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  Discover. Preserve. Protect.
Also known as Martin Theatre

Thomson Twin Cinema

Thomson, GA
131 Main Street
, Thomson, GA 30824 United States
(map)
706.595.7317
Status: Open
Screens: Twin
Style: Unknown
Function: Movies (First Run)
Seats: 830
Chain: Independent
Architect: Unknown
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
The Martin Theatre in Thomson was the place to be seen. As the name implies, it was operated by Martin Theatres of Georgia, and it opened in the early 1950's.

On Main Street, the Martin Theatre was a disconcerting presence in the middle of a small town street, surrounded by mom & pop stores.

The nearest theatres were the Knox Theatre, Warrenton, and up the road the Wilkes Theatre. But the Martin Theatre, with its grand old entrance to a much larger theatre than Warrenton or Washington, had a huge balcony, by small town standards.

The Martin Theatre also had a boxes letter sign reading 'MARTIN', with a marquee below it.

It was twinned sometime in the late-1970's or early-1980's, and the balcony became a small theatre, much like the Carolina 1 & 2 in Hendersonville, NC.

The original 35mm projectors upstairs were scrapped for a platter downstairs in the old theatre and a platter in the new smaller theatre.

I guess the upstairs theatre seated 125 people. The larger original theatre after being remodeled probably sat about 500 folks. The original screen was still in place for a large viewing. I bet "2001: A Space Odyssey" would look great there.

Today it is called the Thomson Twin Cinema. did attend a showing there one night. Bill Barkley, Ray Hutto & myself (Mike Rogers) visited the Knox Theatre in Warrenton. On the way back, Ray wanted a visit with the owner of the Thomson Twin Cinema. So I watched Bill Murray in "Quick Change" in the old theatre on that big screen.

I noticed they ran first-run movies concurrent with Atlanta, but instead of the $10.00 price in Atlanta, seats at the Thomson Twin Cinema were $5.00. What a deal those folks in Thomson get.

I can't remember what was playing at the upstairs theatre that night, but it was packed. We only had a few watching "Quick Change", and I thought they need to switch theatres. This was on a weekend evening. All this in a small town off the I-20.
Contributed by Lost Memory, Mike Rogers


YOUR COMMENTS

 
This is a recent photo of the Thomson Twin Cinema.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 16, 2007 at 2:03pm
Before this was twinned or before it became the Thomson Twin it was known as the Martin Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c10%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=25827
posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 12, 2009 at 7:15pm
Was every theater in Georgia named Martin at one time? LOL

The Martin Theater in Thomson, Georgia is listed in 1955 with 830 seats.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 2, 2009 at 3:25pm
The Martin Theatre chain was located in Columbus.Ga. Home of the horrible CAR-MIKE CINEMAS. IN 1956, MARTIN THEATRES had theatres in Georgia close to 20 cities with several screens in some of these towns. They had theatres in Alabama and Florida.
posted by MikeRogers on Nov 4, 2009 at 4:02pm
What few times i drive by the Martin it use to bug me in one one sheet frame they have written in marker all Seats $5.00. I think a one sheet from the movie playing should be in that frame.Even though today's one sheets are smaller than what we use to get. Tacky.
posted by MikeRogers on Nov 4, 2009 at 4:19pm
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.
posted by MikeRogers on Nov 14, 2009 at 11:45am
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