Crute Stage
102 N. Main Street,
Farmville,
VA
23901
102 N. Main Street,
Farmville,
VA
23901
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The Eaco Theatre opened its doors on April 17, 1922 with Constance Talmadge in “Woman’s Place” and John Gilbert in “Shame” along with short addresses before both shows, and was first managed by L.D. Whitaker.
The Neighborhood Theaters circuit took over operation of the Eaco and Lee theaters in 1940, according to an item in the July 11 issue of The Film Daily that year. The September 6 issue of the same journal said that “[t]he remodeled Eaco Theater will reopen this month under the name of State. Russell Williams is manager for Neighborhood Theater, Inc.”
During the 1950s the State Theatre had an admirable policy of running mostly newer American films Sun-Tues & Thurs-Sat while on Wednesdays they would show what they called a “Better films picture.” This would be a noted foreign film of the art house type. People could attend as part of a series ticket or else by regular single admission ticket. This would expand their programs beyond the restrictive policy of new domestic releases only.
2017 marks the 20th year of the Stars Under the Stars outdoor movie series showing cinema’s greatest films at the Crute Stage. The stage is used throughout the year for numerous community events, concerts, and in keeping with history—movies! More information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/starsunderthestars
We are grateful to have such a historic structure still in use in Farmville!
The Historical Marker Database has a page that includes the inscription and photos from the EACO Theatre marker here. The text reads:
When Community Theatres took over the Lee and EACO Theatres in 1940, a brief notice of their reopening under new management appeared in the August 5 issue of Motion Picture Daily. Among the guests at the event was the architect of the remodeling, A. O. Budina.The Downtown Stage, called by some the Crute Stage, was originally the EACO Theater. It was named for the Entertainment and Amusement COmpany started by vet Dr. Witacher in Farmville. Several years later in 1935 he built the Lee Theatre across the street. In the late 90’s the EACO, then renamed the state and owned by a theater firm out of Richmond, collapsed from the weight of a snowstorm, it did not burn down. It is now an open stage owned by the Town of Farmville, and a free summer movie program is shown. You sit on the grass, movies are older classics, and they re shown on a new pulldown screen that is really a thick, white protective screen for the stage behind.
It looks like this is an outdoor venue now, probably just a stage and backdrop. According to this site classic movies are shown in the summertime:
http://tinyurl.com/4d89p6
The Crute (aka State) Theatre no longer exists, either — it burned to the ground. Again, I’m not sure of the date, but I suspect it was in the early 90’s. All that remains is the back wall of the theater and the screen.