The Harshaw Building: Electrical, Firemen's, Gayety, Red Moon, and Star Theatres

The Harshaw Building at the corner of Mulberry and East Main Streets housed five different theaters between September 1909 and March 1914. All of these businesses were short-lived, but have interesting places in the film exhibition history of Lenoir:

• 1. Electrical Theatre (1909-1910)

  2. Firemen's Theatre (1911-1912)

  3. Gayety Theatre (1912)

  4. Red Moon Theatre (1912-1913) and Air Dome Theatre (1913)

  5. Star Theatre (1913-1914)

The history of each of these theaters will be dealt with below, but the following map will orient the reader to the various buildings involved in the story. The direct predecessors of the Harshaw Building are motion picture theaters in the Opera House and the Cloyd and Johnson Building, both just across the street. The Electrical Theatre went out of business in late 1910 and was replaced by the Firemen's Theatre in early 1911. The Firemen's moved to the Shell Building on South Main in 1912. The Harshaw then housed the Gayety and later the Red Moon Theatres from 1912 to 1913. In March 1913, the Red Moon was moved to an outdoor tent on the Courtney lot, two blocks west of the courthouse, and renamed the Airdome Theatre. It folded, literally, soon afterwards. The final theater in the building, the Star Theatre, eventually moved to the Matheson Building on North main in 1914:

The Harshaw Building itself no longer exists; the place where it once stood is currently a parking lot.

I have not found any photographs of the building during its use as a theater, but a postcard of Lenoir from the early 1900s appears to show the front and side of the building as viewed from the square (the label and arrow have been added):

History of the Harshaw Building

Constructed in 1905, the structure that would later become the Harshaw Building used brick from the old court house in the middle of the town square:

Messrs Otter & Poe have bought of Mr. T. Lenoir, the lot on the north side of East Main street opposite Henkel's Stables and will build a brick building on it this summer, using the material of the old court house. (Lenoir Weekly News 4/21/1905, p. 3)

The old courthouse had served for years as an entertainment center of Lenoir, in addition to its official uses, and hosted concerts, minstrel shows, plays, and other types of live entertainment.

Soon after completion of the new building, Poe sold it to its first occupant and the man for whom it would be named:

Mr. E.A. Poe has sold his new brick building on Mulberry street to Mr. M.N. Harshaw. We hear the consideration was about $3,500. (Lenoir Weekly News 4/20/1906, p. 5)

The building had two floors and a basement, often rented for different businesses, with the upper floor being used as a theater. It originally housed Jacob Bush, Jr.'s Meat Market (Lenoir Weekly News 6/1/1906, p. 4) and the City Cafe (Lenoir Weekly News 6/22/1906, p. 5). The Cafe left in 1909 (Lenoir News 8/17/1909, p. 3), leaving a vacancy on the upper floor which was soon filled by Lee Carlton and his Electrical Theater from the Cloyd and Johnson Building:

Local and Personal. . . . Mr. T. Lee Carlton, moved his Electrical Theater to the Harshaw building yesterday. Mr. Carlton found it necessary to secure larger quarters for his picture show and has now a much better and more comfortable place. The room has recently been cleaned and remodeled to suit his business and his patrons will find the new room more satisfactory in many ways. (Lenoir News 9/7/1909, p. 3)

The Electrical Theater opened on 6 September 1909, beginning a period of nearly five years of theatrical use of the Harshaw Building. Even while being used as a theater, the building maintained multiple businesses, with the lower floor serving as a pool room, laundry (Lenoir News 6/24/1910, p. 3), an ice house (Lenoir Topic 5/3/1911, p. 2), a drug store (Lenoir News 8/30/1912, p. 1), a restaurant (Lenoir Topic 8/27/1913, p. 3), and a print shop (Lenoir Topic 1/21/1914, p. 3). After the last film exhibitor moved out in March of 1914, the building continued this multi-use trend with a furniture company (Lenoir News 10/16/1914, p. 3), the Mint Cola plant (Lenoir Weekly News 5/27/1915, p. 1), a junk shop (Lenoir News 11/17/1916, p. 1), and eventually the home of the Lenoir News Topic (Lenoir News Topic 11/14/1919, p. 1). By the 1930s and 1940s, there are fewer and fewer references to the now aging building, usually referred to in this period as the "old News Topic building." It appeared to have survived into the 1950s and was either torn down or burned at some point yet to be discovered.

Electrical Theatre/Moving Picture Show (1909-1910)

As detailed elsewhere on this site, what was to become the Electrical Theatre (sometimes spelled "Theater") originated in the Henkel Opera House and moved shortly afterwards to the Cloyd and Johnson Building:

The Opera House was occasionally used for film exhibition up to October 1917, but the Cloyd and Johnson Building was never used as a theater again.

Typical of the early theaters of the time, Carlton ran a program in the Harshaw Building combining short, one-reel films and live entertainment. An odd early advertisement emphasizes the nightly change of shows and compares the shows to the comfort of an old smoking pipe (Lenoir News 11/2/1909, p. 3):

Only one early notice mentions "Vaudeville entertainments" in this period (Lenoir News 10/22/1909, p. 3), but surely some type of illustrated song or other type of live act would have been expected to pad out the program. Little will ever be known about the exact films shown during this early period—notices in the newspaper, when present, rarely give titles—but a few special films were mentioned by name. For example, Carlton mentions two "unusually fine" films on exhibit that December:

Local and Personal. . . . Mr. Carlton has a lot [of] unusually fine pictures at the Electrical Theatre tonight, you should see them. The Miners Wife and Italy's Marvelous calvary [sic]. (Lenoir News 12/14/1909, p. 3)

Little is known about The Miner's Wife, but the Italian Cavalry film is likely Concorso ippico a Roma (1909), directed by Enrico Guazzoni. Since almost all films were silent from this period, foreign films could easily be shown by either translating or omitting the intertitles describing the action.

Lee Carlton ran the electrical through most of the winter of 1909-1910 and then sold the business to J.C. Eller:

New Pictures!

We have bought the Moving Picture business and are making many improvements and showing unusually fine pictures.

New subjects, New management, good service. Come and see them.

J.C. Eller, Mg'r. G.T. Coffey, Operator. (Lenoir News 2/8/1910, p. 3)

As with his predecessor, Eller specifically advertises only exceptional feature films, such as Nero and the Burning of Rome (1908), an early one-reel "epic" by the Edison Company:

LOCAL MATTERS . . . One of the finest pictures ever shown in Lenoir was presented at the Electrical Theatre one night last week. The picture 'Nero and the burning of Rome' will be presented Friday night, and every one should see it. (Lenoir News 2/11/1910, p. 3)

A month later, Eller sells the business to J.B. Thomas, a minister's son who apparently felt the need to correct a waning sense of propriety in film entertainment in town:

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . The moving picture show has again changed hands, Mr. J.B. Thomas, son of Rev. Chas. A.G. Thomas, having purchased the entire outfit from Mr. J.C. Eller. Mr. Thomas has had experience in this line of work and he guarantees that every exhibit shall be clean and free from all objectionable features. The show will be closed every Wednesday night during the Prayer Meeting hour. The Moving Picture supplants the third class theatre and under proper management has much value as an educator. (Lenoir Topic 3/9/1910, p. 3)

The swipe at the "third class theatre" is otherwise unexplained. Nickelodeons in larger cities often acquired a seedy reputation, as much from the snobbery of class distinctions in the audience as from the content of the shows themselves; in any case, Thomas did briefly put quite a bit of energy into his new business . . .

J.B. Thomas and the Electrical Theatre

We have several days' worth of known films advertised during Thomas' tenure, all from March/April 1910. Of the 12 films from this period, 6 are from the French Pathé Frères firm, 3 are from the Lubin Company, and 1 from Bison Motion Pictures--the latter two American companies:

• • The True Heart of an Indian (Bison 1909)

  • Bewitched Son-in-Law (aka Un gendre ensorcelé, Pathé Frères 1908)

  • A Daughter's Honesty (Pathé Frères 1908)

  • We Don't Need Any Servant (?)

  • Travels of a Flea (Pathé Frères 1908)

  • The Heart's Bidding (aka La loi du coeur, Pathé Frères 1907)

  • The Sergeant's Stripes (aka Les galons du brigadier, Pathé Frères 1909)

  • Farmers Making Bread (?)

  • The Curse of Drink (aka Où mène l'alcoolisme, Pathé Frères 1908)

  • The Fighting Parson (Lubin Manufacturing Company 1909)

  • The Wrong Burglar (Lubin Manufacturing Company 1909)

  • The Fortune Hungers (Lubin Manufacturing Company 1909)

The first film listed here is a Western; the others are split evenly between comedies and dramas. All are one-reelers.

Whether or not the reverend's son was able to run a clean, educational show--or whether such a show was successful in 1910 Lenoir--is open to question, but in either case Thomas sells the business in June:

LOCAL MATTERS . . . Mr. Baylus Cade, Jr. has bought the motion picture business from Mr. J.B. Thomas and is having the building and machinery overhauled preparatory to opening an improved and more attractive service in a few days. (Lenoir News 6/24/1910, p. 3)

Note that this is the exact period when the lower level of the building was being used as a pool room—a business which in the day often acquired a seedy reputation.

During Cade's tenure, the name "Electrical" appears to have been dropped from the venue; thereafter it is simply called the "picture show" or the Moving Picture Show. At this point, it was Lenoir's only commercial film theater, so perhaps it made little real difference what it was called.

The high turnover for film exhibitors continues three months later when Cade sells out:

Mr. J.L. Stone of Concord has bought the Motion Picture show from Mr. Baylus Cade Jr. and will take charge today or tomorrow. Mr. Stone is moving his family here and will occupy Mr. R.F. Munday's cottage in the western part of town. (Lenoir News 9/27/1910, p. 3)

J.L. Stone and the Moving Picture Show

Having some experience with the motion picture business in Hickory, Stone attempted to make some real improvements in the business:

Mr. Stone, who recently bought the motion picture business here, has made some important improvements in the building and his machine and it is now in first class condition. Mr. Meroney, who has charge of it is showing some splendid pictures these evenings and the good machine brings them out to better effect than formerly. (Lenoir News 10/28/1910, p. 3)

However many improvements Stone made in the building and equipment of the theater, he mirrored his predecessors in his lack of concern for specific films. Notices in the press stating that "splendid pictures" or the "very best reels" or some similar generic reference were enough, with the occasional "block buster" film of wide appeal, such as:

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . "The Passion Play," the greatest moving picture ever made, will be shown at The Moving Picture Show for three nights, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. November 15, 16 and 17. This is the best picture ever made of this great play, having been made while the play was being enacted at the village of Oberammergau, and not in the studio of any film company. The picture is beautifully hand colored and over 3,000 feet long and portrays the life of Christ from birth to crucifixion. The admission will be 10c. and 15 cts. (Lenoir Topic 11/16/1910, p. 3)

There were many films from the period treating the life and death of Jesus, but the details of length and hand coloring indicate that this was probably Vie et Passion de N.S Jésus-Christ (Pathé Frères 1907), the first film that we know of being shown in the Harshaw Building that survives today.

While such shows appealing to the large number of churchgoers of Lenoir might have proved popular for a few nights, Stone's tenure appears to have been no more successful than his predecessors and the building is advertised as being vacant by December:

Business Locals . . . FOR RENT--The building formerly occupied by the moving picture show 60 x 20 feet. Glass front. Good location for business. M.N. Harshaw. 11-tf. (Lenoir Topic 12/14/1910, p. 2)

This same ad appears in the paper through 1 February 1911 . . .

The Firemen's Theatre (1911-1912)

After four months of vacancy--when apparently Lenoir lacked any motion picture entertainment--Z.S. Miller and Nelson Triplett re-open a theater in the Harshaw building in early April 1911:

LOCAL MATTERS . . . Messrs. Z.S. Miller and Nelson Triplett have arranged to open a motion picture show in the Harshaw building and gave their first performance last night. They will give part of the receipts form the show to the fire company and it will in this way be a source of revenue to this organization. (Lenoir News 4/7/1911, p. 3)

That part of the proceeds will go towards the town fire department, specifically for "improving the equipment of the fire department" (Lenoir Topic 4/12/1911, p. 3), no doubt creates some surprise in the modern reader. Nowadays we expect such equipment to be paid for with taxes. Yet in 1911 most firemen were volunteers and often had to purchase their own equipment. Specific needs of the Lenoir department are detailed in a later article:

Another Fire Horse Needed.

The recent fire in Lenoir revealed the pressing need of another horse in order to render the best and quickest service in case of fire. The fire wagon, bearing the fireman and necessary equipment, make a load entirely too heavy for one horse to transfer with speed up hills and through mud. Buildings distant from the center of town should have more prompt service in case of fire then can possibly be given with inadequate power for quick transportation. Mr. Z.S. Miller, the efficient chief of the fire department, therefore suggests that all who have not already donated to the fire company, would be doing the proper thing to help purchase another good horse. Any additional donations from those who have already contributed will be thankfully received. The Harper Furniture Company have given $50 to this cause and Mr. E.E. Dale, of the Wilson Lumber Co., $10. (Lenoir Topic 4/19/1911, p. 3)

This makes it clear that, in addition to being part owner in the motion picture show, Z.S. Miller was actually fire chief. Whether or not this theater was initially named for its chief charity is not clear, or even if it had a name at all, but by early May the Harshaw Building housed the new Firemen's Theater:

Moving Pictures.

The Firemen's Theater, where the latest and best moving pictures are shown every night, is proving to be a clean, attractive place of amusement and entertainment. After a busy day in the office, home or shop, an hour spent viewing this marvelous exhibition of the inventors' skill is good for the nerves and serves as a helpful variation from the monotony of the daily grind of life.

A part of the proceeds are donated to the fire company. (Lenoir Topic 5/10/1911, p. 3)

Later that month, Miller and Triplett advertise for a piano player (Lenoir News 5/23/1911, p. 2). Outlasting their predecessors, the duo held onto the business throughout the summer and fall of 1911. Their ads are as unspecific as far as actual films as earlier shows, but there a few ads for live shows, such as:

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . Capt. Americus performed many feats of strength to large crowds in the Firemen's Theatre Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. This popular little play house is gaining in favor every day. (Lenoir Topic 5/31/1911, p. 3)

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . The Fireman's Theatre has been giving a negro ministrel [sic] in connection with the moving pictures this week. (Lenoir Topic 9/20/1911, p. 3)

No doubt the civic-oriented purpose of the theater lent itself to free advertising in the local papers, and the Firemen's (or sometimes Fireman's, as above) gets more than an average share of local commentary. A few specific feature films are mentioned: The Mistake (IMP 1910) and Nannina (Bison 1910), for example. More press was given to the coronation ceremonies of the King of England, Proclamation of King George V (Barker, Warwick Trading Company, 1910), with Miller and Triplett taking out advertising in the want ads of both local papers (Lenoir News 8/8/1911, p. 2 and Lenoir Topic 8/9/1911, p. 3).

In August, M.C. Triplett buys out Miller's half of the business (whether M.C. is the Nelson referred to above is unknown at this point):

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . The moving picture show is now under the management of Mr. M.C. Triplett, who recently purchased Mr. Z.S. Miller's interest in the business. The pictures are fine and draw good crowds every night. (Lenoir Topic 8/16/1911, p. 3)

Perhaps the need for equipment had lessened in the local fire department at this point; certainly the horse referred to above had been purchased by then:

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . The fine horse recently purchased by Lenoir Fire Company has been put into service and this makes our fire-fighting equipment first-class. The two horses now in use are exceptionally fine, and they present an attractive appearance. The entire outfit, including hose, wagon, horses, etc., cost the boys $3,500. (Lenoir Topic 8/23/1911, p. 3)

At some point that fall, the Harshaw Building theater takes another odd turn when it is announced suddenly that "Mr. Sherrill is giving good moving picture exhibits in the Harshaw building every night" (Lenoir Topic 1/17/1912, p. 3). Triplett resurfaces in the Shell Building on South Main in March (Lenoir Topic 3/20/1912, p. 3), but in the intervening period there are two specific shows with no mention of a theater name:

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . Mr. Sherrill, manager of the moving picture shows, made a hit last week by giving a series of pictures showing the noted baseball games between New York and Philadelphia. (Lenoir Topic 2/7/1912, p. 3)

MATTERS LOCAL AND PERSONAL . . . Another series of fine pictures, 'The Christian Martyrs,' will be presented at an early date and they are said to be splendid. (Lenoir News 2/6/1912, p. 3)

There are many references to baseball in the early Lenoir papers and no doubt the film of the 1911 World Series between the National League's New York Giants and American League's Philadelphia Athletics proved quite popular in town. The Christian Martyrs (aka Aux lions les chrétiens, Gaumont 1912) was another Biblical epic. By late February 1912, Sherrill was advertising his business under a new name: Gayety Theatre.

Raleigh Washington Sherrill (1881–1938) and the Gayety Picture Show (1912)

R.W. Sherrill continued the nightly (Monday-Saturday) showing of new films with the occasional live show, although he added a more-modern penchant for advertising tailored to the theater itself. These ads are simple, but eye-catching in a period newspaper (Lenoir News 2/23/1912, p. 3 and Lenoir News 4/12/1912, p. 4):

More than earlier exhibitors, Sherrill seemed particular concerned with regular Vaudeville shows, "Nothing but the best. All refined and up-to-date" (Lenoir News 4/12/1912, p. 4). By this time Lenoir had two motion picture shows: the Firemen's in the Shell Building and the Gayety, clearly a matter of pride for the local paper to notice:

MATTERS LOCAL AND PERSONAL. . . . Both the Motion Picture shows carried attractive vaudeville features last week and are giving their patrons shows well worth seeing. (Lenoir News 4/16/1912, p. 3)

In May, Sherrill scooped his competitor with some sensational current news that happened the previous month:

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . The "Titanic" disaster will be shown at the Gayety picture show Friday and Saturday nights in connection with the regular program. Admission 15 and 25 cents. (Lenoir Topic 5/1/1912, p. 3)

MATTERS LOCAL AND PERSONAL. . . . Mr. Sherrill, of Gayety Picture Show, has secured the pictures of the sinking of the Titanic, which he will show tonight and to-morrow night. (Lenoir News 5/3/1912 p. 3)

We know now that these early scenes were a combination of the Titanic's sister ship, Olympic, and a few of the Titanic's empty lifeboats in a New York harbor--there was no film of the actual sinking for obvious reasons. Yet the film surely caused a stir for moviegoers of the day.

By June, the Triplett Brothers had changed the name of their theater in the Shell Building to the Casino and apparently were confident enough in their future to buy out Sherrill (Lenoir News 6/25/1912, p. 3 ). The Gayety closed and the Harshaw Building sat empty:

Business Locals . . . FOR RENT--brick building 60 by 25 feet, formerly occupied by Gayety Picture Show. Also small five room dwelling house. / M.N. Harshaw. / 39-tf-c (Lenoir Topic 7/10/1912, p. 3 )

Once again, Lenoir was a one-theater town and the ad remained unanswered into August 1912 . . .

Raleigh Washington Sherrill (1881–1938) and the Red Moon Theatre (1912-1913)

After having his Gayety Theatre bought out by his rivals in June, Sherrill opened another picture show in the Harshaw called the Red Moon in late August. How the Tripletts might have reacted to this is unknown, but Lenoir once again had two picture shows and both seemed to be doing well:

MATTERS LOCAL AND PERSONAL . . . The new moving picture show, the Red Moon is being well patronized and the proprietors are giving excellent service in high class moving pictures. (Lenoir News 8/30/1912, p. 3)

As was typical, specific films are rarely mentioned in the newspaper ads. Prices for most of these early theaters was 5 cents for children and 10 cents for adults, although a live show could double the prices:

At The Red Moon. The Vaudeville Company which is appearing at the Red Moon every night this week is the best that has ever come to Lenoir. A complete change of program, both vaudeville and moving pictures, each night. Admission 10 cts and 20 cts. / 15-lt-c (Lenoir Topic 1/15/1913, p. 3)

A very unusual ad with a photograph of the performers--man, woman, and dog--comes from February 1913 (Lenoir News 2/14/1913, p. 3):

Unfortunately, the performers are otherwise unidentified.

The Air Dome Theatre (1913)

There is an air of the circus in this and other ads for the Red Moon in early 1913, so it is not entirely surprising that Sherrill's next move would be to a tent on the lot normally reserved for travelling shows:

MATTERS LOCAL AND PERSONAL. . . . Mr. R.W. Sherrill is preparing to erect a tent on the Courtney lot on West Main street in which to operate his picture show. (Lenoir News 3/28/1913, p. 3)

Initially, the show appeared to be successful:

MATTERS LOCAL AND PERSONAL . . . Mr. R.W. Sherrill opened his motion picture show in the big tent last Saturday night and had a crowded 'house.' Every seat was taken and many stood in the aisles. The pictures were good and the indications are his tent will be a popular place during the warm weather. (Lenoir News 4/22/1913, p. 3)

Perhaps recalling the novelty of the old Hippodrome Theatre, which was completely outdoors without a cover, Sherrill's new theater soon acquired a name, the Air Dome Theatre. Unlike the Hippodrome, vaudeville was a part of the new tent show:

SPECIAL NEXT WEEK. The Rendon Comedy Company, a troupe of 7 performers will be at the Air Dome Theatre, on the Courtney lot all next week beginning Monday night. / R.W. SHERRILL, Manager. (Lenoir News 4/25/1913, p. 2)

By May, the Harshaw Building had lost both the Red Moon and the Lenoir Drug Company and was once again advertised for rent (Lenoir News 5/9/1913, p. 3). No doubt saving huge amounts of money on rent and overhead, the Air Dome seemed to be a big hit for Sherrill. Local residents, however, were less amused and the following local ordinance was passed later in the month:

OF LOCAL INTEREST . . . At a recent meeting of the Town Board, Mr. F.T. Sherrill was re-elected chief of police and Mr. Robt. L. Allen, night policeman for the next year. An ordinance was passed prohibiting tent shows from giving performances within 500 feet of any residence in town. . . (Lenoir Topic 5/21/1913, p. 3)

How much of the complaint was legitimate and how much of it was incurred directly by the Air Dome is unknown, but there are no further references to a tent theater in Lenoir after this date . . .

The Star Theatre (1913-1914)

The final theater in the Harshaw Building opened in September 1913:

New Theatre / New Machines / New Company

We are now arranging the Harshaw building for the opening of a New and Up to date / Motion Picture Show / 'THE STAR THEATRE' / Will open at an early date with first class equipment in every way. / A.W. PRICE, Manager. (Lenoir News 9/2/1913, p. 2)

Price spent some time and money "repairing and putting in an elevated floor in the Harshaw Building" (Lenoir Topic 9/3/1913, p. 2) and by mid-September Lenoir once again had two motion picture theaters: the Star in the Harshaw Building and the Princess, which had just re-located to the Jones Building. An unusually elaborate grand opening got the Star off on a good note:

New Star Theatre.

The opening night of the new Star motion picture theatre in the Harshaw building was a most auspicious and successful one in every respect. The room was filled to overflowing from opening to late in the night and the management are more than pleased with their venture. The service secured by them is one of the best in this country and their pictures are of the very highest class. The music is a special feature of the show and on tonight there will be a special feature consisting of a quartette which will render a number of songs.

On each night two cash prizes will be given and on Saturday nights 4 cash prizes. Friday nights children under ten years of age who are accompanied by their parents will be admitted free of charge. The management of the Star theatre wishes to assure the ladies and children that they will receive the best of attention and the most courteous treatment when attending this popular amusement place. / Adv. (Lenoir News 9/16/1913, p. 3)

Written in the style of a newspaper article, this advertisement (see the small "Adv." at the end!) indicates a management of some experience wanting to bring a more up-to-date show to Lenoir. There was even a cafe next door, Dula's Cafe, with "Oyster Service" (Lenoir News 9/23/1913, p. 3).

Mirroring similar tactics of the Princess Theatre, Price had shows for local charities and also involved locals in talent shows. An example of the former is a show where part of the proceeds were donated to the Cemetery Committee of the town (Lenoir News 9/26/1913, p. 1); of the latter a baby show contest in conjunction with local photographers (Lenoir Topic 10/1/1913, p. 3):

There appeared to be only two options for theaters in the Harshaw Building: they either folded or moved to other places around town. Perhaps the Harshaw was not large enough or just poorly equipped for film exhibition; perhaps the rent was too high. The papers give no indication as to why these theaters left, but barely 6 months after its grand opening, the Star left for the newly finished Matheson Building on North Main Street:

The new Matheson building on North Main street is about completed and is arranged for the accommodation of the Star Theare, the motion picture show, which will probably move in this week. (Lenoir News 3/31/1914, p. 3)

The Star would be the first and only theater to occupy this nearly forgotten exhibition space, the Matheson Building on North Main Street . . .

Dr. Gary R. Boye

Music Librarian and Professor

Appalachian State University

boyegr@appstate.edu