Here is a story that will make most of you CRY. The day after PEACH ORCHARD/WEIS closed the cleaning crew was there to do maintance,or what ever one does when a theatre goes dark. The lead guy,Janitor,for a better name, calls Bill Barkley at the REGENCY EXCHANGE and tells Bill they are Throwing away every “POSTER” as he called it in the Dumpster.
The janitor knew Barkley from MASTERS 4 and knew Bill would want the one sheets. Well, Bill was in booth so he calls me and no answer.
I am at HILTON HEAD on a vacation. SO EVERY one sheet was thrown in the thrash,Had i known that I certainly would have stayed home for such a treasure.The janitor talked to Bill that it must have been Thousands of one sheets since the cinemas opened in the early 70’s.
IT closed as the PEACH ORCHARD CINEMAS since it was in PEACH ORCHARD SHOPPING CENTER,there certainly wasn’t any peach orchards nearby.Just a dying part of South Augusta.
August 3 1953 the IMPERIAL is playing ABBOTT and COSTELLO meet DR.JEKYLL and Mr.HYDE. with BORIS KAROFF. nice size ad for what I would call a B film. Starting that next Tuesday is YOUNG BESS with Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger.
Thanks for the info I had thought they had both passed away. Mark Lester only made a couple of films anyway? I know Wild was in the movie H.R. PUFFNSTUFF?
August 23 1975, ALOHA, BOBBY AND ROSE is shipped out to the WEIS DRIVE-in after a nice run at NATIONAL HILLS. Second Feature is Steve McQueen in one of his last Drive-in movies JUNIOR BONNER.
Ray, I am pretty sure fire claimed the old theatre. Harley Drew from WGAC goes to my church and he grew up in Waynesboro,I plan on asking about the theatre.I have the WAYNESBORO Drive-in Listed on Cinema Treasures,maybe you can add to it? Barkley has given me many stories on the Aiken Drive ins across the river. I hope to have them on soon.
YEAH, I live in Evans,Which is AUGUSTA now since the city is spreading west. I have Pictures too of that Drive in. If i can ever find that book of passes i will be more than glad to send to you.I have so much old theatre stuff in my Basement.
Nick. you have your work cut out for you look at all these Drive ins and you thought no one cared about TAMPA. I know you can answer any Question on TAMPA’S Theatres!
I Liked your write up on the Old EXPRESSWAY DRIVE IN. I pulled off the interstate years ago to look over the old concessionstand/ Booth. I found a book of movie passes.Have them SOMEWHERE.
Yeah, When i Took Bev. to see Sailor at the Imperial, a theatre i got in free at we had her best friend with her from out of town with her fiance. Boy, did i have to apologize! Like OLIVER so much Bought the Soundtrack.
THE MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC is about the Size of the novel WAR&PEACE so it is quite big and heavy. I found mine along with another that i GAVE to a friend in TAmpa. Found them in the City Managers office in the old MILLER THEATRE, Augusta.
I remember clearly even though i was not working at the theatres when CLOCKWORK ORANGE was not allow to play in Augusta, Chief Beck the type of Southern law enforcer you see in movies made it clear in the paper that if it Played at THE IMPERIAL he would raid the theatre. My question is how did the ART theatre get away with the trash they were showing, And the Miller playing MIDNIGHT COWBOY and WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A NAKED LADY? Both X rated.
I only saw the R rated Version ,so i don’t know what could have been in the X rated CLOCKWORK to get him so uptight. Heck, a buddy and myself had to drive to Athens ,Ga to see CLOCKWORK.
The rating system is voluntary anyway. I was sure to always bring that up to managers and they thought I was a smart ass. It just never made sense Joe Goode could play X just a few blocks down the Street while the IMPERIAL was given the riot Act!
1972 100 year snow strom hits Augusta with 13 inches of SNOW , Mr, Tinney not wanting to drive in the snow goes across the street to the Richmond Hotel. The movie playing PETE N' TILLIE. Every one else drives home.
When i was with ABC PLITT it was my job to call the figures in to Columbia,S.C. Some nights i don’t know why we even opened and this was before VHS and Video games,we had cable,but it wasn’t much. I still remember to this day the phone numbers of NATIONAL HILLs and the IMPERIAl..738-4588 and 722-1866!
Here is a story that will make most of you CRY. The day after PEACH ORCHARD/WEIS closed the cleaning crew was there to do maintance,or what ever one does when a theatre goes dark. The lead guy,Janitor,for a better name, calls Bill Barkley at the REGENCY EXCHANGE and tells Bill they are Throwing away every “POSTER” as he called it in the Dumpster.
The janitor knew Barkley from MASTERS 4 and knew Bill would want the one sheets. Well, Bill was in booth so he calls me and no answer.
I am at HILTON HEAD on a vacation. SO EVERY one sheet was thrown in the thrash,Had i known that I certainly would have stayed home for such a treasure.The janitor talked to Bill that it must have been Thousands of one sheets since the cinemas opened in the early 70’s.
IT closed as the PEACH ORCHARD CINEMAS since it was in PEACH ORCHARD SHOPPING CENTER,there certainly wasn’t any peach orchards nearby.Just a dying part of South Augusta.
August 23 1975 now playing at the WEIS CINEMA CENTRE.
THE OTHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT ratedPG and in the other cinema is NASHVILLE.both on their 3rd week.
August 3 1953 the IMPERIAL is playing ABBOTT and COSTELLO meet DR.JEKYLL and Mr.HYDE. with BORIS KAROFF. nice size ad for what I would call a B film. Starting that next Tuesday is YOUNG BESS with Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger.
Thanks for the info I had thought they had both passed away. Mark Lester only made a couple of films anyway? I know Wild was in the movie H.R. PUFFNSTUFF?
August 23 1975, ALOHA, BOBBY AND ROSE is shipped out to the WEIS DRIVE-in after a nice run at NATIONAL HILLS. Second Feature is Steve McQueen in one of his last Drive-in movies JUNIOR BONNER.
August 3 1953 NOW PLAYING at the RIALTO
JOEL McCREA in THE LONE HAND also color cartoon. Second Feature is DANGER UNDER THE SEA.
For a news paper ad very nice size from what the RIALTO usually ran.
Well, Ray we know it was open on August 23 1975. I have an ad from the Augusta paper.
LATE SHOW TONIGHT 12 MIDNIGHT
DOUBLE FEATURE VOODOO BLACK EXORCIST and CHRISTY Adults only.
I remember going by there while going Dove hunting with my dad and I am 100% sure PLANET OF THE APES was playing at the time.
Ray, I am pretty sure fire claimed the old theatre. Harley Drew from WGAC goes to my church and he grew up in Waynesboro,I plan on asking about the theatre.I have the WAYNESBORO Drive-in Listed on Cinema Treasures,maybe you can add to it? Barkley has given me many stories on the Aiken Drive ins across the river. I hope to have them on soon.
In 1956 it was owned by T.G. Soloman who also owned the REBEL drive-In in Baton Rouge. Flordia parked 350 cars and the Rebel parked 500 cars.
My Pictures are when the theatre was closed everything was still standing except the screen was gone.
YEAH, I live in Evans,Which is AUGUSTA now since the city is spreading west. I have Pictures too of that Drive in. If i can ever find that book of passes i will be more than glad to send to you.I have so much old theatre stuff in my Basement.
I won’t have to use my MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC in Tampa! Nick, will answer them ALL.
Nick, Didn’t you mail me pictures of this theatre years ago?
I am sure Nick will fill in all the history.This guy knows TAMPA theatres!
Here’s another one NICK.
Nick. you have your work cut out for you look at all these Drive ins and you thought no one cared about TAMPA. I know you can answer any Question on TAMPA’S Theatres!
I have a picture of the booth from a BOXOFFICE magazine in the late 60’s.Nick, you need to see all these Tampa Drive -ins .
I Liked your write up on the Old EXPRESSWAY DRIVE IN. I pulled off the interstate years ago to look over the old concessionstand/ Booth. I found a book of movie passes.Have them SOMEWHERE.
Yeah, When i Took Bev. to see Sailor at the Imperial, a theatre i got in free at we had her best friend with her from out of town with her fiance. Boy, did i have to apologize! Like OLIVER so much Bought the Soundtrack.
THE MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC is about the Size of the novel WAR&PEACE so it is quite big and heavy. I found mine along with another that i GAVE to a friend in TAmpa. Found them in the City Managers office in the old MILLER THEATRE, Augusta.
For the record Chief James Beck. Central casting “In the Heat Of The Night.”
I remember clearly even though i was not working at the theatres when CLOCKWORK ORANGE was not allow to play in Augusta, Chief Beck the type of Southern law enforcer you see in movies made it clear in the paper that if it Played at THE IMPERIAL he would raid the theatre. My question is how did the ART theatre get away with the trash they were showing, And the Miller playing MIDNIGHT COWBOY and WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A NAKED LADY? Both X rated.
I only saw the R rated Version ,so i don’t know what could have been in the X rated CLOCKWORK to get him so uptight. Heck, a buddy and myself had to drive to Athens ,Ga to see CLOCKWORK.
The rating system is voluntary anyway. I was sure to always bring that up to managers and they thought I was a smart ass. It just never made sense Joe Goode could play X just a few blocks down the Street while the IMPERIAL was given the riot Act!
1972 100 year snow strom hits Augusta with 13 inches of SNOW , Mr, Tinney not wanting to drive in the snow goes across the street to the Richmond Hotel. The movie playing PETE N' TILLIE. Every one else drives home.
When i was with ABC PLITT it was my job to call the figures in to Columbia,S.C. Some nights i don’t know why we even opened and this was before VHS and Video games,we had cable,but it wasn’t much. I still remember to this day the phone numbers of NATIONAL HILLs and the IMPERIAl..738-4588 and 722-1866!