Weis Cinema Centre

Peach Orchard Road,
Augusta, GA 30906

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Weis Cinema Centre was a twin theatre built inside an existing building at Peach Orchard Road in Augusta. The two theatres were built on a wooden floor raised off a concrete floor. You could always tell you were walking on a raised floor.

The theatres opened August 13, 1973 with the movies, "American Graffiti" and "Golden Voyage of Sinbad". It was Augusta’s first twin theatre. It never had a marquee, and unlike other theatres in Augusta it used non-union projectionists. Not so much it was anti-union, but Local 518 were afraid it might get raided because Weis would play X-rated movies like "Story of O", and the X-rated "Dracula". The Weis Drive-In on Highway 25 did use union projectionists in the early days.

The lobby was long and enclosed in a plexi-glass tunnel that took moviegoers to the doorman, and right into the concession stand. It had a decent projection system with a dual set. The concession stand was a decent size.

Because of its size the picture was always sharp and bright. In the 1970’s the Weis Cinema Centre tried to go neck and neck with the Imperial Theatre and National Hills Theatre with late shows. The staff at National Hills Theatre would drive over to South Augusta, and put flyers on the windows of cars promoting the late show at National Hills Theatre.

They didn’t have a long run with late shows. The theatre was owned by Albert Weis out of Savannah, GA. He owned a pretty decent chain of several theatres throughout Georgia. A pretty decent chain for a local man. Screen-wise he owned Savannah. He also had quite a few theatres in Macon and Atlanta.

The Weis was sold in the 1980’s to Fairland-Litchfield. They tripled it and really screwed up one side. It closed as a United Artist Theatre.

Movies of note: "Deer Hunter", "Godfather II", "Death Wish", "Camelot", "Star Wars", "Tootsie", and John Wayne’s last movie, "The Shootist".

Today it sits empty. The seats are gone and the projection room is stripped. The plexi-glass tunnel remains.

Contributed by Mike Rogers

Recent comments (view all 71 comments)

RussellSmeak on February 5, 2011 at 7:13 pm

Yeah, that’s a pic of it alright. Looking back over my last post on this place, it reminded me of the girls that worked there! Man, they had some cute ones, that’s for sure. But, now that I look back on it, I know why. The manager had an eye out for the cute girls, that’s all I’ll say. I remember going to see “E.T.” at that theater…saw it 3 times and with a different girl each time! After the first time, I knew when to make myself available for my date when she started crying! LOL!!

Nunzienick on February 6, 2011 at 1:11 pm

Yep, “E.T.” sure had ‘em weeping just about everywhere it played…certainly made plenty guys happy…the perfect date movie!

Mike Rogers on February 7, 2011 at 1:19 pm

Yep,that was the Weis Cinema Centre,never a marquee just a little twin stuck in an existing building.One reason “STAR WARS” played there so long.in was Tiny compared to my Columbia 1 and 2.Thanks Nick.Russell.I will put most of our girls from Regency up against any I ever worked with from ABC,Plitt or GCC in Athens.Remember Anne?

Mike Rogers on April 11, 2011 at 3:50 pm

“STAR WARS” still playing October 20 1977,Two evening shows and still after this long of a run “NO PASSES”.wonder how many Augustan’s got in Free,Quite a few if I know the theatre business.LOL.

RussellSmeak on April 11, 2011 at 5:10 pm

Mike, are you sure Weis never had a marquee?? I thought I remember them having a very, very small one on Peach Orchard Rd. It was pretty short (still required a ladder to get up there), and only had about 3 lines on it. Am I dreaming again??

Mike Rogers on April 12, 2011 at 4:06 pm

No you are not Dreaming they had a tacky little road Marquee that was a joke.Litchfield Must have installed it,I know Weis did not.

Mike Rogers on June 11, 2011 at 6:34 am

Augusta’s first Twin thatre wasn’t built in west Augusta but in South Augusta.However,at that time a safe place to raise a family if you could stand the stink fom the Industrial plants built there.

“WALKING TALL” plays Oct.4 1974.

“TERMINAL MAN” and “FLESH GORDON” Oct 15 1974

2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY plays on that small screen on Oct 4 1974.[what a joke.}

“GODFATHER II” plays Christmas 1974 on TWO screens.

Sept,26 1975 “GIVE THEM HELL , HARRY” opens Nationwide Performances,Call Ralph Aikens,Mgr,for special group rates.

August 29 1976 a cheapie also playing down the street at the Weis Drive-in, “INFRAMAN”.the ad makes it look like a Super 8 production,no I take that back, I could make a better film than that.

One I couldn’t top.the Duke’s Last film here,“THE SHOOTIST”.I was able to get the one-sheet.

Nov 24 1976 “MARATHON MAN”

Oct 7 1977 “KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE”

Nov 2 1977 “ONION FIELD”

April 16 1982 Weis didn’t get alot of Disney, But “ROBIN HOOD” is playing.

April 20 1982 “PARTNERS” is playing.

June 3 1983 has two Great Comedies,“TOOSIE” and “KING OF COMEDY”.