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. It is located at 150 West Main Street in the Washington Historic District. First a vaudeville theater was built on the second floor and in 1928 a theater for "talkies" was constructed behind it.
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." Beth Strange is its Executive Director.
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.
The theater was named for its owner, C. A. Turnage. Various events are held at the theater. East Carolina University utilizes the theater for music and art events. An oral history included recollection of George Diamond's soda shop beneath the theater.
Turnage Incorporated it as New Theatre Inc. It appears in 1922 state department of revenue report.
It was succeeded by the Cinema III at Washington Square Mall in 1976. In 1994, "adaptive rehabilitation" of the theater building was planned. It features on a Ghost Walk history tour.
References
- ^ Camp, Louis Van (June 11, 2000). Washington, North Carolina. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738505565 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Historic Turnage Theatre gets much-needed roof repair". WRAL.com. February 25, 2021.
- "Turnage Theater | Your Audio Tour". youraudiotour.com.
- Rumley, Vail Stewart (July 7, 2016). "Taking a tour through historic downtown Washington". Washington Daily News.
- "Big Theatre in Little Washington". WRAL.com. February 27, 2023.
- Writer, Deborah Griffin, Staff (13 August 2019). "Turnage Theater in Washington is a mine of gems". Reflector.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Life on the Pamlico: Preserving North Carolina's Coastal Heritage Through Oral Histories". The College. June 10, 2000 – via Google Books.
- 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.
- Revenue, North Carolina Dept of (June 10, 1922). "Report" – via Google Books.
- 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.
- "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
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