Enfield Performing Arts Center
137 SE Railroad Street,
Enfield,
NC
27823
137 SE Railroad Street,
Enfield,
NC
27823
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Related Websites
Enfield Performing Arts Center (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Charles Collins Benton, Frank Whitaker Benton
Firms: Benton & Benton
Functions: Performing Arts
Styles: Classical Revival
Previous Names: Masonic Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
877.233.4562
Manager:
877.233.4562
Nearby Theaters
Early-1920s Classic Revival style lodge & theatre built in 1924/25 by and for the Masonic organization. Used for meetings and functions of the Masons. In addition, the main theatre was used as a movie house until the early 1930’s. It was listed as (Closed) in the 1935 edition of Film Daily Yearbook. The building has been empty and unused since 1989.
New owner took over in December 2009, and in February 2010, is in the midst of a renovation and restoration to reopen for cinema, live theatre, dinner theatre, banquets and multi cultural center.
Contributed by
Andrew Wirtz
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Name now seems to be The Enfield Performing arts center. Website is http://www.epacnc.org/. The ‘Previous Names’ is not correct, and the hokey marketing consultant name should be dropped from the listing.
Still doesn’t appear to be open. From the outside, it appears to be the typical rotting building in a dead downtown, but the photos on the website appear to show the auditorium in good condition.
This PDF of the draft of the NRHP application for the Enfield Historic District says that the Masonic Lodge building was erected in 1924-1925 and was designed by the Wilson, NC architectural firm Benton & Benton (Charles Collins Benton and Frank Whitaker Benton.) The style is Classic Revival, not Art Deco. I’ve been unable to find the name under which this theater operated, but it might be in a Film Daily Yearbook or two.
Several web sites say that the theater has been dark since shortly before WWII. This raises the question: When did it have two screens?
I think the ‘2 screens’ comes from listing an auditorium as one screen, and the ceremonial room as another. From photos on the web, that room has Egyptian details, and a balcony either side of the floor. Not sure which stage the huge fly tower belongs to.