Friday, February 8, 2013 —
In cooperation with the Historical Society of Stanly County and the Stanly County Museum, John Williams presented “Reel History” last Thursday to a crowded audience.
Originally scheduled to be in the Grove’s building, beside the old Alameda Theatre, the event had to be relocated to the fellowship hall of Central United Methodist Church because of the sheer amount of interest in the presentation.
As the audience trickled through the doors, smells of popcorn assaulted the nose, marking this as an authentic theatre experience.
Williams compiled a lot of his information by combing through old newspapers, analyzing old photographs and schematics and performing personal interviews with residents who remembered the theatres.
Williams, a local history buff and an art teacher, began the evening by showing a clip of “Phantom of the Opera.” He explained how the scene, of the Phantom mask-less, used to freak people out and how this is in stark contrast to gore in modern films.
The project began when Williams was asked to compile a calender for Uwharrie Capitol Corporation; the calender was of local theatres in Stanly and surrounding counties.
The first theatres to be discussed were the Badin ones.
Badin had the Dreamland Theatre, which was for the black community when the town was segregated.
Another was the Badin Opera House. It cost $160,000 to build back in the early 20th century and was three stories tall.
The Badin Opera House became the Badin Theatre, also known as the Carolina Theatre.
The building was deemed unfit in 1958 and subsequently demolished.
“The company that tore it down said it was the hardest building they had ever tore down,” said Williams, citing the building’s steel frame as the reason why. It was never meant to be demolished.
Norwood had the Mazda Theatre, which became the Norwood Theatre in 1930.
Oakboro had a small theatre that burned in 1958.
Downtown Albemarle has seen its fair share of theatres come and go, Williams said.
According to Williams, Jethro Almond, a recurring figure in the history of theatre in Albemarle, may have had the first motion picture show in Albemarle in 1907.
In 1908, A.W. Thompson opened a candy store and in the back he had nickelodeon machines.
Also in 1908, the Albemarle Opera House opened. There are supposedly ghosts in the opera house, Williams said.
The Edisonia was built in 1910 and on its opening night, the theatre had problems with their electricity.
The Alameda started off in 1916 as an air-dome, a big tent open to the sky, and as popularity grew they soon constructed the building on Second Street.
The Columbia Theatre opened in 1921 in the building that would come to house Vac & Dash. The building was so small they had to construct a tiny room on the back to house the projector.
Operated by George Hughes, in 1930 the Columbia Theatre became the first theatre in Stanly County to have talkies.
Hughes also operated the Stanly Theatre, which caught on fire and was rebuilt in 1937.
The Center Theatre took over the old Stanly Theatre in the 1950s.
“From what I can tell, it looks like they took the word ‘Stanly’ off the marquee and added in ‘Center,’ ” Williams said.
Williams was told there was a cemetery underneath the Center Theatre, but after inspecting the area himself he wasn’t able to say conclusively one way or the other, though he didn’t find any headstones.
Williams ended the presentation by showing an old film that had been made in Albemarle in the 1930s. The film featured a young Albemarle on the cusp of full industrialization and the residents that populated and colored the town.
For more information on the history of Stanly County, its buildings and residents, check out stanlycountymuseum.com.
Local News
Movie theatres once dotted Stanly County landscape
- Local News
-
-
Second-time parents have options
One of the statistically fastest growing groups in the United States is grandparents and others raising children the second time around.
-
GHA Autism Supports offers community supported agriculture program
On June 2, 2003, GHA Autism Supports began construction on Carolina Farms, an innovative program in the Millingport area designed to enable individuals from the autistic population to realize a dream of living and working in a farming environment in Stanly County.
-
Building a Movement for Play: Non-Profit Organization KaBOOM! Names Albemarle Among 217 “Playful City USA” Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With research proving play is critical to the overall well-being of children, 217 cities and towns, including Albemarle, earned recognition from national non-profit KaBOOM! as 2013 Playful City USA communities for their efforts to give children the childhood they deserve by providing ample opportunities for play.
-
Community joins for Day of Prayer
Residents and officials bowed their heads in prayer Thursday afternoon in observance of the National Day of Prayer. In Stanly County, events were conducted at noon in the cities of Locust and Albemarle, and in the town of Oakboro.
-
The UPS Store joins Chamber of Commerce
The UPS Store, at 656-5 N.C. 24-27 East, celebrated joining the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce April 26 by snipping a length of large red ribbon. Friends, family, supporters and Chamber representatives joined owners Greg and Paula Dorko for the event.
-
Pfeiffer group lends support
Earlier this week, current NBA player Jason Collins announced to the world in a “Sports Illustrated” article that he was gay.
-
The Naked Pig Meat Co. opens in Oakboro
The Hatley family in Oakboro prefers their pigs to be naked.
Shawn and Jenny Hatley, owners of The Naked Pig Meat Co., have opened up a retail store of pig-based meats to share their affection of “naked meats” with the county -
Car fans enjoy Norwood VFW’s annual event
Dazzling collector and rumbling performance cars of all makes and models were on display Saturday as the Norwood Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6183 hosted its 18th Annual Arbor Day VFW Car Show.
-
EDC hears positive feedback on Alcoa meeting
During Stanly County Economic Development Commission’s (EDC) meeting Thursday, County Commissioner Tony Dennis spoke about the recent meeting with Alcoa, lauding it as the most productive incident since the whole occurrence began.
-
Coping with Mass Violence: Monarch mental health expert shares ways to handle tragedy
In the aftermath of the Boston explosions, as news for the tragedy continues and the ceremony for victims is held today, Monarch's chief clinical officer shares tips on ways to cope, help restore normalcy
- More Local News Headlines
-
