Turnage Theatre

The Turnage Theatre is a historic circa 1916 theater building in Washington, North Carolina. It originally had a shoe store on its ground floor and a vaudeville theater upstairs. Later a movie theater was added.[1] It is located at 150 West Main Street in the Washington Historic District.[2] First a vaudeville theater was built on the second floor and in 1928 a theater for "talkies" was constructed behind it.[3]

Raleigh based WRAL-TV states: "The importance of the Historic Turnage Theatre and its preservation is paramount to both the local community and North Carolina at large. A North Carolina designated historic site and a contributing structure to the Historic District of Washington, the Historic Turnage Theatre is a 32,000-square-foot building that houses two theaters."[2] Beth Strange is its Executive Director.[2]

Established as a vaudeville theater, it was one the first movie theatres in the eastern part of the state. Restored in the 1990s, it is now home to Arts of the Pamlico.[4]

The theater was named for its owner, C. A. Turnage.[2] Various events are held at the theater.[5] East Carolina University utilizes the theater for music and art events.[6] An oral history included recollection of George Diamond's soda shop beneath the theater.[7]

Turnage Incorporated it as New Theatre Inc.[8] It appears in 1922 state department of revenue report.[9]

It was succeeded by the Cinema III at Washington Square Mall in 1976.[1] In 1994, "adaptive rehabilitation" of the theater building was planned.[10] It features on a Ghost Walk history tour.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Camp, Louis Van (June 11, 2000). Washington, North Carolina. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738505565 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c d "Historic Turnage Theatre gets much-needed roof repair". WRAL.com. February 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Turnage Theater | Your Audio Tour". youraudiotour.com.
  4. ^ Rumley, Vail Stewart (July 7, 2016). "Taking a tour through historic downtown Washington". Washington Daily News.
  5. ^ "Big Theatre in Little Washington". WRAL.com. February 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Writer, Deborah Griffin, Staff (13 August 2019). "Turnage Theater in Washington is a mine of gems". Reflector.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Life on the Pamlico: Preserving North Carolina's Coastal Heritage Through Oral Histories". The College. June 10, 2000 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Commissioners, North Carolina Board of State Tax (June 10, 1917). "Report of the North Carolina Corporation Commission as a Board of State Tax Commissioners". Edwards & Broughton printing Company, state printers. – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Revenue, North Carolina Dept of (June 10, 1922). "Report" – via Google Books.
  10. ^ History, North Carolina State Department of Archives and (June 10, 1994). "Biennial Report of the North Carolina State Department of Archives and History". The Department – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Waterfront Walks & Historic Talks in Washington". Our State. March 9, 2023.

35°32′34″N 77°03′22″W / 35.54275°N 77.05604°W / 35.54275; -77.05604