Merlu Theatre
219 Madison Street,
Clarendon,
AR
72020
219 Madison Street,
Clarendon,
AR
72020
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Ah, yes. I recall the guy who ran the Merlu, Russell Curtis, mentioning the Mi-De-Ga. It’s pronounced “Mighty Gay”. I thought, what an odd name. Coincidentally, the only photograph I have of the Merlu, taken in 1979, does not show the marquee but there is a “Coal Miner’s Daughter” one-sheet seen in the background with Cissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn.
I was in Waverly (the home of country music legend Loretta Lynn) in 2005 researching theatres and the only two I found the Mi-De-Ga and a drive-in. Later while canvassing the 1988 edition of the IMPA, I saw the Merlu listed in Waverly, TN and figured, who was I to challenge this holy script. Thank you both for looking into this and clearing it up. Now if Cinema Treasures will correct the address….
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 & 1943 editions as the Merlu Theatre Clarendon, AR with 300 seats. In the 1950 edition it is listed as the Merlu Theatre, 219 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029 with a seating capacity given as 501.
dlm7551..to confirm what you mention above, none of these editions of F.D.Y. have a listing for a Merlu Theatre in Waverly, TN
The Merlu Theatre was in Clarendon, Arkansas and it’s name comes from a composite of the names of the two founders – I don’t recall them as that was many years ago. In the late 70s the theatre was operated by a man from Waverly, TN. He may have used a Waverly mailing address but there was no Merlu Theatre in Waverly, TN.