Blowing Rock in Watauga County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Yonahlossee Theater

1939

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 30, 2022

1. Yonahlossee Theater Marker

Inscription. Built of Grandfather Mountain granite, the movie house opened in June of 1939 and continued to provide first-run movies to the community, during the summer months only, until 1979. The theater once hosted the world premiere of the movie, Spawn of the North, starring George Raft and Dorothy Lamour.

In recognition of this property's significance, this marker is placed by the
Blowing Rock Historical Society and the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum.

Erected by Blowing Rock Historical Society • Blowing Rock Art and History Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1939.

Location. 36° 7.919′ N, 81° 40.698′ W. Marker is in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, in Watauga County. Marker is on Main Street (Business U.S. 321) north of Morris Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1125 Main St, Blowing Rock NC 28605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tweetsie Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show (within shouting distance of this marker); Mayview Manor Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Sonny's Grill

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street Through the Years (within shouting distance of this marker); Appalachian Ski Mountain (within shouting distance of this marker); Blowing Rock's History (within shouting distance of this marker); Martin House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blowing Rock.

Regarding Yonahlossee Theater. Spawn of the North actually premiered a few doors down at the Carolina Theatre, which was the the Yonahlossee Theater's predecessor. The August 20, 1938 showing was a publicity stunt orchestrated by the Carolina's owners and Paramount Pictures. It resulted in widespread media coverage that wrongly implied it was the first motion picture that many local residents had ever seen. The film, which included John Barrymore and a young Henry Fonda, officially premiered a week later in Seattle.

Also see . . .
1. Hanna's Oriental Rugs & Gifts. Hanna's has been a Main Street mainstay since 1919, and now occupies the stone building that housed the Yonahlossee theater from 1939 to 1979. (Margaret

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 30, 2022

2. Yonahlossee Theater Marker

Handley, Clio: Your Guide to History, posted Aug. 8, 2020) (Submitted on November 17, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. The Yonahlossee Theatre: The Best in Motion Pictures. The Yonahlossee Theatre, by far the most widely remembered film theater in Blowing Rock today, opened for the summer season in 1939 and nearly every summer thereafter until 1973 (Gary R. Boye, Music Librarian and Professor at Appalachian State University) (Submitted on November 21, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Yonahlossee Theater Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Parker, February 25, 2024

3. Yonahlossee Theater Building

Credits. This page was last revised on February 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 96 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on February 28, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.