Edward C. Smith Civic Center
217 S. Main Street,
Lexington,
NC
27295
217 S. Main Street,
Lexington,
NC
27295
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc.
Architects: Erle G. Stillwell
Functions: Community Center
Previous Names: Carolina Theatre, Civic Center Theatre
Nearby Theaters
- Tilden Hedrick built the Carolina Theatre in 1930. It was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidairy H.F. Kincey. It was used for films and stage shows until 1945, when a fire devastated the building.
A group of Lexington citizens renovated the structure and it continued as a movie theatre named Civic Center Theatre. It was later named the Edward C. Smith Civic Center. The exterior is modern, but the stage remains intact.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
This opened on September 1st, 1930. you can see the opening ad at
View link
December 13th, 1948 opening ad
View link
for the new theatre. The Old Carolina’s listings stopped in 1945.
Thanks Chuck.
It was an ABC THEATRE,but for some reason most their late shows on the weekends were X -rated.We never could have pulled that off in Augusta.
The Carolina Theatre as rebuilt in 1948 was designed by architect Erle G. Stillwell, according to the history site Chuck linked to in his earlier comment.
It’s probable that the original theater on the Carolina’s site, partly destroyed by a fire in 1945, was the proposed house that was the subject of this item in the June 22, 1922, issue of Manufacturers Record:
UNC’s Going to the Show collection has this page for a 1,200-seat house called the Lexington Theatre, located at 215 S. Main Street, operated by H. B. Varner and in operation by 1923.