Williston Theatre

Joe Vogel on July 29, 2024 at 2:00 pm

This house probably opened in 1927, if this item in the January 1 issue of Moving Picture World that year is correct: “WILLISTON, FLA.—George W. Livingston, of Newberry, has contract for theatre to be erected on site of Reddick Building on Noble avenue for Williston Development Corporation.”

There was a bit more detail in the item that had been published by Manufacturers' Record of November 18, 1926: “Fla., Williston George W. Livingston, Contr., Newberry, has contract for construction of concrete theater building on site of Reddick Building, Noble Ave., owned by Williston Development Corp.; plans call for remodeling buildings and erection of theater in rear, with lobby connecting to Noble Ave.”

The 250-seat Williston Theatre listed in the 1926 FDY was probably the predecessor to this house. If it was indeed on Main Street, as our description says, then it must have been an entirely different theater from the Arcade.

It’s likely that the new, larger theater on Noble Avenue never operated as the Williston, as the 1927 and 1928 FDYs list only a house called the Regent at Williston, and then only the Arcade in 1929 and later. Williston itself is not listed in 1930, but it returns in 1931 when the Arcade is the only house listed, and with 400 seats. The Arcade is listed as closed in 1932 and 1933, then Williston itself vanishes from the FDY again until 1938.