Art Theatre
119 E. Beverley Street,
Staunton,
VA
24401
119 E. Beverley Street,
Staunton,
VA
24401
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Built in 1895 as an Odd Fellows Lodge, it became a furniture store. The Art Theatre was opened in 1909. By 1914 it was operated by J.W. Myrtle and the theatre was used for both vaudeville and motion pictures with the movies changing daily. It was still open in 1921.
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Chris1982
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The address should be changed to 119 E Beverly. The name of the street was changed from Beverly to Main around 1904, and was changed back sometime after 1921. It was Beverly again by 1982, when the NRHP did their survey of downtown.
The building was constructed in 1895 as an Odd Fellows lodge, with the first floor used as retail. The 1909 map shows a furniture store there. This theater is still open on the 1921 map. The building has suffered a disgusting cheap ‘Tudor’ remodel. The storefront was the home of a local arts organization, but may be vacant.
For some reason, all the maps show the building as three stories, but it is now four. It appears the building was altered considerably during the mid-century remodel, and what was probably a tall third floor was split.
Description is misleading.
This was not the first theater in Staunton, there are at least three on the 1909 Sanborn.
It was not built by Mr. Myrtle, as the building was at least 14 years old when the theater opened.
The original architect was T.J. Collins, but he likely had nothing to do with the later conversion of the ground floor to a theater.
I think there was a bit of an over-correction here. This was a furniture store in 1909. I have no reason to doubt the original 1913 date, and the owner’s name (J.W. Myrtle) didn’t need to be removed. Since Myrtle owned the Wonderland on Augusta St in 1908, it’s likely he moved here after closing that one, since the Wonderland was definitely gone by 1914.