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ill iiil-' * Town Tht By PEERS TORDAY Staff Writer It began as a tiny amateur stage society of just less than 20 players, performing its first productions on the stage at the old Columbia High School. The troupe had little money and virtually nothing in the way of scenery, costumes and lights. Now, 69 years later, the Town Theatre has grown into the oldest continually operating community theater in America. In 1919, Daniel A. Reed, a young sergeant from Camp 1 An d n ai d a / I f r\ f r\ *? n r\ f b n jav^ivduu, uttiutu iu luuuu tut Columbia Stage Society to replace the touring Broadway shows and imports that had dwindled since the rise of the movie industry. Reed, a professional Broadway director, steered his tiny group from stage to stage in the first year, in the search for a "real theater." Best Pictur |jI Academy W Awards ft Nominees for Best Picture By STEPHEN BROWN Staff Writer All five movies nominated for Be^t Picture Academy Awards are currently playing in Columbia, so audiences can now decide for themselves what film is truly deserving. From these distinguished motion pictures, audiences can learn that: nothing is what it seems, a man does not need a medal to have honS Save" 2 At P I Dinner only, $ IprjExaEE bdl 634 Har I * 3, 6 OR 7 NIC FROM ONLY.** 49% ^ACJuhAmeric Vacations Prices are per person and are valid March 1-31, 1! details fJMf HR'U :atre has Their first play, "The Mislez Lady," was presented on the tially burned stage of a theater by Oct. 16, 1920, the society moved into the old Sloan hous Sumter Street, refitted to conti stage, dressing rooms, backs area and auditorium seating 300. The slightly ramshackle s lasted tor 4V productions unti building was torn down. The Society wasted no time on Dec. 18, 1924, they opene< new fireproof building with a duction of "The Torch Bear The building at 1012 Sumter ! interesting in its own right a example of 1920s architec Because of limited construe and tight funding, not many b ings of the period remain. In this historically regist building, the Columbia Societ) e nominee or, people have charged emo beneath outward manners, li like a dance to be savored, killing a man is not as easy looks in the movies. "The Crying Game" This film can probably take prize for the most bizarre non ever. A combination of Butterfly" and a good Tom C novel with twists and turns a certain uncomfortable feeling ; it all, "Game" is the most pair witty romantic thriller of n years. Actor Stephen Rae lends a tie, ironic performance as an terrorist with a heart of gold befriends one of his host (played by Forest Whittaker), Bucks or ug's in 5 ] 4.00 minimum, bever< I PUG'S IN FIVE POINTS Good times & Great foot 'den Street, Five Points HOC !hts / \ * Hotel Accc J Depar \ * Friendly / foi 3 ^ 3 B&A J93. Space is limited & prices are subject to capai . Air travel via AeroCancun. Some hotels may rec wa inner for Two regula gratuity will be adde idue Restaur; hts Weekly from 5:00 p.m. oths & Semi Private Rooms Avai Car* BP lonff-runrii tding remained, never missing a seas par- Their closest call was soon al .But the official opening with the on had of the Great Depression. Th ;e on inspiration, determination and co ain a munity spirit helped them surv itage the experience. ; for The Town Theatre suffer >etup another blow when a group of d 1 the illusioned "Townies" broke av to form the Workshop Theater. 1 , and split has worked well, since et i the theater provides different types pro- plays. ers." Many illustrious people h? St. is passed through the theater's doc is an Dancer Martha Graham made ture. debut there. Poet Carl Sandbi ;tio.n read there before he becai uild- famous. Violinist Efrem Zimba played there, and Elear ered Roosevelt was photographed on / has steps. ss educate ai tions after Whittaker's death, Rae se fe is out the London beauty Whitta and left behind. as it Newcomer Jaye Davidson pi this mysterious femme fat whose complex mind and body 5 the both fully developed. A story ainee troubled conscience and soul-fil "M. romance, this is definitely a filir lancy see before the Oscar show, beca md a its secrets may inevitably be gi about away. ifully "A Few Good Men"* jcent This movie is fueled by the ; power of Jack, Tom and De sub- along with an electric script ba IRA on a popular play. In the tradit L He of the Cruise formula, he i; ages cocky,'good lawyer who lives and the shadow of his father's succt \ Dinner GH Points. iges not included. -799-1225 _J mrt 'Ill ~T - 1 SXZflCE I AMERICA VACATIONS INCLUDE: m-stop, Roundtrip Air Travel from Atlanta )mmodations Roundtrip Airport/Hotel Tram ture Tax & INS Fee Hotel Taxes and Gratu , Knowledgeable Destination Representativ =1 RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL... Travel Service...803-256-0547 ks from University of South Carolii city controls and blackout dates. See operator/participant con luire and security deposit. 0 OffN nner r Two rly $32.90. One offer per d to the original bill. lnt 731-8500 ilable 1^10 Colonial Life Blvd., We: Dlina! pass ing history on. Many of the Town Theatre's "ter directors have gone on to bigger set and better things, such as Delbert eir Mann, who won an Academy m- Award in 1955 for his film ive "Marty" and has also directed several successful TV shows, ed The Theatre's membership has lis- grown from 18 to 4,000. On this /ay 20th anniversary in 1939, The Tie State's drama critic Brooks ich Atkinson wrote, "Nine-hundred of eighty years from now, I hope the Town Theatre is a thousand years ive old." >rs. The next production at the fown her Theatre is the romantic comedy jrg "Pillow Talk," based on the Doris me Day and Rock Hudson film. It will list run March 12-27 at 8 p.m. lor Admission is S8 for students. For its more information or reservations, call 799-2510. udiences on 1 eks es and is intimidated by a woman ker who understands his slick act. The drama involves the question of perays sonal motivations versus following ale orders in the military, are Nicholson is the personification of of an evil good-old boy system that lied sometimes works and sometimes t to does not. The courtroom scenes are use some of die best in movie history, ven and Cruise's maturity as an actor is evident as he is confronted with tough challenges, star "Howards End" This m i f i lm i c r\ ti /"? oHontotmn mi, nun id a lyntai, [A/tut auapiauuu sed of an E.M. Forster novel by the ion team of Ismail Merchant and James s a Ivory who brought "A Room With in a View" to the screen several years jss- ago. T j $1.00 off Any Entree On Menu | Expires 3-31-93 Orlando's I Bar & Grill I 919 Sumter Street | All ABC Regulations Enforced i mrnmMnMwmaMim i ftUMitiiSM ; j ring is a wonderful ^ | expression of your if outstanding H achievement It II | represents, for years to |g come, the result of gg k your hard work and i k dedication throughout | % college. Now your ring ||H % is more affordable ppS v than ever. Take g advantage of a special | opportunity by attending the ring llfp showing at the location jlftlll :xl listed below. Guar< Monday, ] st ifiS %?.? 5 WsffllfXm I'llM fHI I mm i?; *^^3# mitsf % * ?M** j |* ' *3888888^ lg. *,*. ffllllllg ..~~. The Town Theatre at 1012 Si theatre in America. Plays have ife, love, ar The themes about collisions o class and temperament provide fo an intriguing English masterpiec* with an extraordinary cast includ ing Emma Thompson and Anthom Hopkins. Unfortunately, faithfulness to : Forster novel can translate into ; film not quite relevant to today' movie audience. Watching it is ; lot like visiting a museum. "Scent of a Woman" !/!] This film is A1 Pacino's master wuik, a siy, aiiceung Muiy auuui ? blind man who takes a student on ; weekend that will change his life. Chris O'Donnell plays Pacino': weekend guardian who gets mor< than he bargained for along th< ride. Pacino's near-suicidal tenden HAPPY BIR .1 en and . /S Our fav< and Ass ACHEVEMEN' REMEMBEREI .: Forever with ArtCarved Finest Quality * Fastest Delivery Lifetime Warranty Best Overall Va Guaranteed Lowest Prices inteed Low( February 22 thru l\ies 9am - 4pm SC Bookstore (Corner of Greene a ^ 11111 W imter St. is the oldest commercial been staged there since 1924. id conflict f cies mixed with his zest for life r and his weakness for beautiful 2 women whom he cannot see all - comprise a magnificent character / sketch nicely complemented by O'Donnell's innocence, a "Unforgiven" 1/2 a Clint Eastwood's film is a s Renaissance Western that transoos a es today's views on violence with the western genre known for its 1 body count. Eastwood teams up with Morgan Freeman to collect a the reward for avenging the brutalia ty afflicted upon a woman. Gene Hackman plays the sheriff who s despises these "men of low charac2 ter," but the tables turn when 2 everyone'sSrue personalities are - revealed. *+ * THDAY Kelly rite Elephant ist. Shutterbug 'he Gamecock ?1992 AntUrvcn ist Prices day, February 23 nd Main) 5? 2HI