Record #:

23700

Author(s):

Kammerer, Roger

Abstract:

Most of Pitt County’s small towns like Ayden, Bethel, and Farmville, each boasted of having large movie houses in their heyday from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. Ayden once had two movie houses, “the Princess” built in 1920 by Henry H. Wrenn, and “The Myers,” built in 1945 by the Myers Theatre chain. In Bethel a theatre corporation was organized in 1935 and “The Charles” theatre was built in 1935-36. In Farmville, the “Rialto” theatre was built in 1920 by William C. Askew. In late 1920’s or early 1930’s, John I. Morgan bought the Rialto and leased it out in 1933 and the name changed to the “Paramount Theatre.” The Farmville Community Arts Council purchased the theatre for $1.00 and in March 1984 the Farmville Community Arts Center was dedicated.

Source:

Greenville Times / Pitt's Past (NC Microforms), Vol. 28 Issue 2, January 20 2010, p5

Subject(s):

Motion picture theaters--Pitt County