Mars Theatre
70 N. Main Street,
Mars Hill,
NC
28754
70 N. Main Street,
Mars Hill,
NC
28754
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 19 comments
The brewery operating in this space has tweaked their name to Mars Theatre Brewing Company. It better identities the history of the building and differentiates it from its sister brewery located in Chimney Rock.
Website: https://hickorynutbrewery.com/
Their Facebook page has movie listings.
A new movie projector has been installed replacing the older equipment. Movies play Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
Awesome news. I wil have to drive up and support them
Movies return to the Mars Theatre starting Friday, December 10, 2021 with the Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery screening occasional flicks.
The original vertical sign has been relamped and the red neon outlining the Mars Theatre name is all working in December 2020.
The front facade has recently been renovated. Original stucco has been uncovered after the removal of a crumbling thin set brick veneer and new entrance doors were added. The ghost outline of the original marquee is visible over the entrance. Pics added in photo section.
The Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery at Mars Theater opened November 16, 2019. Many original details remain. The large stainless brewing tanks line the right side wall in the lower seating area. The screen remains as well as some of the seating. Several areas in the balcony and orchestra floor have been leveled for seating and bar areas but the overall vibe is original and cool. Always a modest building, it still has interesting touches throughout. The original glass windowed baby cry room is intact in one back corner of the balcony. The original ticket booth and projection room are on view with one projector still in place. Remnants of the segregated entrance and seating area for black patrons is in the other rear corner of the balcony. Definitely worth a trip to see the adaptive reuse of this vintage small town theater.
New ownership and much remodeling will soon turn this space into the Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery at Mars Theatre.
Signage recently went up that this theater is currently for lease or sale.
After a long renovation the Mars Hill Radio Theatre reopens today, June 11, 2016 with a music concert. Movies are part of the mix as well and they kick off soon. A radio station is also based in the theater. This is welcome news for the theater that had been closed since 1992.
I am making great progress with the renovation and will get some progress pictures posted. Our seating capacity will be in the low 200’s. It will also operate as a music venue.
Work is under way to renovate the Mars. The doors were open recently and I peaked inside. This place has great potential. It’s interesting to step inside the small lobby and then enter right into the back row of the balcony. The main floor has a fairly steep rake to it and the entire space has a wonderful vibe. The curved screen is still in place and the stage area is being enlarged. 2015 should hopefully see this retro theater back in service. I’m not sure yet what the programming mix will be.
This theatre is currently under renovation. For more information check out https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mars-Theatre/1445503259048677?ref_type=bookmark.
I think this is the only movie theater in Madison County. It has an interesting interior layout. It’s built on a hill and after coming into the small lobby you enter into the rear of the balcony or take a staircase down to the main floor. Although it’s been vacate for some time the seats and screen are still in place. The theater has a sign in the window saying it is available.
From the article posted May 3 2007, does anyone know if they have done anything to reopen this theatre as the entertainment complex?
Another picture is on this page; scroll down: View link
Opened in 1947, according to this article:
http://tinyurl.com/ywhprm
The Mars Theatre is listed in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook, but no seating capacity is given. This generally means that the theatre has recently opened and details have not been passed on to the editors.