSKETEERS and THE GODFATHER/THE GODFATHER PART 2.
Why can’t they print (above) John Cole’s photo of the theatre from the April 30 News Release (since it’s already on this web site)?
By the way, I posted my comments about the purchase/restoration of The Garden with that April 30 News Release.
Unfortunately, I arrived in Charleston just after your hearing at the Charleston County Library. I will return to Charleston this summer so please keep me updated on possible future meetings (my e mail address: ).
Also, where can John Cole’s book on Charleston’s theatres be purchased?
I just visited Charleston (my hometown) last week during the SPOLETO arts festival and as always, rode my bike along King Street to see the cinema vestiges of a bygone era. During my childhood I attended movies regularly at the Classic 4 King Street theatres: The American, Gloria, Riviera, and The Garden. Sadly, only The American still shows movies and it’s recent renovation has divided the theatre into two screens (but at least its still a movie theatre).
While the facades of the Gloria and Riviera (with its famed Art Deco design) remain, the interiors are gone.
Hopefully, The Garden can be restored as a movie theatre, but unless the city subsidizes the project on a continuous basis, it cannot survive. Charleston does not have a sophisticated film culture to support movies so the city government would have to heavily market and promote The Gardens as both an historic landmark (as it has often done with the historic residences of the city) and as a delightful moviegoing experience.
I would suggest that the city government heavily solicit the patronage of The College of Charleston (just around the corner from the theatre), it’s substantial convention and tourist business, and SPOLETO to revitalize The Garden as an entertainment/cultural destination.
I developed a lifelong appreciation of movies (both as a vocation, working in film marketing and distribution with Paramount Studios and the Walt Disney Studios for over 21 years, and as an avocation) while patronizing these King Street theatres (and the only theatre not downtown, the Ashley in St. Andrews Parish) during the 50s, 60s, and early 70s.
While The Garden will probably not survive as a movie theatre, at least I have my memories. As Director Raoul Walsh wrote in his autobiography 30 years ago, “MEMORIES ARE A FORM OF IMMORTALITY, AS MEMORIES ARE YOUNG FOREVER.”
My favorite memory of the Sherman: I met David Lynch and John Nance
after the screening of ERASERHEAD in 1978. Mr. Lynch was a very down to earth and humorous person (especially recounting his amazing stories of how long it took to get ERASERHEAD made).
I began working at Paramount Studios in 1979 and again met Mr. Lynch while discussing the distribution of his upcoming new picture,
THE ELEPHANT MAN.
I remember patronizing the Encore in the late 70s when it was a revival house. My favorite memories of the Encore: meeting King Vidor and Peter Bogdanovich after screening of their films.
My best friend would drag his unhappy wife to see Japanese Samurai Martial Arts marathons at the Encore (and they’re still married).
I lived near Beverly Hills so pilgrimages to the Vagabond were always adventures (from 1982 -1986). After Vermont Street, the further East you drove down Wilshire Blvd. towards the Vagabond, the more you prayed to God for protection and forgiveness. On many occasions I parked on side streets between office buildings on Wilshire Blvd. and feared that I wouldn’t make it back to my car after leaving the Vagabond late at night (at least I got to see two classic movies).
However, back in those days classic movie patrons were dedicated and courageous people. The Vagabond showed many pristine 20th Century Fox 35mm prints and it’s where I began my appreciation of their colorful musicals and Betty Grable.
While the Vagabond was the most rundown of all the revival houses I attended in my ten years in LA (compared to the Encore, Nuart, Sherman, Fox Venice, Vista, New Beverly, Tiffany, etc.), the prints were outstanding and the patrons interesting (I met several Directors there, including Rouben Mamoulian).
Come to think of it, I did have a lot of courage when I patronized revival houses in LA.
I remember regularly riding my bike from Mar Vista (and I never was harrassed) from 1979 – 1981 to see movies at the Fox Venice. I loved the design of the theater, it’s great double features, inexpensive admission tickets, and large selections of hot teas at the concession stand.
It’s very sad that contemporary audiences (except in select major cities) will probably never see movies in these single screen majestic palaces. They can’t imagine the experiences they’re missing.
I regularly patronized the Nuart for the ten years I lived in LA
(1977-1987).I was always fascinated by the double feature presentations of foreign and American classics, obscure foreign and independent features, the discount card you purchased that was punched at the boxoffice, the very colorful monthly calendars, and the huge crowds that constantly attended every daily screening. To this day, I still remember 600 of us crammed together watching a musical double feature of CAMELOT and MY FAIR LADY. For those of you who know the combined length of these features, we were a dedicated bunch of Nuart patrons (however, my girlfriend wasn’t very happy with the double features length). I also vividly remember attending numerous combo screenings of THE THREE MUSKETEERS and THE FOUR MUSKETEERS.
I also attended many presentations at the Fox Venice when I lived in Mar Vista. While the film scheduling was pretty much the same as the Nuart, the Fox Venice was my favorite of the two cinemas since it offered numerous varieties of hot tea at the concession stand and I like the spacious layout of the interior more.
2 great theaters, many wonderful memories!
How sad: instead of promoting culture, entertainment, and memories, the Garden will sell pizza, clothes, and other disposable items. That’s just what King Street needs these days, more cheap retailers.
How ironic: Charleston has such a “poverty of riches” that it can afford to allow the more recent historical landmarks to disappear.
Besides, who needs the 20th Century? What’s so important about vaudeville, movies, radio, television, and other forms of entertainment/communication?
For all those uncounted thousands who experienced the Garden, we say thank you for your efforts John, Mark, and Ralph.
And to the grand old Garden, a final thanks for the memories!
Was the World Premiere of THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT held at the Beverly?
I lived in LA for 10 years and attended screenings at the New Beverly regularly (until 1987). Several years ago I saw a short film of the THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT premiere on TCM and it reminded me of the New Beverly.
Two of my fondest memories of the theatre: watching double features of THE THREE MUSKETEERS/THE FOUR MUSKETEERS and THE GODFATHER/THE GODFATHER PART 2.
Doesn’t The American have two screens now?
Why can’t they print (above) John Cole’s photo of the theatre from the April 30 News Release (since it’s already on this web site)?
By the way, I posted my comments about the purchase/restoration of The Garden with that April 30 News Release.
Unfortunately, I arrived in Charleston just after your hearing at the Charleston County Library. I will return to Charleston this summer so please keep me updated on possible future meetings (my e mail address: ).
Also, where can John Cole’s book on Charleston’s theatres be purchased?
I just visited Charleston (my hometown) last week during the SPOLETO arts festival and as always, rode my bike along King Street to see the cinema vestiges of a bygone era. During my childhood I attended movies regularly at the Classic 4 King Street theatres: The American, Gloria, Riviera, and The Garden. Sadly, only The American still shows movies and it’s recent renovation has divided the theatre into two screens (but at least its still a movie theatre).
While the facades of the Gloria and Riviera (with its famed Art Deco design) remain, the interiors are gone.
Hopefully, The Garden can be restored as a movie theatre, but unless the city subsidizes the project on a continuous basis, it cannot survive. Charleston does not have a sophisticated film culture to support movies so the city government would have to heavily market and promote The Gardens as both an historic landmark (as it has often done with the historic residences of the city) and as a delightful moviegoing experience.
I would suggest that the city government heavily solicit the patronage of The College of Charleston (just around the corner from the theatre), it’s substantial convention and tourist business, and SPOLETO to revitalize The Garden as an entertainment/cultural destination.
I developed a lifelong appreciation of movies (both as a vocation, working in film marketing and distribution with Paramount Studios and the Walt Disney Studios for over 21 years, and as an avocation) while patronizing these King Street theatres (and the only theatre not downtown, the Ashley in St. Andrews Parish) during the 50s, 60s, and early 70s.
While The Garden will probably not survive as a movie theatre, at least I have my memories. As Director Raoul Walsh wrote in his autobiography 30 years ago, “MEMORIES ARE A FORM OF IMMORTALITY, AS MEMORIES ARE YOUNG FOREVER.”
Thanks for the memories King Street!