Plaza III
1323 Main Street,
Columbia,
SC
29201
1323 Main Street,
Columbia,
SC
29201
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc., Wilby-Kincey
Previous Names: Ideal Theatre, Ritz Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Ideal Theatre was opened June 14, 1912. It was renamed Ritz Theatre on July 9, 1928. On November 27, 1971 it was renamed Plaza III. It was closed in 1980, and the area has since been redeveloped.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Here is a 1942 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/m4vzph
I grew up 55 miles from Columbia, but the Ritz is the only Columbia theatre that I attended. I saw “The Bridges at Toko-ri” in the early 1950’s, and “The Hanging Tree” in 1959 as a high school senior. Between those two movies, the theatre had been given the “Skouras treatment” with new thickly padded seats, and light green curtains covering all the walls. I belive the admission in 1959 was 85 cents.
I was doing a search for Wilby Kinsey, as my father worked for him managing theaters in the southeast, mostly Florida. He managed the Ritz when I was a child, in the mid-1950s, before transferring to Florida. I have only the vaguest memory of it, as I was only 4 or 5 at the time. Still, it was nice to find this picture.
This opened as Ideal on June 14th, 1912 and reopened as Ritz on July 9th, 1928. Both grand opening ads in the photo section.
Also reopened as Plaza III on November 27th, 1971. Grand opening ad in the photo section.