Corlee Theatre

“Sheriff” Auburn Lee P. Corder and M.K. Murphy opened a multi-purpose Streamline Moderne style building at the edge of town with easy highway access to the tri-city residents of Cumberland, Benham and Lynch, as well as Whitesburg. The theatre contained a beauty shop, a diner, and the Corlee Theatre that opened in September of 1947. The $250,000 building had its own parking lot and had the area’s only seating for African American patrons - in its balcony.

The Corlee Theatre appears to have ceased movie programming in 1955 without converting to widescreen projection. It was used for live events including wrestling in 1956 and was converted to retail in 1957. Safety concerns at the building were raised in 1970 indicative of a building in jeopardy. The building has since been demolished.

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