While KING KONG is on its last 12 days WEIS opens with THE JOY OF LETTING GO. How a theatre could go from big paramount pictures to X rated fare i could not understand. Did that side of Augusta demand such trash. You never saw it on the West side of town. Of course, it is playing at the WEIS DRIVE IN and WEIS CINEMA CENTRE.
Well, THE CINEMA is playing day and date with COLUMBIA ONE in Augusta with SASQUATCH a movie about Bigfoot. It might sell on this side of the river, but i predict a quick death at COLUMBIA ONE. heck it is just finishing a run at the SOUTHHILL DRIVE IN in Barnwell, S.C. a new theatre like COLUMBIA ONE SHOULD NOT be picking up product from a run down drive in in Barnwell!
COLUMBIA ONE must be cursed so far we have had three bad films NICKELODEON , BITTERSWEET LOVE and SASQUATCH. Lots of empty seats.
COLUMBIA TWO solid hit…..A STAR IS BORN. and the Theatres aren’t 4 months yet.
COLUMBIA ONE Man, we just got rid of a dog, BITTERSWEET LOVE and we are playing Day and Date with the CINEMA in Aiken,S.C. and i can’t believe it…SASQUATCH..A stinking movie about Bigfoot. Heck, right now it is playing at that “wonderful” drive-in the SOUTH HILL drive in in Barnwell,S.C, I can’t believe such booking.People on this side of town do not want Bigfoot movies. And it is rated G.
COLUMBIA ONE Well, Just heard we are getting BITTERSWEET LOVE a movie about two teens falling in love only to find out the are half brother and sister. So far the selection of movies for this new theatre has not been good. {see opening movie posted above}
An opening this month or early March is the target for the new BELVEDERE CINEMA in the Belvedere Shopping center. The Brick and steel theatre is being constructed by Mack Stewart. Percy Osteen will lease and manage Anderson’s new movie house.
One thing about Mr,Zacker that never saw another manager do is that on a movie he would sell very seat in the house. Yes, we had a cut off number and when we reached it the ushers would in and look where the seats were. USually pretty bad. They would come back and Zack would sell 7 more and so on Telling people they probably wouldn’t be sitting together. If you were single it worked out fine.
It made it hard on the staff and i would argue we didn’t do that at ABC THEATRES and he would say with a smile “You are at GCC now.”
Yep, but it was never Zack having to move people around already waiting for the movie to start.
On SIX PACK with Kenny Rogers starring WE SOLD STANDING ROOM ONLY in the back of CINEMA 3. I am not making this up. Thank goodness the Fire Department never found out, I couldn’t believe people paying then $4.00 to STAND. Mr.Z wanted that cut he got on the snack bar Barry ,Russell and I knew that was why.
Here is a nightmare no theatre manager would want.. Opening day of PATTON. Bill Barkley explains PATTON did not come in until showday because we ran off the reels. No show to build. Well that movie was in three cans and when i opened the twothat was dropped the first three reels were missing. My manager Mr.Tinney was scared to go out and tell the long line about the problem so he sent out Charles Espizota to tell those in line.
Well, we did not have the first can so Tinney decided to start reel four a one hour wait. The first can was flown in and we had the complete feature by the second showing.
According to Bill Barkley Aiken County resident THE FOX DRIVE in was the exact duplicate of THE HILLTOP DRIVE IN in North Augusta, S.C. He said it was owned by CONSOLIDATED out of Charlotte.
Now playing FOX DRIVE IN
FIRST RUN IN AIKEN…..A SWINGIN'SUMMER also hit number 2 YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE with James Franciscus Suzanne Pleshette and Genevieve Page a Warner Bros, Film.
NowPlaying at THE FOX DRIVE in
YOUR CHEATIN'HEART and second feature LOOKING FOR LOVE.
According to Bill Barkley THE PATRICIA THEATRE was the first movie house in Aiken S.C. IT was owned by Bert Ram. He named the theatre after his oldest daughter.
Where i am having trouble, is Barkley insists the ROSEMARY THEATRE became the CINEMA. But i swear i remember seeing an old ad i have somewhere that had PATRICIA
ROSEMARY
CINEMA
on a newspaper ad meaning there were 3 theatres! until i can disprove it i will add what Bill gave me
According to Bill Barkley THE ROSEMARY was built sometime later and again named for a child.It had a stage and dressing rooms.It was quite modern and run first run films. Augusta could not bother them because of a ten mile rule. The LOCAL PROJECTIONISTS 518 could not touch them because they fell under COLUMBIA S.C. juriisdiction. They charged less than downtown Augusta and i know alot folks that headed to Aiken for a movie.
They also sent out a monthly schedule of coming attractions for their patrons on a mailing list.
Okay, here is where we could differ, but by Bill’s facts CARMIKE bought the ROSEMARY, named CHANGED and later they added two screens for a triple. that is a fact, 3 screens. The projection booth was on the same level as the original one. the projectors were Century and lamps by Strong. At the entrance a concessionstand served all 3 theatres.
THe entrance to theatre number 2 was straight from the lobby while the other theatres had an entrance with doors to the left.
I talked with the Manager,Bill Barkley said and Bill said the manager didn’t know why they were closing becuse they were doing good business.But Bill, like me. figured the new REGAL at the mall was the place.{ I have seen the 8 plex at Aiken Mall and it is a joke} Mike Rogers.
I also heard the seats came from a cinema hit by HURRICANE HUGO.Makes sense with these companies today. MIKE ROGERS.
THANKS TO BILL BARKLEY. After being corrected on COLUMBIA SQUARE CINEMAS MY OWN THEATRE !!!!!!!!! If anyone has any proof about the three theatres in Aiken let me know. I will hunt for the Ad and if i am right I will let you know. BUT I SURE remember looking at an old newspaper ad and it had…PATRICIA ROSEMARY & CINEMA. Maybe I am wrong. JUST want the facts 100%.
According to Aiken County resident and theatre historian,Bill Barkley, The MARK 1 was Twinned sometime in the Middle to late 70’s.
I don’t have proof to prove Bill wrong. I have a MARK 1 newspaper ad Showing THE HONKERS playing there 1972, And earlier SUMMER of 42. So the MARK 1 does have some history behind it. In 1982 Bill said of the Christmas holidays His son, Britt to see SHARKEY’S MACHINE. Both theatre people Curt Harris and Joe Goode {owner of the ART THEATRE in Augusta} went to see the MARK 1.
Bill, said once REGAL went in in the mall it became a dollar house.It was torn down for the new AIKEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
Like i said earlier it was a metal prefab building on Newberry St.
Thanks to Bill for this!
While KING KONG is on its last 12 days WEIS opens with THE JOY OF LETTING GO. How a theatre could go from big paramount pictures to X rated fare i could not understand. Did that side of Augusta demand such trash. You never saw it on the West side of town. Of course, it is playing at the WEIS DRIVE IN and WEIS CINEMA CENTRE.
SASQUATCH not that anyone could care came through this town in 1977. Winter 1977. Augusta, Aiken, and yes, Barnwell.
Well, THE CINEMA is playing day and date with COLUMBIA ONE in Augusta with SASQUATCH a movie about Bigfoot. It might sell on this side of the river, but i predict a quick death at COLUMBIA ONE. heck it is just finishing a run at the SOUTHHILL DRIVE IN in Barnwell, S.C. a new theatre like COLUMBIA ONE SHOULD NOT be picking up product from a run down drive in in Barnwell!
COLUMBIA ONE must be cursed so far we have had three bad films NICKELODEON , BITTERSWEET LOVE and SASQUATCH. Lots of empty seats.
COLUMBIA TWO solid hit…..A STAR IS BORN. and the Theatres aren’t 4 months yet.
COLUMBIA ONE Man, we just got rid of a dog, BITTERSWEET LOVE and we are playing Day and Date with the CINEMA in Aiken,S.C. and i can’t believe it…SASQUATCH..A stinking movie about Bigfoot. Heck, right now it is playing at that “wonderful” drive-in the SOUTH HILL drive in in Barnwell,S.C, I can’t believe such booking.People on this side of town do not want Bigfoot movies. And it is rated G.
COLUMBIA ONE Well, Just heard we are getting BITTERSWEET LOVE a movie about two teens falling in love only to find out the are half brother and sister. So far the selection of movies for this new theatre has not been good. {see opening movie posted above}
SEPT. 10 1971
NOW PLAYING …….SHAFT…RATED R. Starting next Thursday LITTLE BIG MAN …Rated GP.
Now Playing at THE FOX DRIVE-IN
BORIS KARLOFF in one of his last films CAULDRON OF BLOOD with a secon hit CRUCIBLE OF HORROR Now! SHOWS EVERY NIGHT at dusk.
Rated GP
Now Playing ……Sunday…VALDEZ IS COMING and second hit BLOOD AND LACE. rated PG.
SEPT. 10 1971
NOW PLAYING MARK 1
SEPT. 10 1971 …SUMMER OF 42. SHOWS at 7 & 9 pm. Admission is $1.50.
SEPT. 10 1971 THE MARTIN THEATRE is playing
GEORGE PEPPARD in THE EXECUTIONER rated GP , They ran a late show at 10 pm.Pretty early for a late show,but it is a small town.
When this happened at the Imperial it was first run 1970. That must have been wild, all of a sudden PATTON!
An opening this month or early March is the target for the new BELVEDERE CINEMA in the Belvedere Shopping center. The Brick and steel theatre is being constructed by Mack Stewart. Percy Osteen will lease and manage Anderson’s new movie house.
BOXOFFICE FEB. 10 1969
NICK, I have it on display downstairs in my theatre great room in an old one sheet frame from the IMPERIAL.
Nick, It is a pity if anyone is a hard core cinema treasurer does not see the great stories you have from TAMPA.
One thing about Mr,Zacker that never saw another manager do is that on a movie he would sell very seat in the house. Yes, we had a cut off number and when we reached it the ushers would in and look where the seats were. USually pretty bad. They would come back and Zack would sell 7 more and so on Telling people they probably wouldn’t be sitting together. If you were single it worked out fine.
It made it hard on the staff and i would argue we didn’t do that at ABC THEATRES and he would say with a smile “You are at GCC now.”
Yep, but it was never Zack having to move people around already waiting for the movie to start.
On SIX PACK with Kenny Rogers starring WE SOLD STANDING ROOM ONLY in the back of CINEMA 3. I am not making this up. Thank goodness the Fire Department never found out, I couldn’t believe people paying then $4.00 to STAND. Mr.Z wanted that cut he got on the snack bar Barry ,Russell and I knew that was why.
I hope I can get more Stories out of Bill since he is the only one i worked with that will take the time for CT.
Here is a nightmare no theatre manager would want.. Opening day of PATTON. Bill Barkley explains PATTON did not come in until showday because we ran off the reels. No show to build. Well that movie was in three cans and when i opened the twothat was dropped the first three reels were missing. My manager Mr.Tinney was scared to go out and tell the long line about the problem so he sent out Charles Espizota to tell those in line.
Well, we did not have the first can so Tinney decided to start reel four a one hour wait. The first can was flown in and we had the complete feature by the second showing.
According to Bill Barkley Aiken County resident THE FOX DRIVE in was the exact duplicate of THE HILLTOP DRIVE IN in North Augusta, S.C. He said it was owned by CONSOLIDATED out of Charlotte.
Now playing FOX DRIVE IN
FIRST RUN IN AIKEN…..A SWINGIN'SUMMER also hit number 2 YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE with James Franciscus Suzanne Pleshette and Genevieve Page a Warner Bros, Film.
NowPlaying at THE FOX DRIVE in
YOUR CHEATIN'HEART and second feature LOOKING FOR LOVE.
NOW PLAYING AT THE CINEMA
Walt Disney’s THE MIRACLE OF THE WHITE STALLIONS.
April 27 1965
Now Playing at the CINEMA
TRUE GRIT rated G JOHN WAYNE.
According to Bill Barkley THE PATRICIA THEATRE was the first movie house in Aiken S.C. IT was owned by Bert Ram. He named the theatre after his oldest daughter.
Where i am having trouble, is Barkley insists the ROSEMARY THEATRE became the CINEMA. But i swear i remember seeing an old ad i have somewhere that had PATRICIA
ROSEMARY
CINEMA
on a newspaper ad meaning there were 3 theatres! until i can disprove it i will add what Bill gave me
According to Bill Barkley THE ROSEMARY was built sometime later and again named for a child.It had a stage and dressing rooms.It was quite modern and run first run films. Augusta could not bother them because of a ten mile rule. The LOCAL PROJECTIONISTS 518 could not touch them because they fell under COLUMBIA S.C. juriisdiction. They charged less than downtown Augusta and i know alot folks that headed to Aiken for a movie.
They also sent out a monthly schedule of coming attractions for their patrons on a mailing list.
Okay, here is where we could differ, but by Bill’s facts CARMIKE bought the ROSEMARY, named CHANGED and later they added two screens for a triple. that is a fact, 3 screens. The projection booth was on the same level as the original one. the projectors were Century and lamps by Strong. At the entrance a concessionstand served all 3 theatres.
THe entrance to theatre number 2 was straight from the lobby while the other theatres had an entrance with doors to the left.
I talked with the Manager,Bill Barkley said and Bill said the manager didn’t know why they were closing becuse they were doing good business.But Bill, like me. figured the new REGAL at the mall was the place.{ I have seen the 8 plex at Aiken Mall and it is a joke} Mike Rogers.
I also heard the seats came from a cinema hit by HURRICANE HUGO.Makes sense with these companies today. MIKE ROGERS.
THANKS TO BILL BARKLEY. After being corrected on COLUMBIA SQUARE CINEMAS MY OWN THEATRE !!!!!!!!! If anyone has any proof about the three theatres in Aiken let me know. I will hunt for the Ad and if i am right I will let you know. BUT I SURE remember looking at an old newspaper ad and it had…PATRICIA ROSEMARY & CINEMA. Maybe I am wrong. JUST want the facts 100%.
According to Aiken County resident and theatre historian,Bill Barkley, The MARK 1 was Twinned sometime in the Middle to late 70’s.
I don’t have proof to prove Bill wrong. I have a MARK 1 newspaper ad Showing THE HONKERS playing there 1972, And earlier SUMMER of 42. So the MARK 1 does have some history behind it. In 1982 Bill said of the Christmas holidays His son, Britt to see SHARKEY’S MACHINE. Both theatre people Curt Harris and Joe Goode {owner of the ART THEATRE in Augusta} went to see the MARK 1.
Bill, said once REGAL went in in the mall it became a dollar house.It was torn down for the new AIKEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
Like i said earlier it was a metal prefab building on Newberry St.
Thanks to Bill for this!
Nick, If someone from CINEMA TRES. does not remember these shows i will start to eat a one sheet.
I got some info on the Aiken Theatres,Nick from you know who; I am working them up for you now.
But, you know Nick both the Skyview Drive in and Weis Drive in both have churches on them.And that is in Augusta.
THANKS for changing the name.I will be more careful with my facts.