A couple of years ago I was invited to Yanceyville, North Carolina to check out the old Caswell Theatre. The owners were going to restore the building into a coffee shop/brewery. They thought I would like to see it before work was done on it.
The theatre still had the segregated entrance. It was a side door, with a small ticket booth. Narrow stairs led up to the balcony seating. The door on the left was the segregated entrance.
The building was built in the late 1800s and originally operated as a store. The theatre opened in 1938 and was owned by the North Carolina Amusement Company.
The first movie to play was ‘Stablemates’, starring Mickey Rooney.
The price of admission was $.10 for children and $.20 for adults. The theatre closed its doors in 1957. It was interesting how there was old linoleum on the floor. It was comprised of squares of games for children. I guess if they got bored before the movie started they could play.
I think transforming this building into a brewery is a great idea! It will not only breathe new life into the building, but also the town!
