Dowd Center Theatre
120 S. Main Street,
Monroe,
NC
28112
120 S. Main Street,
Monroe,
NC
28112
4 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Dowd Center Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Erle G. Stillwell
Functions: Concerts, Live Music Venue, Live Performances, Movies, Special Events
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Center Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
704.282.4577
Nearby Theaters
The Center Theatre opened on February 9, 1940 and had a seating capacity of 846. The movie shown on opening day was “Remember the Night” with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray.
The Center Theatre closed as twin screen movie theatre in December of 1991 and the auditorium was later returned to a single screen space. Renovation work began in 2013. It reopened in April 2022 as the Dowd Center Theatre, presenting multi-use events and movies.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 40 comments)
Don: I enjoyed reading your lengthy post. Have been to the Polk Theatre in Lakeland and heard that theatre organ. Don’t know if you are a new CT member. If so, welcome aboard.
Don: The Center is on FB. If you are on FB, please post your theatre organ knowledge there too!
I plan on calling the theatre and arrange a tour on behalf of Cinema Treasures this month!
Patsy and Don, Thank you for your interest in the Center Theatre. Patsy, you may call anytime to arrange a tour. My number is 704 458 8881. Don, I am an organbuilder in the Charlotte area with 37 years of experience. I have considered all the issues you address and feel confident we can make this instrument work in the space. Haven’t determined an operating system yet and am working with my consultant, Scott Foppiano about that. My work includes installation of the very large, 205 rank Moller at Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC. I currently represent Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, KS. Would love to have conversation with you regarding our 3/13 Robert Morton. Please feel free to use the above number to reach me. You may also contact me at . Thanks both for your comments!
Cinema Treasures indicates the Center Theatre was equipped with 2 screens and seating for 400. In reality the theatre originally had seating for 846 including the balcony. The balcony was partitioned off and fitted with a second screen for a few years. That screen was removed several years ago.
So good to meet Patsy this week! Thank you for your interest in our project and for a wonderful visit. We look forward to many more encounters.
The report is in from our structural engineer and the Center Theatre gets a passing grade! Now we can move it forward. Stay tuned!
Hello, I’m currently a staff organist at the Lafayette organ in Suffern NJ., built a digital 2nd chamber for the organ and now co-crew chief of the organ. I will be moving to Salisbury NC this summer and would like to help with your Robert Morton project. My page explains some of my projects at: http://theatreorgans.com/vtpobydon/.
Thanks and happy restoration, Eugene D Hayek
This theater has been renovated inside and out and is now called the Dowd Center Theatre. It is a multi-use performance space with movie screenings planned as well.
Along with its new name, the Dowd Center Theatre has a new web site.