New Shoals Theatre Sign

will they remove the old letters?

Good Question, Monster.

I have an older copy of this book--I think the Shoals is on the front cover of the 1st edition. I highly recommend it to area movie buffs.

if they do remove them, they need to store them so whenever they want to go semi-retro, they can just restore the originals, rather than have to start from scratch.

I'm glad they have done this. I have fond memories of the Shoals Theater and the drive-ins in the area. Is that book available locally like at BAM? I sure would like to buy it.

I'm not sure. Amazon has this edition (1995). I think mine is from 1988 or '89.

I mentioned movie buffs in my previous post, but anyone interested in Shoals area history should love it.

What are they planning on doing with the Shoals Theater?

quote:

I'm glad they have done this. I have fond memories of the Shoals Theater and the drive-ins in the area. Is that book available locally like at BAM? I sure would like to buy it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/FIRST-EDITION-HARDCOVER-BOOK-W-DJ-M...tem#ebayphotohosting

The Zodiac purchased it, but I think they are going to let other groups use it.

I have many fond memories of the Shoals Theater. I think I just about saw all of the Disney movies there when I was a kid. My mother and I would first go down to the City Drug store for a hot dog and a coke and then walk up to the Shoals Theater to see Snow White or whatever was playing.

I think the last movie I ever saw there was one of the Herbie the Love Bug pictures.

they did take the letters down! it looks great!

I want to come down there and see it all lit up....... Another piece of history changing but it looks like a pretty change....

quote:

Originally posted by ace1965:
I have many fond memories of the Shoals Theater. I think I just about saw all of the Disney movies there when I was a kid. My mother and I would first go down to the City Drug store for a hot dog and a coke and then walk up to the Shoals Theater to see Snow White or whatever was playing.


I have the same great memories. I'm thrilled with the sign. Now we need to get busy finding a home for the old Coca-Cola neon sign.
I think the last movie I ever saw there was one of the Herbie the Love Bug pictures.

Do they have many events there anymore?

Falcon, the last movie I saw there was Meatballs with Bill Murray. I had just turned 14 and got to go on a "group date" with some other boys and girls. Wow, holding hands in the dark! Yep, lots of happy movie-going memories were made at that theater. So glad to see that it's not going to be erased like so many other great historic places tend to be.

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Originally posted by Top Down Beemer:
Falcon, the last movie I saw there was Meatballs with Bill Murray. I had just turned 14 and got to go on a "group date" with some other boys and girls. Wow, holding hands in the dark! Yep, lots of happy movie-going memories were made at that theater. So glad to see that it's not going to be erased like so many other great historic places tend to be.

The last one that I distinctly remember seeing was Herbie the Love Bug with Dean Jones. I was only 13 or so, but I had my very first makeout session (I didn't know what the heck I was doing, so it didn't get very far). I'm so excited that the sign is back up. I wanted to stop in the street last night and salute it.

quote:

Originally posted by falcon1234:

quote:

Originally posted by ace1965:
I have many fond memories of the Shoals Theater. I think I just about saw all of the Disney movies there when I was a kid. My mother and I would first go down to the City Drug store for a hot dog and a coke and then walk up to the Shoals Theater to see Snow White or whatever was playing.


I have the same great memories. I'm thrilled with the sign. Now we need to get busy finding a home for the old Coca-Cola neon sign.
I think the last movie I ever saw there was one of the Herbie the Love Bug pictures.

Falcon, I'm going to start a Coca-Cola sign topic...

I just noticed the article stated the original sign came down in the early 70s. I know the theatre closed in 1980 (American Gigilo was the last movie shown there) and I thought the sign was up until then. Anyone else remember?

Top Down, that's exactly the last movie that I saw there also. I took my brother to see Meatballs with Bill Murray. Maybe we were at the same showing. Does anyone remember the Kurt Russell movies that Disney made in the 70s. Certainly not like the teenagers of today.

I saw American Gigilo there in 1980 - what a blast. I seem to remember the sign from my earlier days - if supposedly came down in 1973. Get out and go see the new one. It is fantastic and is exactly as I remember it. What a wonderful gift to the City. Now, we need to get the old Coca-Cola sign out and running.

I know this is a little off topic, but speaking of old theaters, what was the name of the one that used to be in the strip mall on Darby Drive? I remember seeing Song of the South there and then later, the first Star Wars movie. I know it closed, then was converted into a pool hall for a while cause I went there to shoot pool once but have no idea what, if anything, it is now. Does anyone else remember that theater???

It was called the Martin. It had two screens and was nice when built in the early 70s (I think). I remember seeing a lot of movies there in that era. I understand it became extremely run down before it closed. When the current owners (think it's still Carmike) bought out Fairlane-Litchfield, they had a monopoly and didn't need it any more. Now the F/L is closed.

I saw Jaws at the Martin Theatre on Darby Drive.

I second the vote on bringing back the Coca Cola sign and how about the WOWL owl? Too bad they changed the call sign.

Found this write up about the Martin on CinemaTreasures.org:

The Martin Theatre opened at the Grant Plaza shopping center on Friday, December 4, 1970. The theatre was the first automated theatre in the Shoals. This allowed the projectionist to press a button to start the movies and the automation equipment would dim the auditorium lights and start the show.

The theatre featured Xetron lamp houses. The screen size for cinemascope was 15 feet by 35 feet and the size for normal features (flat widescreen) was 15 feet by 28 feet. Helen Slay was the first manager of the location and Warren Carswell was the city manager for Martin Theatres.

This theatre became a Carmike theatre on October 25, 1985, along with the Capri 4 and Cinema Twin Theatres. The Martin's last night of business was on June 9, 1988.
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I too remember seeing lots of movies there during the 70's and early 80's. I remember seeing Blackbeard's Ghost and I think Swiss Family Robinson there. Didn't they do that with family movies there sometimes? I know that Swiss Family Robinson and Blackbeard's Ghost both came out before I was old enough to go see movies, but I remember seeing both on the big screen and I want to say it was there at the Martin. Anybody else who's "of an age" remember that?

quote:

Originally posted by Top Down Beemer:
Found this write up about the Martin on CinemaTreasures.org:

The Martin Theatre opened at the Grant Plaza shopping center on Friday, December 4, 1970. The theatre was the first automated theatre in the Shoals. This allowed the projectionist to press a button to start the movies and the automation equipment would dim the auditorium lights and start the show.

The theatre featured Xetron lamp houses. The screen size for cinemascope was 15 feet by 35 feet and the size for normal features (flat widescreen) was 15 feet by 28 feet. Helen Slay was the first manager of the location and Warren Carswell was the city manager for Martin Theatres.

This theatre became a Carmike theatre on October 25, 1985, along with the Capri 4 and Cinema Twin Theatres. The Martin's last night of business was on June 9, 1988.
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I too remember seeing lots of movies there during the 70's and early 80's. I remember seeing Blackbeard's Ghost and I think Swiss Family Robinson there. Didn't they do that with family movies there sometimes? I know that Swiss Family Robinson and Blackbeard's Ghost both came out before I was old enough to go see movies, but I remember seeing both on the big screen and I want to say it was there at the Martin. Anybody else who's "of an age" remember that?

This is really memory day . . .
I saw Jaws and the first Halloween movie there. My girlfriend and I were terrified! Now, you laugh at the special effects when you see them on cable. We also saw Kramer v. Kramer and we both cried. The irony is that she later became my wife of 20+ years and is now my former wife. You guys are really bringing back memories.

Falcon, in spite of the whole former wife thing, I hope they are good memories you are re-living.

Meeeeeeee Toooooo Falcon, hey it happens to the best of us

The Shoals Community Theatre (whose board also oversees the Zodiac and Gingerbread boards/operations) purchased the Shoals Theatre. The lettering ('SHOALS') that was on the marquee has been removed and has been stored. A decision on exactly what to do with those has not been made as of yet.

For the time being, if not indefinitely, the Zodiac Theatre will be maintained (by Shoals Community Theatre) as a rehearsal facility...and plans are in the works to possibly 're-open' it as Shoals 'Little' Theatre...a 'Black Box Theatre' type of setup...OR, at the least, used as a smaller-type venue offering for rental by the public.

The Shoals Theatre will close for a yet-to-be-determined period of time this summer for renovations. Some of the changes that are being discussed include expanding the stage out another 30+ft, completely remodeling the lobby and concession area and converting the balcony into a 'VIP' type setup with the classic half-moon, high-backed booth seating w/round tables, etc...and, of course, installing a first class sound/lighting system.

The Shoals Theatre is and will always continue to be available for rental by the public. As well, it will also be the permanent home of the Zodiac and Gingerbread Players.

The new sign (which is an exact replica of the original) is just the first phase of renovations/improvements that will be made in the coming months.

Also, the new website for the Shoals Theatre will be live in a few weeks. You will now be able to purchase tickets online, volunteer, donate, etc....

-any questions or rental inquiries can be sent to info@shoalstheatre.com

Aah, childhood in the early and mid 60s! All those Disney movies, shopping at Rogers and eating at Trowbridges and Starkeys before or after the movie. Crying at Dumbo and Bambi. Being at Kay's shoes when the man used the foot measuring machine for my new Buster Brown's. Riding the mule wagon from a neighbor's home to the gin in St. Joe and my grandmother seeing me on the street and spanking me for doing something "dangerous" and taking me home! Buying school supplies at McClellans! The sheriff "Hoot" Gibson coming to politick at my grandparents' house. . . and me awed by his gun and badge! Spending afternoons with my grandfather at Miss Annie's with the cronies talking both Alabama and Tennessee Democratic politics.

Neal, you need to post this again in the I'm so old thread!!! It was great!!

I take it that others bought their shoes at Kaye's and ate at Starkey's and bought school supplies at McClellans!
I still call 43 "The New Highway" and was heartbroken when The Shanty closed. I liked to hear the chickens in the coop out back. I can remember my greatgrandfather's smoke house's smell of smoke and salt and hams hanging at the homeplace at Peppertown . . . and of crying when Dumbo's mother was separated from him at the Shoals! I've been to a baptizing at Shellrock on Blue Water and to one in Hurricane Creek and recall watching the Watergate hearings all summer as a boy, stringing beans and shelling peas and silking corn! Then seeing The Poseidon Adventure at the Shoals Theatre.

Did anyone ever go to the old drive in in St. Joe? I remember seeing Bonnie and Clyde there and not understanding it!

i drove by the theatre tonight. The sign is terrific!

congrats!

See thecatfishwrapper.com to see Randy Pettis announcing the new sign.

DF

quote:

Originally posted by Neal Hughes:
Aah, childhood in the early and mid 60s! All those Disney movies, shopping at Rogers and eating at Trowbridges and Starkeys before or after the movie. Crying at Dumbo and Bambi. Being at Kay's shoes when the man used the foot measuring machine for my new Buster Brown's. Riding the mule wagon from a neighbor's home to the gin in St. Joe and my grandmother seeing me on the street and spanking me for doing something "dangerous" and taking me home! Buying school supplies at McClellans! The sheriff "Hoot" Gibson coming to politick at my grandparents' house. . . and me awed by his gun and badge! Spending afternoons with my grandfather at Miss Annie's with the cronies talking both Alabama and Tennessee Democratic politics.

Your left out the candy counter at Sears and the eccentric elevator at JC Penney (Now PSI). Those were truly good memories . . .
My family was downtown every Friday night.

quote:

Originally posted by falcon1234:

Your left out the candy counter at Sears and the eccentric elevator at JC Penney (Now PSI). Those were truly good memories . . .
My family was downtown every Friday night.

Oh, gosh, I DO remember the candy counter at Sears and my grandfather buying me a little white bag of coconut haystacks there! He died when I was very young so thanks for helping bring back a very good memory of those happy days. It's truly amazing what little gems you find in the recesses of your mind when you least expect it!

quote:

take it that others bought their shoes at Kaye's and ate at Starkey's and bought school supplies at McClellans!
I still call 43 "The New Highway" and was heartbroken when The Shanty closed. I liked to hear the chickens in the coop out back. I can remember my greatgrandfather's smoke house's smell of smoke and salt and hams hanging at the homeplace at Peppertown . . . and of crying when Dumbo's mother was separated from him at the Shoals! I've been to a baptizing at Shellrock on Blue Water and to one in Hurricane Creek and recall watching the Watergate hearings all summer as a boy, stringing beans and shelling peas and silking corn! Then seeing The Poseidon Adventure at the Shoals Theatre.

I guess not many know where "shellrock" is. In case anyone is wondering, it is below the "sinks".

not only the candy counter at Sears, but also the hot cashews, that made having to wear Toughskins almost bearable. Sparky's in Tuscumbia, although it is still there, also brings back fond memories. Oh yea, one other thing, buying the new Matchbox cars when they came in at Timberlakes.....

quote:

Originally posted by 56degreesnorth:
not only the candy counter at Sears, but also the hot cashews, that made having to wear Toughskins almost bearable. Sparky's in Tuscumbia, although it is still there, also brings back fond memories. Oh yea, one other thing, buying the new Matchbox cars when they came in at Timberlakes.....

While we're on the subject of memories . . . am I the only guy who remembers the first time I went to the Smokehouse on Tessessee Street? It was 30 years ago last week. Some friends and I skipped lunch from Coffee High School and went down there. My som is naive enough to think that I don't know he skips lunch at FHS to go down there now. The more things change, the more they remain the same. Sometimes, all we have is our collection of memories.