Megan Barber
Franklin Free Press
After it opened in 1949, the Roxy Theatre served as a movie theatre to the residents of Franklin County. However, it has been more than 40 years since the last movie was shown at the Roxy in downtown Russellville.
With progress being made in the restoration of the theatre, the Roxy will host its movie premiere debut this Friday, August 15 during the Watermelon Festival.
“I am so excited to actually have movies back in Russellville again,” said Wanda Myrick, a Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council member.
Myrick said that the theatre has a movie screen and a projector now, which allows the theatre to show films. The Roxy Theatre will be showing the musical documentary Elvis on Tour at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. This was the last film that Elvis Presley made before his death in 1977.
The Watermelon Festival weekend is the anniversary Presley’s death; therefore, the council chose to show an Elvis movie since the last movie shown at the Roxy was an Elvis film. Admission to the movie will be a low price of $2 per person.
Movie Night at the Roxy will not be a one-time event each year. The council is already planning future movie screenings featuring Halloween movies, kid-friendly films and Valentine’s Day love stories. The council would like to be able to show at least one movie each month.
However, future events such as these depend on community support during the Watermelon Festival.
“Just think, people can bring their children to the Roxy to watch a movie like they did when they were younger,” said Myrick.
Being able to show movies at the Roxy can now open up new ventures, like plays to be performed at the Roxy, that can once again make the historic theatre the highlight of downtown Russellville.
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