Williams Theater
360 Keller Street,
Ashdown,
AR
71822
360 Keller Street,
Ashdown,
AR
71822
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2009 photo of the Williams Theatre.
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Info from Ken Roe, both the Dixie and the Williams were part of the K. Lee Williams Theatre chain. The theatre chain was headquartered in Oklahoma City, Ok.
1984 photo of the Williams Theatre.
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Ah ha!! Do the above search but put “Theatre” instead of “Theater” and you will find some interesting things. One site shows a scan of an old November 12, 1938 newspaper and it states:
“Burton Walker, Dixie Theatre, Ashdown, did some remodeling of his theatre this week, moved the screen back eight feet and installed three rows of seats.”
BTW I just submitted the theater here at CT but once they add it, I’ll have to submit the proper name “theatre”.
Okay, I’m taking back my compliment. Just kidding.
Detective work? Hardly. ;) I went to Google and did this search:
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Great detective work. You can add the Dixie Theater to Cinema Treasures if you like.
Ah ha, and here’s the answer:
“On the east side of the newspaper office was The Dixie Theater. Built in 1915, it was a silent movie theater. In 1947, a theater was built on Keller Street. The K. Lee Williams Theater was a “talkie,†unlike the Dixie Theater on Commerce which was a silent movie theater. It was unique in design also. It was a very tall structure with art deco styling on the front part of the structure and a Quonset hut on the rear. ”
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In 1951 the Dixie is still listed with 344 seats and the Williams Theater is listed with no seating given. It probably had just opened or was about to open.
No address is given for the Dixie Theater. It is listed in the 1950 Film Daily Yearbook with 344 seats.
What is the address of the Dixie and what is your source of the listing of that theater? There easily could have been another theater or it may have been the original name of this one. It may have just changed owners shortly after opening.
The only theater listed for Ashdown, AR in 1950 is the Dixie Theater. Is Dixie a previous name or a different theater?
The address is 360 Keller Street. Check out the Google Maps view of it. That long white building where the “A” is pointing in front of is it.
Nice photos. Style should be Quonset Hut. Any idea what the address is or the name of the street that this theater is located on?
This theater is not demolished as it’s listed (as of the date of this post). Click here to view pictures I just took of it today.
A 1987 view of the former Williams Theater building.