As a student at Harding in Searcy, any time we wanted to see a “real” movie, we’d make the 50-minute drive to the Rave. The Searcy Cinema 8 is notoriously lackluster and also happens to be owned by the Matt Smith mentioned above.
This is my hometown. When I moved there in 2004, the Rialto’s lights were mostly still working. Now, I think just one neon bar lights up at night. I interviewed the theater’s owner (Victor Weber) a couple years ago. He showed me that the building’s walls are several inches thick. He also still uses an antique ticket dispenser at the box office window. Weber used to own lots of other theaters in the county (most of them closed or gone by now).
This theater was gutted by fire a couple months ago. I haven’t been to Beebe to inspect the damage, but the paper I worked for reported it as a total loss. I wrote a story on its history and was able to go inside – there were holes in the ceiling and junk all over the floor, but it did have its original seats.
Just saw “Muppets” here the other day. Small screens, but great atmosphere! Owners are apparently looking to sell theater and train new owners.
As a student at Harding in Searcy, any time we wanted to see a “real” movie, we’d make the 50-minute drive to the Rave. The Searcy Cinema 8 is notoriously lackluster and also happens to be owned by the Matt Smith mentioned above.
In Searcy, everyone calls him “Slick.”
I am fairly certain it is completely gone now.
This is my hometown. When I moved there in 2004, the Rialto’s lights were mostly still working. Now, I think just one neon bar lights up at night. I interviewed the theater’s owner (Victor Weber) a couple years ago. He showed me that the building’s walls are several inches thick. He also still uses an antique ticket dispenser at the box office window. Weber used to own lots of other theaters in the county (most of them closed or gone by now).
His favorite movie is “Gone With the Wind.” :)
This theater was gutted by fire a couple months ago. I haven’t been to Beebe to inspect the damage, but the paper I worked for reported it as a total loss. I wrote a story on its history and was able to go inside – there were holes in the ceiling and junk all over the floor, but it did have its original seats.