Rogers Theatre
213 E. Marion Street,
Shelby,
NC
28150
213 E. Marion Street,
Shelby,
NC
28150
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Just a heads up on the Rogers Theater. I stumbled upon this link last night http://rogerstheatershelby.com/
and found a little info. I’m researching this now, because there is little info available in regards to who is doing what. The local media have not mentioned this, and I discovered the website linked above was registered February 28, 2009.
If anyone here discovers anything, let me know, please. I’ll be writing about this soon.
Thanks
Earl Owensby had premier’s of many of his movies at the Rogers Theater. It was also used in the prodution of several of his movies. Back in 1982 i worked on a movie that he shot there called “Brother Dave Gardner Live and In Concert” If you would like to see what the theater looked like then you can see it in that movie. It is for sale at http://www.earlowensby.com/gardner.html
I think you may find some clips of Brother Dave on youtube, he was a very funny man.
Earl Owensby was the father of film making in North Carolina and one of the first people to exploit the foreign film market.
His films contained no nudity, profanity, and the good guy always won. His films have been dubbed in many foreign languages and are still in demand today. The last time i stopped by his studio a year or so ago he had just reprinted some of his films and had them canned and waiting for ups to pickup and deliver to Russia.
In many ways he was way ahead of Hollywood. 3D movies are once again in the theaters and he tried to bring 3D movies back in 1982 with a movie called “Rottweiler” aka “Dogs From Hell”. He produced a number of 3D movies during the 80’s.
When i was a kid i remember going to several movies at the old Rogers Theater. Back then it was segregated, whites in the main theater, and blacks in the balcony. If you look in the pictures that are posted above you will see a white door to the left of the main entrance. That was the entrance that black people used to go to the balcony. There used to be a water fountain right inside that door if my memory serves me that had a sign on it “Blacks Only” Their also used to be a sign outside that door that said the same thing. I remember getting in trouble for drinking out of that fountain one time when i was little. I didn’t understand what the big deal was then and i still don’t today. I just figured it was one of them adult deals that us kids did not understand. Last time i was in there that sign was still inside that door.
That vertical marquee with the name Don Gibson, in small writing, was not even there so it had been taken down by someone. The only marquee still there was the horizontal marquee with the words..“Now Showing…Patton”. I don’t know when that movie was shown or why it would still be up there on the marquee??
And when clicking on the name “Charles C. Benson” the only theatre that is listed is the Rogers Theatre.
Now we have to see if we can find out more information about a Charles C. Benson who supposedly was the architect for this theatre.
“They plan to compile a book of experiences from anyone who went to the theater. The book will be written concurrently with the restoration of the theater.”
And again, I wonder what happened to the book of Roger Theatre experiences that the town was to compile? I’m sure the 2 ladies I met at the local restaurant could contribute to that future publication…if and when the theatre gets renovated!
That’s a good question now that this Mr. Owensby has entered the illusive picture! BTW, where did you find the above quoted information? It’s interesting that the quote mentions “outdoor drive-in theaters throughout the South”. It just so happens..I was told during my visit to Shelby that the town still has a drive-in theatre outside of town though I didn’t go investigate that lead…will in March though! I learned of this drive-in information while chatting with 2 local ladies who grew up in Shelby. They were sitting at the next booth over at a local restaurant that the Mayor recommended for lunch that day…..Pleasant City Wood Fired Grill. In fact, the one lady told me that she remembers going to see the movie, Gone With The Wind at the Rogers. When I told them why I was in town that day to see the Rogers they said they’d love to see the Rogers again. I wasn’t able to tell them what time I’d be taking the tour so they weren’t able to meet me which turned out to be 4:00 that afternoon!
Earl Owensby was a film producer who did use the theatre at some point in time though not sure in what capacity.
“I don’t think the Gibson name was up there for more than a few months, just long enough for emotions to boil to the surface. Mr. Gibson may have been alive then, but I’m not sure at all. The Rogers name that is up right now has been there all along. I think there were some photo shopped pictures around for a while as well. I believe Earl Owensby never changed the name on the marquee, but again, that is influenced by my newcomer status here.”
Wade Nichols, Executive Director Uptown Shelby Association
The following remarks came to me via email with permission to post.
The Rogers family had threatened litigation to prevent the Gibson name appearing on the building. Destination Cleveland County was not yet firm as a 501 © 3 and were not in a position to let donor money be used on such issues. The Flick was owned outright by the City and they contributed the building, along with a good amount of direct cash. The Flick had been used as an Antique consignment store of good quality. That operation moved across the square to a large storefront near the First Baptist Church.
Best regards,
Wade Nichols, Executive Director Uptown Shelby Association
Caveat: I’m pretty new to town, but this is my best take on all the things I’ve heard.
I think that perhaps when Mr. Gibson was still living he may have added his name to the Rogers Theatre as it was on the Rogers about 3-4 years ago when I first visited Shelby. I wondered then what “the scoop” was on that sign. So when and if the Rogers ever gets renovated the name will be ROGERS and the Don Gibson will be down Marion Street and around the corner to S. Washington.
LM: I won’t sleep until I know the answer either. I can tell you that the Don Gibson sign is not on the Rogers anymore though the renovation work isn’t far enough along to have any sign reading Don Gibson on the former State/Flick theatre yet. I hope to return to Shelby in March and should be able to report more on-site evaluations then. In the meantime, I have posted your question(s) to the 2 men I met while in Shelby.
Chuck: Yes, the heading should read “closed” rather than “closed/renovated”.
The exterior and interior of the Rogers is most definitely art deco as I viewed many art deco style round glass ceiling lights above the auditorium and balcony area during my tour of the Rogers thanks to the Executive Director of the Uptown Shelby Association, Mr. Wade Nichols. The auditorium has seats, but they are not the original seats when the theatre was built in 1936. I asked about the name of the man who was the architect, Charles C. Benson and was told that name is in question!?! The interior didn’t show any signs of mold on the seats as I held my flashlight though was told the original stage curtain was in the basement “folded up”. I didn’t go into the basement, but did venture to the balcony area to see no evidence of seats. A look at the projection booth showed no signs of at least one vintage Simplex projector..only a toilet with the seat in the up position! There was plaster everywhere that had fallen off the walls and ceilings including the ladies room. A local told me that the theatre wasn’t in good shape when he went to movies at the Rogers years ago so I’d say the condition of this theatre today has been like this for far too long. I just hope the citizens of Shelby realize they have an art deco gem in their midst and eventually decide to focus their theatre attention on this other theatre in their town, too! The building is structurally sound with minimal roof leakage, if any. The stage area was deep with no evidence of an orchestra pit. Hard to say if an organ ever existed in this theatre’s past. There was a catwalk above the stage that could be seen with the help of flashlights. Ceiling was painted black and was peeling everywhere! The side walls were covered in acoustical material that depicted 3 large curved shapes on each side.
LM: I haven’t received an answer as to why the change in venues, but will…in time. In the meantime, I can report that the Rogers is not undergoing any type of renovation at the present time though perhaps someday it will. The effort and focus is to restore the former State which was later named the Flick Theatre on S. Washington near uptown Shelby. The effort is there and the theatre will be named the Don Gibson Theatre. Mr. Gibson is a native son who is no longer living though his widow is still with us and is involved with the work being done at the former State/Flick. Mr. Gibson wrote many songs for the late Patsy Cline. Eventually the courthouse(orpart of it)on the town square will be turned into the Earl Scruggs Center as Mr. Scruggs was also a native son of Shelby.
Also, I may have failed to explain that when Alison referred to the Flick she alos called it the Don Gibson Theatre though the Rogers was at one time also called the Don Gibson Theatre. When the Rogers get renovated I hope they keep the name…..Rogers. They should to avoid any name confusion.
I also noticed that one of the CT founders, Ross Melnick added this theatre.
Correction: photo, not photos
After viewing the phtos that LM posted I read that this Don Gibson is no longer with us.
To clear things up, if I might…..the Rogers renovation is on hold until the Flick Theatre is finished and then it isn’t a sure thing, but hopefully, in time, the Rogers will get renovated.
I also hope that, in time, the Rogers Theatre will be renovated and used though at the moment the focus and renovation effort is being directed towards the Flick Theatre a few blocks from the Rogers. I found this all out through one phone call/internet search and I haven’t even arrived in Shelby yet! The above Shelby Star site offers a brief sound video (though no commentary) of the work being done almost “as we speak”!
View link
I just found this about the Flick Theatre which will be the Don Gibson Theatre in Shelby NC. It will be used as a music venue. I recall that Don Gibson is or was a country music singer possibly from Shelby NC.
http://local.shelbystar.com/dgt/
Chuck/LM: Oh yes, after my visit! When talking to the lady in Shelby she also told me that the theatre that is being renovated will be called the Don Gibson Theatre.
Ah yes….that elusive white organ! LOL! BTW, a lady named Alison at Uptown Shelby Association just told me via our phone conversation that the word “renovating” is probably not the word to describe the Rogers at the present time. There is another theatre in town that is being completely renovated 2 blocks over in the Historic Shelby District. The Rogers Theatre renovation is not ongoing at the moment so the “bring your flashlight” comment is good advice. Will let you know if I get to see the Rogers Theatre interior!