The Bijou Cinemas opened on the 3rd of June 1976 with “The Ode To Billy Joe” and “Whale of A Tale”. It was only 4 screens at the time, the next summer we opened screens 5 & 6, 7 & 8 were added around 1984. I was projectionist there from opening until 1981, I returned in 1991 as the GM to replace my Father in law, Paul Cook, who semi retired. It was closed and demolished June 3, 2001, exactly 25 years to the day that it opened. Mr.Cook was there for all of the 25 years.
The Carolina Mall cinemas opened as 4 screen theatre, owned and operated by Litchfield Theatres out of Easley, SC. I was the GM there from 1981 until 1991. In 1984 it was relocated to it’s present location and expanded to 8 screens with a video store in the lobby. When UA took over in 1986 the video store was closed and was not taken over by Blockbuster Video, UA just did not want the video store in the theatre. I recently returned to the theatre to help with the installation of digital projection. It was neat to return and take out the 35mm equipment I had help install in 1984.
Well I know the manager who named the Camelot Theatre in Greenville, SC, he was Paul Cook. He managed the camelot until he left to open the Bijou Cinemas in June of 76. I was his projectionist at the Bijou and he was my Father in law.
The Bijou Cinemas opened on the 3rd of June 1976 with “The Ode To Billy Joe” and “Whale of A Tale”. It was only 4 screens at the time, the next summer we opened screens 5 & 6, 7 & 8 were added around 1984. I was projectionist there from opening until 1981, I returned in 1991 as the GM to replace my Father in law, Paul Cook, who semi retired. It was closed and demolished June 3, 2001, exactly 25 years to the day that it opened. Mr.Cook was there for all of the 25 years.
The Carolina Mall cinemas opened as 4 screen theatre, owned and operated by Litchfield Theatres out of Easley, SC. I was the GM there from 1981 until 1991. In 1984 it was relocated to it’s present location and expanded to 8 screens with a video store in the lobby. When UA took over in 1986 the video store was closed and was not taken over by Blockbuster Video, UA just did not want the video store in the theatre. I recently returned to the theatre to help with the installation of digital projection. It was neat to return and take out the 35mm equipment I had help install in 1984.
Well I know the manager who named the Camelot Theatre in Greenville, SC, he was Paul Cook. He managed the camelot until he left to open the Bijou Cinemas in June of 76. I was his projectionist at the Bijou and he was my Father in law.