Valerie Theatre Cultural Center

This small town theatre was built in 1925 in the little town of Inverness Florida. When completed, it cost $26,000 with velour curtains that cost $500 which was quite grand in the day. It was considered one of the most modern and beautiful theatres at the time. It opened with 228-seats and the movie “The Only Woman”, starring Norma Talmadge. Miss Mary Schofield was the pianist who accompanied the stars in the silent movies. Tickets were 10 cents for matinee and children performed vaudeville during intermissions.

Of course there is much more history including a fire, and Elvis Presley using it to view the daily shots of “Follow That Dream” during it’s production in Citrus County.

The theatre was offered for sale. It needs love and care but sits in the wonderful downtown district of Inverness. This area is a wonderfully busy part of the city with potential beyond “the right person’s” grandest dreams.

The Valerie Theatre was sold and refurbished. It re-opened on June 6, 2015.

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

Patsy on January 13, 2015 at 2:53 pm

What’s the current status?

irvl on May 20, 2015 at 3:03 pm

The Valerie will have a grand re-opening, all day June 6, 2015, with all kinds of celebrations including refreshments and tours of the “new” facility.

ericbrooks on January 21, 2016 at 5:44 pm

I remember watching the Saturday afternoon matinee — usually Disney movies — 1969-71 — at this theater on the courthouse square. The ticket booth was outside on the left and on the other side was an entrance to stairs to the balcony that the black children used, by then not by law but probably out of habit.

Mikeoaklandpark on November 6, 2021 at 5:35 pm

When I went to Inverness 83-2005 the theater had another name. It had the velvet curtains than but no masking.