The Big Mo

There is a photo of The Big Mo marquee here:
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/sctmone03.jpg

I don't know why I didn't post this before, but this drive-in has a website:
http://drivein.omniplane.com/

Here is a 2007 photo of The Big Mo.

Screens should be changed to twin. The Big Mo.

This is a twin - header should be updated.

The Two Big Mos??

The Big Mo Drive -in is located in North Aiken County,S.C. sitting between two cities in a great location since Columbia S.C. has no Drive-ins nor does the Eastern Georgia city of AUGUSTA. I have been several times to the BIG MO when it was single screen.Mr.Boaz,having read a article I wrote on the History of AUGUSTA DRIVE-ins for the newsweekly,METRO SPIRIT was more than happy to show he his proud set-up. He posed for pictures with my son,Sean,and was proud to show off a very nice drive-in. I had visited years before he fixed it up and it looked like a ghost town.Which I have pictures of and an old old program.

AS CHUCK 1231 as pointed out it is a nice little twin. Mr.Boaz had told me the first time we met he wanted to twin it. The second time back i brought a Zenox lamp from Columbia 1 and 2 booth that I found after it had closed.He was going to see if it could be used. I wanted to help anyway I could,but he Always let the kids and me in free,so we would always hit the snack bar. He even grilled Hamburgers out in the Drive-in for hungry customers and believe me it is close to 10 or 15 miles to next decent place to eat.He is truly in the sticks,but that gives him a great picture at night NO SHOPPING CENTERS nearby.

The last type of films that ran there before closing for years was your typical X rated fare,but right behind the Drive-in and facing the screen was a RETIREMENT HOME,a old folks home! No you can't make this up. About 2 years ago i drove by on my way home to AUgusta and its about 13 miles off I-20 just to see and maybe catch a movie. He was running his big LABOR MOVIES and I couldn't believe the long lines. I snapped a picture and headed on to Georgia. Mr.Boaz has a money maker,Being between COLUMBIA and AUGUSTA can't hurt,cause he pulls from both Metro Areas.

He prints a real nice T-shirt for about 10.00 or so and Dogged everytime i have been he has been sold out. I did buy one for my friend NICK in Tampa.Cause he bought me a TAMPA THEATRE T-shirt.

TLSLOEWS did you see all the Drive-ins in Tampa that NICK has put pictures of them on CT.

Monetta Drive-in Theatre Fri. Sat. Sun. Oct. 25-26 -27 1985

Now showing "THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD"

Fri- Sat- Sun Nov. 1-2-3 1985 Now showing "LOOSE SCREWS"

Fri.Sat. Sunday Nov. 8-9-10 1985 Nowshowing "SILVER BULLET"

Fri.Sat- Sunday Nov.15-16- 17 1985 Now playing
"REMO WILLIAMS THE ADVENTURE BEGINS"

i am sure Richard Boaz would like his wife,Linda given a little credit for opening the Big-Mo. As Richard told me,they came from West Virgina and in that state they grew to love Drive-ins.Like myself they would even visit closed Drive-ins dodging rattlesnakes and wasp nests.They found the Monetta Drive-in barely hanging together with rusty nails and decided here is where the dream comes true,So many of us write and dream. Richard and Linda did.
they cut overgrown trees. when i visited the site in the 80's and snapped pictures it looked wasted away.

They rebuilt the concession stand,fresh blue paint ,FM sound. Admission was nine dollars per car load with film rentals it has most likely gone up,even though every time i came up to see a film he let me in free. WE BOUGHT PLENTY OF ICE CREAM.and his homecooked Hamburgers.
Richard told me sellouts are often. An average of about 300 cars for the single Drive-in.{it is now a twin Drive-in}So his per cap was excellent. Richard always invited me back for Labor Day Movies,but never got back. Never got that T-shirt either,Sold Out everytime.

He said he wanted to hold promotions like they did years ago in the Theatre business.Classic Car Cruise-in was being planned , I told him how Augusta Drive-ins would run all night Horror films.He took my suggestions as even then he was planning for another Screen,

Movies playing there "TITANIC" "KING AND I" and "PRINCE OF EGYPT"

"THE MUMMY" "RAT RACE" so many more that i can't list them like "SPY KIDS" they would always try and book family features with Richard often getting on the P.A. system at intermission and asking for suggestions. for movies. suggestio

At one time he got on the P.A. and tried to explain Film rentals to the moviegoers and thought Richard you really don't need to do that they are getting a good deal at the BIG MO DRIVE-in.

Saturday, March 27.1999 The Big-Mo is playing 'THE WIZARD OF OZ" and "BLAST FROM THE PAST".Wonder how good the print was on"OZ".

More movies that played at the BIG-MO. MAY 11-12-13. "THE MUMMY RETURNS" "JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS" another strange double bill.


"BIG DADDY" rated PG-13 and "ARLINGTON ROAD" rated R.