Albert Frederick Weis II recalled as 'cultural visionary'
Albert Frederick Weis II, came from a family of entertainers. When he retired in 1988, the third generation theatre-owner had left his mark on the entertainment industry in Savannah and a handful of Georgia communities.
Weis, 72, died at his home Wednesday evening after a year-long bout with cancer.
"He was a cultural visionary," said his son, Albert Weis III.
The native Savannahian graduated from Savannah High School in 1948.
After graduating from the University of Georgia, he returned home to work for his parents in their theater business. The Weis theatre chain – Weis Theater on Broughton Street, Savannah Theatre on Chippewa Square and the Victory Drive-in – was already in place.
The younger Weis looked southside and decided that was where Savannah would be moving. So he built a four-theatre complex at Abercorn Street and Largo Drive in the early 1960s.
"There was nothing out there," said Jerry Rogers, owner of WRHQ radio and Weis' business associate for 15 years.
"He was just an extremely bright man. He always seemed to have his finger around the pulse on how to do things," Rogers said.
In addition to his Savannah operations, Weis operated movie theaters in Statesboro, Atlanta, Augusta and Macon.
Rogers called Weis "one of the last independent theater magnates in the Southeast."
Weis' son said his father got out of the theater business in 1984, because of video tapes and deregulation.
His Weis Theatre on Broughton later became home to Savannah College of Art and Design's Trustee's Theatre.
He concentrated on radio stations WZAT-FM and WSGA-AM until 1988. Weis started WZAT-FM in 1971 as one of Savannah's first FM stations, Rogers recalled.
He also championed Savannah Theatre and Little Theatre, a community theatre, his son said.
"He gave to everybody," Weis said of his father.
Bobby Zarem, a native Savannahian turned New York-based film publicist, recalled a 50-year friendship with Weis and his wife, Patricia G. Weis.
"We shared an obsession, a fascination and love for movies," Zarem said. He recalled sitting around for hours talking about films with Weis and his wife.
Survivors: In addition to his wife are son, Albert Frederick Weis III; grandsons, Albert Frederick Weis IV and Sam Weis.
Savannah Morning News
Albert Frederick Weis II, came from a family of entertainers. When he retired in 1988, the third generation theatre-owner had left his mark on the entertainment industry in Savannah and a handful of Georgia communities.
Weis, 72, died at his home Wednesday evening after a year-long bout with cancer.
"He was a cultural visionary," said his son, Albert Weis III.
The native Savannahian graduated from Savannah High School in 1948.
After graduating from the University of Georgia, he returned home to work for his parents in their theater business. The Weis theatre chain – Weis Theater on Broughton Street, Savannah Theatre on Chippewa Square and the Victory Drive-in – was already in place.
The younger Weis looked southside and decided that was where Savannah would be moving. So he built a four-theatre complex at Abercorn Street and Largo Drive in the early 1960s.
"There was nothing out there," said Jerry Rogers, owner of WRHQ radio and Weis' business associate for 15 years.
"He was just an extremely bright man. He always seemed to have his finger around the pulse on how to do things," Rogers said.
In addition to his Savannah operations, Weis operated movie theaters in Statesboro, Atlanta, Augusta and Macon.
Rogers called Weis "one of the last independent theater magnates in the Southeast."
Weis' son said his father got out of the theater business in 1984, because of video tapes and deregulation.
His Weis Theatre on Broughton later became home to Savannah College of Art and Design's Trustee's Theatre.
He concentrated on radio stations WZAT-FM and WSGA-AM until 1988. Weis started WZAT-FM in 1971 as one of Savannah's first FM stations, Rogers recalled.
He also championed Savannah Theatre and Little Theatre, a community theatre, his son said.
"He gave to everybody," Weis said of his father.
Bobby Zarem, a native Savannahian turned New York-based film publicist, recalled a 50-year friendship with Weis and his wife, Patricia G. Weis.
"We shared an obsession, a fascination and love for movies," Zarem said. He recalled sitting around for hours talking about films with Weis and his wife.
Survivors: In addition to his wife are son, Albert Frederick Weis III; grandsons, Albert Frederick Weis IV and Sam Weis.
Savannah Morning News
Albert Frederick Weis II recalled as 'cultural visionary'
Albert Frederick Weis II, came from a family of entertainers. When he retired in 1988, the third generation theatre-owner had left his mark on the entertainment industry in Savannah and a handful of Georgia communities.
Weis, 72, died at his home Wednesday evening after a year-long bout with cancer.
"He was a cultural visionary," said his son, Albert Weis III.
The native Savannahian graduated from Savannah High School in 1948.
After graduating from the University of Georgia, he returned home to work for his parents in their theater business. The Weis theatre chain – Weis Theater on Broughton Street, Savannah Theatre on Chippewa Square and the Victory Drive-in – was already in place.
The younger Weis looked southside and decided that was where Savannah would be moving. So he built a four-theatre complex at Abercorn Street and Largo Drive in the early 1960s.
"There was nothing out there," said Jerry Rogers, owner of WRHQ radio and Weis' business associate for 15 years.
"He was just an extremely bright man. He always seemed to have his finger around the pulse on how to do things," Rogers said.
In addition to his Savannah operations, Weis operated movie theaters in Statesboro, Atlanta, Augusta and Macon.
Rogers called Weis "one of the last independent theater magnates in the Southeast."
Weis' son said his father got out of the theater business in 1984, because of video tapes and deregulation.
His Weis Theatre on Broughton later became home to Savannah College of Art and Design's Trustee's Theatre.
He concentrated on radio stations WZAT-FM and WSGA-AM until 1988. Weis started WZAT-FM in 1971 as one of Savannah's first FM stations, Rogers recalled.
He also championed Savannah Theatre and Little Theatre, a community theatre, his son said.
"He gave to everybody," Weis said of his father.
Bobby Zarem, a native Savannahian turned New York-based film publicist, recalled a 50-year friendship with Weis and his wife, Patricia G. Weis.
"We shared an obsession, a fascination and love for movies," Zarem said. He recalled sitting around for hours talking about films with Weis and his wife.
Survivors: In addition to his wife are son, Albert Frederick Weis III; grandsons, Albert Frederick Weis IV and Sam Weis.
Savannah Morning News
Albert Frederick Weis II, came from a family of entertainers. When he retired in 1988, the third generation theatre-owner had left his mark on the entertainment industry in Savannah and a handful of Georgia communities.
Weis, 72, died at his home Wednesday evening after a year-long bout with cancer.
"He was a cultural visionary," said his son, Albert Weis III.
The native Savannahian graduated from Savannah High School in 1948.
After graduating from the University of Georgia, he returned home to work for his parents in their theater business. The Weis theatre chain – Weis Theater on Broughton Street, Savannah Theatre on Chippewa Square and the Victory Drive-in – was already in place.
The younger Weis looked southside and decided that was where Savannah would be moving. So he built a four-theatre complex at Abercorn Street and Largo Drive in the early 1960s.
"There was nothing out there," said Jerry Rogers, owner of WRHQ radio and Weis' business associate for 15 years.
"He was just an extremely bright man. He always seemed to have his finger around the pulse on how to do things," Rogers said.
In addition to his Savannah operations, Weis operated movie theaters in Statesboro, Atlanta, Augusta and Macon.
Rogers called Weis "one of the last independent theater magnates in the Southeast."
Weis' son said his father got out of the theater business in 1984, because of video tapes and deregulation.
His Weis Theatre on Broughton later became home to Savannah College of Art and Design's Trustee's Theatre.
He concentrated on radio stations WZAT-FM and WSGA-AM until 1988. Weis started WZAT-FM in 1971 as one of Savannah's first FM stations, Rogers recalled.
He also championed Savannah Theatre and Little Theatre, a community theatre, his son said.
"He gave to everybody," Weis said of his father.
Bobby Zarem, a native Savannahian turned New York-based film publicist, recalled a 50-year friendship with Weis and his wife, Patricia G. Weis.
"We shared an obsession, a fascination and love for movies," Zarem said. He recalled sitting around for hours talking about films with Weis and his wife.
Survivors: In addition to his wife are son, Albert Frederick Weis III; grandsons, Albert Frederick Weis IV and Sam Weis.
Savannah Morning News
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