Thanks for this video! I actually worked at this theater from 1993-1999, during the General Cinema years. I started out on the floor staff, and by the time I left, I was a manager, so I did literally every job there was to do EXCEPT projectionist. Believe me, I walked every INCH of this building. We projected in 35mm, had no stadium seating...and only half of the auditoriums were equipped for Dolby Surround. The other half were in mono, which I never understood, but apparently there were several GC theaters like that. Because of the neighborhood, we played quite a few movies that appealed to black audiences. I remember in PARTICULAR the first "Friday" with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, and "Love Jones" with Larenz Tate...we played those movies for what seemed like six months to a year, LONG after every other theater in town had stopped playing them. And people still came! It's so weird to see the Coca-Cola sign because General Cinema sold Pepsi products. I still live in the area and drive by it sometimes, and I think of my years there every time. It's such a shame to see what it's become.
I remember seeing many a movie here with my family back in the day. And yes, it was a General Cinemas theater. I remember my sister and i would always bounce around in our seats to the feature presentation intro (this was late 70's/ealy 80's GCC, with that really funky intro tune) it used to embarrass the hell out of my parents. 😂
@@nickpatrick1636 Many things that can be done about it. People need to talk and communicate. Look at the barbarian with the nose ring and rotten teeth in this video acting like he doesn't understand the situations we are all in.
I remember going to this theater. I remember the line being wrapped around it and down the road when Batman first came out. My dad letting me skip school and we walked to the theater and saw Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure lol
Found this information online...Opened by General Cinemas on July 14, 1978 with 4-screens. On June 22, 1990 it became the Columbia Place Cinemas 8. By 2006 it was part of the Phoenix Big Cinemas, later taken over by Regal. It was closed in 2011. It was reopened in Spring of 2012 and was last operated by an independent, lasting for only 6-months until final closure.
I have many fond memories of that theater growing up in Lugoff as a kid back in the early to mid 80's. Saw lots of big time movies there. Indiana Jones, the Star Wars Trilogy, Ghostbusters, etc. Good times. A shame to see it in such condition now.
Just to add some context. When I moved to SC in 88', this theater and the Columbia Mall were thriving. Unfortunately, we live in a throw away society and the retail giants on Decker Blvd decided to move up Two Notch to the Sand Hills area and killed half the traffic to this mall. They left the buildings standing and just abandoned the neighborhood. Then some young people from the old two notch area started shooting up the place and getting in fights and the crime went through the roof. Sears went bankrupt, Lake Carolina caused the SandHills to explode, and now it's a dead mall walking. But people don't go to malls like they did in the 80's anyway so the rest will probably die in the near future.
Yeah there was another general Cinema in White settlement that cement pad right there the old Toys R Us that was a general Cinema yeah the last movie I saw their City heat Burt Reynolds Clint Eastwood pretty good movie but what I heard was the building was torn down the owners got tired of paying the property taxes they were super high that's why one church that was going to take the old Toys R Us didn't but now it's going to be a Boot Barn and I think another business but I forget the name and last time I was through that area at Toys R Us sign facing the highway is still up
Wow that place is awesome I might have to stop by there one day and check it out before it gets too bad I'm only 2 hours from Columbia I live in upstate south carolina!💗
It's looking like Detroit gradually and yet a lot of people move to the Carolinas now..the problem is the rent prices aren't going down along with this epidemic of closed businesses.
We used to have a theater like that in Fetch away Washington It was a $2 theater and they changed it to a $3 theater 350 I mean And then they closed it but it was around for decades in decades I thought I just say was really cool they have that was really fun to go to you and the food was cheaper than the regular theaters too and so it takes so many Saturdays Hope you are doing well
One Of The 3-Theatres in My Hometown ALMOST Went in The Same Direction... Til' They Renovated It & Added Pleather Recliners, Nachos🍟& Alcohol Options (Wine🍷/Beer🍺) I Haven't Been Back Since, As Ticket🎟& Popcorn🍿Prices Increased Due To It; With EVEN FEWER Candy🍪Options! So I For One Prefer Streaming.
Looks like there's a movie poster still hanging to the far left of the counter. Couldn't make out what movie it was for, but it had to be one of the last ones played there.
Thanks for this video! I actually worked at this theater from 1993-1999, during the General Cinema years. I started out on the floor staff, and by the time I left, I was a manager, so I did literally every job there was to do EXCEPT projectionist. Believe me, I walked every INCH of this building. We projected in 35mm, had no stadium seating...and only half of the auditoriums were equipped for Dolby Surround. The other half were in mono, which I never understood, but apparently there were several GC theaters like that. Because of the neighborhood, we played quite a few movies that appealed to black audiences. I remember in PARTICULAR the first "Friday" with Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, and "Love Jones" with Larenz Tate...we played those movies for what seemed like six months to a year, LONG after every other theater in town had stopped playing them. And people still came! It's so weird to see the Coca-Cola sign because General Cinema sold Pepsi products. I still live in the area and drive by it sometimes, and I think of my years there every time. It's such a shame to see what it's become.
I remember seeing many a movie here with my family back in the day. And yes, it was a General Cinemas theater. I remember my sister and i would always bounce around in our seats to the feature presentation intro (this was late 70's/ealy 80's GCC, with that really funky intro tune) it used to embarrass the hell out of my parents. 😂
Very sad to see theaters just rot like this 🥴😥 it looks like a cool place at one time... Thanks Wallie 👍💜
Shame people have to vandalize and break stuff. Love the retro look inside, thanks for sharing Wallie 👍 👊
Nothing you can do about it
Good thing we'll create fundraising campaigns to save it and restore it to its former glory.
@@nickpatrick1636 Many things that can be done about it. People need to talk and communicate. Look at the barbarian with the nose ring and rotten teeth in this video acting like he doesn't understand the situations we are all in.
My son and I went past that when we went to the mall 4 years ago 😢. It looked like something out of the 80s.
You should do a video on the abandoned Circuit City and Kids R US buildings right across from the Columbia Place Mall.
I used to go to this movie theater often on daycare trips years ago. I miss it being open.
Wow! Love the huge Coca-Cola signage inside especially with the Coke and Sprite bottles, that's cool! 🙂
I remember going to this theater. I remember the line being wrapped around it and down the road when Batman first came out. My dad letting me skip school and we walked to the theater and saw Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure lol
Found this information online...Opened by General Cinemas on July 14, 1978 with 4-screens. On June 22, 1990 it became the Columbia Place Cinemas 8. By 2006 it was part of the Phoenix Big Cinemas, later taken over by Regal. It was closed in 2011. It was reopened in Spring of 2012 and was last operated by an independent, lasting for only 6-months until final closure.
Thanks for this info
Oh you got it! Awesome! I forgot to do the theater when I was at the mall a few months ago. The place is an absolute mess.
Before you even look through the window of this place, you can see that part of that blue facade is bent pretty badly
I’m not a Coca Cola fan, but that huge sign above the snack area would be awesome.
Good video! Sad to see these old movie theaters going and rotting away! Must have been quite a place at one time! I remember General Cinemas theaters.
I have many fond memories of that theater growing up in Lugoff as a kid back in the early to mid 80's. Saw lots of big time movies there. Indiana Jones, the Star Wars Trilogy, Ghostbusters, etc. Good times. A shame to see it in such condition now.
i used to love going to that cinema when I was younger. sandhills ruined it
Just to add some context. When I moved to SC in 88', this theater and the Columbia Mall were thriving. Unfortunately, we live in a throw away society and the retail giants on Decker Blvd decided to move up Two Notch to the Sand Hills area and killed half the traffic to this mall. They left the buildings standing and just abandoned the neighborhood. Then some young people from the old two notch area started shooting up the place and getting in fights and the crime went through the roof. Sears went bankrupt, Lake Carolina caused the SandHills to explode, and now it's a dead mall walking. But people don't go to malls like they did in the 80's anyway so the rest will probably die in the near future.
Facts. Columbia was better without "Northeast"
Goodvideo another abandoned movie theater before Covid in the past it used to be rare to see a abandoned movie theater.
Awesome Keep Up Making Good Video Hope You Have a Awesome Day.
Saw Rocky III there with my Dad in 1982. Great memory.
Could you see any movie posters inside there to see what the last movie was played there? Anyway cool video keep up the good work.
I saw back to the future there in 1985
As always great video. 👍
Is there popcorn still in the snack bar?? Wonder how long that's been in there.😂.
GReat video thanks for sharing this one wallie awesome video :D
Awesome Wallie
Yeah there was another general Cinema in White settlement that cement pad right there the old Toys R Us that was a general Cinema yeah the last movie I saw their City heat Burt Reynolds Clint Eastwood pretty good movie but what I heard was the building was torn down the owners got tired of paying the property taxes they were super high that's why one church that was going to take the old Toys R Us didn't but now it's going to be a Boot Barn and I think another business but I forget the name and last time I was through that area at Toys R Us sign facing the highway is still up
Great video. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day.
I miss those old theater looks
It is hurting poor movies awesome wallie see on the next
Keep up with the great content bro these videos have been awesome 👍
Wow that place is awesome I might have to stop by there one day and check it out before it gets too bad I'm only 2 hours from Columbia I live in upstate south carolina!💗
I was here, security told me to leave lol
You really shouldn't. All around this and the mall aren't safe any longer
We in south carolina have buildings.. that die. And ita a shame.
It's looking like Detroit gradually and yet a lot of people move to the Carolinas now..the problem is the rent prices aren't going down along with this epidemic of closed businesses.
Great video!
I like this new video wallieb26
Cool video man
I saw fellowship of the ring there... back then it was this theater, polo road, or the one by walmart
We used to have a theater like that in Fetch away Washington It was a $2 theater and they changed it to a $3 theater 350 I mean And then they closed it but it was around for decades in decades I thought I just say was really cool they have that was really fun to go to you and the food was cheaper than the regular theaters too and so it takes so many Saturdays Hope you are doing well
I went to that movie theater twice. The last time I went to that theater is when Freddy vs Jason came out
Juke Joint Jezebel 🎸🎶
One Of The 3-Theatres in
My Hometown ALMOST
Went in The Same Direction...
Til' They Renovated It & Added
Pleather Recliners, Nachos🍟&
Alcohol Options (Wine🍷/Beer🍺)
I Haven't Been Back Since,
As Ticket🎟& Popcorn🍿Prices
Increased Due To It; With
EVEN FEWER Candy🍪Options!
So I For One Prefer Streaming.
I'm pretty sure I saw E.T. there. I know I saw Superman 3 there. Maybe one or two other movies.
I always enjoy your videos
Wallie my town movie theater never open back up after 2020😢
It won't stay that way forever, we'll do fundraising campaigns to save it and feature rereleases of classic movies.
I bet the roof is leaking bad in that place if you can smell mold that bad from yards away…
Looks like there's a movie poster still hanging to the far left of the counter. Couldn't make out what movie it was for, but it had to be one of the last ones played there.
Hi wahliie I went to the movie to went see the Mario movie on April 5
Security will tell you to leave if you hang outside. I been here.
Hey are you still doing some videos with the others I have seem in your videos or did you branch out on your own
Went there in the 80's
You should put a auto bot Simo on the bee friend
I live by a hurtling place by me and it looks bad inside of the theater where I am living at
Wallie when ya gonna do any fro. Texas again??
I wish you could have zoomed in to the bottom of the stairs.
I got a family member who lives in Columbia SC
where's the bee friend?
It would go been. Cool to get inside there
Won’t be long till this is demolished
Nah they'll just let it rot. They are letting all kinds of shit rot in that NE side of town and some around Bush River also looks bad.
It's a dirty rotten shame people have the bust abandoned buildings the police should be driving by as they are doing it that would be hilarious
GENERAL CINEMA SUPREMACY