DeKalb Theatre

306 Gault Avenue North,
Fort Payne, AL 35967

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DeKalb Theatre

Viewing: Photo | Street View

The DeKalb Theatre was listed in 1941 with a seating capacity of 350. In 1950, it is listed with with a seating capacity of 500. It is still in use and has been gracefully restored as a multi-purpose venue.

Contributed by Ross Melnick

Recent comments (view all 13 comments)

lostmemory
lostmemory on May 28, 2007 at 12:12 am

This is a 2007 photo of the DeKalb Theater.

alabamablues
alabamablues on August 2, 2007 at 5:49 pm

Our band is performing at this Theatre Saturday Aug 4th, 2007. I plan on taking several pics of the inside and posting them soon…
Justin www.TheAlabamaBluesBrothers.com

lostmemory
lostmemory on August 16, 2007 at 3:28 am

This is another view of the DeKalb Theater.

lostmemory
lostmemory on October 22, 2007 at 7:27 pm

Here is a nice recent photo of the DeKalb Theater.

lostmemory
lostmemory on September 21, 2008 at 3:25 am

Theater with bleachers seats 400 people. Tables & chairs without bleachers seats 150. Source

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on April 5, 2009 at 7:29 am

1987 Photo of the DeKalb Theatre.
View link

lostmemory
lostmemory on April 13, 2009 at 6:50 pm

Another photo can be seen here.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 20, 2009 at 4:06 am

The increased seating capacity in 1950 over 1941 was probably the result of a rebuilding that took place in 1950. The January 7 issue of Boxoffice said that the DeKalb was being “torn down” to make way for a new theater that was expected to open within four months. The project apparently took longer than expected, as Harry Hart’s column in the August 26 issue of Boxoffice reported that the DeKalb was expected to open about August 31.

From the various photos linked above I suspect that the building was not torn down, and that the new theater was probably built within the existing walls. That classic facade looks like it would date from the 1920s or earlier, though in parts of the south old styles lingered long after they were discarded in most other places, so maybe it really was rebuilt to look like that in 1950. Harry Hart’s column said the rebuilt DeKalb would have a porcelain front, but that must refer to the panels on the ground floor. The upper part of the building appears to be faced in terracotta.

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