Asheboro’s 77-Year-Old Sunset Theatre Back in the Spotlight
asheboro, culture, foster hughes, george washington carver enrichment center, john ogburn, mayor david jarrell, sunset theatre, timken corp.,
The old Sunset Theatre is taking a lead role in Asheboro’s downtown revitalization. Already back in business‚ plans are in place for an extensive renovation of the 1929 movie theater.
“When it’s finished‚ it will be a showplace‚ the crown jewel of our downtown‚” says Foster Hughes‚ parks and recreation director.
Timken Corp. recently presented Asheboro Mayor David Jarrell with a check for $75‚000 that the city will match. A feasibility study is being followed in late spring 2007 with the complete renovation.
“It will be a focal point for downtown‚” Jarrell says. “It will be a place for the whole community. It’s especially exciting for older folks to see it brought back to life. Lots of people tell me what it means to them.”
Sunset Theatre showed first-run movies from the 1930s until the late 1970s‚ when it changed its name to The Flick and began showing second-run movies. The original owners sold it to developers‚ and for a while it was home to a church and other groups.
“By that time‚ the 400-seat theater and its balcony were begging to be brought back to their former glory‚” says Hughes.
It was still in good condition when the city bought the theater in December 2005 from the George Washington Carver Enrichment Center.
“We cleaned it up‚ and some people thought it had already been renovated‚” Hughes says.
The many successful programs the city has put on since that time include a classic movie series‚ a concert series and the occasional play. But there is no stage lighting and only a small sound system‚ items on the list for the renovation.
Improvements also will include cleaning the façade‚ repairing the canopy roof and replacing some of the stucco. The marquee dates to the early 1940s and will once again sport flashing neon lights‚ but there is much discussion about what to do with a partially covered ornate limestone decoration found behind the marquee.
The city bought the building next door for the extra room needed to install handicap-accessible restrooms that take up to three times the space of the original restrooms. The additional property will also help in providing space for a meeting room‚ a green room‚ rehearsal area and prop and storage rooms.
Sunset Theatre will be home to the Randolph Youth Children’s Theatre and the RSVP Community Theatre‚ both affiliated with the Randolph Arts Guild.
“The city is very excited about this project‚” says John Ogburn‚ Asheboro’s city manager. “This community asset has a special place in the hearts of all citizens. It will be a centerpiece for the downtown revitalization project.”
Story by Bridget Huckabee
Photo by Michael W. Bunch
