Mart Theatre
Public Square,
Calhoun City,
MS
38916
Public Square,
Calhoun City,
MS
38916
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To follow up on the my post from April 14, 2025: careful examination of the photos and Google Earth show that the single door at the left side of the entrance opens into a space approximately 10 feet wide and 25 feet deep. That’s just big enough for a short steep stairway to a Jim Crow era segregated balcony. The practice would not have been uncommon at the time and place of the theater’s opening, though the balcony would have been very small and it would seem there was no secondary egress. Note, this is pure conjecture on my part.
Thirty five years after seeing the Mart Theatre, a business trip took me through Calhoun City, Mississippi in April 2025. It is disappointing to see the interior, roof and floor, completely, utterly gone. Nothing remains except the 4 exterior walls, and 4 tragic emergency exit doors on the back. The buildings on either side are in a similar condition.
The last advertisement for The Mart I found was at the end of 1977. I found no ads in 1978 or afterwards. The line-up of films is sad, with X-rated films on the days leading up to Christmas followed by 3 days of “The Bad News Bears Breaking Training.” Then the last shows were an X-rated double feature on New Years Eve: “The Innocence of Susan” and “Love Lips.” After that last change-over bell, it looks like the arc lamps were shut off for good, the last of the film cans were sent back to the distributor, the last of popcorn went home with the manager who started looking for a new job a couple of days later.
It’s a story that played out in thousands of small towns all over the country.
Need streetview added. The theater is on Public Square. I can’t figure out the crazy numbering system they use (everything on all 4 sides is 1—), but it’s on the northern half of the east side. Derelict, no marquee, looks like it was briefly used as a church.
JF Wofford was short for James Fox Wofford he was my great uncle if anyone has a photo of this or any other of his theaters I would happily pay for copy fees & postage
The Mart was part of the Wofford Circuit in the early sixties. J.F. Wofford was the owner, headquartered in Europa, MS.