Docsouth :: Going to the Show

Center

209 West Avenue, Lenoir, North Carolina

Dates of Operation

3/2/1941* - unknown

Performance Types

movies

Capacity

855

Racial Policy

Description

mirrorphonic sound Admission: Matinee - main floor, 28 cents; balcony 15 cents Night - main floor, 39 cents; balcony 28 cents Wednesday-Saturday Main floor 28 cents Balcony 15 cents Saturday late show 28 cents children 10 cents anytime

Notes

Special Saturday matinee for children-admission 10 cents. Art Deco style with white stucco facade. 855 seat capacity, 522 auditorium, 333 balcony. seperate entrance for African American patrons with a racially segregated balcony ( seperated by a gate). Entrance to balcony for white patrons is on the left and African Americans on the right. There is no mention of the racial policy in press reports.

Building Notes

balcony projection booth is fireproof air conditioned hard of hearing aids location estimated from current address location. The Center Theater appears in Lenoir city directories from 1943 to 1968 listed at 209 West Avenue. No directories are available after 1968 until 1993, when the Center Theater is listed at 1011 West Avenue NW.

Associated Persons