Imperial Theatre

When the Imperial Theatre was a movie theatre it seated 1159 people.

In the 1920s, a Wurlitzer 2-manual 7-rank Style E was installed. This instrument was removed in the late 1970s and is now installed in a private residence in Marietta, GA.

R. McGee
Atlanta

Photo of the Imperial Theatre.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/Georgia%20Theatres/ImperialTheatreAugustaGa.jpg

The Imperial Theatre Wurlitzer, Opus 1184, was recently removed from the home in Marietta where it had been installed and expanded to 11 ranks. It is now in the possession of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. Efforts are underway to return the organ to the Imperial Theatre.

Chuck: Your link posted on July 31 doesn't seem to work and I'd love to see this theatre as I'm researching ones with the Roy Benjamin architectural connection. The photos I have viewed seem to show a repeated theme/style. And after reading the above post I hope that the efforts to return the organ to the Imperial are successful!

This link has a vintage photo of the Imperial Theater. At the top left of that page you will see "Full-size" with a link next to it. If you click that link, you will get a LARGE grainy photo of this theater. If you choose to view the larger photo, make sure you have a high speed connection. Otherwise just settle for the smaller photo on that page.

Here are a couple of recent photos of the Imperial Theater. Click each photo to expand.

This is a 1970's photo of the Imperial Theater.

Here is a recent close-up view of the Imperial marquee.

A circa 1933 photo of the Imperial Theater can be seen here. Text with photo reads: "Augusta, ca. 1933. Imperial Theater located on Broad Street seen here at night".

Saw a lot of movies at the Imperial when I was stationed at Fort Gordon in 1965-66. Among them was the national re-release of "Shane" and a double bill of then-recent Columbia hits and awards contenders, "The Collector" and "Ship of Fools." Most of all I can remember the theater's localized making a big ndeal of the fact that the new Jimmy Stewart Civil War drama, "Shenandoah," was filmed in "our own Shenandoah Valley" or words to that effect. I was aware that "Shenandoah" had played to good, slightly better-than-average business in other cities, including my hometown, Pittsburgh. (Stewart was born 50 miles from here in Indiana, PA, 100 years ago this week.) Anyway, at Augusta's Imperial Theater, "Shenandoah" played to colossal business - lines around the block and advertising that called it the all-time record-breaker, which truly may have been the case. Most movies moved in and out in a week or two, even the bigger ones. But "Shenandoah" played at least four weeks and quite possibly more than a month. It was the first time I was aware of a picture being a regional sensational more than it was a national one. -- Ed Blank

Renewing link.

1974 photo of the Imperial Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c10%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=25727

Working at the Imperial was an experience for an assistant manager from a sister theatre in the circuit in the suburbs. I remember one night - and drinking does happen - James Brown came to see "Escape From Alcatraz" and he sat in the balcony with a girlfriend. I offered him a Bud, and we both drank a cool one during the last show of the night. This was after I had checked out and had the money in the bank.

I was told by a good friend to feel free to include more on the Imperial so here's my story.

I started in the theatre business at the young age of 17 working as a doorman at National Hills Theatre, the Imperial's sister theatre located in the beautiful area across from the Augusta National Golf Course. Every once in awhile some of us guys would be sent to help out down at the Imperial. It was still a first-run movie house playing big name movies, but it also ran a lot of Bruce Lee type films. And of course it also played the black films of the day such as "Coffy" "Claudine" "Cleopatra Jones" and "Slaughter".

Our theatre, National Hills, played mainly PG-G movies - a real family theatre. I got sent down to the Imperial during a "Shaft" film, and that was a whole different experience! We would sell out all 800 seats on a Sunday night, when right up the street there might be 100 or so for the last showing at National Hills - very different markets!

One summer I was assistant manager for a few weeks at the Imperial, and the biggest film to ever play there money-wise had to be "Jaws". It played all summer long with sell-outs on every show. So many people we had to go out and buy ice; our old ice machine at the Imperial couldn't keep up!

The Imperial had a janitor named Robert. He couldn't write so he marked an X on his payroll check. He was a nice man. The concession stand had Margret Whitehead who started in the 1940s and worked there serving popcorn until the Imperial closed. Our city manager was Jerry Tinney. He could come up with brilliant promotions!

The booth was run for the most part by Bill Barkley, and his relief man was Chuck Dray. The first time I met Chuck Dray he scared me to death! He would cuss at anyone just like Archie Bunker, so on a black film you know what his state of mind was! We did become good friends, and he was my projectionist at General Cinema when I moved to the mall theatres.

The group of guys and gals I worked with down at the Imperial and at National Hills are still close today. I always enjoyed working the Imperial. My good friend Charles, a Doorman at National Hills never cared much for the Imperial. Many people told me he had said it was a dirty theatre, and he would use napkins to sit on the balcony steps!

There was also a great robbery with Tommy and Jim one night while going to the bank, but that's another story!

Working at National Hills Theatre with John Mackey gave me a chance to get my hands in booking late shows. We put together quite an impressive list. Often the bookers in Charlotte were amazed that an 18 or 19 year-old was helping in selecting movies for late shows. This lead to a manager at our sister theatre the Imperial asking me for some picks.

Being the biggest Clint Eastwood fan in Georgia, I suggested the WWII movie "Where Eagles Dare". I wanted to see it on the big screen having only seen it on network-edited TV. So it was booked and I got down to the Imperial and there were only two paying customers!

I guess Bill Barkley who was running this almost 3 hour movie was probably teed. But the show went on and I sat in the back row and enjoyed a great movie. The next night I think 30 or 40 folks showed up to see "Eagles". Usually films such as "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" "Vanishing Point" or any rock related movie played great on midnight shows.

I knew in the back of my mind that "Eagles" probably wouldn't sell a lot of tickets as midnight show crowds tend to not care about WWII movies. Unless it was an anti-war movie like "Johnny Get Your Gun".

YOU KNOW THE IMPERIAL HAD THE OLD CARBON ARCS. TOOK A TRAINED MAN TO MAKE CHANGE OVERS. NO CONCESSIONSTAND GIRL NEEDED OR TEEENAGE USHER TO RUN UP AND FLIP A BUTTON ON FOR THE MOVIE.I WORKED ABOUT 25 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE IMPERIAL AT COLUMBIA SQUARE;DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC.WELL. THE IMPERIAL TOOK A BRIDGE TOO FAR FROM US WHEN WE FINISHED THE 1ST RUN.ONE NIGHT THE ASSISTANT MANAGER COMES IN FROM THE IMPERIAL WITH A SMILE ON THIS FACE.I ASKED MARK KUCHCHISKI WHAT WE WAS DOING UP 25 MINUTES UP THE ROAD WITH A 3 HOUR MOVIE RUNNING AT THE IMPERIAL? WITH A GRIN THE SAID CHUCK DRAY, THE PROJECTIONIST DROPPED A 20 MINUTE REEL. SLOW NIGHT I GUESS. C.DRAY ALWAYS SWORE TO ME YOU COULD DROP REEL 7 from GONE WITH THE WIND AND MOST FOLKS WOULD NEVER KNOW. I OFTEN WONDERED IF HE DID THAT AT ONE OF AUGUSTA'S DRIVE INS.

Hello, Mike. Obviously you know the area very well. Would you be able to do an inventory of the names and general locations of the three or four drive-ins nearest to Fort Gordon? One I attended was just acrosss the border in South Carolina, but there were at least two near Augusta including one that seemed to be within the cirty limits.

THE HILLTOP WAS ACROSS THE RIVER OVERLOOKING THE CITY OF AUGUSTA, the cloverleaf was a few miles down the road. the drive in closest to fort gordon are THE WEIS DRIVE IN, FORREST HILLS , BON AIR AND THAT WAS IT FOR THE ONES NEAR THE FORT.THE WEIS OPEN IN THE LATE 60S WAS REAL CLOSE TO GATE 3. I AM TRYING TO ADD MORE TO THESE BUT SO MANY PROJECTIONISTS HAVE PASSED AWAY AND THEY ARE A GOLD MINE OF INFO CAUSE THOSE OLD GUYS LOVED THE BUSINESS.thanks so much i can not get any of my theatre buddies to write a thing but when we see each other that is all we talk about.

THE HILLTOP WAS ACROSS THE RIVER OVERLOOKING THE CITY OF AUGUSTA, the cloverleaf was a few miles down the road. the drive in closest to fort gordon are THE WEIS DRIVE IN, FORREST HILLS , BON AIR AND THAT WAS IT FOR THE ONES NEAR THE FORT.THE WEIS OPEN IN THE LATE 60S WAS REAL CLOSE TO GATE 3. I AM TRYING TO ADD MORE TO THESE BUT SO MANY PROJECTIONISTS HAVE PASSED AWAY AND THEY ARE A GOLD MINE OF INFO CAUSE THOSE OLD GUYS LOVED THE BUSINESS.thanks so much i can not get any of my theatre buddies to write a thing but when we see each other that is all we talk about.

Thank you very much, Mike. I'll look up the ones you mentioned. Perhaps you'd be kind enough to add notes here and there after conversations with your moviehouse buddies. Some may not have the patience to type comments or many not be sufficiently computer savvy.

ED BELIEVE ME MY 16 year old daughter has to help me all the time.orAND friend nick dimaggio in TAMPA. he has been helping me so much that he had had to stop on this history of tampa theaters.and once nick gets going on tampa's theatres i think alot of folks willbe pleased. THE IMPERIAL THEATRE IN AUGUSTA WAS THE ONLY THEATRE IN TOWN THAT HAD UNIVERSAL'S SENSURROUND. AND I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT BECAUSE ALL OF THE DOORMEN WERE SENT TO THE IMPERIAL ONE NIGHT TO PLACE THE HUGE BASS SPEAKERS IN FRONT OF THE SCREEN AND THE BALCONY. and did we do it when no movie was playing? NO WE DID WHILE LITTLE BIG MAN WAS PLAYING ON A LATE SHOW.IT WAS A JOB GETTING THOSE SPEAKERS IN THE TOP BALCONY. AND OF COURSE WE WERE TOLD BY ABC THEATRES WERE BEING PAIDED UNIVERSAL SCALE FOR 1974. A BIG $15.00BUCKS AN HOUR. NOT BAD WHEN WE WERE MAKING ABOUT $ 1.80 AN HOUR. GUESS WHAT WE NEVER SAW THE MONEY. oh,FOR an ushers UNION. WELL, ANYWAYS THE MOVIE OPENS AND :SWEET OLD MARGRET WHITEHEAD WAS WORKING HER USUAL AFTERNOON SHIFT WHEN THE FIRST QUAKE HITS IN THE MOVIE SHE FLIES OUT OF THE CONCESSIONSTAND SEEING LIGHT FIXTURES IN LOBBY MOVING YELLING '' THE DAMN BUILDING IS CAVING IN ! '' no margret it is ony a MOVIE. THE IMPERIAL PLAYED MIDWAY IN SENSURROUND AND THE MILLER PLAYED ROLLERCOASTER WITHOUT THE EFFECT. GOOD OLD GEORGIA THEATRES TOO CHEAP TO DO IT RIGHT. i am sure SOMEONE WILL CORRECT ME BUT WASN'T THAT ALL UNIVERSAL MADE 3 FEATURES? in sensurround. the imperial did play MIDWAY IN SENSURROUND.

ED I DO KNOW ALOT ABOUT AUGUSTA THEATRES BUT IF YOU PULL UP SOUTHSIDE CINEMA IN AUGUSTA YOU WILL READ ABOUT RAY HUTTO WHO TOOK IT A STEP CLOSER AND BUILT A MOVIE THEATRE. HE KNOWS ALOT MORE THAN I ABOUT THOSE OLDER SITES YOU SEEM TO WANT TO KNOW ABOUT. RAY CERTAINLY LOVED THE IMPERIAL AND WHEN HE COULD NOT GET JOB THERE HE WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO THE MILLER THEATRE AND GOT A JOB,

Thanks, Mike. I'll check the Southside. By the way, we have a SouthSide Works Cinema multiplex here in Pittsburgh.

ONE NIGHT WHILE I WAS FILLING IN FOR A MANAGER, THE IMERIAL WAS PLAYING IT'S ALIVE A HORROR FILM..GOING UNDERNEATH THE STAGE TO CUT OFF THE A.C. UNITS WAS, WELL SCARY. THE IMPERIAL HAD RATS THE SIZE OF CATS DOWN THERE.
ONE NIGHT SCOTT KRUGER WAS POPPING CORN BEHIND THE SCREEN, WALKS UP TO THE CONESSIONSTAND FOR A COKE.AND STARTS TALKING. GUESS WHAT HAPPENED.. YEP. A FIRE IN THE POPCORN ROOM. WASN'T TOO BAD.. THE MOVIE WAS GREASED LIGHTING.AND NO YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT UP.

HERE IS A LITTLE FACT PUT TOGETHER BY OUR CREATIVE JERRY TINNEY.BILL BARKLEY PROJECTIONIST AT THE IMPERIAL HAS SEEN JAWS 257 TIMES when this ad was made,it ran alot longer. THAT EQUALS 30.840 MINUTES 2.774.640 FEET OR 525 MILES OF THIS MOVIE.
MAY 27 1977.... AN X RATED FILM IN AUGUSTA HAS CAUSED ALOT OF HEAT FROM THE LOCALS. THE IMPERIAL HAD LAST TANGO IN PARIS BOOKED FOR A LATE SHOW, BUT THE BOOKERS IN THE HOME OFFICE PULLED IT.
AUGUST 2 1977.. THE IMPERIAL IS PLAYING GREASED LIGHTING.
OCT, 15 1977... LATE SHOWS INCLUDE DELIVERANCE, DEATH WISH. FRITZ THE CAT. AND NATIONAL HILLS WILL PLAY BOTH GODFATHER FILMS BACK TO BACK.
FEB.4 1978 THE IMPERIAL IS PLAYING WIZARDS AND PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. I HAVE IT NOTED THAT WIZARDS WAS ONE OF BEST GROSSERS.
MAY 25 1978 THE IMPERIAL BOOKED MYRA BRACKINRIDGE FOR A LATE SHOW. WE HEARD THE WEIS DRIVE-IN WAS TURNING THEM AWAY.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE THE X RATED VERSION WAS BOOKED FIRST RUN AT THE IMPERIAL, THE AUGUSTA POLICE SAID THEY WOULD RAID THE THEATRE. GUESS WHAT? NO CLOCKWORK ORANGE. JIM NEELY AND MYSELF WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE TO ATHENS.GA. TO SEE IT. AND DOGGONE IT WAS PLAYING AT THE CLASSIC THEATRE.. A GEORGIA THEATRE.

It might have seated 1159 folks with old wooden seats,but when the rocking chairs went in in the mid to late 60's that theatre held 881 people , I know that beacuse of one movie,,JAWS.
ANOTHER POPULAR SHOW was the PEPSI/ KELLY BUDDY ClUB kid shows every saturday morning.Bring 4 pepsi bootle caps and 2 kelly hamburger wrappers to see a free movie and WIN prizes given away by TROOPER TERRY a WJBF KID SHOW HOST.Every kid in AUGUSTA would want to have their birthday party on tv 6 every afternoon. The Imperial would be packed with kids. 881 seats!

Mike, I think the changeover to rocking chairs occurred later than May 1966. That's when I left Augusta. In my memory, the Imperial and the Miller were comparable in comfort but in no way modern back then. The nearby Modjeska was dilapidated by comparison. The only other relatively nearby indoor theater was the Daniel Village, which was new and by far the most comfortable in 1965-(early)66.

YES, Ed it sold itself as a rocking chair theatre,To be honest, I never attended the downtown theatres much as a kid. National Hills And Daniel Village were closer for mom. I did see THUNDERBALL and YOU ONLT LIVE TWICE at the Miller with a buddy who lived in Augusta,while at the time i was in the sticks of Evans on the way to Clarks Hill Lake. LIKE i said earlier even as a late teen the Modjeska always scared me.

Mike, I was at Fort Gordon when "Thunderball" opened, but I didn't see it at the Miller. I went to a newer indoor that was just to the east of Augusta - possibly in SC, maybe across a river or bridge. Can you tell me what that was? I think "Boeing-Boeing" was the next attraction.

You saw it at the MARRAH theatre. I think that is how you spell it, I can look it up for the right spelling. YOU should have seen it at one of the Downtown theatres, I know the one in North Augusta was tiny compared to the Miller or Imperial. I found a wall size poster for THUNDERBALL when we were cleaning out the MILLER for the Ballet. I wish i would have kept my mouth shut cause all my stagehand brothers grabbed ALL THE BEATLES STUFF. Worth THOUSANDS today. I wish i could afford to get it framed.SOME of the bottom part is missing THUNDERBALL is cut right in the middle,

You know it truly is a small world. Next to Columbia Square Cinemas was Sondy's Pizza. I dated a waitress there named Marsha Mcvay. Her dad was a naval officer and was an extra in IN HARMS WAY. FOR ABOUT 4 seconds Mr.Mcvay shares the SCREEN with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas when they enter the warroom on a battleship.Mr.McVay is the young baldheaded naval officer rising at attention when John Wayne walks BEHIND HIM. Oh, For the record IN HARMS WAY played first run at the Imperial! I have the newspaper ad.

RICHMOND COUNTY NEWS
By David Wardlaw


VAUDEVILLE PART OF CITY HISTORY

Towards the turn of the century, a southern businessman named Jake Wells came to Augusta and built what then considered one of the grandest Vaudeville theatres in the south, and now,in keeping with its facade of grandeur is the oldest operating motion picture theatre in Augusta today. In fact, the next oldest theatre was not built until 22 years later.

THE IMPERIAL THEATRE was built in 1917 and opened Feb.19 1918,At this time it was called the WELLLS THEATRE.Being named after its owner. It's opening was gala occasion in this town.

The interior of this grand vaudeville house was immaculate; News Reports stated..."the color scheme of the new WELLS THEATRE is most attractive. It is two tones of ivory and old rose.the rich,old rose hangings harmonizing perfectly with the grey and white tones of the wood work.The floors are covered with red velvet carpets. A charming feature of the new theatre is the commodious foyer,adorned with handsome mirrors and at last magnificent flowers.The stairways leading to the balcony are of white marble.

Mr. Herman R. Arndt, 92. began working in vauderville theatres in 1910 and worked as stage manager at the IMPERIAL from time to time it opened,through the vaudeville era. He recalled "I saw the IMPERIAL built from the ground up. I used to enjoy just standing there and watching" he added wistfully as if he had been standing inside the theatre at that very moment,"Yes, that one fine theatre in its day" and after a silence he gave a deep dramatic sigh and said,"those were the days."

In those first few months of operation, the theatre was owned entirely by Wells. Wells paid B.F.Keith's Vaudeville circuit a large ammount of money so that his theatre might be on Keith's circuit of traveling shows. This soon became too much of a money burden fo r Wells and it forced the new theatre, not yet two years old, out of business. June 1919.thus the end of the Wells theatre,

The exact date is not known, but very soon after it is said B.F. KEITH firm bought the theatre at a great cost from Wells. Keith had already had successful theatres in New England area. This purchase was part of his southward purchase of theatres. The Name was changed from THE WELLS to THE IMPERIAL and reopened Dec,22 1919. This Change of ownership brought some of the finest vaudeville acts to the stage of the IMPERIAL.



This story by David Wardlaw was written in Nov.23 1979. I have to take credit for getting David this story because he wanted to do it and the newsweekly i worked for Editor Jay Mann he jumped on this.The big newspaper never would wrote a story on the Imperial.
I told David who worked at NATIONAL HILLS this was a great story.Heck, in them days we always thought theIMPERIAL would always be showing movies. Well, the sad part is this WAS A TWO PART STORY and somehow i lost the part two losing all the conversation with 92 year old Mr. Arndt. If DAVID WARDLAW is out there somewhere maybe you have Part two which is priceless to classic theatre buffs.

Talk about panic, My first day as Assistant Manager i walk up unlock the doors let Cathy and Margret in and proceed to the check out office to open the safe. Well, I had the combonation and i stated to open the safe.Only i couldn't hit the right numbers. The Safes at COLUMBIA 1 and 2 NATIONAL HILLS were a breeze.
Heck, You could miss it and the safe would open. Not this safe at the IMPERIAL. It looked like it dated back to FORD'S THEATRE! I just could not get it open. I finally Tommy was working at a nearby department store and i called him for help. Thank goodness he was able to open that stupid safe: having opened it thousands of times. He admitted you really had to stop right on the right number. I think the rest of the day i closed it, but didn't dare lock it.

The IMPERIAL has a Henry Winkler movie THE ONE AND ONLY a wrestling movie.HEROES did not do too bad at COLUMBIA TWO.

The IMPERIAL is having a thanksgiving ELVIS special with three hours of ELVIS movie fun.With seats 2.00 dollars.

Mr.Tinney orders hundreds of BILLY JACK hats for sale at the movie they are playing THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK. Bad thing was no one came to "COURT" the IMPERIAL. A TURKEY. THREE hours of it. I hated BILLY JACK.


APRIL 6 1972 IMPERIAL
Enter your frog in WBBQ's MISS AMERICAN FROG CONTEST. Everyone entering a frog will recieve two passes to see the movie FROGS.

March 22 1977 IMPERIAL
Saw SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA with Beverly.I had no idea the grapic sex in the movie.

HOT POTATOE opens withJIM KELLY there is some smoke coming some old wiring so the FIRE DEPARTMENT is called.In the morning paper it shows a fire truck under the marquee saying HOT PATATOE.

OMEN 2 opens at the IMPERIAL one weeknight on the last show some lady comes out after the last show raising cain that Mark Barkley cut off the credits and that she knew someone on the credits.Boy, you Projectionists were so safe up in the booth. When i look back on it in those days the end credits did not run 10 minutes or more like they do today.

FROM MY ABC PLITT THEATRE JOURNAL

1975 We are shipping BARRY LYNDON to Southgate Cinema. I do not see how that side of town will watch that movie. It opened here at the IMPERIAL first run. And i never did get downtown to see it.

MR.Jordan wants me to dress up like CAPTAIN MARVEL and promote his late shows here at the IMPERIAl.

Tommy Capers called and said he is upset he did not get more than $ 2.75 an hour.He said Mr.Helms was the reason. He is not only the Assistant Manager at the IMPERIAL,but Mr.Tinney has him closing up the late shows at NATIONAL HILLS. Charles got the right idea and quit.

Saw GREY LADY DOWN at the IMPERIAL. Great movie,WRONG THEATRE.

Everyone is excited about THE SWARM coming to the IMPERIAL. Hey, I just saw the trailer and man this thing is lousy. About killer bees hasn't this been done by ROGER CORMAN? We are talking WARNER BROTHERS. Micheal Caine stars.Boy, he will be big pull down town.

{2009 THE SWARM died a quick death. About as bad as Billy Jack fare.}

1977 CHRISTMAS PARTY and SEMI-TOUGH Party. At the IMPERIAL.Large group from all our theatres except ME. The conessionstand was full of food and drinks. I must have been on a date with Bev.

HOOPER opens at the IMPERIAl and does okay but it is not SMOKEY. 1978 .

1978 A REMAKE OF OZ? Something called THE WIZ is coming To the IMPERIAL. You can bet i won't be there.

HOOPER opens at the IMPERIAl and does okay but it is not SMOKEY. 1978 .

1978 A REMAKE OF OZ? Something called THE WIZ is coming To the IMPERIAL. You can bet i won't be there.

1976 FAMILY PLOT opens at the IMPERIAL.IT is an ALFRED HITCHCOCK movie so there will be a built in crowd.I think it would do great at NATIONAL HILLS,but like LEWIS keeps saying he needs something beside SHAFT movies. {2009 sadly it was HITCHCOCK's last movie and it did not live up to his standards. BRUCE DERN was great in it according Jim. {JIM NEELY DOORMAN and big Bruce Dren fan}

1975 Saw TAKE A HARD RIDE with Jim Brown,Yeah, It is a black film, but it is a pretty good western with Lee Van Cliff. it is doing no business.I don't understand why everything the black filmgoer has to view is SUPERFLY.Here is a pretty good western and it is dying. The One sheet is going home with me,Great art work.

I just dropped by and caught TAXI DRIVER playing {IMPERIAL} I have heard alot of people upset with the violence. I thought DEATH WISH was violent,but this is rough.And the lanuage.I think this movie must have came close to getting an X rating. I don't think this could play at my place.{COLUMBIA 1 and 2}.

According to their seating chart the theatre currently seats 731.

Yes,the theatre took three rows at least off the back house right side for sound and video production.

In 1973 PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID does great business. HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER also played there, but it was BONNIE and CLYDE that really sold tickets.The Projectionist,Bill Barkley said when he first saw this film it like something he had never seen before with all the films he had played. He was so impressed he put together a book covering this epic film. To Bill, politics once again in the OSCARS kept BONNIE and CLYDE from Best Picture.
Bill told me IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT was nowhere in league with BEATTY and DUNAWAY.

1976 TWO MINUTE WARNING is doing good business, I took Bev. to it friday and Tommy was too busy to talk. Why, Mr.Tinney understaffs is beyond me maybe Mr.Biggs or Mr.Huff are on him I don't know. At times THE IMPERIAL can get some decent films.

Jim Neely is in the paper; they took a picture of him changing the Marquee at the IMPERIAL. He is putting up the next feature SHADOW OF THE HAWK.the paper is doing a article on superstitions,hence the 20 foot a frame ladder he is on. I never got in the paper, of course the paper is only a block away!

WELL. We have a problem with the Fred Williamson film the LEGEND OF N...... CHARLEY. what a title .I mean it is a black movie not some KKK feature. I guess we did like alot of urban theatres did and put THE LEGEND OF BLACK CHARLEY. Left the one sheets alone. Come on people seeing this western know the game we are playing.But what a title.

Jim Neely calls and tells me a man got out of his seat in the IMPERIAL came out in the lobby and fainted. Found out he had a thing about needles and was watching th re-release of THE EXORCIST. Can't make this up.

One night after a huge crowd for a movie,Tommy Capers gets a phone call from the AUGUSTA POLICE DEPARTMENT informing him one of their officers is in the audience and must be FOUND.
A theatre full, and luckly after a few seats,Tommy locates the cop. Found out someone was out on the streets looking to kill this cop. Tommy Locked him in the checkout room until APD showed up. Can't make this up!

One thing about popping popcorn at THE IMPERIAL was the popcorn room was the last room behind the screen. Ushers would stack boxes in the back hall leading to the popcorn room just so they could hear someone coming back there for something. You could turn around back there and see someone in the door and it would scare the you know what out of you.

Good stories Mike if you are ever in Nashville look me up we had our popcorn machines right at the concession stands,used coconut oil to pop with.Cool pictures of the IMPERIAL.

THIS IS COMMENTARY FROM BILL BARKLEY HEAD PROJECTIONIST AT THE IMPERIAL.
Bonnie and Clyde had its dedut at the IMPERIAL . it did only fair business.and a short run.
The picture had caught on by the time it made the drive in rounds and was booked back into the IMPERIAL . On Saturday night and Sunday, downstairs sold out every show all day and the balcony had to be opened.
The movie was nominated for 11 academy awards.However,Martin Luther King was shot and the awards were rescheduled for another night: All of a suddden , VIOLENCE on the screen was not the IN thing. So the movie picked up 2 awards. Estelle Parsons for supporting actress and best cinematography. DID THE 2 night delay give members another chance to re-vote?

No, Mike. The voting deadline was many days before King was killed. Did not affect any voting.

You know,Ed I always believed that, but you would never convince Bill of that.JAWS is his second favorite.I should be he ran it for a whole summer.Did you Bonnie & Clyde here?

I'm aware of the deadlines for Motion Picture Academy voting every year, Mike (and Bill). They are several days before the Oscars and are not reopened because of world events.

As for "Bonnie and Clyde," I've always considered it an excellent movie, as were three of the other four pictures it was up against ("In the Heat of the Night," "The Graduate," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"). But there's no question in my mind - then or now - that the Oscar voters got it right that year when they went for "In the Heat of the Night." Had to be a tight vote among those four nominees, though. It was ludicrous that "Dr. Dolittle" for the fifth nomination that year instead of "In Cole Blood," "Up the Down Staircase," "Wait Until Dark," "Cool Hand Luke," "Two for the Road" and about 100 other worthier contenders. Fox put a bundle into its inner-industry campaign for "Dr. Dolittle" that year in an attempt to salvage the fortune it has invester in the film.

As for "Bonnie and Clyde's" box-office performance, the same thing happened everywhere. It played to sluggish returns for roughly two months while the word of mouth built and built. Then it got a very rare two-months-later return to first-run screens and did tremendous business.

I think the only time something like that has happened since (and not on the same scale) was "Billy Jack."

Ed , Don't Mention BILLY JACK,we played that at NATIONAL HILLS and lost track of the boom mikes in everyshot. Bill, also said that the movie 1970 THE COCKEYED COWBOYS OF CALICO COUNTY was so bad that was pulled out of the IMPERIAL before the first week. Dan Blocker should have stayed on the tube. You would never change Bill's Mind about Bonnie abnd Clyde i have known him since 1974 and he swears the award was taken from his movie. I guess i did feel something like that when Paul Newman lost on the VERDICT. I swore i would never watch them again and haven't. I read where critic Rex Reed felt it was a good old boys system.

THE EXORCIST 2 THE HERETIC plays first run at the imperial and if i am mistaken by the 9:20 showing another reel is sent in for a new ending.Anyways, the movie was a bomb.

I was informed by a very good source that WHERE EAGLES DARE was part of a CLINT EASTWOOD double bill, PLAY MISTY FOR ME was the second hit on the late show i wrote about earlier. Sorry,I am trying to remember without any help from my friends.

YES, THE GREEN SLIME played here along with another third rate sci-fi , JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN. I saw JOURNEY at the IMPERIAL ,but missed THE GREEN SLIME.

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.

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.

I much prefer what the marquee looked like in the 70's than what it looks like now. The previous letters looked awesome.

Mike we had a similar story at the Loews Madison, we started some Disney movie on a friday afternoon. The movie started off just great then when it came time for the second reel BAM it was the second reel of Patton.WE had to close for that afternoon until the correct reel came in.The reels must have come from a milti-plex and they messed up the reels in shipping. The only time I remember us having this problem though.Maybe your Patton reels caused of problem. This was sometime in the late 70"s.WE show the same Disney movie at the Loews Melrose but did not have this problem, we ran day and date with them.

When this happened at the Imperial it was first run 1970. That must have been wild, all of a sudden PATTON!

1977 The IMPERIAL is getting something that should be at a Drive in. SUSPIRIA a horror Movie is opening. Next we have another horror movie called RABID. Flyers have been sent to hand out over town.Both of these gems are Rated R.

1977 after a long run of pretty decent movies except for afew cheap horror movie like THE HILLS HAVE EYES ,the IMPERIAL is returning to Black movies, THE HUMAN TORNADO and DOLEMITE are playing. Both rated R. WE have what we are told is an R rated LAST TANGO IN PARIS set for the late show.

Mike we show an X rated version of Last Tango at the Loews Crescent, it I think sold 63 tickets that week and that was at 5 showings a day.We never did that again. Even the kung fu movies we showed every now and then did more business than it. Some times we would run the show to an empty house,pretty sad,we would run the movie without the carbon arcs on to save rods,we would call the booth to fire up the light if someone came in.Theres no business like no business!!!!!!

Also Mike I was wondering did you ever have a day that you did not sell any tickets. One time we had a snow storm here in Nashville and the Loews Melrose and Madsion did not even sell 1 ticket. I would have to call Dallas every night from the Crescent to give them our receipts and concessions monies from our e houses here.They thought that I was joking about the $0 receipts. Also our counts from the Crescent that day we sold more concessions than box office they asked how that happened, well we were downtown and would pop our corn about rush hours and open the front doors to let the smell out.People would ask to come in and buy concessions. without

Mike we also showed "Taxi Driver" at the Loews Crescent ran about 14 weeks. It did big business, maybe because at that time the Crescent got exclusive showing no one else in town had the movie.
so they had to come downtown to see the movie We also did that with the James Bond Movies,Pink Panthers and Rockys and many others.Longest run we every had was One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.26 weeks/half a year, it also went to the Loews Melrose and Madsion after it left the Crescent for 3 weeks.

Tlsloews, That is hard to believe that you guys were not playing day and date with some theatre in Nashville even in those days Nashville was a good size city. That is one thing i hated when we were playing a film and on the other side of town it was pkaying or worse yet at a Drive-in. I know TAXI DRIVER ran along run at the IMPERIAL but i was at National Hills during the run. Man, I love 007 i sure hope you got some one sheets. IN my whole career i never worked a Bond film.
I think we might played a couple of Connery's earlier Bonds on a late show,But Georgia Theatres got all the UA product. CUCKOO'S NEST had a long run at MASTERS 4 then it got shipped to SOUTHGATE CINEMA. I don't think Plitt ever played it.

YEAH, Often at REGENCY 1.2.3. on the last show we would cut the bulb off and run the print.I think we did that one or two times at COLUMBIA 1 and 2. Personally, that is the way i enjoy watching a movie. I remember watching Woody Allen's SMALL TIME CROOKS all alone in a Regal theatre here.

Somewhere on COLUMBIA SQUARE CINEMAS, Which i wish read COLUMBIA 1 and 2 theatres I tell a story of about a 2 inch snow that closed up this city,But we were on the Screen and while no one showed up for COLUMBIA ONE, in COLUMBIA TWO we had the animated LORD OF THE RINGS and doggone it 6 or 7 people showed up. WE did not have a 9:20 showing. SNOW SHOULD NOT STOP YOU TENNESSEE FOLKS !

July 28 1969 Now playing at THE IMPERIAl WALT DISNEY'S THE LOVE BUG. Box office opens at 12:45 with shows 1-3-5-7& 9. Rated G {i saw this movie there}

Mike you may not know that Nashville has the worst drivers in America. If it just rains everything goes crazy and when it snows look out!!!!!And yes I still have some James Bond 1-sheets, and some lobby banners.The Loews Crescent always had exclusives on the Bond, Rocky,Woody Allen, Pink Panther flicks. we would have done much less business if we ran day and date as no one would come downtown and pay to park if the movies were showing anywhere else.I think Loews paid much higher prints fees for the arrangement.

At one time Augusta had the widest downtown street of any city in America. When the powers to be refigured the downtown area,planting trees and such it hurt us at the IMPERIAL and i am sure it hurt the Miller. By that time however,Two largemalls opened within a week or two and downtown died. Maybe yoy guys don't get the kind of snow East Tenn. gets that is where most our people are from above Knoxville.

When i started at National Hills i wanted to get one sheets for my collection. My cousin,worked at the JOY DRIVE IN and CAROLINA theatre in Hendersonville,N.C. so i got tons of paper from those places.Both are on CT now, At National Hills no one wanted the posters and we never returned them .I kept I guess close to a thousand with 8 by 10's, lobby cards. Heck, I even got reel to reel radio ads. No one wanted them. I gave them a good home. The only thing i hate was when i was fired from Columbia 1 and 2 i never went back to the poster room and got my one sheets from opening day.
I could have done it cause the girl that replaced me would have let me with no problem once the city manager was gone. I heard and i wrote about it on COLUMBIA 1 and 2 that that man that replaced my old boss THREW OUT EVERY ONE SHEET. what a d-head.

NOv.23 1963 a sad day, many theatres here no afternoon shows. The evening show on this sad weekend at THE IMPERIAl is THE HAUNTED PALACE.Vincent Price and Lon Chaney of course.

Mike I have many 1-sheets some were sent rolled up in tubes and some were folded and mailed in envelops.I could of had more but did not think about it at the time.We used to throw them away or give them to our friends,what a d-head I was. My wife will ask me what do I want them for? I would not not sell them now even if I needed the money.