The Turnage Theatre is a historic circa 1916 theater building in Washington, North Carolina. It originally had a shoe store on its ground floor and a vaudeville theater upstairs. Later a movie theater was added.[1] It is located at 150 West Main Street in the Washington Historic District. First a vaudeville theater was built on the second floor and in 1928 a theater for "talkies" was constructed behind it.[2]
Raleigh based WRAL-TV states: "The importance of the Historic Turnage Theatre and its preservation is paramount to both the local community and North Carolina at large. A North Carolina designated historic site and a contributing structure to the Historic District of Washington, the Historic Turnage Theatre is a 32,000-square-foot building that houses two theaters." Beth Strange is its Executive Director.
Established as a vaudeville theater, it was one the first movie theatres in the eastern part of the state. Restored in the 1990s, it is now home to Arts of the Pamlico.[3]
The theater was named for its owner, C. A. Turnage.[4] Various events are held at the theater.[5] East Carolina University utilizes the theater for music and art events.[6] An oral history included recollection of George Diamond's soda shop beneath the theater.[7]
Turnage Incorporated it as New Theatre Inc.[8] It appears in 1922 state department of revenue report.[9]
It was succeeded by the Cinema III at Washington Square Mall in 1976.[1] In 1994, "adaptive rehabilitation" of the theater building was planned.[10] It features on a Ghost Walk history tour.[11]