Apollo Theater
308 W. Emma Avenue,
Springdale,
AR
72762
308 W. Emma Avenue,
Springdale,
AR
72762
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Currently a live performance venue.
The Actual Opening Date Is September 29, 1949 With Jack Carson In “It’s A Great Feeling” And Gary Cooper In “Task Force” Along With A Cartoon And A Grantland Rice Sportlight.
During Its Last Years Beginning From The Early 1970s Until 1975, It Screened X-Rated Films. It Ended Its X-Rated Runs Because Of One Film, Which Were Seized By The Springdale Police Department On July 15, 1975, And The Answer Is “Touch Me”. The Film Was Later Delivered To Washington County Prosecutor Mahlon Gibson Who Had Determined If Charges Will Be Filed And Against Whom They Would Be Filed. The Owner, J. T. Hitt Of Bentonville, And The Projectionist, Boyd Stricklen Of Springdale, Were Arrested And Later Announced That The 2 Were Pleaded Guilty (Originally Not Guilty) On October 30, 1975 In The Washington County Court In Fayetteville To Charges Of Exhibiting The Obscene Film. Circuit Judge Maupin Cummings Fined Hitt And Stricklen $2,000 Each, Suspending All But $500 Of The Fine For Hitt And $250 For Stricklen, And Sentenced Each 2 Years In Prison. Cummings Also Ordered That The Apollo Theater Which Showed X-Rated Films To Close Its Doors For The Final Time Or To Begin Showing Family Films Or First/Second-Run Films. A Report Says That The Apollo Has Been Closed, Abandoned Since October 13, 1975. A Similar Incident Occurred In Kansas City, Missouri And Had Leased It For One Week.
The Theater Closed Its Doors For The Final Time At That Point And Was Later Placed On Sale.
Via the Apollo’s Facebook page:
The Apollo on Emma re-opened it’s doors mid-August 2017. The historic, once movie theater, has been transformed into NW Arkansas most epic and glamorous Wedding & Event Venue. The venue has marble flooring, 20’ ceilings, crystal chandeliers, built in bars, double wooden staircases, which lead up to the Metropolis Room overlooking the main ballroom. With over 5000 sq. feet of space and the capacity of 664 inside & 200 outside, it is both versatile & elegant. Located in the heart of Northwest Arkansas, The Apollo on Emma is the place where your dreams come true.
The Apollo was built in 1949. The building is currently under renovation. And the address should be 308 W. Emma Avenue. Here is the Facebook page for the Apollo to monitor the progress.
According to a blurb from NWA Media, the Apollo was recently declared unsafe by the Building Department of the City of Springdale and Springdale firefighters will not go inside the building in the event of a fire because of safety concerns.
A 1987 view of the Apollo Theater in Springdale.