Marrh Theatre
506 Georgia Avenue,
North Augusta,
SC
29841
506 Georgia Avenue,
North Augusta,
SC
29841
1 person
favorited this theater
North Augusta, South Carolina sits above downtown Augusta, Georgia and with all the downtown theatres Augusta had in the 1950’s and even 1960’s it is hard to believe anyone would build a theatre with that much competition. But the Marrh Theatre served North Augusta well into the 1960’s where the latest 007 picture could be seen without the long lines in Augusta.
Until recently, when downtown North Augusta took a much needed facelift you could see the neon still on the Marrh Theatre even though the marquee was long gone and a drug store occupied the old theatre.
Here is a title playing at the Marrh Theatre in the 1950’s. Double Feature: "Laramie Mountain" and "A Yank In Indo China" with John Archer. There was a color cartoon and box office opened at 1:30pm. During the late-1950’s union problems came up when Local 518 out of Augusta wanted jurisdiction of the theatre. Until then it was a non-union house. Local 518 put pickets up around the theatre, but stopped no one from catching the evening show. They finally, realzing in a "right to work state" it was hopeless. The Marrh Theatre went on to serve North Augusta with good movies. I could not find out who ran the theatre, but at one time the drive-in, Hilltop, was run by Consolidated out of the Carolinas, so they could have operated the Marrh Theatre.
Contributed by
Mike Rogers
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Bob, I sent a letter to Bill Barkley,the projectionist that has helped me on all the Aiken S.C.Theatres and Drive-ins.He hasn’t sent back any reply so I wii try again he’s pushing 80 so maybe he is ill. I will asked about the name.He even has a picture of the Marrh with picket lines up.He was a union man.
Bob: The April 8, 1950, Boxoffice item I cited said that N.W. Hart was naming his new theater after his three granddaughters. I’d presume that their initials were arranged into the somewhat pronounceable word. The item didn’t reveal the girls' names. Maybe somebody who knew (or knows) them will discover this page and tell us. For now I’m just imagining that the one who provided the useful vowel was called Ann, and that if she’d been named Sharon this theater might have become the Shmrr.
Update….Update…..
Projectionist,Bill Barkley said the Carolina and Marrh Theatres are the same.I sorta thought they might be.Here is Bill’s Quote:“The Marrh Theatre was rented by Bubba Farr a projectionist with local 518 in Augusta.The owner would not let him use the Marrh Name,hence,he changed it to the CAROLINA.The theatre was a work of art on each aisle there was a oversize seat for couples to use to sit close to each other during the movie.A smoking room with speakers and large plate glass,on the other side a crying room for babies.the booth for the 50’s was top notch and very clean"Bill went on "North Augusta only had two theatres this one Marrh/Carolina and the Hilltop Drive-in all on CT.” Thanks Bill.
April 5 1954 has “LAST OF THE COMMANCHEROS” playing.
PLaying under the CAROLINA BAnner “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.two shows.
TEN COMMANDMENTS played Jan 10 1958.
Here is a fresh link to the 1951 photo of the Marrh Theatre in Boxoffice.
The AKA Carolina Theatre needs to be added. The building is now occupied by a jewelery store.
North Augusta refaced downtown, can still spot the old theatre…
The Marrh Theatre opened in November 1950 with what was billed as a first run of “Broken Arrow” (1950) starring James Stewart, Jeff Chandler, and Debra Paget. Chandler portrayed the American Indian Cochise, and Paget was an Indian maiden who was Stewart’s love interest.
I saw “Broken Arrow” at the Marrh during its first week of operation. I was 5 years old at the time. For the next 10-15 years, the Marrh was the Saturday morning/afternoon hangout for most of the kids in North Augusta. I saw Brenda Lee perform there when she was a young kid living in North Augusta.
Many a good time was had at the Marrh and to a lesser degree at its successor, the Carolina.
Updated link to the January 6, 1951 edition of BoxOffice Magazine showing the front of the theater.