The CENTER THEATRE of SALISBURY, N.C., had a lot of competition throughout the years. Other downtown theatres of SALISBURY included THE IRIS THEATRE (closed in 1929), THE VICTORY THEATRE (closed ini 1956) and THE CAPITOL THEATRE (closed in 1977). Amazingly, the small neighboring Rowan County towns of LANDIS, CHINA GROVE, SPENCER and ROCKWELL all had their own hardtops as well. DRIVE-IN THEATRES then boomed here in the late 1940s and early 1950s with the opening of THE HITCHING POST DRIVE-IN THEATRE (later named JOE’S DRIVE-IN THEATRE), THE SALISBURY DRIVE-IN THEATRE, and THE 601 DRIVE-IN THEATRE (name changed to THUNDERBIRD DRIVE-IN THEATRE in 1971). THE TERRACE THEATRE opened in TOWNE MALL in 1968. All of these theatres in SALISBURY / ROWAN COUNTY are now gone, except THE MERONEY (CENTER). Sad.
This theatre has a very long history and a number of name changes. It was the MERONEY, then the STRAND, then the STATE, then the CENTER, then the TOWNE CINEMA, and now is back to the MERONEY.
It opened as a theatre for live performances with motion pictures added in the 1920s, not the 1950s as stated above.
The STATE THEATRE in STATESVILLE, N.C., opened in 1940 and closed April 23, 1961. The final feature shown was THE MILLIONAIRESS starring Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers. The site was taken over by an expansion of SPAINHOURS and THREE SISTERS DRESS SHOP.
There was also the CRESCENT THEATRE in downtown Statesville from the mid-1920s until early 1950s.
My family owned and operated the two drive-theaters. VILLA HEIGHTS opened in 1948. We operated it until 1960, when we leased it to STATESVILLE THEATRE. HILLCREST opened in 1949. We closed it in 1959.
I was projectionist at the NEWTOWNE in 1969. It was owned and operated by STATESVILLE THEATRE CORPORATION, who later sold it STEWART-EVERETTE THEATRES.
When it was a single house, it had dual carbon arc projectors. The platters probably replaced the original equipment when they twinned (and ruined) the theater.
The STATE THEATRE in STATESVILLE, N.C., opened in 1940 and closed April 23, 1961. The final feature shown was THE MILLIONAIRESS starring Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers.
The CENTER THEATRE of SALISBURY, N.C., had a lot of competition throughout the years. Other downtown theatres of SALISBURY included THE IRIS THEATRE (closed in 1929), THE VICTORY THEATRE (closed ini 1956) and THE CAPITOL THEATRE (closed in 1977). Amazingly, the small neighboring Rowan County towns of LANDIS, CHINA GROVE, SPENCER and ROCKWELL all had their own hardtops as well. DRIVE-IN THEATRES then boomed here in the late 1940s and early 1950s with the opening of THE HITCHING POST DRIVE-IN THEATRE (later named JOE’S DRIVE-IN THEATRE), THE SALISBURY DRIVE-IN THEATRE, and THE 601 DRIVE-IN THEATRE (name changed to THUNDERBIRD DRIVE-IN THEATRE in 1971). THE TERRACE THEATRE opened in TOWNE MALL in 1968. All of these theatres in SALISBURY / ROWAN COUNTY are now gone, except THE MERONEY (CENTER). Sad.
This theatre has a very long history and a number of name changes. It was the MERONEY, then the STRAND, then the STATE, then the CENTER, then the TOWNE CINEMA, and now is back to the MERONEY.
It opened as a theatre for live performances with motion pictures added in the 1920s, not the 1950s as stated above.
There was also the I-77 DRIVE-IN THEATER in Statesville. It opened in the early 1970s. (Difficult to believe anyone would build a drive-in that late.)
The STATE THEATRE in STATESVILLE, N.C., opened in 1940 and closed April 23, 1961. The final feature shown was THE MILLIONAIRESS starring Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers. The site was taken over by an expansion of SPAINHOURS and THREE SISTERS DRESS SHOP.
There was also the CRESCENT THEATRE in downtown Statesville from the mid-1920s until early 1950s.
My family owned and operated the two drive-theaters. VILLA HEIGHTS opened in 1948. We operated it until 1960, when we leased it to STATESVILLE THEATRE. HILLCREST opened in 1949. We closed it in 1959.
I was projectionist at the NEWTOWNE in 1969. It was owned and operated by STATESVILLE THEATRE CORPORATION, who later sold it STEWART-EVERETTE THEATRES.
When it was a single house, it had dual carbon arc projectors. The platters probably replaced the original equipment when they twinned (and ruined) the theater.
The STATE THEATRE in STATESVILLE, N.C., opened in 1940 and closed April 23, 1961. The final feature shown was THE MILLIONAIRESS starring Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers.
The TERRACE THEATRE in Salisbury, N.C., was NOT twinned in 1975. I know because I was the manager in 1975.