The Caswell Messenger (Yanceyville, North Carolina) (22 October 1938): "The Caswell Theatre will open here on November 3, 1938." This was a Thursday.
The theater was operated by the North Carolina Amusement Company owed by Dr. Henry C. Carr. There was a single screen, and the seating capacity was 386. The building originally was a store owned by James Monroe Neal (1818-1884) and his son Louis M. Neal (1853-1904). The second-story floor was removed, and the second-story windows bricked in.
The first movie shown was "Stablemates," starring Wallace Berry and Mickey Rooney. It was an MGM production.
The manager of the theatre was E. W. Sell. Robert Garland Haire (1916-1997) of Burlington, North Carolina, operated the sound and projection equipment. Corinna Jewell Pleasant (1918-2003) was at the ticket window, assisted by her mother Ida Sue Clayton Pleasant (1884-1974).
Saturday matinees were at 1:00 pm for the admission price of 10¢ (children) and 20¢ (adults). Evening movie times were 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. The admission price was 10¢ (children) and 25¢ (adults).
The Caswell Messenger reported in January of 1958, that the theatre closed the week of Christmas 1957. The manager at the time was George Albert Holt (1912-1976). The building apparently was purchased by the owners of Watlington's On The Square, and used as a warehouse for many years.
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I have done some research on the theatre. According to the October 27, 1938, edition of The Caswell Messenger, the theatre opened on Thursday, November 3, 1938. The theater was operated by the North Carolina Amusement Company owed by Dr. Henry C. Carr. The first movie shown was by MGM. The movie was Stable Mates, starring Wallace Berry and Mickey Rooney. Matinees were on Saturdays at 1:00 for the admission price of 10¢ and 20¢. In the evenings movie times were 7:00 and 9:00. The admission price was 10¢ and 25¢. The manager of the theatre was E. W. Sell. Garland Haire operated the sound and projection equipment. Corinna Pleasants was at the ticket window and was assisted by Ida Pleasants. The Caswell Messenger reported January of 1958, that the theatre closed the week of Christmas 1957. Source: Sandra Aldridge 2015
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