Dixie Theater
125 E. Beverly Street,
Staunton,
VA
24401
125 E. Beverly Street,
Staunton,
VA
24401
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 17 comments
More information can be found at: https://thearcadiaproject.org/ where a description of the new 93-seat movie theater, a conference/event center, classrooms, and a café are described. The Visulite Theater in Staunton has been the only movie theater in town for a while and is supporting the efforts to get the new space launched to aid in a downtown revival.
Frazier Associates, the firm designing the renovations for the Staunton Performing Arts Center, has this web page with a description of the project and a brief slide show that includes renderings, a floor plan, and a couple of historic photographs.
1918 postcard added courtesy of George & Sharon Sproul.
3 screens on April 10th, 1981. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
I am looking for a poster for the Dixie Theater “Battle of the Bands” in 1974-75. It had Southern Cross & Cyberous and one other band. It was a great venue for new artists to perform.
The Dixie Theatre is no longer showing movies. The Visulite Cinema on N. Augusta is the only movie theatre open in Staunton.
The theater just got new seats and other improvements and now is running first run films, but its life as a movie theater is apparently going to be limited to about five more years, after which it will converted to a live performance center: http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=13672914
2010 photos of the Dixie Theatre:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
This is a real showpiece. Although the auditorium has been carved into four mini cinemas, it apparently has not inflicted much damage to the original design and could be restored to its former glory.
A 1996 view of the Dixie Theater (4) in Staunton.
The Dixie has always been a part of my life. I was Asst. Mgg. at the Dixie in 1951 and 1952, under Frank Shaffer. Many friends were made and still part of my life. Looking forward to when it will become a performing arts theatre. Gene Whitmore, Roanoke,Va.
Bring back the cool Deco vertical blade sign seen in 1955 photo!
Here is a great picture.
View link
Here is a 1955 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/znte7
Does anyone have information about the original theatre/pictures of the original theatre?
The Dixie Theater now has a website: http://www.thedixietheater.com/
The Dixie is open with three screens and the fourth should open shortly. Fresh popcorn with REAL butter, thank you very much. Currently showing through tonight “De-Lovely”, “The Notebook” and “The Manchurian Candidate” with most films changing tomorrow. The theatre is now operating as “The Dixie Theater” with volunteers supplimenting limited paid staff. New carpeting throughout (no more sticky floors!) and much, much cleaner thanks to volunteers spenidn gweeks to clean and paint. Theatre Telephone: 540-885-8445
The Dixie Theatre is scheduled to become a performing arts center which will include the showing of films on a retractable screen. Until the funds are raised for this project, it will continue to operate as a movie theatre. For details go to their website: www.stauntonperformingarts.org or go the the following website: www.staunton.va.us, go to the “Visitors” section then to the “Arts/Entertainment” section and click on “Theater” and follow the link. As soon as the “Add a Photo” feature is working again on this site, I will add images. Originally built as the New Theatre for vaudeville and for films, the theatre opened in June 1913. A major fire in 1936 destroyed the ornate interior. Noted architect John Eberson redesigned the theatre in the Art Moderne style, and the giant arhed windows along the facade were filled in at this time with decorative tiles. A third floor to the building that was destroyed by the fire was not rebuilt.