Center Theater
407 Main Street,
Little Rock,
AR
72201
407 Main Street,
Little Rock,
AR
72201
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Rowley United Theatres Inc.
Architects: Edwin B. Cromwell, Frank Ginocchio, T.M. Sanders
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Royal Theater
Nearby Theaters
The Royal Theater was opened September 13, 1910. It was remodeled in 1917 to the plans of local architect T.M. Sanders, and again in 1949 to the plans of architects Ginocchio & Cromwell, when it reopened on April 17, 1949 as the Center Theater, operated by Rowley United Theatres Inc. It was still open in 1957.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
Here is a 1954 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/qnooaj
The last time I passed by the Center in May 2009, the theater was still there. The buildings immediately across the street had just been demolished and might have been confused for the Center. During my formative years in the 60’s, I saw a number of Elvis and Disney movies there; they also played the Bond films there.
I am fairly certain it is completely gone now.
So sad. Saw lots of good movies, there. The first one I remember is ‘Zulu’, with Stanley Baker, and Michael Caine, in 1964, when I was 9. Also saw ‘Patton’, there, in ‘70, 'Big Jake’, in ‘71, and 'The Exorcist’ in ‘73, and many, many others.
The Royal Theatre dates from around 1910. The June 21, 1917, issue of Engineering News-Record said that the Royal Theatre was to be rebuilt at a cost of about $150,000. Plans for the rebuilding were being prepared by local architect T.M. Sanders.
I saw Fantastic Voyage in 1966 at this one. Small, but it had a balcony. I’d heard channel 7 purchased it in the 70’s.
This theatre has been demolished. The site is now a parking lot.
National Register information
Status Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 2003 Reference number 03000422 Architectural style Modern Movement: Moderne Area of significance Architecture Level of significance Local Evaluation criteria C – Design/Construction Property type Building Historic function Theater Period of significance 1925-1949 Significant years 1948; 1949
This opened as Royal on September 13th, 1910. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
Reopened as Center on April 17th, 1949