Rex Theatre

The New Baldwin Theatre turned Rex Theatre provided forty years of cinema exhibition for African-American audiences in Martinsville. Dr. Dana O. Baldwin opened the original silent-era Baldwin Theatre in the same building as his Baldwin Pharmacy in 1922. On December 21, 1928, a fire swept the building ending the Baldwin Theater (and Pharmacy). But Baldwin rebuilt with a better building including a small hospital space and the New Baldwin Theatre.

The New Baldwin launched on “King of Kings” on May 15, 1929 likely on a ten-year lease. Under new operators, the theatre was given a Streamline Moderne style makeover and continued under the name of the Rex Theatre likely on a 30-year lease. The creation of the 2,100-seat New Gymtorium led to even more high-profile events including appearances by Sam and Dave, Ike & Tina Turner, Fats Domino, Etta James, Stevie Wonder, and Otis Redding. Not bad for a town with fewer than 20,000 residents.

But on May 5, 1969, the Rex Theatre was closed permanently by Martinsville Theatre Management Circuit with Spencer Tracy in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “Last Safari". The Baldwin Block with the Rex Theatre was demolished in the early-1970’s. The Gymtorium sat abandoned a bit longer before its demolition.

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