Lyric Theatre

518 Elizabeth Street,
Waycross, GA 31501

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Georgia Theatre Company, Lucas Theaters, Paramount Pictures Inc., United Theater Enterpises Inc.

Architects: Lloyd Greer

Nearby Theaters

Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre was opened in 1923. It appears to be the work of Valdosta architect Lloyd Greer, although this is not documented. The façade of the Lyric Theatre features a broken pediment in cast stone at its center. Underneath is an elaborate cast stone cartouche of the masks of drama. Underneath this feature are three arched windows with columned supports. The brick work and fenestration of the Lyric Theatre’s façade strongly suggests Greer’s style as seen in the Moultrie Theatre (Moultrie, GA) and the Ilex Theatre (Quitman, GA). By 1934 it was operated by United Theater Enterprises Inc. The theatre was operated by Lucas and Jenkins, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures Inc. in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

The original marquee did not have an announcement board but featured exposed light bulbs around its perimeter. A Streamline Moderne style marquee was installed sometime in the 1940’s, featuring a triangular shape with a large “L” at its center and the typical complement of neon lighting. In 2018 the building stands boarded up and unused.

Contributed by John Clark McCall, Jr., Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 26, 2006 at 2:27 am

Try this site for a small picture. The thumbnails are out of order:
http://www.wayx.net/historicimages.html

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 9, 2010 at 12:22 am

April 26 1970 and “THEY SHOOT HORSES DON’T THEY” is playing.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 11, 2010 at 11:49 pm

July 9 1969 a real nice ad on"WHERE EAGLES DARE" It was cut of a Preesbook, It was an ad for that film I had never seen before.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 11, 2011 at 12:28 am

World Premiere of the “Queen For a Day” took place on April 15th, 1951
Ad on this page at View link
and
View link (front page)

zebulongrady
zebulongrady on July 31, 2013 at 9:03 pm

The Lyric was owned by Georgia Theatre Company, who also owned the other theatres in Waycross. I was in Waycross talking to a police captain that was part of the group that operates the ritz. He told me the Lyric was pretty well gutted and was owned by the same man who owned the city’s old hotel building. He told me How I could get in a back door but was unsuccessful.

zebulongrady
zebulongrady on October 9, 2013 at 6:58 pm

Stopped by the old Lyric in October, 2013. A front door was unlocked. Propped door open to get a little light in because I did not have a flashlight. Area between the front doors and the auditorium wall was only about 6 feet wide. Lots of derbis on the floor. Everything too dark to see around, but found auditorim entrance. Could see stage as light was coming in from some where, but all the side doors were closed. Stage looked very large. Took pictures with flash which turned out pretty good. Did not look like the auditorium had a lot of fallen stuff in it. Balcony stairway was littered and could not see to got up them. Kept hearing noises like curtains blowing in the wind, but saw no curtains. Will return again and will have a flashlight.

zebulongrady
zebulongrady on October 11, 2013 at 5:18 pm

After looking closely at the pictures I took, orbs (aka spirits) appeared in the pictures of the auditorium, but not in the pictures I took of the lobby and stairs. Do you suppose I had company that day?

DirtRoadDivaFoto
DirtRoadDivaFoto on November 17, 2013 at 3:51 am

Had the pleasure of taking a very short tour today with camera in hand.. I found my new love… Inside old buildings.. I just love the “Lyric”.. and I knew it was going to be spooky as soon as we opened the door.. IT WAS FREEZING!

zebulongrady
zebulongrady on April 27, 2015 at 3:46 pm

To DirtRoadDivaFoto -If you took pictures, please post them if you can.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 22, 2019 at 4:30 am

This page from the University of Northern Florida’s Historical Architecture Gallery says that the Lyric Theatre was built in 1923. An earlier house also called the Lyric Theatre was in operation by 1914, when it was one of four movie theaters listed at Waycross in the American Motion Picture Directory.

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