Dalton Theater
206 N. Washington Avenue,
Pulaski,
VA
24301
206 N. Washington Avenue,
Pulaski,
VA
24301
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Here is an article in The southwest Times that says the auditorium of the Dalton Theatre collapsed in 1982.
Early plans for Dalton and Richardson’s new theater at Pulaski were announced in the July 26, 1919, issue of The American Contractor. The announcement said that the lot on which the building would be erected was 81x180 feet. The project was to include a three-story office and commercial building as well as the theater. Only the office/commercial portion of the building is still standing. The larger part of the lot, where the theater once stood, is now an ill-kept parking lot.
From Google’s satellite view, it can be seen that the building is in the block of Washington just north of First Street, and adjacent to Peak Creek, the watercourse that runs through the town. That’s the 100 block of Washington, not the 200 block, so the correct address is most likely 106 N. Washington Avenue.
I wonder if the James C. Lombard & Co. mentioned in the NRHP data was a construction company, rather than an architectural firm? The notice in The American Contractor gave the name of the architect as John R. Forsythe, of Baltimore. I can’t find any other references to Lombard & Co. on the Internet, but Forsythe was a fairly well-known architect of the period, and is listed at Cinema Treasures as designer of the Pimlico Theatre in Baltimore. However, the nearly two-year gap between the announcement that Forsythe was drawing plans for the project and the actual opening of the theater might indicate that the original design was abandoned.
From the aerial view of the building in that picture, it doesn’t appear to have the exterior structure of a theatre. Just sayin'. And, it’s got windows everywhere (except maybe the back). And, while we’re talking about the back, there’s no tell-tale raised rear to indicate there once was a stage and curtain loft.
Some additional information: The Dalton Theater opened in July of 1921. It was designed by James C. Lombard & Company of Washington, D.C.
This is a June 2006 photo of the Dalton Theater building. Unless it was demolished in the past six months, it should be listed as closed.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979
Dalton Theatre Building ** (added 1979 – Building – #79003074)
Washington Ave., Pulaski
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Lombard,James C & Co.
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts, Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Auditorium, Business, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade
Current Sub-function: Business