Drake Theatre
130 Tarboro Street W,
Wilson,
NC
27893
130 Tarboro Street W,
Wilson,
NC
27893
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The DocSouth page for the 1930 Carolina Theatre on Tarboro Street doesn’t say anything about Erle Stillwell designing it. He did design the 1939 Carolina Theatre on Goldsboro Street that was later renamed the Colony Theatre.
The recent opening of A. J. Price’s Carolina Theatre, which later became the Drake Theatre, was noted in the June 2, 1930, issue of The Film Daily.
The Drake Theatre closed in the mid-1970s, about the same time as the opening of the Gold Park Twin cinemas.
I have looked at LostMemory’s and Chuck1231’s links regarding a “Carolina Theatre” in Wilson and it seems that Wilson had two different Carolina Theatres. LostMemory’s link shows a photo of the 1930 Carolina Theatre along with photos of the Drake Theatre. The Drake and the 1930 Carolina appear to be the same theatre. Chuck1231’s link shows the plans for a 1939 Carolina Theatre (the Goldsboro Street theater later renamed the Colony Theatre). Apparently Wilby-Kincey built the new Carolina in 1939 and remodeled the old Carolina about the same time, renaming the latter the Drake. The Carolina/Colony Theatre has been demolished while the Carolina/Drake Theatre still stands.
I remember Stewart & Everett used to run at least two other “42nd Street”-style grindhouses in Eastern North Carolina besides the Drake. The Paramount in Kinston ran grindhouse films (but no X-rated films)from at least 1974 until its closing in 1975 or 1976, charging 99 cents adult admission. About the same time, the Tryon Theatre in New Bern also ran grindhouse films, but they also showed XXX adult films. By 1977 the Tryon was strictly porn and remained so until it closed in 1979. What I find to be unusual about the Drake (for Eastern North Carolina anyway) is that it ran porn films in close proximity to another pornhouse (Wilson Theatre).
My father was the manager of the Drake in the 1960’s. My first job was as popcorn boy for the Center and Drake theaters. *The Drake was always The Drake theater..The Carolina theater was on Goldsboro Street and eventually became The Colony Theater.
Here is another photo, undated, of The Drake. Probably mid-late 1960s. View link
If you go the the listings for the DRAKE CINEMA, PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND, you’ll see your cousin’s namesake. This was under the Odeon chain and had the most interesting of facades; a huge Galleon under full sail.
Stationed in this wonderful port city with the Royal Navy, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed watching movies in their on a lousy, cold, wet, summers day!