Fun Facts about Ahoskie

Published 4:44 pm Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In this space during the month of February, the Ahoskie Woman’s Club is presenting “Fun Facts about Ahoskie” or “Do you remember when?” depending on your age.

You may or may not know this trivia, but it may come in handy when the Club hosts a Trivia Game at 10 a.m. on March 11 at the Ahoskie Visitor’s Center Museum, located at the corner of Main Street and Railroad Street. The game is open to the public and the winner will receive a prize.

The museum is sponsored by the Ahoskie Woman’s Club…and they love history!!

Richard Theatre

J.R. Garrett built the Richard Theatre in 1927. It is now the home of The Gallery Theatre in Ahoskie

The entry and lobby were an earlier commercial storefront which had been used as a small mercantile and movie theater even before the Richard was built.

Gallery Theatre

The Gallery Theatre was born when in 1966 the Women’s Division of the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce saw beyond the dust and decay was a legitimate theater that could not only host visiting artist but provide a training arena for aspiring thespians and artist.

An Art Show was held in conjunction with the opening of the Gallery Theatre on December 12, 1966.

The art committee headed by Mrs. Howard Hunter made the plans for the opening exhibit.

Earl Theatre

The Earl Theatre opening night was September 9, 1948 with the showing of the Movie “Big City”

W.H. Howell, Northampton County native, was the president of the corporation that owned and operated the Earl. He was also president of Howell Theatres Inc., which also operated the Richard Theatre in Ahoskie since 1937, under a lease with its founder E.L. Garrett.

At this time the Earl Theatre had 775 seats

In the beginning the Earl had four changes of pictures weekly and just down the street at the Richard Theatre they also had four changes of pictures weekly

With two movie houses in operation the Ahoskie, movie-goers had plenty of options to see the latest films.