Varsity Twin Cinema

The Varsity Twin was built in the late 30’s as single screen theatre and along with the Princess Theatre; they were the crown jewels in that part of Mississippi. The Varsity was operated by Malco Theatres out of Memphis and the Princess was operated by Paramount then ABC Mid-South Theatres. The Varsity had a balcony and I attend several films there while visiting grandparents. I remember seeing Walt Disney’s “The Nine Lives of Thomasina” and “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.” I did see “Spencer’s Mountain” there and remember seeing a six sheet pasted to the brick side of the theatre for the next several years as the weather worked its way against it.

The theatre was on the main drag through downtown Columbus and was the first thing you saw when you crossed the Tombigbee River Bridge. It had a good size marquee and an upright sign, as did the Princess.

Sometime in the late 70’s (I believe) the theatre burned down. Malco owned the building and land and soon rebuilt on the lot a twin theatre. The re-built theatre was a typical 70’s twin and had no character at all nor any relation to the stately theatre did it replace. As times changed, Malco built other theatres in the town to keep out competition and eventually the theatre closed.

It just hit me! I think it may have been “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Can anyone confirm this?