Landers Theater - Batesville, Ar. - Vintage Movie Theaters on Waymarking.com

This former movie theater building is in good shape and is now being used as a non-denominational church.

Date of Construction: 1907

A two-story, stone masonry commercial building with an original buff brick facade. The sandstone walls are supported by a sandstone foundation and the structure is covered by a flat, tin roof set behind a raised parapet. It is three bays across on the principal elevation; the side elevation are blank.

Though the architect is unknown, this building stands as one of the earliest examples of the influence of the Spanish Colonial style in Batesville. Of special note are the stepped Spanish parapet with its central semi-circle and concrete coping, the Classical concrete cornice and stringcourse below, and the bracketed sills beneath the windows on the second story.

- National Register Application

The Gem Opera House opened in 1906 in a three-story structure located on Main Street. By the early 1920’s, the Gem had become a movie house, with only ocassional stage shows. It became the first movie theater in the area to screen sound films, in 1931. Will Rogers appeared on the stage of Gem, which by 1941 had been renamed the Landers for the family which would operate the theater for three generations, until it closed in the 1990’s. After it closed as a movie house, it was used infrequently for concerts.

- Cinematreasures.org

Year Theater Opened: 1906 Number of Screen(s): 1 Concessions Available: no Web site: [Web Link] Ticket Price (local currency): Not Listed Matinee Price (local currency): Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Must take a photo of the theater.
Please try to include yourself or gps in the picture.
Tell of your experience at the theater, if it is still a theater. If it is no longer a theater tell of an experience from the past at the theater, if this can be done.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   07/31/2011 Wallyum visited it