Town and Country Theatre

The Dutch Inn Plaza housed the first hard-top movie theater in Henry Country in over 20 years when the Town & Country Theatre soft launched there February 19, 1971 with “The Owl and the Pussycat” with Barbara Streisand. It was a suburban luxury theater that was purportedly Southwestern Virginia’s first fully automated projection system. Three different platters allowed the projectionist to show three different films with just a two minute delay between showings of identical titles. Speedy! South Drive-In Theaters of Charlotte Circuit operated both it and the nearby 220 Drive-In. With a seating capacity of 380 and a screen measuring 24' by 11', cushioned chairs, lounge furniture and stereo sound, the venue was ready to go forward to a true Grand Opening.

Like many automated theaters of the day, showtimes were stacked so that five or even six showtimes could be run continuously. The theater had an agreement with the popular Dutch Inn restaurant that allowed free passes on weekdays to stoke business. The official T&C Grand Opening took place on April 15, 1971 Teresa Davis walked away with a free Zenith Stereo, the grand prize at the T&C formal launch. Business proved to be a bit challenging and the theater mixed a few X-rated films to very good business.

In 1973, the local Martinsville Theatre Management Corporation Circuit (MTM Corp.) took over the Town & Country putting an end to the X-Rated fare. MTM’s Town and Country was closed on December 31, 1990 as a first run house with MTM discontinuing operations.

The T&C had one more shot. It became a sub-run discount dollar house on July 26, 1991 when Reel Entertainment of Spokane, Washington took on the venue. The opening titles were “Problem Child 2,” “Backdraft” and “Silence of the Lambs” opening on the one-screen theater. Apparently, the automation system was still functional. Reel Ent. scuffled in the location closing the Town and Country just six months later on January 31, 1992 with “Curly Sue” and “For the Boys.” That was the end of the line though the venue had barely surpassed the 20-year operational mark. In 1994, the cinema was left largely intact as it housed a thrift clothing / t-shirt store. After that store closed, the former Town and Country was demolished in May of 1999 to make room for an Auto Zone auto parts retail location.

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