Thomson Twin Cinema

131 Main Street,
Thomson, GA 30824

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Martin Theatres

Previous Names: Martin Theatre

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Thomson Twin Cinema

The Martin Theatre in Thomson was the place to be seen. As the name implies, it was operated by Martin Theatres of Georgia, and it opened in the early 1950’s.

On Main Street, the Martin Theatre was a disconcerting presence in the middle of a small town street, surrounded by mom & pop stores.

The nearest theatres were the Knox Theatre, Warrenton, and up the road the Wilkes Theatre. But the Martin Theatre, with its grand old entrance to a much larger theatre than Warrenton or Washington, had a huge balcony, by small town standards.

The Martin Theatre also had a boxes letter sign reading ‘MARTIN’, with a marquee below it.

It was twinned sometime in the late-1970’s or early-1980’s, and the balcony became a small theatre, much like the Carolina 1 & 2 in Hendersonville, NC.

The original 35mm projectors upstairs were scrapped for a platter downstairs in the old theatre and a platter in the new smaller theatre.

I guess the upstairs theatre seated 125 people. The larger original theatre after being remodeled probably sat about 500 folks. The original screen was still in place for a large viewing. I bet “2001: A Space Odyssey” would look great there.

Today it is called the Thomson Twin Cinema. did attend a showing there one night. Bill Barkley, Ray Hutto & myself (Mike Rogers) visited the Knox Theatre in Warrenton. On the way back, Ray wanted a visit with the owner of the Thomson Twin Cinema. So I watched Bill Murray in “Quick Change” in the old theatre on that big screen.

I noticed they ran first-run movies concurrent with Atlanta, but instead of the $10.00 price in Atlanta, seats at the Thomson Twin Cinema were $5.00. What a deal those folks in Thomson get.

I can’t remember what was playing at the upstairs theatre that night, but it was packed. We only had a few watching “Quick Change”, and I thought they need to switch theatres. This was on a weekend evening. All this in a small town off the I-20.

It was closed in 2021.

Contributed by Lost Memory, Mike Rogers

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 8, 2010 at 7:01 pm

One of the good things about the past was managers that could actually call a booker and book a feature.the Martin Theatre in Thomson,Georgia had a TARZAN SPECTACULAR on Sept. 7, 1961. The Three movies were:
“TARZAN"S GREAT ADVENTURE”

“TARZAN AND THE SHE DEVIL”

and “TARZAN’S HIDDEN JUNGLE” They were played on a saturday when many small town theatres would book such features,while mom shopped.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 29, 2010 at 6:16 pm

Hope to have picture on here soon showing the Marquee!!!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on January 10, 2011 at 2:00 pm

Just a few Old movies that Played the Martin before they Twinned it.

4-21-78 “PIPE DREAMS” and the X rated Late Show,“FANTA-SEX” at 10;30pm.

June 13 1971 Richard Burton in “THE VILLIAN”

July 15 1971 Clint Eastwood in “THE BEGUILED”

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 4, 2011 at 6:20 pm

When they twinned they really ruined it .Surprized it hasn’t been tripled since it is thirty miles from Augusta. I do hear they have a lot of trouble there.And THomson is a small town,Admission is pretty cheap so I guess that encourages the low life to show up. I have Friends there that will not go there,It is a pity.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 8, 2011 at 8:40 pm

June 8 1971 now showing “THE ITALIAN JOB”.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 3, 2012 at 5:30 pm

I see admission is now $5.oo a seat, not bad for first run.

rivest266
rivest266 on December 9, 2014 at 5:41 pm

Closed down? no showtimes anywhere.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on December 9, 2014 at 11:39 pm

According to their recording on the phone line they are open and showing current first run attractions.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 20, 2016 at 8:08 pm

YEP, they are still open, have a FACEBOK page, but there is more here than on the facebook page they have..

rivest266
rivest266 on December 14, 2021 at 3:02 pm

This theatre appears to be closed for good as they are not answering their Facebook page.

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