State Theater Restoration Takes Center Stage in Barnesville

BARNESVILLE -- The Barnesville State Theater has opened its doors to the public for tours during the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival.

A nonprofit group of determined residents has been working hard the last few months to restore the former State Theater, which closed for good around 1969. The committee wanted to show off the progress amid the festival by offering tours of the building and trying to raise funds for continued improvements.

A red carpet runs through the center of the lobby area, surrounded by theater memorabilia displays, photographs and auction items on either side. Attendees are also greeted by the smell of popcorn from a maker that was donated for the occasion.

Committee President Roger Johnson said some of the memorabilia was discovered while cleaning out the theater, and other pieces such as old movie posters were donated.

During the tours, attendees are able to come in and see the progress of what has been done so far to the building. The committee has been cleaning up the space and performing renovations with plans of reopening the theater in the future.

"As you pass the main entrance way where the seats were located, we have it partitioned off where people can come in and see what we've done," he said.

Johnson said they have a number of items for sale and for auction with all funds benefiting the theater's restoration.

Johnson said the tours have been well received. The tours began Wednesday and will continue through Sunday. The first tour date, he said, there was a "stampede" of people who came through the doors ready to take a look at the old theater, which originally opened in 1925. Many shared their own story of seeing shows and movies when it was open.

"The interest has just been unbelievable. Of course everyone that's directly involved with it on the committee and volunteers are all excited. Everybody's pumped," he said.

"You can just walk in and ask questions, or you can walk back on your own. If you have a question, we can stand beside you and answer any questions you have."

Though there is much work still to be done, committee member Roger Johnson said they are making progress.

"We've got the entire theater completely vacated of all the debris. We have a new roof over the stage area and a portion of the western side of the building where all the rain damage had occurred," he said.

So far, the project has received approximately $160,000 in donations, which allowed the committee to initiate the roof repairs. In addition to accepting donations, the committee is always looking for volunteers. Johnson said they have had an excellent response so far on a signup sheet that has garnered around 20 signatures from residents interested in lending a hand.

Johnson said if the donations continue coming in and they are able to acquire some grant funding, they may be able to open in the next three to five years.

The theater tours are open from noon to 7 p.m. until the final day on Sunday.