Pitman Theatre
629 Broad Street,
Gadsden,
AL
35901
629 Broad Street,
Gadsden,
AL
35901
3 people
favorited this theater
The Pitman Theatre opened on September 26, 1947 with Yvonne De Carlo in “Slave Girl”, and was designed by Birmingham based architect David O. Whilldin. In 1963, a ‘Hollywood’ type premiere of “To Kill A Mockingbird” was held for Mary Badham & Phillip Alford, child actors from this area (they returned 45 years later for an encore showing). The Pitman Theatre closed in 1983, and was willed to the City of Gadsden after its owner passed away in 1986. It sat vacant and in a state of disrepair until efforts to restore it were begun in 1997.
The exterior has been almost completely restored and work is continuing on the interior. The original lobby and projection booth are still in place, but the auditorium had to be gutted because of the severe damage it had sustained.
Current plans for the theater are for conversion into a multi-purpose community center.
Contributed by
Tom Banks
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
This December 2008 article states that events are being held at the Pitman, but seating is limited to 300 and there’s no way to control the temperature. A recent Google photo showed a weddding announcement on the marquee, so there must be a few intrepid souls who have booked the Pitman for their affair.
http://tinyurl.com/7uacsp
1983 Photo of the Pitman Theatre.
View link
The Pitman was still open in this 1982 photo.
Here are more 1983 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3
The city is moving forward with renovations to the Pitman to convert it to a multipurpose facility: View link and residents share some memories of the Pitman here: View link
That is good news,very nice looking theatre,great marquee and vertical good luck to them.
Great looking 1982 Marquee!
You gotta love that marquee.
Jan 8 1970 has “ALASKAN SAFARI” playing. With 007 coming in “ON HER MAJESTYS SECRET SERVICE” Jan 14 .
Jan4 1955 Jack Webb in “DRAGNET”.It was also a Georgia Theatre in the seventies.