Rogers Theatre
213 E. Marion Street,
Shelby,
NC
28150
213 E. Marion Street,
Shelby,
NC
28150
2 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Rogers Theater, Shelby (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Charles C. Benson
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Don Gibson Theatre
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News About This Theater
- Apr 22, 2010 — 1936 Art Deco Rogers Theater can be restored with your help
The 1,200-seat Rogers Theatre opened in 1936 with Joan Crawford in “Love on the Run”. It was closed in 1985. When volunteers begin to restore this Art Deco style theatre, they have decided to not only save the classic theatre, but also to preserve the treasured memories of the audiences who attended the theatre.
They plan to compile a book of experiences from anyone who went to the theatre. The book will be written concurrently with the restoration of the theatre.
For a while, it was re-named Don Gibson Theater (not to be confused with the current Don Gibson Theatre which was previously the State Theatre & Flick Theatre). The Rogers Theatres was taken over by new owners in 2009, to become a performing arts center and dinner theatre. In 2013, the building was put up ‘For Sale’ at an asking price of $385,000.00. It was still ‘For Sale’ in summer of 2018. By early-2024 restoration work had begun.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 72 comments)
This theatre should be listed as “restoring”. Would like to know the month and date this theatre opened in 1936.
Interesting bit of information. Shelby NC was also the State Capitol for a period of time.
View the photo gallery and see all the amazing restoration that has taken place. The theatre is available for $385k
For more info about purchasing this Theatre click http://www.preservationdirectory.com/HistoricRealEstate/PropertyDetail.aspx?id=2067
Oh, how I remember the Rogers Theatre. This was were I saw the first “Star Wars” at back in 1977 when it first premiered. Except back then, it didn’t yet have the episode IV or “A New Hope” branding that would be added to it later on after George Lucas started making sequels to it or prequels for that matter. My late father, along with my uncles took my brother and I to see it. I will always remember the Cantina Band scene. More so now with dad’s death in August of 2014. My dad, being a professional musician and entertainer at the time, stood up in the middle of the theatre and yelled “Hey, that’s my band.” The theatre was packed and everyone started laughing their arses off after dad made that comment. Many in Shelby also knew my dad because of my late pa paw (Hubert Stewart) who lived just outside of Shelby at the time and went by the CB handle “Piano Picker,” drove trucks for the former McLean Trucking Co which used to have a terminal in Shelby, and he also had a band that played local clubs around Shelby called “Six of Clubs.” My dad and both of my uncles would sometimes sit in with him, but it was mostly comprised of him and his CB buddies. They would also come over to my pa paw’s house and jam in his music room downstairs.
What is the current status of the Rogers? Hope it has sold and is being restored to its original configuration and design.
@Patsy,
According to:
https://uptownshelby.com/available-properties/commercial-for-sale/343-213-e-marion-st
the property is still for sale. Contact: Gary Kulas, 828-351-8648, HavenInTheHills.NC (at) gmail.com
The Rogers Theatre is well on its way to becoming a top-notch gem of a theatre and live venue event center in Shelby. I recently met one of the owners and photographed the work that is being done. It will be beautiful when completed, and they are anxious to get that done, but because of the historic covenants, it is going a bit slower. They are not discouraged, they know it will take a bit more time.
Would love to see photos. Does Gary Kulas still own it? Hope the town is onboard.
What is the current status of this theatre? I was an acquaintance of Gary Kulas when he purchased it.