Scott Theatre

This theater was shown in a 1953 documentary about how numerous theaters are closing due to the advance of television. They show the theater as "threatened with closure". This theater survives, however, but many others in the documentary are now long closed or converted to other businesses.

The Scott Theatre opened Oct of 1930.

I am the current owner of the Scott Theatre in Waldron, AR. It's under a current brief renovation, adding new concessions, bathrooms, seats, Dolby sound, JBL speakers, acoustics work, Projector and platter, AC and heat, and a general redo and cleaning.

This Theatre and a lot of others in the state were once owned by K.Lee Williams Theatres. He named them all for the county in which they were located.... I have not seen any information on this chain... any help is greaatly appreciated........

I AM THE OWNER OF THIS THEATRE....... ANYONE WITH ANY HISTORY OR INFO ON SCOTT THEATRE PLEASE CONTACT ME OR LEAVE MESSAGE..
MANY THANKS.... will post pics soon ........... Ray

do you have a web site......

This is a portion of a 2001 obituary for Kenneth Ray Hines. It claims that he was once the owner of this theater.

"Scott County Times
10 October 2001
KENNETH HINES

Kenneth Ray Hines, 63, died in his home on October 1, 2001. He was born on March 21, 1938 in Waldron to the late Othel L. Hines and Foy Inez (Gibbs) Hines. He married Betty Ann Millard on March 3, 1978. Shortly after their marriage they purchased the Scott Theater in Waldron where he spent much of his childhood as an usher and ticket taker. He followed in his fathers footsteps and became a respected sign painter. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army".

My dad (Ken Hines) did own the theatre for many years. There is a lot of interesting history there. Daddy had a lot of items from the past that he had displayed in the lobby. I do not know whatever became of them though... You may want to talk to Barbara Huston and Betty Jo Lee (of Waldron) to see what information they can give you.
I am happy that the theatre has been renovated and is now open. I wish you success!

A 1987 view of the Scott Theater in Waldron.

When you click on the Google Map button and view the photo, there are no buildings in sight. Golly gee, the building must be demolished. Wait, is it possible that the address is incorrect?

A web search returns two addresses for a Scott Theater in Waldron. One is the 455 N. Main Street address given above. The other is 281 South Main Street. Right now I don't know which address is correct. It's a good thing that I didn't ask for the status to be changed to demolished based on the address above and the Google photo. That would have been irresponsible and a very stupid thing for someone to do without first verifying the address.

More photos of the Scott Theater can be seen here, here and here.

The third photo shows the numbers "281" on the building which would lead me to believe that the correct address is 281 South Main Street.

LM, three other sites show the address as 281 South Main St. and when you map it, it comes up at 281 South Mian St.

I think the 455 address was picked up from that other theatre site.

Chuck....I also believe that 281 South Main Street is the correct address. The strange thing is, Google maps will return: "At this address: Scott Theatre" for both addresses. To add more confusion, Yellowpages gives the address as 281 North Main Street. LOL

1983 photo of the Scott Theatre.

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c4%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=27&ProductID=23492

This is a nice 2009 photo.

The Arkansas Historical Society magazine lists the address at 281 North Main Street, Waldron, Ar.

Here is another 2009 photo.

Okay... to clear up a few questions here. 281 South Main is the correct address. We own and operate the "SCOTT" and that is the correct address. I really appreciate all the photos of the Theatre that people have links to, I save every one I get my hands on. We have been running it now for 2+ years and surprisingly her numbers are pretty good, not many of the single screeners are left these days and it does my heart good to tell everyone here that the Scott is alive and well. Due to its location in a Rural setting, the people of the county, and good programming and comfortable atmosphere, she really does her part in keeping film alive. seats 204

Thanks for confirming the address. This is another example of why Google maps are not totally reliable. Best of luck with the theater. I hope that it continues to operate for many more years.

And to "Lost Memory" Wow you must stop by our Theatre a lot... that last 2009 pic was only 2 weeks ago. You really must stop by and see me sometime, I will let you inside for some really good pics!!!
The new construction you see out front is the beginning of a face lift, they should finish the stucco today, and hopefully the marquee will be done by spring. There was a huge sign over the marquee and I just got a good photo of it and plan to replace it next summer. I (along with thousands of other kids) have fond memories of the Scott from my childhood, it is hard to believe that we now own it and are bringing it back to its once gloriful state. To all the naysayers I say Blahhh! and may "the Grand Ole Lady" see her 100th birthday... Yesterday I got my hands on a newspaper from the day she opened as the Pines in 1930 and one of the re-opening as the Scott by K. Lee Williams Theatres INC on April 28 1940. They are both in great shape and I am trying to get copies of these papers to display in the theatre...
There is not much known of K. Lee Williams chain but I am finding out more, his business was at 9 1/4 Lee street in Oklahoma City and he also ran a film exchange there according to the 1940 paper and he owned 14 other theatres at that time. His first film endeavor was a one reel film from his "101 Ranch" productions titled "The Fall Round Up" played at the "Crescent Airdome" in Russellville Arkansas, in 1910.
Ray

Ray, In the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook, there are 18 theatres listed in the K. Lee Williams Theatres Inc. chain:
ARKANSAS
Ashdown: Dixie Theatre
De Queen: Gem Theatre, Queen Theatre
Dierks: Pine Theatre
Fordyce: Dallas Theatre, Lee Theatre
Gurdon: Hoo-Hoo Theatre
Nashville: Howard Theatre, Liberty Theatre
Paris: Logan Theatre, Strand Theatre
Waldron: Scott Theatre
OKLAHOMA
Broken Bow: Arrow Theatre, Tower Theatre
Purcell: McClain Theatre, Ritz Theatre
Wilburton: Lattimer Theatre
TEXAS:
Hooks: Lone Star Theatre

In 1950, the chain had 24 theatres listed, and as well as those listed above, additions were:
ARKANSAS
Ashdown: Williams Theatre
De Queen: Sevier Theatre, Val-e-vue Drive-In
Horatio: Horation Theatre
Nashville: Elberta Theatre
OKLAHOMA
Broken Arrow: McCurtain Theatre
Purcell: Canadian Theatre

Have you found any pics of the theater with the old vertical sign?

Ray, are you going to set a web site up for the theatre? Maybe you can post whatever photos you have to a web site for us to enjoy.

I only have 3 images showing the huge vertical sign, one from an old linen postcard, a newsprint which only shows the bottom of sign and a photo of downtown Waldron from the 60's with the theatre in the distance, and it is my best bet for getting it right so far.
BTW... if anyone was wanting the Google map address... it is 350 south main for some strange reason, just map it and go south 1 click, you can't miss it, we were showing Veggie Tales that day.
SiliconSam..... do you have any pics of the sign?
Ray

No, that's why I was asking if anyone else had any... All the pics I've seen so far have been with the old sign removed.

I went the other night...and had a wonderful time! The people there are so kind! Great service and Awesome Theater!!