The Princess Theater has been on the minds and in the cenversations of scores of Henderson Countians since the recent announcement that the Lexington landmar would be sold at auction.

Local business Bobby Day purchased The Princess at the Tuesday morning auction. Cark Shivley of Savannah, the previous owner, sold the theater due to ill health. The Princess holds volumes ofmemories for those who grew up in Henderson County.

Paul Williams remembers the late 1930's when the Civilian Conservation Corps was here. "Nickel night" was held every Tuesday night offered admission for five cents. He said that was when all the neighborhoodkids and the CCC bobys would go to movies. Williams also served as a projectionist at The Princess in the 1950s.

Also, well-known local musician Lorraine Hinson used to play the piano before the movies began.

In response to questions about the background of the historic theater, The Progress contacted local historian Brenda Kirk Fiddler, She compiled the following historical reports of theaters in Lexington from past issues of The Progress.

May 29, 1914 Progress - There will be at the Ruby Theatre night one of the most thrilling 3-reel features ever put in motion pictures, "The Dalton Gang," one of the most noted bank robberies in the world. A lecture will be given explaining all features.

April 16, 1920 Progress - C.C. Sweatt Transfers Moving Picture Show
Cooper C. Sweatt, who was pushing the erection of an up-to-date moving picture house, has transferred his interests in the same to Mr. E.L. Drake, late of Aberdeen, Miss., (son-in-law of Judge W.H. Lancaster) who has been running a movie house at Martin. Mr. Drake will carry out the intention of Mr. Sweatt to install a moving picture business here that will present the best attractions of the day-and perhaps even improve on what Mr Sweatt would have done. The house building will be rushed and the shows put on as soon as possible.

June 2, 1922 Progress - Morning Blaze Destroys Picture Show
Last Sunday morning about 1:30 o'clock, a well-advanced fire was discovered in the Princess Theatre, a moving picture show, and the progress of the flames was not stayed until the entire group of buildings on the corner of the home lot of Miss Nannie McHaney, fronting on Monroe Street, were consumed—the moving picture show on the corner and the former baking room and the J.E. Finley restaurant, between the corner and the old McHaney home.

     The fire laddies responded promptly after the alarm was given, but the fire was too far advanced to save the buildings. The room vacated by the bakery was empty and the cafe had but recently been taken over by Mr. and Mrs. Finley, who had $500 insurance, which may cover their loss.

The losses consisted of the Moving Picture building which belonged to W. H. Lancaster and E. L. Drake, the Moving Picture machine, films on hand and the piano, the property of Mr. E.L. Drake. The Lancaster & Drake loss is estimated at over $7,000.00 and we understand that they carried $5,000.00 insurance. On whom the loss of the films will fall is not yet known.

      Mr. C. C. Sweatt owned the restaurant building and Miss Nannie McHaney owned the bakery and entire lot. Mr. T. W. Stegall suffered the loss of his garage that was situated just back of the picture show building, and if he had been just a few minutes later, he would have lost his car. The home of Mrs. S. J. Eller across the street, narrowly escaped.

September 1, 1922 Progress - New Princess Theatre to Open Monday
The new and handsomely appointed Princess moving picture theatre will open its doors to the public next Monday night, September 4th, with Mabel Norman in her new picture story, "Molly-O", one of the real million dollar productions. The admission will be put at 15 and 30c and while the house is commodious it ought to be taxed to its fullest capacity.

At that time Mr. Drake, the proprietor, hopes to have in operation his wireless radio equipment and without additional charge will give a high class musical program from Louisville, one of the biggest radio broadcasting stations in the world. Programs from other cities will be given at different times. The regular admission will be at 10 and 22 cents, only on special features when it is felt by the management that they cannot afford to present them at that price. Mr. Drake is presenting no pictures that have not been closely censored, that are morally clean and feels that all can afford to visit the Princess with pleasure and profit.

July 19,1935 Progress - New Theatre for Lexington
Lexington is to have another theatre. The corner lot on the southeast corner of the square has been purchased from Miss Nelle Boswell, and the erection of the building will begin soon. The house will be 42 by 100 feet seating 625 people with a balcony ample for the colored folks, and will have a modern heating and cooling system.

September 6, 1935 Progress -
The force of the contractor Hershey Davis has made a big showing an excavating for the foundation of the handsome picture show building to be erected on the Miss Hellen Boswell lot at the Southern corner of the Public Square.

December 20, 1935 Progress - The New Princess Nearly Complete
Seats were received this week for the new home of the Princess Theatre, which is rapidly nearing completion and will be opened in the early part of December. Neither time nor money has been spared in the effort to give Lexington a theatre which, in comfort, beauty and efficiency, ranks with any house of its size in the land. Manager Guy B. Amis is determined that everything be completed when the doors are opened to the public. He will probably be ready to announce the opening date and the opening attraction by next week. The new Princess is owned and operated by the Lexington Amusement Company, a group composed of nineteen leading business and professional men, who sponsored the enterprise, not only as a money-making investment, but as a matter of civic pride. As Mr. Amis observes, the old equipment has not been adequate for modern pictures. It has been impossible for a long time to give a show satisfactory to a discriminating audience. But with the completion of the new Princess, sound pictures here will reproduce every shade of the voice with the perfection found in the best theatres. And there will be no advance in price. All these changes are being made solely with a view to increasing the efficiency of the plant.

The interior walls are finished in acoustical celotex, a material used exclusively for buildings where clearness of sound is a necessity. It prevents echoes-and is attractive in appearance, besides being arranged in a two-tone tile design, with a wainscoting of the brown and tan, striped with red. The proscenium arch is gilt, and the stage hangings will be blue. The seats are upholstered in Spanish leather, with pneumatic cushions. The aisle and foyer will be carpeted, still further to do away with unwanted noise. There are two rest rooms, a balcony containing seats for Negroes and an office for the manager connected with the ticket booth.

The projection room is equipped with the latest and most scientific safeguards against danger. It is of fire­proof construction, with the doors covered in sheet metal and fire safety plates set into the wall. These are equipped with fuses which blow if the room ever reaches a dangerous temperature, and teh plates are released to drop over all openings into the auditorium. Protection equipment is also being imoproved. The screen is enlarged and covered in silver, so that the visual effect will be as greatly improvement as the sound. The front basement contains at present a single large room, which is to be finished and rented for commercial purposes. The marque will have a neon sign,extending the entire width of the building. This is being installed by the White Sign Company of Blytheville, Arkansas. The sound and ventilating equipment comes from the National Theatre Supply Company of Memphis; and the heating system was purchased from the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of Phillips & Buttorf Mfg. Co., of Nashville.

The stage is large enough to permit small vaudeville acts, and is equipped with footlights and other accessories of what we used to call the legitimate theatre. Seating capacity is 635, which is about the same as the City School auditorium, although, being so much more compact, it looks smaller. The building is of buff-faced bnck with concrete foundation, scored to simulate stone. It represents an investment of $23,000, all local capital. Miller & Davis, local contractors are the builders. Plans were approved by a committee consisting of A.S. Montgomery, M.H. Britt, I.M. Dennison, John H. Wadley and Guy B. Amis. The officers of the Lexington Amusement Company are: J. O. Brown, president; J. C. Thomas, vice-president; Guy B. Amis, secretary and treasurer. This is an outstanding achievement. It is one which will bring them profit in money, we have no doubt, and also a feeling of satisfaction that they have been able to enlarge so extensively the facilities for enjoyment in a town that is growing up very fast.

Dec. 31, 1937 Progress Property Changes Hands
The old picture show building on the Northeast side of the public square, has been sold to Fred Odle, and is now being reconditioned for occupancy by a general mercantile business. The front will be made up-to-date and shelving and counters placed on the inside to suit the firm that leases the building. The Masonic Lodge will continue to occupy the upper floor

February 2, 1940 Progress E. L. Drake Dies in Jackson - E. L. Drake, fifty years of age, died in home in Jackson, Friday morning, Jan. 8th, and his remains were laid to rest in the Hollywood cemetery, that city, Saturday. Mr. Drake came to Lexington with the old Cumberland Telephone Company, many years ago, and was married to Miss Willie, daughter of Judge and Mrs. W.

H. Lancaster, and to them one child, Mrs. Willie Mae Hannibeth, was born, and she with her mother, survive. The Drakes lived in Lexington until 1924, and while here he established the Princess Theatre, disposing of his interest therein when he moved to Jackson, where he soon established similar business, operating the Paramount and State Theatres. He sold his interest to the Malco organization and was retained as manager which position he has held for several years. Mr. Drake was reared hi Mississippi, and when living in Lexington, had many friends who deeply sympathized with the family in their loss.

January 9, 1942 Progress Roy Acuff At The Princess Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys, another unit of the Grand Ole Opry, has been booked for the Princess Theatre next Monday. There will be no advance in price.

February 6, 1942 Progress Lexington on News Reel Eldon Shaw, a newsreel cameraman, has been making a newsreel to be shown at The Princess Theatre Monday and Tuesday of next week. Hundreds of people of Lexington and Henderson County will have the thrilling experience of seeing themselves in the movies.

The local schools, churches and civic clubs, as well as other schools in the county will share in this publicity. Many of the scenes will be in natural color. The management of the local theatre is to be congratulated for bringing a newsreel cameraman to film the highlights of our town and county.

March 6, 1942 Progress Roy Acuff At Princess Monday
Due to the insistent demands of the hundreds who failed to see Roy Acuff when he appeared at the Princess a short time ago, the local management has arranged another date next Monday when this popular star will appear with his Smoky Mountain Boys in five shows, beginning Monday afternoon at 1:30. [Lorene Hatley of Lexington was working at the Princess during this appearance.)

November 16, 1945 Progress Lexington Amusement Company Plans Log Bought
Henderson County movie fans will soon have another modern showhouse, according to an announcement of Mr. Guy AMis, manager of the Princess Theatre. The Lexington Amusement Co, which owns and operates the Princess Theatre, recently purchased the lot South of the present theatre from Mr. J.C. Thomas, and will build as soon as possible.

As soon as the new theatre is completed, the Princess will get a "new permanent" with the interior being redecorated and improvement added. This step was taken to accommodiate the buglic. Those who are in the habit of attending the Princess have often remarked that more room was needed. It was decided to build another theatre, which will present an entirely different program from the one beingshown at the Princess. This was known as the Strand Theatre, and operated approximately 8 years.  It currently owned by Mr. Pope Thomas, son of J.C. Thomas, and houses the Lexington Pawn Shop.

November 28, 1968 Progress - New Princess Greets Patrons
A completely remodeled building will greet patrons of the Princess Theatre and the first offering under new ownership is now playing. The feature is "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," starring Clint Eastwood. An open type ticket booth leads to a lobby-concession area that has been newly carpeted and paneled. The auditorium has been finished in pastel colors and has hanging type light fixtured with a complete dimming system. Two restrooms are in the main lobby as well as two in the balcony. The theatre office is located in the basement. Bill Welch is manager of the Theatre since its purchase by Jaxon Drive-In Theatre, Inc. The Laco Drive-In is also owned by the firm. Sunday night was the last show for the season at the Laco. Mr. Welch said, "There are also plans to rework th Laco with a new and more efficient speaker system.