Sheff Theatre

Basil V. and Leonora Sheffield had operated the Strand Theatre in Poplarville for 15 years. The Strand’s lineage dated back to the silent era in Poplarville under the names of the Poplarville Theatre and the Gaiety Theatre. But that history came to a halt on December 26, 1948 when a major fire wiped out an entire downtown block that destroyed the Strand Theatre and a number of other businesses.

The Sheffields tried again, starting from scratch where post-War shortages led them to create a pre-fabricated Quonset Hut style theatre. The Sheff Theatre launched on May 20, 1949. Five years later, the theatre switched to widescreen and air conditioning. But just months later, another fire totaled the theater on November 7, 1954 just after business hours killing one first responder.

It was rebuilt but following Mr. Sheffield’s death, Leonora Sheffield operated the Sheff Theatre until her passing in 1968. Longtime employee Verma Thigpen Boothe worked in the theatre until 1970 in the concession stand while her husband - a projectionist since 1919 - retired at the Sheff Theatre in 1972. The theatre closed not long after that in 1976. The building was later demolished in favor of a modern bank that was still operational in the 2020’s.

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