Billy and Don I have the Ritz being run in 1956 by Bijou Amusement Company 423 Fourth Ave.N.,Nashville,Tenn. Milton Starr President and Evans Sprott,Gen.Manager. They also ran the STAR THEATRE in Shreveport. 1956 Motion picture Almanac.
In 1993 the Fargo Theatre was the only Red River Valley area Theatre to boast a 70mm Projection system.Funded in part by a Grant from Great Plains Software.The first 70mm movie was “Lawrence of Arabia” The David Lean Classic.This comes from Boxoffice Nov.1989.
Bob.HOW ABOUT THEM DAWGS!It gets to a point that you hope folks in Athens or nearby Atlanta would have some info on this Drive-in.I am sure with the Beltline Hwy wrapping around Athens it might be hard to spot anything of the Prince Ave,Drive-in.Did you see the ATHENS DRIVE-In {on CT} on Atlanta Highway near the MAll it closed sometime in the early to mid 80’s.Car dealership took that land.
Funny they re-opened with 3 R-rated Films.“EYE OF THE NEEDLE” was pretty decent little film. We played “TARZAN” at GCC and it died QUICK.Loved The ads wish I could have seen the ones on the paper Too.
Nick,I can’t believe they booked it in a twin when in those days there were single screen theatres.I told you the story how Universal tricked us ushers and doormen into setting up the big sensurround at the Imperial for “EARTHQUAKE” said we would make $15.00 an hour in 1974 to help install.You know we never saw the first penny! Oh well,that is the theatre business.On new Theatres I have added a bunch tonight,but so far I only see one,CINEMA Six. I wish so bad I had the money to Drive down and see all of you.I hope one day it will happen again,but probably with no Kids.
In 1984 here is a little history.Locals have been protesting X-rated movies.A foreclosure on the Drive-in has Samuel Nyer taken over ownership of this Drive-in he started in the 1960’s.Nyer said he did not like the X-rated movies and he had run it for 25 years without having to show trash.“We always made a profit off regular films,not alot of money,but a profit.He said the Ellsworth Trenton Drive-in will reopen April 1984 and will cater to everyone,especially the family market.
Oh,I know for a fact there are at least two more theatres from the Silent days in Augusta,I just got to get the time to research like you,I screwed up as mentioned above,i really thought the city had the building torn down and the other day coming from a show I decided to turn down 9th street and WOW, Capers and Associates had turned the old Palace into Office space,but in that section of Town maybe a plumbing company or something Blue Collar might operate out of there,not a nice section.You have been to the Civic Center,you know that ain’t where the MASTERS is played every spring!
thanks LaJane for a great Story.I named my son SEAN because I love 007 movies.Wanted to name the second son Clint,but my wife wouldn’t stand for that so we settled on KYLE,Clint Eastwood’s son’s name,funny how Movies reflect all our lives.
Nick,Great article as usual.Talking about Charlie and Miss Ollie I bet. Could not believe they would play “EARTHQUAKE” in sensurround in a TWIN theatre!I could see it in a single screen house,but a Twin.Bet the folks watching the other movie were a liitle pissed when the Capital Record Building Fell!LOL. I think You sent me pictures years ago on the Floriland Cinemas. I am wanting for the Ads!
The whole rating system was a Volunteer rating system.It meant nothing in the law books from what i was told.Tlsloews,I think most of the guys from our days would agree totally with your statement.
Stan,I don’t have info on Macon theatres.What info I got came from a1956 Motion Picture Almanac.I saw that you had done a great work on the History of Atlanta’s Theatres that someone should do Macon,Savannah,Athens and Columbus.Really surprized,but not shocked that someone from one of those cities hasn’t finished what I started.but I have found even in Augusta that there are only a handful of CT members that write anything on our theatres here.By the way, The WEIS DRIVE-IN in Augusta {on CT} had in car heat and A.C. 250 of them in a drive-in that probably parked 700 or more cars.like the Weis drive-in in Warner Robbins,our Weis Drive-in in Augusta was sold to Gerorgia Theatres where they Quickly ran it into the ground.
Crying shame a city that prides it self on being so progressive like Charlotte would let the Belvedere rot.But you saw what they did to the CAROLINA in Charlotte.Atlanta it ain’t and never will be.
Billy and Don I have the Ritz being run in 1956 by Bijou Amusement Company 423 Fourth Ave.N.,Nashville,Tenn. Milton Starr President and Evans Sprott,Gen.Manager. They also ran the STAR THEATRE in Shreveport. 1956 Motion picture Almanac.
Sorry Guys,I caught my mistake, It is not 1993,BUT 1989.
In 1993 the Fargo Theatre was the only Red River Valley area Theatre to boast a 70mm Projection system.Funded in part by a Grant from Great Plains Software.The first 70mm movie was “Lawrence of Arabia” The David Lean Classic.This comes from Boxoffice Nov.1989.
Bob.HOW ABOUT THEM DAWGS!It gets to a point that you hope folks in Athens or nearby Atlanta would have some info on this Drive-in.I am sure with the Beltline Hwy wrapping around Athens it might be hard to spot anything of the Prince Ave,Drive-in.Did you see the ATHENS DRIVE-In {on CT} on Atlanta Highway near the MAll it closed sometime in the early to mid 80’s.Car dealership took that land.
Must have been great meeting James Mason he is one of the greatest Actors ever to appear on a Silver screen.
Funny they re-opened with 3 R-rated Films.“EYE OF THE NEEDLE” was pretty decent little film. We played “TARZAN” at GCC and it died QUICK.Loved The ads wish I could have seen the ones on the paper Too.
I guess you saw the X-rated “CLOCKWORK ORANGE” we only got the R-rated version here.wonder what they cut out.
Nick,I can’t believe they booked it in a twin when in those days there were single screen theatres.I told you the story how Universal tricked us ushers and doormen into setting up the big sensurround at the Imperial for “EARTHQUAKE” said we would make $15.00 an hour in 1974 to help install.You know we never saw the first penny! Oh well,that is the theatre business.On new Theatres I have added a bunch tonight,but so far I only see one,CINEMA Six. I wish so bad I had the money to Drive down and see all of you.I hope one day it will happen again,but probably with no Kids.
I wonder where B.A.Bengtsson is today.Seems like the kind of guy I would like to work with!
In 1984 here is a little history.Locals have been protesting X-rated movies.A foreclosure on the Drive-in has Samuel Nyer taken over ownership of this Drive-in he started in the 1960’s.Nyer said he did not like the X-rated movies and he had run it for 25 years without having to show trash.“We always made a profit off regular films,not alot of money,but a profit.He said the Ellsworth Trenton Drive-in will reopen April 1984 and will cater to everyone,especially the family market.
80 seats in each house? Is it still open?
Love the Photo of “CATCH 22” wish it was a bit closer.
Great Story on Another Great GEORGIA theatre!Thanks for all the pictures and personal stories!
Thanks for commenting, NICK.
Oh,I know for a fact there are at least two more theatres from the Silent days in Augusta,I just got to get the time to research like you,I screwed up as mentioned above,i really thought the city had the building torn down and the other day coming from a show I decided to turn down 9th street and WOW, Capers and Associates had turned the old Palace into Office space,but in that section of Town maybe a plumbing company or something Blue Collar might operate out of there,not a nice section.You have been to the Civic Center,you know that ain’t where the MASTERS is played every spring!
Tlsloews,hard as I try every LOEWS theatre I find you have left a comment before me!
thanks LaJane for a great Story.I named my son SEAN because I love 007 movies.Wanted to name the second son Clint,but my wife wouldn’t stand for that so we settled on KYLE,Clint Eastwood’s son’s name,funny how Movies reflect all our lives.
What we don’t need is another 30 PLEX.
Interesting History.Paul,hope you can get a picture.
Nick,Great article as usual.Talking about Charlie and Miss Ollie I bet. Could not believe they would play “EARTHQUAKE” in sensurround in a TWIN theatre!I could see it in a single screen house,but a Twin.Bet the folks watching the other movie were a liitle pissed when the Capital Record Building Fell!LOL. I think You sent me pictures years ago on the Floriland Cinemas. I am wanting for the Ads!
Thanks J.B. Did you think to snap a few pictures.
Atlanta had some great movie palaces and I was lucky enough to visit several.
The whole rating system was a Volunteer rating system.It meant nothing in the law books from what i was told.Tlsloews,I think most of the guys from our days would agree totally with your statement.
Stan,I don’t have info on Macon theatres.What info I got came from a1956 Motion Picture Almanac.I saw that you had done a great work on the History of Atlanta’s Theatres that someone should do Macon,Savannah,Athens and Columbus.Really surprized,but not shocked that someone from one of those cities hasn’t finished what I started.but I have found even in Augusta that there are only a handful of CT members that write anything on our theatres here.By the way, The WEIS DRIVE-IN in Augusta {on CT} had in car heat and A.C. 250 of them in a drive-in that probably parked 700 or more cars.like the Weis drive-in in Warner Robbins,our Weis Drive-in in Augusta was sold to Gerorgia Theatres where they Quickly ran it into the ground.
Crying shame a city that prides it self on being so progressive like Charlotte would let the Belvedere rot.But you saw what they did to the CAROLINA in Charlotte.Atlanta it ain’t and never will be.