Strand Theater

Joe Vogel on October 22, 2016 at 12:35 am

The Strand Theatre at Uniontown, Alabama, operated by J. N. Fendley, was mentioned in the January 18, 1941, issue of Showmen’s Trade Review. Mr. Fendley is also mentioned in the January 11, 1941, issue of Motion Picture Herald:

“Each day before ‘Boom Town’ started at the Neely Theatre, in Uniontown, Ala., Manager J. N. Fendley arranged to have four aerial bombs fired in rapid succession to attract. Special wrappers with title imprint were used on cigarette packages purchased two weeks ahead, same stickers being used on parked cars in the vicinity. Box office was lettered for the occasion.”

The April 19, 1935, issue of The Film Daily mentions a Mr. Neely taking over operation of a theater in Uniontown:

“Uniontown, Ala. — Lester Neely, who operates theaters in Marion, Greensboro and Oneonta, has taken over the house operated by J. W. Nunemacher here.”

Prior to the 1970 census, Uniontown had a population of less than 2,000, and was thus unlikely to have supported two theaters. Possibly the Strand was the same house that MPH called the Neely Theatre, and that it was also the same house Mr. Neely took over in 1935.