Royal Theater
625 Main Street,
Arkadelphia,
AR
71923
625 Main Street,
Arkadelphia,
AR
71923
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Robb & Rowley-United Inc., Rowley United Theatres Inc.
Architects: Irven B. McDaniel
Functions: Art Gallery
Styles: Art Deco
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Apr 27, 2009 — Old Royal to return
The Royal Theater was opened in 1932. It was operating at least until 1957 when it was operated by Rowley United Theatres Inc.
After closing, it was converted into a printing workshop, known as the Print Mania building.
In early-2009, with the Print Mania closed, plans were being proposed by the city to renovate and eventually reopen the Royal Theater as a ‘state of art’ movie theatre. It reopened in October 2011 as an art gallery.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
This house replaced an earlier Royal Theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1931, according to the August 9, 1931, issue of The Film Daily.
The correct address of the Royal Theatre is 625 Main Street.
This PDF document about downtown Arkadelphia, from Arkansas Historic Preservation, says that the rebuilt Royal Theatre was designed by Hot Springs architect Irvin B. McDaniel [sic], and that it closed as a movie theater on August 31, 1976.
The correct spelling of the architect’s name is Irven D. McDaniel. The University of Arkansas Libraries provides this page with a brief biography, but it does not mention this theater.
The Arkadelphia Arts Center was opened in this building in October, 2011. Their Facebook page says nothing about any performance space in the building, so I don’t know if it’s even equipped to show movies.
My Dad, Robin Wightman, managed the Royal Theatre and Skyvue Drive-In in Arkadelphia prior to moving to Little Rock to manage theaters there. The Royal and Skyvue were both owned by the late Cecil Cupp, Sr. I spent the first 12 years of my life sitting in the Royal and riding go-carts and riding the pony, Skyboy, at the Skyvue. I have great memories of Arkadelphia and the Cupp family.
Website: http://www.ccahc.org/ Function should be art gallery.