Grand Theatre
160 South Main Street,
Moultrie,
GA
31768
160 South Main Street,
Moultrie,
GA
31768
1 person
favorited this theater
The Grand Theatre was the first major venture for Moultrie, GA. showman, Charlie Powell. Constructed on Main Street in the mid-1920’s, the theatre enjoyed great popularity in the silent era and on into the sound era when it became a B-movie outlet after the much larger and lavish Moultrie Theatre was built by Powell.
The theatre was of a straight-forward design with a small orchestra pit and stage. The movie screen was originally secured to the back wall of the stage—this wall being slanted to correct early keystoning problems. The theatre was entered through an open-air loggia originally. Later, a marquee was added and a vertical sign that spelled “Theatre”. Interior decoration included pilasters with Mission-inspired adornments under each capital, applied panel mouldings on the sides and balcony of the auditorium and suspended chain-hung globes of art glass.
The theatre closed in the early part of World War II and became the location of Waite’s News Stand. It was later used as a frame shop and supply warehouse for Rhoden’s stationers, located in the building adjacent to the Grand Theatre. Present owner, Billy Fallin, Moultrie lawyer and downtown developer restored the building and it is the location of a retail store.
Contributed by
John Clark McCall, Jr.
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Grand Theatre is still listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition with a seating capacity given as 500. Maybe it closed and re-opened for a while?
The Grand has now undergone a sensitive restoration/adaptive re-use making it available as a retail space. However, other than leveling the floor and installing a central hvac system, the theatre is much as it was in its days of operation including a re-paint similar to former colors and the installation of reproduction wall sconces that are very similar to the originals. The building is currently for sale or lease.
The Grand was located next to Rhoden Stationery and Printing Co., 125 S. Main St. In fact, Rhoden’s used the theater building as a storage warehouse. I remember going in there as a child to look around and there is no way it could have held 500 people. The stage was still there and I believe the floor had already been leveled. The front of the bulding, however, still had a small lobby of a theater. Rhoden’s was always a blast to go in because it looked like they had not gotten any new stock since WWII.