Roanoke in Randolph County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
The Martin Theatre
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, October 3, 2025
1. The Martin Theatre Marker
With special thanks to Bob & Mary Schoenberner for their generous donation of this theatre to the citizens of Roanoke.
The Martin Theatre was built in 1941 and burned in 1980. The Roanoke Rotary Club, along with the help of many generous contributors, revitalized this location in 2014. The gift from Bob and Mary Schoenberner, whose vision, along with that of the Rotary Club, made this theatre possible. We hope that it will be used and enjoyed by many generations to come.
Service Above Self
Erected by The Roanoke Rotary Club.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.
Location. 33° 9.131′ N, 85° 22.458′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Alabama, in Randolph County. It is on Main Street (State Highway 22) just east of Knight Avenue, on the left when traveling east. The marker is mounted on the front of the subject theatre building, on the left/west side of the entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 978 Main Street, Roanoke AL 36274, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in East Alabama. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Roanoke Doll Factory (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . .
1. Martin Theatre (Cinema Treasures).
Excerpt: The Martin Theatre opened on September 2, 1941. Seating was listed at 380. The theatre was operated by Martin Theatres. In the summer of 1981 the theatre was hit by lightning and destroyed by the subsequent fire, leaving only the four walls standing. By 2016 movies and concerts are held within the shell of the building.(Submitted on November 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Roanoke's Martin Theatre, long vacant, prepares for new life as outdoor venue
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, October 3, 2025
2. The Martin Theatre Marker
The marker is mounted on the left/west side of the front entrance.
(By William Thornton, Anniston/Gadsden Real-Time News, Jan. 21, 2015) Excerpt: For more than three decades, the crumbling theatre on Main Street was a reminder of a once-thriving small town's slow decline. Opened in 1941, the theatre provided steady entertainment until the summer of 1980, when a fire during a thunderstorm destroyed the interior and left only the outer shell. It was never rebuilt.(Submitted on November 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
In the years that followed, a look behind the old marquee and charred outer brick walls revealed trees and brush growing inside under an open roof. Several years ago, members of the Roanoke Rotary Club hit on the idea of bringing back the Martin with what became the Main Street Theatre Project. The first step was getting the property. In 2011, Bob and Mary Schoenberner donated the theatre, and the club began raising funds for renovation. Using grants and donations, the project cost about $300,000.
Atlanta-area architect Doug Carithers heard about the project and volunteered some sketches for how the theatre might be reconstituted as an open area venue, using the remaining walls and reinforcing them with steel. McWhorter & Co. handled the interior renovation once the growth of 30 years was cleaned out.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, October 3, 2025
3. Main Street Theatre (formerly Martin Theatre) Interior
Main Street Theatre
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, October 3, 2025
4. Main Street Theatre (formerly the Martin Theatre)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
