Millwald Theater

The August 6, 1928, issue of The Film Daily said that the “Millward” Theatre in Wytheville, Virginia, was nearing completion.

Here is a 1984 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dc98x7

Interesting post on Feb. 18, 2007 of how the theatre came to be named the Millwald. And even the Millwald isn’t in the condition that we all wish, at least the town still has the brick building with the name MILLWALD on it and the art deco marquee! Amen!

Pastor Robbie: Amen to your remarks and I only wish you well. I’ll let you know via this link when I come through Wytheville VA enroute to Charlotte. Or you can email me at I’ve been in the town years ago, but wasn’t into old theatres then and therefore did NOT have the theatre “bug”. I recall the office supply store with the large yellow pencil. Are the seats still in the Millwald and if so, what condition are they in?

It’s a shame that the Millwald was “a badly maintained building in need of much repair”. If that hadn’t been the case, it would still be a theatre though the fact that you are there now is a blessing, imo.

I actually Pastor the church in question here. I’m not quite sure why people assume we would tear down the marquee. We moved into a badly maintained building in need of much repair. We have limited our renovations to the inside, to adapt the facility for our purposes. Yes … it’s a church now. The exterior has been maintained as it was except for paint. It would be a shame for that to go away. Come by for a tour sometime.

Amen…end of theatre story!

I don’t know the current status of the building since I don’t go to Wytheville that often, but I do know how it got its name. The original owners’s last names were Miller and Ewald. They combined the names, and presto! Millwald.

I first saw the Millwald Theatre in 1981 when I went to see “9 to 5” with my best friend, his sister and her boyfriend. I was 15 years old and had a dream of opening a movie theatre of my own some day. I remember the Millwald as being somewhat run-down, but it attracted a lot of movie-goers from Wythe and Smyth Counties. I’m sure most of its patrons didn’t think the Millwald a “beautiful” theatre, yet if you looked closely enough, its hidden beauty emerged. The downstairs section looked like it might have been designed to resemble a Roman courtyard. The lower portion of the walls were painted to look like stone blocks, and this design was repeated around the exit doorways on each side of the stage. The rather large balcony and projection booth were reached by an attractive stairway on either side of the auditorium in the rear. The ceiling was the most beautiful part of the building. There were intricate designs encased in what appeared to be large wooden beams and crossbeams.
In the mid 1980s the balcony was split into 2 dinky theatres and, in my opinion, the movie-going experience at the Millwald was ruined. I would love to see a non-profit organization or the Town government purchase this building and restore it as a community arts center. It definately has the potential to revitalize downtown Wytheville. History has shown that in many cases, it is an old theatre that keeps a town alive.

Lost Memory: Great color photo of a great old theatre which may not have a future because of some 8 screen modern venue opening in town! I have been through Wytheville many times enroute south so will check out this once single screen theatre the next time I’m in that area….would like to see it returned to a single screen venue! If I see anyone who is willing to listen, I will give them my theatre thoughts/opinions!

Rumor has it in our small town of Wytheville that the Millwald will close its door in January due to an eight screen vunue opening in town. That is a shame. It makes downtown look special and it is nice to have a classic theatre still in operation in your town. It has only three screens. Two upstairs, on the sides of the old balcony, and the main screen. My family enjoyed “The Polar Express” there this month and I hate to see it go.

Rusty Mullins