Tupelo Community Theatre

Built in 1912 as the Comus Theatre, it was exclusively the home of vaudeville. By 1914 it was screening movies. In June 1944 it suffered damage from a fire. Later, as part of the Saenger circuit, it was a movie and vaudeville house by 1924 renamed Strand Theatre. It was renamed the Lyric Theatre when it became part of the Malco chain of movie houses in the 1930’s.

Renovations to the theatre at that time included a new marquee and an Art Deco style redesign for the interior. The Lyric Theatre continued on with stage shows in addition to its film screenings.

The Lyric Theatre remained a popular movie house until 1984 when it was abandoned and nearly demolished. The Tupelo Community Theatre came along, purchased the old Lyric Theatre, and it has remained open ever since. Live stage productions are now the focal point of the theatre.

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

kpdennis on May 6, 2009 at 2:37 pm

The community playhouse formerly known as the Lyric – a rainy day in Tupelo, summer 1996:
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GeorgeStrum on January 8, 2010 at 10:43 am

On this 75th Anniversary of Elvis’s birth I wonder if he actually ever attended this theatre as a boy or performed on its stage. Anyone know?

alaga65 on April 22, 2015 at 2:10 pm

There’s an old Tupelo legend that Elvis had his first kiss in the Lyric Theater’s balcony. Can’t vouch for this, for obvious reasons, but there you go.

SethG on January 13, 2022 at 11:36 am

1919 map calls it the Comus, 1924 map calls it the Strand.

Joe Vogel on June 12, 2024 at 12:23 am

The August 26, 1916 Moving Picture World mentions the Comus Theatre in Tupelo. The Comus was listed in the 1912-1913 Cahn guide with 900 seats plus 12 boxes. It was also listed in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory. The July 6, 1922 issue of Manufacturers Record reported a $100,000 loss from a fire at the Comus Theatre, Tupelo. The house had been under lease to the Hatcher Amusement Company.