Varsity Theatre
166 E. Main Street,
Ashland,
OR
97520
166 E. Main Street,
Ashland,
OR
97520
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The Varsity Theatre opened its doors on November 18, 1937 with Eddie Cantor in “Ali Baba Goes To Town” (unknown if extras added) plus a special address delivered by Ashland Chamber of Commerce Frank J. Van Dyke before showing. It was originally owned by Walter Leverette and managed by Lee B. Ryan. A total of more than 1,000 people crowded the theater for its grand opening attraction.
Frank C. Clark and Robert Keeney are the main architects and was both erected and constructed by Elmer N. Childers with an estimate $75,000. The original “neon” marquee features a snow-white stucco front, which extends through the lobby, and both Western Electric Mirrophonic sound and Motiograph projectors with Brenkert Enarc lamps were the original ingredients in the projection room.
Before the renovation to being a multi-plex, did the Varsity have a stage, or just a screen at the front; and if a stage, is it still there? I acquire and restore old theatres to original looks and also hold live stage events at them. you can contact me at my business email Don
Recent photos can be seen here, here, and here.
From the 1940s a postcard view of the Varsity Theater in Ashland.
we went here tonight to see IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON, great movie, great theater, though it’s a pitty it was cut up into a muliplex, it’s still nice, but I can only imagine what it looked like in it’s prime.
You can see a black and white photo of the Varsity back in 1949 here.
(http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf9r29p2g2/?query=oregon&brand=calisphere)