Smyrna times., 1948-04-01
SMYRNA THEATRE
OPENS SATURDAY
Public Inspection Saturday,
April 8; Will Precede First
Evening Show
AIR CONDITIONED

Smyrna's new motion picture
theatre, appropriately named the
Smyrna, will open for business
Saturday, April 8, at 6:45 pm.
Previous to the first showing, the
public is invited to inspect the
building between the hours of
and pm. the afternoon of the
same day. The modern, air-condi-
toned theatre will feature such
new ideas in theatre planning as a
nursery, privated party room
and a luncheonette soda shop in
cluded in the main part of the
building. With total seating ca
pacity of over 900, there are 500
seats in the orchestra, 78 in the
balcony, 15 in the private party or
Hunt Room" and 9 in the nursery.
The balcony is reserved for the ex-
elusive use of colored patrons who
will have their own private rest
rooms on that floor. On the or
chestra floor there is one main Sec
tion of seats in the center empty
ing into two aisles with section
of seats running along both side
walls.
Murals Showing Colonial Period
Two large murals for the new
Smyrna" theatre showing the past
activity and general background of
the old colonial period depict the
growth of old Smyrna, then known
as Duck Creek. These paintings
completed by willard Borrow are a
part of a series done by him
throughout the United States.
David E. Brodsky, nationally
known theatre decorator, and Mr.
Borrow havS shown the value or
historical decorations as part OF
the general theme in the theatre
itself. Considerable research was
made by them with the aid of Asr,
D. Vallinger, the archive director
for the State of Delaware. The
house manager of the Smyrna is
Mr.. E. K. Hackett, Dover, and his
wife, Mrs. E. K. Hackett, and Miss
Mary MCGEE will be in charge of
the "Soda Shop" Wilson May
berry, who has been a projection
ist in Smyrna for over fifteen
years, will be in charge of the pro-
lection booth. Ruth Langrell will
be cahsier and Roland Ford door
man.
Statement by DIR. G. j. Prickett
DR.. C. j. Prickett, in his state
ment to the Smyrna Times con-
corning the opening of the new
theatre, said: "a new addition has
been made to our town. For the
first time we have an entirely new
and modern theatre, which I am
sure our sister cities of Whining
ton and Philadelphia would be
proud to possess.
"The confidence in our town by
the owners of the new Smyrna
Theatre is demonstrated by the
financial outlay in the erection of
building of apparent adequacy in
size and appointments. The entire
building gives the impression of
safety and durability. I am much
impressed with the apparent con-
fidence manifested by the owners
of the new Smyrna Theatre in the
present trend toward de-central-
zation of population, or in other
words to the growing resident pop
ulation of small communities such
as Smyrna. Your town council
recognizes the necessity of solution
of our present growing social and
civic problems, and is desirous of
working with all people of our
community toward these solutions.
"It is with this thought upper
most in mind that I now thank
and congratulate Mrs. Reba and
Miss Muriel Schwartz for their
great contribution to the Smyrna
community's program of DELICIOUS,
educational and recreational life