DeKalb Theatre
306 Gault Avenue North,
Fort Payne,
AL
35967
306 Gault Avenue North,
Fort Payne,
AL
35967
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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
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
This is a 2007 photo of the DeKalb Theater.
Here is a photo.
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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
This is another view of the DeKalb Theater.
Here is a nice recent photo of the DeKalb Theater.
Theater with bleachers seats 400 people. Tables & chairs without bleachers seats 150. Source
1987 Photo of the DeKalb Theatre.
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Another photo can be seen here.
DeKalb Theater photo
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.