Rogers Theatre
213 E. Marion Street,
Shelby,
NC
28150
213 E. Marion Street,
Shelby,
NC
28150
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 71 comments
Would love to see photos. Does Gary Kulas still own it? Hope the town is onboard.
The Rogers Theatre is well on its way to becoming a top-notch gem of a theatre and live venue event center in Shelby. I recently met one of the owners and photographed the work that is being done. It will be beautiful when completed, and they are anxious to get that done, but because of the historic covenants, it is going a bit slower. They are not discouraged, they know it will take a bit more time.
@Patsy,
According to:
https://uptownshelby.com/available-properties/commercial-for-sale/343-213-e-marion-st
the property is still for sale. Contact: Gary Kulas, 828-351-8648, HavenInTheHills.NC (at) gmail.com
What is the current status of the Rogers? Hope it has sold and is being restored to its original configuration and design.
Oh, how I remember the Rogers Theatre. This was were I saw the first “Star Wars” at back in 1977 when it first premiered. Except back then, it didn’t yet have the episode IV or “A New Hope” branding that would be added to it later on after George Lucas started making sequels to it or prequels for that matter. My late father, along with my uncles took my brother and I to see it. I will always remember the Cantina Band scene. More so now with dad’s death in August of 2014. My dad, being a professional musician and entertainer at the time, stood up in the middle of the theatre and yelled “Hey, that’s my band.” The theatre was packed and everyone started laughing their arses off after dad made that comment. Many in Shelby also knew my dad because of my late pa paw (Hubert Stewart) who lived just outside of Shelby at the time and went by the CB handle “Piano Picker,” drove trucks for the former McLean Trucking Co which used to have a terminal in Shelby, and he also had a band that played local clubs around Shelby called “Six of Clubs.” My dad and both of my uncles would sometimes sit in with him, but it was mostly comprised of him and his CB buddies. They would also come over to my pa paw’s house and jam in his music room downstairs.
For more info about purchasing this Theatre click http://www.preservationdirectory.com/HistoricRealEstate/PropertyDetail.aspx?id=2067
View the photo gallery and see all the amazing restoration that has taken place. The theatre is available for $385k
Interesting bit of information. Shelby NC was also the State Capitol for a period of time.
This theatre should be listed as “restoring”. Would like to know the month and date this theatre opened in 1936.
Hello,
Many beautiful things are happening at The Rogers Theater and we are Opening our doors on Monday, the 21st of March at 6:30 pm to show our fans and well-wishers our progress.
We will be having live entertainment throughout the evening, featuring The Tony Award Winning Baritone Opera Singer Eugene Brancoveanu and Award Winning Soprano Crystal McDaniel. There will also be Comedy, Music and Vocals from several other local entertainers. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.
There is no admission fee for this event, but it is designed as a Fund Raiser and Benefit for The Rogers Theater Restoration Fund. Any contributions made are tax deductible. A receipt for tax purposes will be provided at the event. Information on Investing is available and Units of Investment can be purchased the night of the event. We can accept cash and checks, sorry no debit/credit cards at the event. You can however, visit www.StatusAnteQuo.org prior to the event and contribute with debit/credit card on this website.
If you know of anyone else that would be interested in attending, please feel free to forward this invitation. Dress is casual to glamorous.
We sincerely hope to see you there,
Gary Kulas
The Rogers Theater
p.s. If you are a performer and would like to be on The Rogers Theater’s stage and show your talent for this event, please email me or call at 704-964-4791. We would love to have you in our cast.
Agility Nut: I have forwarded your CT question onto the present owner of the Rogers, Gary Kulas.
A 2004 photo — does anyone know what happened to the blade sign above the marquee?
http://agilitynut.com/theatres/nc.html
A photo from June 2010:
http://www.agilitynut.com/10/6/rogersth.jpg
To All CT Members: Please cast a vote for the Rogers Theater each day until May 31 @ www.refresheverything.com/rogerstheater
Hal: The Rogers Theater owner, Gary Kulas is waiting to hear from you as you didn’t provide your email address in your message or on your profile page! Thanks!!
Hal: Please contact me @ or Gary @ for further information and thank you for your help! With folks like you we have a good chance of winning this $250K Pepsi grant!
Gary,
Thank you for all the info, I have already voted on the Pepsi site regarding the grant for your project. I wish you the best in all of this. If I can help, or throw some free info for the public your way, let me know. I’m only an email away.
Consider it a Public Service Announcement.
Thanks,
Hal
I hope that every CT member who reads my post above is voting each day during the month of May for the Rogers Theater! Thank you!
Below is a letter that I received from the owner of the Rogers Theater, Gary Kulas. He has asked me to spread the word so please help him restore the art deco cinema in Shelby NC by voting in the month of April. I plan to vote and I hope everyone on CT votes to save another historical theatre! On the link there is a brief narrated video that will show the work being done, to date.
Hello,
My name is Gary Kulas and I am the new owner and developer of The Rogers Theater in Shelby, NC. If you are not familiar with The Rogers Theater, it was built in 1936 as an Art Deco Design, 650 seat movie house. It has set empty for 25 years and is now trying to gather funds for restoration.
The reason I’m emailing you is to please ask for your help. It won’t cost you a cent and will only take a couple minutes of your time. The Rogers Theater is in a voting contest for a $250k grant from the Pepsi Co. This money is crucial to the success of the theater. If you would click on Pepsi’s website www.refresheverything.com/rogerstheater to vote for our success it would mean so much to us. Once you click on the “vote for this idea” button, you’ll be transferred to a sign in page. The first time you sign in takes a couple minutes. When you come back to vote the next day, it’ll be much quicker. The site will send you back to The Rogers Theater page to vote after you’ve signed in and you’ll need to click “vote” again. You can vote once a day, everyday for up to 10 causes, but please only vote for us in the $250k category. Please remember that you must vote after you’ve signed in. Thank you so much for your help, it is greatly needed.
Gary Kulas
Another ROGERS THEATRE i did not know there were so many.
I often wondered what happen to EARL OWENSBY. But, some of his movies like BUCK STONE COUNTY PRISON were rated R. So don’t make him out to be Disney. I had a couple of his one sheets “CHALLENGE” and “DEATH DRIVER” wish i would have kept them .Drive-in Fare.
I had no idea this theatre had 1200 seats and look forward to seeing the restored Rogers in the near future. And interesting to see that CT founder, Ross Melnick added this theatre!
NewOwnerGary: I wish you well and will keep you and your crew in my prayers as I’m sure you do have an enormous task ahead, but it will all be worth while once the doors reopen. The Rogers has set far too long deserted and dark so it finally deserves this special TLC attention.
Thank you all for your positive thoughts and concern. This is Gary, the new owner of The Rogers Theater. I began restoration the day after I recieved deed to the property. September 04 09. The plan is to transform this amazing Theater into a 100+ seat upscale restaurant with a separate 300 seat Multi-Functional Performing Arts Center & Dinner Theater. All the restoration is being done respectfully and in accordance with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Treatment for Historic Properties. Any changes to the original 1936 design (minimal)will be reversable should anyone desire to do so in the future. Please visit our web site at www.rogerstheatershelby.com or email to Wish us well and keep us in your prayers. We have an enormous task ahead.
Thank you, Gary Kulas
Hey, the Rogers Theater in Shelby is finally going to be renovated. I grew up going to the Rogers theater and buying 45s at Bobby Rogers Music Store next door. I was so excited to see that somebody is going to love this wonderful place back to life. Check it out:
View link