Salisbury in Rowan County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Meroney’s Theatre
Salisbury History & Art Trail
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Railroad & Industrial
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Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2010
1. Meroney’s Theatre Marker
Inscription.
Meroney’s Theatre. Salisbury History and Art Trail. When Dr. L. J. Meroney and his sister Lena built the theater in 1905, its large seating capacity attracted professional troupes to Salisbury. Two of the most famous thespians of the day, the “Divine” Sarah Bernhardt and the glamorous Lillian Russell, performed on its stage. Also appearing here were “The March King,” John Philip Sousa, and the New York Symphony Orchestra. With the advent of motion pictures, part of the building was turned into a cinema; eventually the whole theater became a movie house. Through the years the theater-movie house was known by many different names: Bijou, Fotosho, Grubb, Colonial, Strand, State, Center, and lastly, Towne Cinema., Piedmont Players Theatre, Inc., purchased the building in 1992. After extensive renovations, they inaugurated the 1995-96 season in their new home. Once again the Meroney Theater is used for stage productions.
When Dr. L. J. Meroney and his sister Lena built the theater in 1905, its large seating capacity attracted professional troupes to Salisbury. Two of the most famous thespians of the day, the “Divine” Sarah Bernhardt and the glamorous Lillian Russell, performed on its stage. Also appearing here were “The March King,” John Philip Sousa, and the New York Symphony Orchestra. With the advent of motion pictures, part of the building was turned into a cinema; eventually the whole theater became a movie house. Through the years the theater-movie house was known by many different names: Bijou, Fotosho, Grubb, Colonial, Strand, State, Center, and lastly, Towne Cinema.
Piedmont Players Theatre, Inc., purchased the building in 1992. After extensive renovations, they inaugurated the 1995-96 season in their new home. Once again the Meroney Theater is used for stage productions.
Erected 2006 by Salisbury History & Art Trail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.
Location. 35° 39.969′ N, 80° 28.278′ W. Marker is in Salisbury, North Carolina, in Rowan County. It is on S Main Street (U.S. 70), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Salisbury NC 28144, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Greater Charlotte. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, 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 original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
More about this marker. The top of the marker contains the Salisbury History & Art Trail – Railroad & Industrial logo, featuring a steaming locomotive. An image of how the Meroney’s Theatre originally appeared is at the bottom of the marker.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2010
2. Marker in Salisbury
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2010
3. Meroney’s Theatre
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,094 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 12, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
