Simon the only way that happened if someone did like i did when NATIONAL HILLS was going dark,was slip in and load my pick-up with items I wanted.One time a cop drove by didn’t even ask what i was doing.Did the same thing at Columbia Square Cinemas or Columbia 1 and 2 theatres as i knew it.
Pretty good ad,but haven’t seen anyone top the Imperial.I am being objective,too.Bill,I can remember as a kid on Friday the first thing before the comics or sports was the movie ads.we didn’t have all the theatres you guys had,but i enjoyed usually a full page of movie ads. Heck, I would even cut them out.
Stan and all of you guys I could read your stories and relate so much.“THE FEEL ON YOUR FINGERS FROM CARRYING FILM CANS.” Pure theatre employee stories.Somehow the union didn’t want no part of carrying them to the booth!
I pretty much quit going to the movies unless its 007 or Clint.So I really don’t care,but as I said on a site somewhere when the Regal 20 in my town added IMAX a lot of moviegoers here said it wasn’t IMAX so it must be popping up everywhere.
If we could only go back to those days where in most medium size towns one theatre would play one movie.But i know i only worked for a theatre chain ABC/PLITT and GCC and the guys that ran the companies wanted what? More Money.Open a twin okay,then a triple,then how about a six-plex.From there it spread like cancer to these big 20 plexes hat have to hire cops for security.Somewhere going to “THE PICTURE SHOW"got lost.
I bet you guys ran them in and out like we did.in those days i don’t ever remember cleaning the theatre between shows.No one had ever thought of it in the 70’s.
That’s a crying shame someone would fire your brother for such a kind act .When I worked at Pizza Hut we had about the poorest family in town live down a dirt road behind the Hut.We would find them eating out of the dumpest.We would make them a large Cheese pizza every once awhile and they would pick it up. they were always wanting to pick up trash in the parking lot just so they weren’t getting charity. To fire a kid for giving away a bit of popcorn that doesn’t cost hardly anything to make,well there is a special place in hell for that theatre manager!And I use to be a theatre manager! But i was a pretty nice guy.
And Bill,thanks for putting the ad on this site.It deserves to be here.I wish Bill Barkley was into computers.{projectionist}So he could see these stories.
BradE41,Let me tell you I was Assistant Mgr. at National Hills and after my Matinee shift i went down to the Imperial to help out,Good old Mr.Tinney who was a whiz at Ads was not much at predicting movies.So he hired no one until about that coming Monday.He had Old Margaret Whitehead behind the concession,she had been there since the 1940’s He had one other girl and a boxoffice girl.and one doorman. So Naturally the other ABC theatre staff was invited to help,but even in those days the staff at National Hills was lilly white and really didn’t want any part of the Imperial.It never bothered me.One guy he hired justed popped popcorn for two weeks.The show times were just like that it is amazing we were sold any concession and he wouldn’t dare hold the starting time.I have the original showtime sheet from the ticket chopper framed in my house.But I am sure there are hundreds of the same story on “JAWS” those were the days before Day and date booking.
And SAPS i am surprized a Union man would even let you touch a Projector.Here in Augusta,Georgia we had to get permission to even come in the booth and I was an assistant Manager,In time they did get lax about it.
Oh,they forgot to send a reel back when they tore down “JAWS II” and John kept it for months finally giving it to me,I passed it on to the projectionist at the IMPERIAL in Augusta,don’t know what Bill did with it.
I know “JAWS II” played there my friend John Mackey was managing it.He had a projectionist there I think in his 80’s when I visited,don’t know how he managed those large 35mm reels.
Photo two shows what looks like one-sheets in the poster frames,But nothing on the marquee.Did they just shut down and left the one sheets in or were they too lazy to put a title up.Strange!
If any one cares the IMPERIAL THEATRE has a great ad put together by Jerry Tinney,City Manager on “JAWS” when so many managers in this city would cut and glue ads from pressbooks he would go the extra mile.Don’t think you will ever see a “JAWS” ad like that.I need to get Nick DiMaggio to put the ad here instead of the IMPERIAL in Augusta,Georgia.And Yes,I worked “BENJI” during the day at National Hills then drove downtown to work “JAWS” on the evening shows, those were the real Theatre days,my Friends!
Bill, one thing about these Great ads is you will spot some crazy Double features. I saw one somewhere,“SHAFT” and “WHERE’S POPPA” stuff you just can’t make up.I do love those ads and miss the real theatre days.Today.it is a joke going to the movies.Ask anyone who was in the business like I was from the early 70’s to early 80’s.I started to see a serious change about the time i hung up my dark blue GCC jacket.
I had a friend on CT somehow DVD a GCC Feature Presentation Trailer for me.I guess he got on the GCC theatre site and found how to tape it.I ain’t much of a computer whiz so I couldn’t tell you how he got it.but It Brought back memories,Dave-bronx. Hey, Did you guys have to read the gas meter every week and send a form to Boston?I couldn’t believe I had that has one of my Assistant Manager duties,After awhile we just added numbers.I don’t think they ever looked at them.
Simon the only way that happened if someone did like i did when NATIONAL HILLS was going dark,was slip in and load my pick-up with items I wanted.One time a cop drove by didn’t even ask what i was doing.Did the same thing at Columbia Square Cinemas or Columbia 1 and 2 theatres as i knew it.
You saw “THE DEAD POOL” J.B. for the record.
Pretty good ad,but haven’t seen anyone top the Imperial.I am being objective,too.Bill,I can remember as a kid on Friday the first thing before the comics or sports was the movie ads.we didn’t have all the theatres you guys had,but i enjoyed usually a full page of movie ads. Heck, I would even cut them out.
Stan and all of you guys I could read your stories and relate so much.“THE FEEL ON YOUR FINGERS FROM CARRYING FILM CANS.” Pure theatre employee stories.Somehow the union didn’t want no part of carrying them to the booth!
Have a buddy that has a “REVENGE OF THE JEDI” one sheet that was sent out to theatres.I think he keeps it in a safe.
I pretty much quit going to the movies unless its 007 or Clint.So I really don’t care,but as I said on a site somewhere when the Regal 20 in my town added IMAX a lot of moviegoers here said it wasn’t IMAX so it must be popping up everywhere.
If we could only go back to those days where in most medium size towns one theatre would play one movie.But i know i only worked for a theatre chain ABC/PLITT and GCC and the guys that ran the companies wanted what? More Money.Open a twin okay,then a triple,then how about a six-plex.From there it spread like cancer to these big 20 plexes hat have to hire cops for security.Somewhere going to “THE PICTURE SHOW"got lost.
Thanks PaulB.
Thanks again Ken mc for all the great pictures you get on and ads too.
I bet you guys ran them in and out like we did.in those days i don’t ever remember cleaning the theatre between shows.No one had ever thought of it in the 70’s.
What great ads Ken mc.Love them.
Man,why didn’t they take them.Bet someone got them.
That’s a crying shame someone would fire your brother for such a kind act .When I worked at Pizza Hut we had about the poorest family in town live down a dirt road behind the Hut.We would find them eating out of the dumpest.We would make them a large Cheese pizza every once awhile and they would pick it up. they were always wanting to pick up trash in the parking lot just so they weren’t getting charity. To fire a kid for giving away a bit of popcorn that doesn’t cost hardly anything to make,well there is a special place in hell for that theatre manager!And I use to be a theatre manager! But i was a pretty nice guy.
And Bill,thanks for putting the ad on this site.It deserves to be here.I wish Bill Barkley was into computers.{projectionist}So he could see these stories.
BradE41,Let me tell you I was Assistant Mgr. at National Hills and after my Matinee shift i went down to the Imperial to help out,Good old Mr.Tinney who was a whiz at Ads was not much at predicting movies.So he hired no one until about that coming Monday.He had Old Margaret Whitehead behind the concession,she had been there since the 1940’s He had one other girl and a boxoffice girl.and one doorman. So Naturally the other ABC theatre staff was invited to help,but even in those days the staff at National Hills was lilly white and really didn’t want any part of the Imperial.It never bothered me.One guy he hired justed popped popcorn for two weeks.The show times were just like that it is amazing we were sold any concession and he wouldn’t dare hold the starting time.I have the original showtime sheet from the ticket chopper framed in my house.But I am sure there are hundreds of the same story on “JAWS” those were the days before Day and date booking.
And SAPS i am surprized a Union man would even let you touch a Projector.Here in Augusta,Georgia we had to get permission to even come in the booth and I was an assistant Manager,In time they did get lax about it.
Oh,they forgot to send a reel back when they tore down “JAWS II” and John kept it for months finally giving it to me,I passed it on to the projectionist at the IMPERIAL in Augusta,don’t know what Bill did with it.
I know “JAWS II” played there my friend John Mackey was managing it.He had a projectionist there I think in his 80’s when I visited,don’t know how he managed those large 35mm reels.
Some good stories Folks.Thanks for taking the time to write them down for those of us that never got the experience of the Egyptian.
Photo two shows what looks like one-sheets in the poster frames,But nothing on the marquee.Did they just shut down and left the one sheets in or were they too lazy to put a title up.Strange!
May 27.2010 post on the Imperial,Augusta,To make it easy to find.Hope you guys like it.
If any one cares the IMPERIAL THEATRE has a great ad put together by Jerry Tinney,City Manager on “JAWS” when so many managers in this city would cut and glue ads from pressbooks he would go the extra mile.Don’t think you will ever see a “JAWS” ad like that.I need to get Nick DiMaggio to put the ad here instead of the IMPERIAL in Augusta,Georgia.And Yes,I worked “BENJI” during the day at National Hills then drove downtown to work “JAWS” on the evening shows, those were the real Theatre days,my Friends!
Good Luck,Zoe Preservaion Society.Some good stories to read.
Bill, one thing about these Great ads is you will spot some crazy Double features. I saw one somewhere,“SHAFT” and “WHERE’S POPPA” stuff you just can’t make up.I do love those ads and miss the real theatre days.Today.it is a joke going to the movies.Ask anyone who was in the business like I was from the early 70’s to early 80’s.I started to see a serious change about the time i hung up my dark blue GCC jacket.
I had a friend on CT somehow DVD a GCC Feature Presentation Trailer for me.I guess he got on the GCC theatre site and found how to tape it.I ain’t much of a computer whiz so I couldn’t tell you how he got it.but It Brought back memories,Dave-bronx. Hey, Did you guys have to read the gas meter every week and send a form to Boston?I couldn’t believe I had that has one of my Assistant Manager duties,After awhile we just added numbers.I don’t think they ever looked at them.