Yes but too much trouble to change – seems like once it is posted, it is posted. My mistake – but my belief now is that it did open as a twin and slowly the other two came along. Honestly, I don’t think anyone really cares about this movie theatre (and I’m not meaning to be uncaring). Most around here don’t even remember it and it hasn’t been gone that long – then again, 20+ years is a long time when you think about it, so let’s not think about it.
Don’t know how busy it was in 1982 with “E.T.” – I left in 1975 – didn’t remember that picture playing first run there either. About the ads – do you mean you have the tear sheets? (from the newspaper) Or do you mean you have the actual paste-ups? I’ll email you.
You would be right but I don’t remember anyone by the last name of Cox (assuming that is your last name). You probably paid little attention to me. I worked very part-time in the beginning but (I think) at least two part-time shifts on the weekend during The Exorcist. Exorcist was so busy – the ushers were really, really working with the crowd and we were crazy back behind the concession stand – as soon as we finally got the last served, it would start all over again as people arrived early for the next show. Wasn’t lots of time for chit-chatting while it played. Learned how to count back change in that job – no one knows how to do that anymore but I’ve never forgotten.
Cool! Wonder where those photos went? Daddy always made sure there were photos of any promotions – I’m afraid my mother threw away some things not too long after his death in 1998. She didn’t think they were important. I did not remember that premier but remembered the movie. And the Ramada Inn’s restaurant across the street used to be a nice place to go. Not to mention The Peddler Steakhouse next door to the theatre (for a time). Thanks for sharing!
On January 31, 1977 Carrie was playing and for just a day, author Stephen King was in the lobby signing copies of his book of the same title (you could purchase the paperbacks there). I was no longer an employee but came by, thinking there would be a huge crowd and there was no one – so I sat in the lobby and chit-chatted with Stephen King for a few minutes and of course, bought a book and had him sign it. Nothing profound from it – just a little quirky bit of history for the Capri.
This was always the cool place to go in the ‘70s. Saw “Tunnel Vision” there and also The Who’s “Tommy”. I always liked the area — there was a neat-little sandwich place across the street (People’s Food?) in an old two-story house with an Earth Shoes store above it.
The GCC district manager’s office was upstairs – a vertical trim of glass block at the office door did help make it look a little better than just a door in the wall.
firstmom1982 – my mother worked at WIST too (about 1970) but only for a little while. I remember seeing “Her Majesty’s Secret Service” at The Center – and being a young teen I found it very romantically-dramatic at the end – my mother, a fan of both Ian Fleming and Sean Connery panned it (as most of the critics did). I loved the upstairs of The Center. My father and mother were courting in the days he managed the Center – gave her a surprise birthday party there after hours.
Hello! I loved Mr. Higgins – everyone did! He was funny — when the 2nd auditorium was built, he would tear the tickets and just say “To your left” or “To your right” over and over (well, if it was busy it would be over and over) I started with The Exorcist in 1974 – concession stand – sometimes it was so wild back there but there was nothing better than getting everyone served and in the theatre in record time. Don’t remember Mr. Anderson. And I agree, Mr. Brand was a great boss!
Great story mfelsher. I guess I should admit that I worked at the Regency, Spring 1976 – Fall of same year (part of my senior year in high school). Concession and/or box-office. First run house in those days. You are right – it did sit at the bottom of a sloping hill. The only thing that is still ‘original’ from my day is the Wendy’s. Pizza Hut used to sit in front on the road but it later moved semi-across Albemarle Road. Manager spent way too much time in the office and left the running of the theatre to the staff. That never seemed right. “The Outlaw Josey Wales” played during the time I worked there. I was also involved in a church youth group and sometimes as a “fun night out” they would go see a movie. The counselor approached me and asked if “Josey Wales” was ‘clean’ enough for the group and I said sure. OOPS! I completely forgot about the cussing…oh well, they survived!
Using the current street view, the theatre would have been located on the south side of Windsor at the next cross street (Stewart) – not seen well in this view. Theatre sat approximately on the southwest corner of Windsor and Stewart.
The approximate address would have been 1404 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC. I apologize for not putting that in my original post. The street view photo currently with this theatre is too far west.
Link to photo of Rowena Shute outside the Pastime, year unknown, unless some of you ‘eagle eyes’ out there can read that one sheet! A local man shared that if you called “Miss Rowena” up and asked her what time was the show, she would reply, “What time can you get here?” A home town movie theatre at its best! View link
GMNash- I was told it was one of the worst robberies many had ever heard of in the industry. Yes, David Hopkins was the off-duty employee identified as stopping by the theatre that night and finding the films showing but no employees running the theatre. You are absolutely right about Mr. McKissick’s plane going down (October 25, 1990). My father worked for Mr. McKissick for a brief time in 1980 and thought the world of him; was quite distraught over the news. Your friend, if he managed the theatre in the late 80s would have worked for General Cinema no doubt since they didn’t sell the theatre to Litchfield until 1989.
Hello Worth. Daddy was always fun because he loved what he did. He also loved to work! Glad you agree about the no rocking chairs – don’t know where those guys got that from. The ghost…Mr. Brand used to tell about working late at night in an upstairs office. Daddy used the other end of the upstairs to paint a lot of his signs and banners before he finally made a place at home to do that. Because of this, he had a key to the theatre. One night, after the theatre had closed, Mr. Brand was upstairs at a desk that was situated so that if you leaned over you could look down the narrow hallway and see who was coming up the stairs when they reached the top. On this particular night he heard someone enter the side door (where the cigarette machine used to be!), walk to the door to the closet/stairs and then footsteps on the stairs. He figured it was my Daddy only when he leaned over to look there was no one. The hairs rose on the back of his neck and he quickly finished up and went home. As teen employees, we tried a seance but didn’t have a clue as to what we were doing and conjured up nothing but a bunch of giggles.
Please do look at the link above for the history of the theatre. In The Charlotte Observer, August 18, 1961, page 1, Section B: Headline: Theatre Will Admit UNC Negro Pupils; “Carolina Theater here adopted a policy of limited desegregation Thursday. The policy applied only to Negro students at the University of North Carolina…Theatre officials said they believe it to be the first in the South to adopt a policy of integration.” But the docsouth link above will reveal that this ‘limited desegregation’ wasn’t the real thing and therefore the theatre was still picketed.
The Broadway also was known for its girlie stage shows or ‘Hootchi-Kootchi’ shows (did I spell that right – who even says “Hootchi-Kootchi” anymore???? Besides me, that is).
I was there for the opening of the Tryon Mall that Mark in NC references Feb. 7, 2010 – it was exciting to go to a new theatre and go back to school and tell everyone about it. But that’s another movie I remember little about.
Yep – pretty bad – I remember Charlton (well, his character) rolling down a mountain fighting somebody and that’s about it. By the way, back up there at raysson’s comment on June 18 – Jaws never played at the Capri (Jaws II might have).
Note: I still think there must have been two different Westgate Cinemas. THere is no question that GCC built and opened the Westgate Cinemas that I’m familiar with in 1984. I think it’s a very real possibility that the ‘first’ Westgate Cinemas were also located at the same mall and were torn down. Surely someone in Spartanburg will know?
Shook Charlton Heston’s hand in the lobby of this theatre as he toured with his forgettable film “The Mountain Men” (1980) – but what a gentleman (and handsome too)! Saw “Jaws” here – blew me away, there had never been a film like that before! (well, at least not for me) Also met David Carradine at the Tryon Mall Theatre but can’t remember the name of the film…must have really been a forgettable one…
Yes but too much trouble to change – seems like once it is posted, it is posted. My mistake – but my belief now is that it did open as a twin and slowly the other two came along. Honestly, I don’t think anyone really cares about this movie theatre (and I’m not meaning to be uncaring). Most around here don’t even remember it and it hasn’t been gone that long – then again, 20+ years is a long time when you think about it, so let’s not think about it.
Thank you Joe. I will update it at the Union County Public Library’s web site!
The announcement that this theatre is now closed appeared in the Enquirer-Journal on Aug. 2, 2012.
Don’t know how busy it was in 1982 with “E.T.” – I left in 1975 – didn’t remember that picture playing first run there either. About the ads – do you mean you have the tear sheets? (from the newspaper) Or do you mean you have the actual paste-ups? I’ll email you.
You would be right but I don’t remember anyone by the last name of Cox (assuming that is your last name). You probably paid little attention to me. I worked very part-time in the beginning but (I think) at least two part-time shifts on the weekend during The Exorcist. Exorcist was so busy – the ushers were really, really working with the crowd and we were crazy back behind the concession stand – as soon as we finally got the last served, it would start all over again as people arrived early for the next show. Wasn’t lots of time for chit-chatting while it played. Learned how to count back change in that job – no one knows how to do that anymore but I’ve never forgotten.
At some time later in the theatre’s life, it was renamed The Dixie-Jubilee (probably in the 1970s).
Cool! Wonder where those photos went? Daddy always made sure there were photos of any promotions – I’m afraid my mother threw away some things not too long after his death in 1998. She didn’t think they were important. I did not remember that premier but remembered the movie. And the Ramada Inn’s restaurant across the street used to be a nice place to go. Not to mention The Peddler Steakhouse next door to the theatre (for a time). Thanks for sharing!
On January 31, 1977 Carrie was playing and for just a day, author Stephen King was in the lobby signing copies of his book of the same title (you could purchase the paperbacks there). I was no longer an employee but came by, thinking there would be a huge crowd and there was no one – so I sat in the lobby and chit-chatted with Stephen King for a few minutes and of course, bought a book and had him sign it. Nothing profound from it – just a little quirky bit of history for the Capri.
This was always the cool place to go in the ‘70s. Saw “Tunnel Vision” there and also The Who’s “Tommy”. I always liked the area — there was a neat-little sandwich place across the street (People’s Food?) in an old two-story house with an Earth Shoes store above it.
The GCC district manager’s office was upstairs – a vertical trim of glass block at the office door did help make it look a little better than just a door in the wall.
firstmom1982 – my mother worked at WIST too (about 1970) but only for a little while. I remember seeing “Her Majesty’s Secret Service” at The Center – and being a young teen I found it very romantically-dramatic at the end – my mother, a fan of both Ian Fleming and Sean Connery panned it (as most of the critics did). I loved the upstairs of The Center. My father and mother were courting in the days he managed the Center – gave her a surprise birthday party there after hours.
Hello! I loved Mr. Higgins – everyone did! He was funny — when the 2nd auditorium was built, he would tear the tickets and just say “To your left” or “To your right” over and over (well, if it was busy it would be over and over) I started with The Exorcist in 1974 – concession stand – sometimes it was so wild back there but there was nothing better than getting everyone served and in the theatre in record time. Don’t remember Mr. Anderson. And I agree, Mr. Brand was a great boss!
Great story mfelsher. I guess I should admit that I worked at the Regency, Spring 1976 – Fall of same year (part of my senior year in high school). Concession and/or box-office. First run house in those days. You are right – it did sit at the bottom of a sloping hill. The only thing that is still ‘original’ from my day is the Wendy’s. Pizza Hut used to sit in front on the road but it later moved semi-across Albemarle Road. Manager spent way too much time in the office and left the running of the theatre to the staff. That never seemed right. “The Outlaw Josey Wales” played during the time I worked there. I was also involved in a church youth group and sometimes as a “fun night out” they would go see a movie. The counselor approached me and asked if “Josey Wales” was ‘clean’ enough for the group and I said sure. OOPS! I completely forgot about the cussing…oh well, they survived!
Using the current street view, the theatre would have been located on the south side of Windsor at the next cross street (Stewart) – not seen well in this view. Theatre sat approximately on the southwest corner of Windsor and Stewart.
The approximate address would have been 1404 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC. I apologize for not putting that in my original post. The street view photo currently with this theatre is too far west.
Link to photo of Rowena Shute outside the Pastime, year unknown, unless some of you ‘eagle eyes’ out there can read that one sheet! A local man shared that if you called “Miss Rowena” up and asked her what time was the show, she would reply, “What time can you get here?” A home town movie theatre at its best! View link
GMNash- I was told it was one of the worst robberies many had ever heard of in the industry. Yes, David Hopkins was the off-duty employee identified as stopping by the theatre that night and finding the films showing but no employees running the theatre. You are absolutely right about Mr. McKissick’s plane going down (October 25, 1990). My father worked for Mr. McKissick for a brief time in 1980 and thought the world of him; was quite distraught over the news. Your friend, if he managed the theatre in the late 80s would have worked for General Cinema no doubt since they didn’t sell the theatre to Litchfield until 1989.
Hello Worth. Daddy was always fun because he loved what he did. He also loved to work! Glad you agree about the no rocking chairs – don’t know where those guys got that from. The ghost…Mr. Brand used to tell about working late at night in an upstairs office. Daddy used the other end of the upstairs to paint a lot of his signs and banners before he finally made a place at home to do that. Because of this, he had a key to the theatre. One night, after the theatre had closed, Mr. Brand was upstairs at a desk that was situated so that if you leaned over you could look down the narrow hallway and see who was coming up the stairs when they reached the top. On this particular night he heard someone enter the side door (where the cigarette machine used to be!), walk to the door to the closet/stairs and then footsteps on the stairs. He figured it was my Daddy only when he leaned over to look there was no one. The hairs rose on the back of his neck and he quickly finished up and went home. As teen employees, we tried a seance but didn’t have a clue as to what we were doing and conjured up nothing but a bunch of giggles.
Please do look at the link above for the history of the theatre. In The Charlotte Observer, August 18, 1961, page 1, Section B: Headline: Theatre Will Admit UNC Negro Pupils; “Carolina Theater here adopted a policy of limited desegregation Thursday. The policy applied only to Negro students at the University of North Carolina…Theatre officials said they believe it to be the first in the South to adopt a policy of integration.” But the docsouth link above will reveal that this ‘limited desegregation’ wasn’t the real thing and therefore the theatre was still picketed.
The Broadway also was known for its girlie stage shows or ‘Hootchi-Kootchi’ shows (did I spell that right – who even says “Hootchi-Kootchi” anymore???? Besides me, that is).
I was there for the opening of the Tryon Mall that Mark in NC references Feb. 7, 2010 – it was exciting to go to a new theatre and go back to school and tell everyone about it. But that’s another movie I remember little about.
Yep – pretty bad – I remember Charlton (well, his character) rolling down a mountain fighting somebody and that’s about it. By the way, back up there at raysson’s comment on June 18 – Jaws never played at the Capri (Jaws II might have).
Note: I still think there must have been two different Westgate Cinemas. THere is no question that GCC built and opened the Westgate Cinemas that I’m familiar with in 1984. I think it’s a very real possibility that the ‘first’ Westgate Cinemas were also located at the same mall and were torn down. Surely someone in Spartanburg will know?
PatriciaNC’s husband was the DM with GCC (my brother’s career in the movie theatre business was short-lived but he was a pretty good popcorn popper!)
Shook Charlton Heston’s hand in the lobby of this theatre as he toured with his forgettable film “The Mountain Men” (1980) – but what a gentleman (and handsome too)! Saw “Jaws” here – blew me away, there had never been a film like that before! (well, at least not for me) Also met David Carradine at the Tryon Mall Theatre but can’t remember the name of the film…must have really been a forgettable one…