Was known as the Starlite for years – co-owned with the Pike Theater downtown. Closed up in the mid ‘80s, replaced by the Troy Marketplace retail strip.
The Starlite’s screen was repurposed for a giant Troy University billboard on US 231 north of town.
In the ‘70s, the Pike Theater was split into three screens - the main auditorium was twinned, with the balcony made into a third. Watching a movie up there was a miserable experience.
The Pike Triple was the only indoor theater in town until June 1998, when the Continental Cinema 5 opened on 231 north. The Pike closed up literally the night before. The Troy Police Department HQ now sits on this site.
Lived in Tupelo during much of the 1970s, grade-school years. Here’s some info for that era.
Back then the Malco chain out of Memphis owned all the theaters in Tupelo, except just one: the Lee “Movietown” Drive-In.
There were two other theaters not included:
1) MALL THEATER, opened ca. 1970. Single-screen venue located in the Tupelo Mall (now Gloster Creek Village). Probably closed in the ‘80s.
2) MALCO THEATER, on West Main. I want to say it was built in 1967 or 1968. A second screen was added in about 1975. All the Disney movies were shown at the Malco.
Old Malco: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bill+Williams+Sporting+Goods/Crest Theatre.257775,-88.723853,3a,75y,350.86h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7KcbF-mZ9d0bysxB7RLvWA!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xe1d1adfc4e7c0f8a!6m1!1e1
There’s an old Tupelo legend that Elvis had his first kiss in the Lyric Theater’s balcony. Can’t vouch for this, for obvious reasons, but there you go.
Either this, or one nearby it, began in about 1977 as the Tupelo Twin Cinema. (one of the first movies I saw at this theater was a two-bit indie flick called “Star Wars”)
Was known as the Starlite for years – co-owned with the Pike Theater downtown. Closed up in the mid ‘80s, replaced by the Troy Marketplace retail strip.
The Starlite’s screen was repurposed for a giant Troy University billboard on US 231 north of town.
In the ‘70s, the Pike Theater was split into three screens - the main auditorium was twinned, with the balcony made into a third. Watching a movie up there was a miserable experience.
The Pike Triple was the only indoor theater in town until June 1998, when the Continental Cinema 5 opened on 231 north. The Pike closed up literally the night before. The Troy Police Department HQ now sits on this site.
Lived in Tupelo during much of the 1970s, grade-school years. Here’s some info for that era.
Back then the Malco chain out of Memphis owned all the theaters in Tupelo, except just one: the Lee “Movietown” Drive-In.
There were two other theaters not included: 1) MALL THEATER, opened ca. 1970. Single-screen venue located in the Tupelo Mall (now Gloster Creek Village). Probably closed in the ‘80s.
2) MALCO THEATER, on West Main. I want to say it was built in 1967 or 1968. A second screen was added in about 1975. All the Disney movies were shown at the Malco.
Old Malco: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bill+Williams+Sporting+Goods/Crest Theatre.257775,-88.723853,3a,75y,350.86h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s7KcbF-mZ9d0bysxB7RLvWA!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xe1d1adfc4e7c0f8a!6m1!1e1
There’s an old Tupelo legend that Elvis had his first kiss in the Lyric Theater’s balcony. Can’t vouch for this, for obvious reasons, but there you go.
Either this, or one nearby it, began in about 1977 as the Tupelo Twin Cinema. (one of the first movies I saw at this theater was a two-bit indie flick called “Star Wars”)