Walker Theatre
Fort Gaines,
GA
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This small theatre opened in 1936 setaing 196. It played movies through 1963 when it closed. Restoration on the theatre started in 2004. It will become an “open air” theatre with only a third of the building having a roof.
The front exterior and small marquee have been restored and the neon lights are again shining brightly.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Before and after renovation photos.
http://www.agilitynut.com/p/walkert3.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/p/walkert2.jpg
This theatre is actually in Fort Gaines, Georgia. There is no Fort Gaines, Florida.
I like the pix alot. Thanks!
The Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition gives a seating capacity of 300 for the Walker Theatre, Fort Gaines, GA.
This is a 1964 obit for the woman who owned the Walker theater in 1936:
“***********************************************************************
Funeral Rites For Mrs. A. M. Walker Held Sunday
Funeral services for Mrs. Archie Mansville Walker who died Saturday, June 27,
after a long illness, were held Sunday afternoon at Fort Gaines Methodist
Church with Rev. Donald Phillips and Rev. J. E. Lackey, Jr. officiating.
Interment was in New Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Walker, the former Bessie Dunn, was born May 15, 1892, at Newton,
Alabama, the daughter of the late William Ellison Dunn and Sara Peters Dunn.
The family later moved to Cairo, Georgia, and she received her education
there and at the University of Georgia from which she was graduated.
Mrs. Walker moved to Fort Gaines from Blakey in 1936 and became owner and
operator of the Walker Theatre, Ft. Gaines and the Archie Theatre, Abbeville,
Ala., members of the Dunn family theatre chain. The Theatre was named for
her only son, who died in World War II.
Mrs. Walker was a member of Fort Gaines Baptist Church, serving as choir
member until the time of her death. She made valuable contributions to the
musical and civic culture of the community.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Ward Bennett, Fort Gaines; three
grandchildren, Susan, Bess, and Katie Bennett; a sister, Mrs. J. C. Peters,
Blakely; four brothers, William Ellison Dunn, Donalsonville; C. Spurgeon
Dunn, Chattahoochee, Florida; Robert Harris Dunn, Camilla; George J. Dunn,
Oakland, California; and several nieces and nephews.
Bryan Funeral Home, of Blakely, was in charge of arrangements. Serving as
pallbearers were: Dr. Homer P. Wood, Tom Best, J. E. Coleman, D. T. Smith,
Herbert McKissack, T. H. Mills, Roy Neves, Fort Gaines, and Bernard Herring,
Blakely. Honorary pallbearers, were D. C. Brumbalow, Fort Gaines and Stacy
McCorkle, Metter.
Source: Volume LXXXVIII – 34. The News Record Fort Gaines, Georgia,
Thursday, July 2, 1964. Front Page".
Here is a recent photo of the Walker Theater.
This is another recent photo of the Walker.