Big Mo Drive-In
5822 Columbia Highway N,
Monetta,
SC
29105
5822 Columbia Highway N,
Monetta,
SC
29105
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 28 comments
Big Mo named as one of Top 25 Drive-Ins by Architectural Digest: http://metrospirit.com/big-mo-named-one-top-25-drive-ins/
The 1952-56 Theatre Catalogs listed the Monetta as owned by Sam Bogo, capacity 230.
In the 1952-66 Motion Picture Almanacs, the Monetta was owned by Twin City Amusement Co., capacity 200. It was off the list for 1969-76.
In the 1978 edition, the owner was J. Warren, capacity 210, which is how it stayed through the 1988 edition, again showing that the MPA didn’t always notice change.
Richard and Lisa Boaz added a second screen in 2005, and as noted above, a third screen in 2011.
There was a lightning strike June 18, 2017 that knocked out all three screens. They were all up and running by June 22.
The Big Mo, one of just a few remaining drive-ins. It’s like going back in time. So glad they won the contest last year for new digital projectors, I sure did cast a vote for them. I hope they will stay in business a long time, way to go Big Mo!
Congrats to Richard Boaz & ‘The Big Mo’ for winning a new projector from projectdrivein. With 3 screens, every little bit helps to stay open.
nice review, sometimes they get a little talky at intermission explaining movie prices…lol.
Went out here last night (Aug 2nd 2011) and saw the triple feature of Back to the Future, Grease and Jaws. They now have 3 screens here, a new one opened in may. The new screen is the screen the triple feature ran on. Fairly good crowd for this triple feature. The other 2 fields had good crowds as well. Ill do a little review of each print of the movies they ran. 1. Up first was Back to The Future. Awful print. Choppy, spotty, jumpy, green and yellow. All in all, it was still great to see this classic on a big screen again. 2. Grease Sing A Long version. I hate these updates they do to movies. Original Grease is a good movie…..this version was not needed in my opinion. Side note, about 80 percent of the crowd left after Grease. Best movie of the night coming up, and everyone leaves???? Ah, what do they know????!!! 3. Jaws.Beautiful print of the movie. This is one of my all time fave movies, and finally seeing it on big screen, I was blown away. Print was crisp, sharp, vibrant colors……The ending scenes out on the ocean simply blew me away, I felt I was out there on the water myself. Jaws was made for the big screen,and it shows. This was my first trip to the Big Mo, and I will be back. Nice place they got out there…no big frills, but no big price either (7 bucks a person for the triple feature). They allow coolers and food brought in (no glass or alcohol). Me and my wife brought our own food and drinks, but we did buy some popcorn and candy from the concession. Prices at the concession were very fair. I will never visit Regal again after going here !!! Not that I went there much in the first place…….. If you have not visited, do your self a favor and ride out one weekend…..well worth it. Make sure and bring a portable radio, as the sounds come in over FM bands. And,you can bring chairs and sit in front of your car…..
So, on Labor Day weekend, they are showing Grease, Back to the Future, and Jaws as a triple feature. I am very excited about this, as I have always wanted to see Jaws on a big screen!
TONIGHT SCREEN THREE OPENS.Big Mo.Com.First movies are “SOUL SURFER” and “RIO”.Started with one screen now three,last time visted there was only the one screen.I guess they are doing better than Thought because they truly are in the middle of nowhere.
Big-Mo is going on Sixty Years.i hope the Aiken Standard, Daily Newspaper does a good article on the Big-Mo.
yeah, it really is a nice location about 13 miles off 1-20,but about 40 miles from my house.Took the kids a few times. I wrote a feature article on the DRive-ins in Augusta for a free news weekly here.I am sure you have those kinds of papers in Nashville.they tend to go after the younger crowd of readers. The Big-mo was included by another writer.
In keeping with the tradition of family films, “DOUG’S FIRST MOVIE” plays at the BIG-Mo. Once the kids fall asleep mom and dad can watch “ENTRAPMENT”.
With those kind of double features they were after 2 different kind of patrons,maybe sell more tickets.Mosy people only want to see one of the movies anyway.
April 26 1951 ,really going back,and i know it drives some of you NUTS,but THE BIG-MO is playing “NANCY GOES TO RIO” Since reopening in the late 90’s on opening night 429 cars crammed the lot.In a 200 car drive-in.
June 4 1999. Friday, Saturday and Sunday Now Showing
TWIN DRAGONS and NEVER BEEN KISSED. Another strange double feature at so many Drive-ins.
Sept. 2, 2006 Now showing “BARNYARD: THE ORIGINAL PARTY ANIMALS” is the first feature for the Kids. Also “TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY”. and a third late feature “WORLD TRADE CENTER”.
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.
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".
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.
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
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.
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.
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”
TLSLOEWS did you see all the Drive-ins in Tampa that NICK has put pictures of them on CT.
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.
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.