Carolina Theater

443 Hay Street,
Fayetteville, NC 28301

No one has favorited this theater yet

View larger map →

Additional Info

Previously operated by: North Carolina Theatres, Paramount Pictures Inc., Stewart and Everett

Styles: Moorish

Nearby Theaters

The Moorish Revival style Carolina Theatre was opened on October 17, 1927 with Lon Chaney in “The Unknown”. It was equipped with a Robert Morton theatre pipe organ which was opened by organist Grant E. Linn. By 1941 it was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. thru their subsidiary H.F. Kincey. It was closed on October 19, 1978 with Marilyn Chambers in “Rabid” & Bradford Dillman in “Pirahna”.

On July 7, 1983 the theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains on the Register, despite being demolished to build part of City Hall on the site.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 15 comments)

raysson on June 21, 2012 at 7:15 pm

Charlie123: I will find the correct dates for when the Carolina Theater opened and closed. I’m conducting research with one of the librarians for the archives within the Cumberland County Public Library for more information. I know one person who was asking about another Fayetteville movie house downtown that was not listed on Cinema Treasures THE MIRACLE just to let you know that I added the correct information for that theater. I have the original ads from it’s 1956 grand opening as well as the original ads from the 1941 grand opening of the Colony Theater too. Please send me the photos of the Broadway and the Colony.

raysson on June 21, 2012 at 7:16 pm

“RABID” came out in 1977 and starred Marilyn Chambers. Yes,that Marilyn Chambers of “Beyond The Green Door” fame.

charlie123 on July 1, 2012 at 2:12 pm

THE LAST NIGHT OF OPERATION OF CAROLINA THEATRE WAS OCT. 19 1978.THATS THE LAST NIGHT IT WAS USED FOR A THEATRE CHARLIE123

raysson on July 3, 2012 at 7:12 am

The CAROLINA THEATRE in Downtown Fayetteville closed it’s doors forever on October 19,1978 with the double feature showings of “RABID” and “PIRAHNA” for it’s last day of operations.

This was a major Hay Street movie house for 51 years serving the Fayetteville area since it opened it’s doors in 1927 as one of the largest theatres in Eastern North Carolina. At the time of it’s closing,only three theatres remain in business in Downtown Fayetteville with the Miracle(closed in 1982),the Broadway(closed in 1981),and the Towne(closed in 1987).

raysson on July 3, 2012 at 8:42 am

The CAROLINA THEATRE opened on October 17,1927 with the opening feature attraction “THE UNKNOWN” starring Lon Chaney. At the time of it’s opening,the CAROLINA was Fayetteville’s newest theatre with it’s luxury comfort as one of the finest movie palaces in Southestern North Carolina. I have in my possession the original advertisement for it’s October 17,1927 grand opening.

MagWriter on July 23, 2012 at 5:44 pm

I am writing a story for a magazine about Fay theaters…Cameo, Dixie, Colony, Lafayette…..Was wondering if someone could email me and supply some info…

Chris1982 on January 23, 2015 at 11:06 pm

The Carolina Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in July of 1983. Status Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on July 7, 1983 Reference number 83001847 Area of significance Architecture Level of significance Local Evaluation criteria C – Design/Construction Property type Building Historic function Theater Period of significance 1925-1949 Significant year 1927