Astro III

This opened on January 29th, 1971. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Here’s a pretty remarkable photo of a personal appearance by Chewbacca at the Astro III in 1977 or so (I’m not certain that this mask was available before 1978, but STAR WARS played there for at least three separate runs before EMPIRE came out): View link

Here are some clarifications that might help: The Astro III opened in January 1971, screening ‘Tora Tora Tora.’ Initially, admission was not by ticket, but rather by a coin inserted into a turnstile. Student admission was $1.25. The facility was state of the art at the time, with Simplex projectors, bearing 6,000 foot reels each, and equipped with xenon lamps. Seating was about 347, rocking chair style, with gold carpet on the auditorium walls, red carpet on the lobby walls and black acoustical tiles in the ceiling. A black velvet traveler covered the screen when the show as not in progress. Oddly, in this ‘space age’ theater, the lobby featured a golden Zodiac sun dial of sorts, above a minature replication of Michaelango’s David. Astro III was not opened by Martin, but by Star Theaters in Greenville, which operated the Plaza, on Augusta Rd. in Greenville, and the Clemson on College Ave. In early 1968 both received an upfit. Star also opened the Astros, and later sold all four to Martin, (later Carmike) in 1972. The house manager of the day would double as business manager, operator (projectionist,) and work the concession stand, alongside another (usually a college student) who would handle the box office and concessions. Two employees could staff it all during the week, with three or four as the full complement on weekends. Sellouts were not at all uncommon, averaging six to 18 annually. Midnight Man, filmed in early spring 1973, premiered at three different theaters on the same evening in June 1974. Early evening it premiered at the Osteen in Anderson (near where portions of the film were shot) and the Astro III in Clemson. Co-producer Roland Kibbee and female lead Susan Clark were on hand for the Clemson premiere. There was but one screening that evening. Following the opening credits in Clemson, Kibbee and Clark traveled to Greenville, for the premiere held at the Astro I later that evening. Burt Lancaster was at neither premiere. If anyone requires more details on specifics, they can easily be supplied.

A picture of this theater is here.