Abbeville in Henry County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Archie Theatre

Abbeville, Alabama

Photographed by James L.Whitman, May 18, 2025

1. Archie Theatre Marker

Inscription.

Archie Theatre. Abbeville, Alabama. Abbeville's Archie Theatre, located on Doswell Street on the east side of the Courthouse Square, held its grand opening on Thursday, July 1, 1948. Showings of "Sitting Pretty," starring Maureen O'Hara, Robert Young and Clifton Webb, were held at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on that day, with the formal opening ceremonies held during a showing at 8 p.m., Mrs. Bessie Walker owned the Archie and named the theatre after her son, Archie Mansville Walker Jr., who died in June 1944 as a result of injuries suffered in Normandy during the D-Day invasion during World War II. , The Archie replaced the Abbey Theatre, which had opened in April 1934 and closed on June 28, 1948. The Abbey had also been operated by Mrs. Walker and family, including son Archie. Some of the equipment was moved from the Abbey into the Archie. , The Archie featured a two-showing schedule at 6 pm and 8 p.m. This was an accommodation to a great many people and was much more convenient than the one-show schedule at the Abbey. Matinees were scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. , The Archie had a seating capacity of approximately 400 in the main floor show room and approximately 300 seating capacity in the balcony. Cool drinking water was provided in the lobby, ice cream, popcorn and candies were sold in the outer lobby. , After being closed for a number of years. The Archie was purchased by Jimmy Rane of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc., and the that began to undergo renovations. Today, with the "Welcome to Abbeville” lettering on the marquee, the front appearance of the theatre resembles the same appearance exhibited on the grand opening day in 1948. , The Archie's namesake, Archie Walker Jr., left his Abbey Theatre business and joined the U.S. Army on January 16, 1941, transferring overseas in January 1944. He received the highest certificate rating for rifle sharp shooting and attained the rank of Staff Sgt in the 45 Division Co., 22nd infantry, Archie's boat was among the first wave of boats to land on Utah Beach during the famous Allied invasion of Europe at Normandy in France on D-Day at 6 am, June 8, 1944. He was critically wounded on the beach that day and died on June 13, 1944 at age 25. By an ironic twist of fate, Archie was taken to the first medical aid station established on Utah Beach where he was attended by friend and Abbeville native, Captain Thomas J. Floyd Jr., a surgeon in the Medical Corps.

Abbeville's Archie Theatre, located on Doswell Street on the east side of the Courthouse Square, held its grand opening on Thursday, July 1, 1948. Showings of "Sitting Pretty," starring Maureen O'Hara, Robert Young and Clifton Webb, were held at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on that day, with the formal opening ceremonies held during a showing at 8 p.m.

Mrs. Bessie Walker owned the Archie and named the theatre after her son, Archie Mansville Walker Jr., who died in June 1944 as a result of injuries suffered in Normandy during the D-Day invasion during World War II.

The Archie replaced the Abbey Theatre, which had opened in April 1934 and closed on June 28, 1948. The Abbey had also been operated by Mrs. Walker and family, including son Archie. Some of the equipment was moved from the Abbey into the Archie.

The Archie featured a two-showing schedule at 6 pm and 8 p.m. This was an accommodation to a great many people and was much more convenient than the one-show schedule at the Abbey. Matinees were scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Archie had a seating capacity of approximately 400 in the main floor show room and approximately 300 seating capacity in the balcony. Cool drinking water was provided in the lobby, ice cream, popcorn and candies were sold in the outer lobby.

After

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being closed for a number of years. The Archie was purchased by Jimmy Rane of Great Southern Wood Preserving, Inc., and the that began to undergo renovations. Today, with the "Welcome to Abbeville” lettering on the marquee, the front appearance of the theatre resembles the same appearance exhibited on the grand opening day in 1948.

The Archie's namesake, Archie Walker Jr., left his Abbey Theatre business and joined the U.S. Army on January 16, 1941, transferring overseas in January 1944. He received the highest certificate rating for rifle sharp shooting and attained the rank of Staff Sgt in the 45 Division Co., 22nd infantry, Archie's boat was among the first wave of boats to land on Utah Beach during the famous Allied invasion of Europe at Normandy in France on D-Day at 6 am, June 8, 1944. He was critically wounded on the beach that day and died on June 13, 1944 at age 25. By an ironic twist of fate, Archie was taken to the first medical aid station established on Utah Beach where he was attended by friend and Abbeville native, Captain Thomas J. Floyd Jr., a surgeon in the Medical Corps.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1948.

Location. 31° 34.263′ N, 85° 14.96′ W. Marker is in Abbeville, Alabama, in Henry County. It

Photographed by James L.Whitman, May 18, 2025

2. Archie Theatre Marker

is at the intersection of North Doswell Street and E Williams St, on the left when traveling south on North Doswell Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 N Doswell St, Abbeville AL 36310, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Wiregrass.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: In Honor of William Calvin Oates (within shouting distance of this marker); Abbeville / Seven Flags and an Arrow Over Abbeville (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry, The Mother County (within shouting distance of this marker); History of the Bank of Henry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A County Older Than the State (about 300 feet away); Nordan's (about 400 feet away); Methodist Episcopal Church, South (about 600 feet away); The First Baptist Church of Abbeville / Abbeville Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Abbeville.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2025, by James L.Whitman of Eufaula, Alabama. This page has been viewed 447 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2025, by James L.Whitman of Eufaula, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.