Center Theater
138 Sunset Avenue,
Rocky Mount,
NC
27804
138 Sunset Avenue,
Rocky Mount,
NC
27804
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: North Carolina Theatres
Architects: Erle G. Stillwell
Styles: Atmospheric
Nearby Theaters
I remember this theater being open as a kid. My fondest memory is riding by and seeing the marquee. Around and under the marquee were chasing lights. It was just a basic brick building with the theater name above the marquee.
The Center Theater was opened on June 12, 1937 with George Brent in “The Go-Getter”. It was closed on October 25, 1979 with Lung Ti in “Black Magic”. It was demolished in 1991
Contributed by
William Andersen
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
This theatre sounded very quaint in a quaint NC community. It being art deco made it very special, imo, and now it is gone forever like so many others.
I don’t see a listing for a drive-in theater in Rocky Mount, but I did find this haunting image of some long gone and derilect drive-in screen and speaker stand overtaken by weeds and the ravages of time. Anyone know what this might have been?
This theatre was an atmospheric and opened 12 June 1937.The architect was Erle G. Stillwell and the address was 138 Sunset Avenue.
To Ed Solero
I worked at the Center thru high school (1956-60) and HF Kincey also owned a drive-in there name Tower. Your photo may be the Tower or the other local drive-in, Skyvue. To the best of my knowledge, those were the only drive-ins in town.
To Bevo: I worked at the Center Theatre from 1965 through college until 1971. It was a great place to work. I cannot get the picture of the Center you posted from the late 80’s to come open. Could you please send it to my email address . Thank you.
The Center Theater opened its doors on June 12, 1937 with George Brent in “The Go-Getter” along with Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony “The Country Cousin” and the musical novelty “The Circus Comes To Town”, with opening ceremonies delivered on the air from radio station WEED-AM. It was first managed by Hal Orr and was built with an estimate $100,000.
The Center Theatre closed on October 25, 1979 with “Black Magic”.