Sanlee Theatre

William N. Tullock ran the Dreamland Theatre in town until outside interests opened the more modern, Wanda Theatre in 1913. With the town not quite big enough to support the Dreamland Theatre, Wanda Theatre, and Airdrome, Tullock merged with the Wanda Theatre and the Tullock Hotel in the silent era of films. The Wanda Theatre replaced the Dreamland Theatre, the town’s first movie house.

Captain Lashley and W.A. Maness took on the Wanda Theatre merging their names to create the La-Ma Theatre which was shortened to the L-Ma Theatre in 1914. In 1923, a new operator reopened it as the Allen Theatre with Harold Lloyd in “Safety Last” on June 22, 1923. Just months later, the venue returned to the Wanda Theatre nameplate. Competition from the Temple Theatre and the advent of sound did in the Wanda Theatre.

Dewitt Holt wired the 20-year old facility reopening it as the Sanlee Theatre on February 25, 1932 with Wheeler & Woolsey in “Peach ‘o Reno”. R.P. Rosser took on the Temple Theatre and Sanlee Theatre closing the latter in 1942. It was damaged on September 19, 1954 when nitrate film caught fire in the projection box during a showing of “Paris Nights” starring Jeannette Batti. In October 1954 the theatre was further damaged by Hurricane Hazel. The theatre basically sat unused until the City bought the property for a parking lot. In 1960, the theater was demolished and is still the site of the Sanlee Parking Lot.

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