Dixie Theater
125 E. Beverly Street,
Staunton,
VA
24401
125 E. Beverly Street,
Staunton,
VA
24401
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Stanley-Warner Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson
Firms: T.J. Collins & Sons
Functions: Live Theatre
Styles: Italian Renaissance, Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: New Theater, New Dixie Theater
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
540.885.8445
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 16, 2014 — Dixie to close
- Dec 17, 2010 — Dixie Theater in Staunton gets upgrades; bigger changes coming in five years
Opened in 1913 as the New Theater by local architectural firm T. J. Collins and Sons, this gem is located at the intersection of Beverley Street and Market Street in downtown Staunton.
Designed in an Italian Renaissance Revival style, the theater’s exterior features dramatic arches (inlaid with terra cotta tiles), false windows (also decorated with terra cotta tiles), and, above the arches, four laughing theatrical faces. After a fire in 1936 destroyed the original interior, it was rebuilt in Art Moderne style by John Eberson with seating for 1,100 in orchestra & balcony levels and reopening as the New Dixie Theater. On April 10, 1981 it was split into three screens.
The Dixie Theater’s old vertical marquee is gone and the theater has now been split into four small auditoriums, but its exterior still retains much of this old theater’s charm.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
The Dixie has always been a part of my life. I was Asst. Mgg. at the Dixie in 1951 and 1952, under Frank Shaffer. Many friends were made and still part of my life. Looking forward to when it will become a performing arts theatre. Gene Whitmore, Roanoke,Va.
A 1996 view of the Dixie Theater (4) in Staunton.
2010 photos of the Dixie Theatre:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
This is a real showpiece. Although the auditorium has been carved into four mini cinemas, it apparently has not inflicted much damage to the original design and could be restored to its former glory.
The theater just got new seats and other improvements and now is running first run films, but its life as a movie theater is apparently going to be limited to about five more years, after which it will converted to a live performance center: http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=13672914
The Dixie Theatre is no longer showing movies. The Visulite Cinema on N. Augusta is the only movie theatre open in Staunton.
I am looking for a poster for the Dixie Theater “Battle of the Bands” in 1974-75. It had Southern Cross & Cyberous and one other band. It was a great venue for new artists to perform.
3 screens on April 10th, 1981. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
1918 postcard added courtesy of George & Sharon Sproul.
Frazier Associates, the firm designing the renovations for the Staunton Performing Arts Center, has this web page with a description of the project and a brief slide show that includes renderings, a floor plan, and a couple of historic photographs.
More information can be found at: https://thearcadiaproject.org/ where a description of the new 93-seat movie theater, a conference/event center, classrooms, and a café are described. The Visulite Theater in Staunton has been the only movie theater in town for a while and is supporting the efforts to get the new space launched to aid in a downtown revival.