he USDA has several grants to help fund small towns across America. This is in place to help farmers and other agricultural based towns survive, especially when BIG businesses were telling them to join or get out of the business. Having just spoken to USDA official Robert Lyons this week, I understand why these grants are so critical to the main street town businesses that need help to renovate and update HVAC and other systems to save money and keep them in business.
More information can be found at: https://thearcadiaproject.org/
where a description of the new 93-seat movie theater, a conference/event center, classrooms, and a café are described. The Visulite Theater in Staunton has been the only movie theater in town for a while and is supporting the efforts to get the new space launched to aid in a downtown revival.
The name of the theatre is currently the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center. There are now 540 seats in the auditorium, an African American culture museum, a rotating gallery, and an additional multi-purpose room for events. They are also screening the Lyric Black Lens Film Series and Woodsongs, Old Time Radio Hour.
Since 2017, the theatre has been called the “ Historic Ritz Theatre at the Schaefer Center,” and has received the prestigious Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation from the GA Trust for Historic Preservation. The Historic Ritz now seats 392 patrons.
The other 4 screens are in an additional building in back of the theater. If one travels to the hallway on the left side of the main auditorium, there are signs directing patrons out the back door and into the other smaller theaters.
The Saluda Theater is in great shape and is open! It now seats 274 patrons, and is home to the Saluda Players, a live community theater group. It sits directly across from the county courthouse.
The Palmetto Theatre opened in 1949, and closed in 1966, with the building used for other businesses for 50 years. 6 people joined together to purchase the building and have renovated and reopened the Palmetto, replacing the missing theater blad sign and now seating 140 patrons in a space that is used for movies as well as live performance. Their website is: https://palmettowalnutcove.com/calendar-of-events-at-the-palmetto/
I photographed the Times Theater, as it is now referred to, in May 2024 and it is alive and going strong! Here is their website: https://thetimestheater.com/. A beauty of a small town theater, it looked well loved and very active!
Stopped at the New Castle Playhouse and found the venue and the folks working there to be passionate about live theater. They have done tons of work to keep it viable and alive.
New information regarding the theatre architect from the Manager:
“We have an article about the opening of the building from the August 5, 1948 edition of the Herald-Progress that states: “The building was designed by Bernard Spiegel of Norfolk and built by J. Kennon Perrin Co. of Ashland and Richmond, assisted by N.W. Martin and Bro with the air conditioning and heating; L. E. McAllister of Richmond all brick work, Electrical Service of Ashland, all wiring and light fixtures, J. B. Halbleib and Son of Ashland, All plumbing and fixtures.”
Here is more information on Bernard Spiegel: https://hamptonroadscf.org/stories/enid-w-and-bernard-b-spigel-architectural-scholarship-fund
The theater has reopened and seats 220 in two auditoriums for a total of 440. It is owned by the same family that runs a local restaurant, Alburritos Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar.
The theater just a few steps away from the Booker T was the Manhattan Theatre and is now known as the Ritz. The building in between the two was torn down, and that may explain the renumbering of the theater address. Also, Main street is literally within viewing distance of the address on E. Thomas, as it is one block away.
The owners of the West have added two more small screens upstairs that seat 40 people each, bringing the seating capacity now to 336 with two screens below seating 128 each in the two downstairs theatres. They listed the original seating as around 400 but not sure if that included the balcony, which was unused for a time. the original stage and dressing rooms are behind the old screen which is covered up at this time, but they are still intact. Thanks to John Dunn at the West Theatre for this information.
Locals tend to refer to this theatre as the Vic Theatre, which is how it is listed here on Cinema Treasures. Fox built another theatre in town in 1929, and perhaps they did own the Orpheum for a while, but the historic property record does not show that. Here is a link to the State/National historic property record: https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI2226
Either way, it is a lovely example of an Art Deco facade!
I was inside of the Rodgers the week it was sold and being ‘renovated’ in 1990. It was in rough shape all around, but I certainly wish it could have been saved as well. (Especially the marquee!) Photos are what we have. I have a book that is being published by Bauer and Dean publishing for spring 2025 entitled: “America’s Hometown Movie Theaters: Please Remain Standing” which will have 3 photos of the Rodgers.
The Roxy was owned by W.A. Simons Amusement Co, which also built and ran the Wilma, in Missoula Montana. The company also owned the Go West Drive-In, and at one time other theaters. Billy Simons had married Edna Wilma Simons, and after Billy died,Edward Sharp married Edna, who ran the company. Eddie inherited the business after Edna passed away. Here is a website for their story: https://forgottenwilma.com/ Eddie Sharp also wrote a book on his experience of running the theaters and his “Chapel of the Dove” in the basement of the Wilma.
he USDA has several grants to help fund small towns across America. This is in place to help farmers and other agricultural based towns survive, especially when BIG businesses were telling them to join or get out of the business. Having just spoken to USDA official Robert Lyons this week, I understand why these grants are so critical to the main street town businesses that need help to renovate and update HVAC and other systems to save money and keep them in business.
Here is a story published about the USDA grant: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/2013/07/15/community-rallies-save-its-historic-theater
More information can be found at: https://thearcadiaproject.org/ where a description of the new 93-seat movie theater, a conference/event center, classrooms, and a café are described. The Visulite Theater in Staunton has been the only movie theater in town for a while and is supporting the efforts to get the new space launched to aid in a downtown revival.
The name of the theatre is currently the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center. There are now 540 seats in the auditorium, an African American culture museum, a rotating gallery, and an additional multi-purpose room for events. They are also screening the Lyric Black Lens Film Series and Woodsongs, Old Time Radio Hour.
The architectural firm that designed this theater was Schucker & Bixby, of Vincennes, Indiana.
Since 2017, the theatre has been called the “ Historic Ritz Theatre at the Schaefer Center,” and has received the prestigious Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation from the GA Trust for Historic Preservation. The Historic Ritz now seats 392 patrons.
Current seating listed as 729 on their website.
The other 4 screens are in an additional building in back of the theater. If one travels to the hallway on the left side of the main auditorium, there are signs directing patrons out the back door and into the other smaller theaters.
The Saluda Theater is in great shape and is open! It now seats 274 patrons, and is home to the Saluda Players, a live community theater group. It sits directly across from the county courthouse.
The Orpheum’s website states that the opening was in 1921. https://orpheumnola.net/home/about-the-orpheum/
Now known as the Wellington Regent Theatre at last check 11/28/2024.
The Palmetto Theatre opened in 1949, and closed in 1966, with the building used for other businesses for 50 years. 6 people joined together to purchase the building and have renovated and reopened the Palmetto, replacing the missing theater blad sign and now seating 140 patrons in a space that is used for movies as well as live performance. Their website is: https://palmettowalnutcove.com/calendar-of-events-at-the-palmetto/
I photographed the Times Theater, as it is now referred to, in May 2024 and it is alive and going strong! Here is their website: https://thetimestheater.com/. A beauty of a small town theater, it looked well loved and very active!
Stopped at the New Castle Playhouse and found the venue and the folks working there to be passionate about live theater. They have done tons of work to keep it viable and alive.
New information regarding the theatre architect from the Manager: “We have an article about the opening of the building from the August 5, 1948 edition of the Herald-Progress that states: “The building was designed by Bernard Spiegel of Norfolk and built by J. Kennon Perrin Co. of Ashland and Richmond, assisted by N.W. Martin and Bro with the air conditioning and heating; L. E. McAllister of Richmond all brick work, Electrical Service of Ashland, all wiring and light fixtures, J. B. Halbleib and Son of Ashland, All plumbing and fixtures.”
Here is more information on Bernard Spiegel: https://hamptonroadscf.org/stories/enid-w-and-bernard-b-spigel-architectural-scholarship-fund
The theater has reopened and seats 220 in two auditoriums for a total of 440. It is owned by the same family that runs a local restaurant, Alburritos Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar.
I just heard from a town resident that the theater is open! Here is their website: https://historicmonroetheatre.com/
The name of the hardware store was the S.S. Thomas Hardware store. the theater now seats 361 with the adaptations and updates.
The theater just a few steps away from the Booker T was the Manhattan Theatre and is now known as the Ritz. The building in between the two was torn down, and that may explain the renumbering of the theater address. Also, Main street is literally within viewing distance of the address on E. Thomas, as it is one block away.
The updated website for the Ashland Theatre is https://www.ashlandtheatre.org/
Correction for name of the first movie: it was “Three Sons O'Guns”.
The owners of the West have added two more small screens upstairs that seat 40 people each, bringing the seating capacity now to 336 with two screens below seating 128 each in the two downstairs theatres. They listed the original seating as around 400 but not sure if that included the balcony, which was unused for a time. the original stage and dressing rooms are behind the old screen which is covered up at this time, but they are still intact. Thanks to John Dunn at the West Theatre for this information.
Locals tend to refer to this theatre as the Vic Theatre, which is how it is listed here on Cinema Treasures. Fox built another theatre in town in 1929, and perhaps they did own the Orpheum for a while, but the historic property record does not show that. Here is a link to the State/National historic property record: https://wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI2226
Either way, it is a lovely example of an Art Deco facade!
I was inside of the Rodgers the week it was sold and being ‘renovated’ in 1990. It was in rough shape all around, but I certainly wish it could have been saved as well. (Especially the marquee!) Photos are what we have. I have a book that is being published by Bauer and Dean publishing for spring 2025 entitled: “America’s Hometown Movie Theaters: Please Remain Standing” which will have 3 photos of the Rodgers.
The Roxy was owned by W.A. Simons Amusement Co, which also built and ran the Wilma, in Missoula Montana. The company also owned the Go West Drive-In, and at one time other theaters. Billy Simons had married Edna Wilma Simons, and after Billy died,Edward Sharp married Edna, who ran the company. Eddie inherited the business after Edna passed away. Here is a website for their story: https://forgottenwilma.com/ Eddie Sharp also wrote a book on his experience of running the theaters and his “Chapel of the Dove” in the basement of the Wilma.