Webb Theatre
182 South Street,
Gastonia,
NC
28052
182 South Street,
Gastonia,
NC
28052
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Venue is now being used as a restaurant.Photo added.
The pipe organ at the Webb was a Wurlitzer, Opus #1969. It was a Style 150; two manuals and five ranks. The organ was shipped in October, 1927; it was repossessed in December of 1931 and was resold to a roller rink in Cincinnati, Ohio.
This biography of architect Hugh Edward White attributes the design of the Webb Theatre to him, and dates the project as ca.1927.
I was travelling in Charlotte this week and visited the new Nick’s Steak and Taphouse in the renovated Webb Theater. Sadly no longer showing films, though the interior salutes its past and under the kitchen is in the stage area and above it they were screening a Spencer Tracy film on unknown title. http://www.destin.com/articles/webb-53471-gaston-theater-eatery.html
Mark in N.C. DO YOU KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THE DIANA 29 DRIVE IN GASTONIA? I HAD HEARD THE OWNER HAD COME HOME AFTER CLOSING THE DRIVE-IN FOR THE NIGHT TO FIND HIS FAMILY KILLED AND HE NEVER OPENED THE DRIVE-IN UP. IT WAS A TWIN DRIVE-IN.
Here is a coupon book, circa 1950s:
http://tinyurl.com/nylewj
And I hope this theater can be returned to its original use as a theater for Gastonia!
Mark in NC: I’ve been to Gastonia to see friends and will be returning this winter to check out the former Webb lobby photos and one of the old projectors on display. Hope it is all still there!
Here is an ad from the Gastonia Gazette dated 9/12/67:
http://tinyurl.com/35qw4x
The theater was put up for auction in January 1995:
GASTONIA – Land and property owned by the estate of the late bondsman Eddie Dow went on the auction block Saturday. About 30 people showed up to bid on 15 acres in south Gaston and 10 came to bid on the old Webb Theater in downtown Gastonia. But bids for the properties didn’t satisfy the estate’s asking price. Kathleen Dow, mother of the bondsman, wouldn’t accept less than $55,000 for the Webb, which she said has a $132,000 tax value.
The city has some great vintage photos of the the theater (interior and exterior) hanging in the former lobby of the building. One of the old projectors is also on display on the steps leading to the balcony.