Grand Theatre
115 S. Main Street,
Fitzgerald,
GA
31750
115 S. Main Street,
Fitzgerald,
GA
31750
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Corrected history
The theater opened in 1911 as the Lyric Theatre. Financial difficulties led to its closure in less than a year. A new owner reopened the theater as the Grand Opera House. It operated under that name until 1927, when it was renamed Grand Theatre.
The original Grand burned on September 4, 1935, leaving only one corner of the structure intact. This corner was incorporated into the new Grand Theatre, which opened on February 17, 1936 with the feature film “The Widow from Monte Carlo” with Louise Fezenda, Warren William and Dolores Del Rio.
The Grand closed on June 14, 1978 and sat vacant until restoration began in 1986. 35mm film projection equipment was reinstalled in 1996, for a film festival commemorating the town’s centennial. Regular movie exhibition resumed in 2004, though only with special events one weekend a month until the Carmike Capri Twin closed in 2005, at which time first run films returned to the Grand. Digital projection equipment was installed in 2015.
I had a tour of the Grand about 10 years ago. Fitzgerald should be extremely pleased that they have such a wonderful venue to be enjoyed by generations to come.