Rodgers Theatre celebrating 75th anniversary with rockabilly party

The Rodgers Theatre will kick off celebrations for its 75th anniversary with an event Saturday that includes special recognition from Sen. Jason Bean (R-District 25).

The event will include refreshments, a concert by Malden native Narvel Felts, and more.

Board members will sell root beer floats, barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs between 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the drugstore room. Walter Bowman of Doniphan will also display his 1948 Ford outside the theater for attendees to view.

Bean will make a presentation at 7 p.m. honoring the theatre, followed by performances from the Millstones and Felts. Felts, a country music and rockabilly singer, had his first concert at the Rodgers in 1957.

“Everybody’s encouraged to dress up in the late 40s early 50s costumes for the opening weekend,” said board member Joyce Keathley.

Poodle skirts, bobby socks and rockabilly attire are optional.

“I think we’ve got quite a few people who are going be dressing up both at this function and at the October banquet,” Keathley said.

June 1, 1949, was the grand opening of the now Historic Rodgers Theatre, board member Rhonda Hillis said. The first movie shown was “Red Canyon.”

“This was the birth of an icon in Butler County,” she shared.

Approximately 1,800 people attended the opening festivities, including a ribbon cutting, music by the Poplar Bluff Municipal Band and a dedication to the city mayor. E.W. Robinson.

“Most of us have fond memories of her grandeur,” Hillis said. “The beautiful brick lady with her flashing marque, impressive tower with colored lights shining on the tall panels. Oh yes, most of us remember the excitement we felt as children, waiting in line looking at the movie posters on our way to the red glass ticket booth. The awe once inside the big double doors, as the smell of popcorn envelopes your senses. Oh, the decisions, do you sit down front or up in the balcony? The excitement of a Disney movie was like waiting for Christmas morning.”

As the residents grew up, so did the theatre, Hillis said.

“Most of us experienced our first date at the Rodgers Theatre,” she shared. “We were careful to avoid the white glove clad ushers with their flashlights, just in case you had the opportunity to steal a kiss. Our beloved theatre transitioned with us through our lives. As we married and had families of our own, we took our children to see their first movie at the Rodgers.”

Now walking into the Rodgers is like going home, she said.

“She’s part of our personal history,” Hillis said. “She’s part of our past and hopefully, she will continue to be part of our future. We can now take our grandchildren and great-grandchildren to make more family memories at our beloved Rodgers Theatre.”

She invited every to help celebrate the 75th anniversary.

“Help us keep her up and going by attending events, donating and making the Historic Rodgers Theatre a place for families to make new memories and reminisce about the old ones,” Hillis said.

A variety of activities are planned as a tribute to this bygone era.

The next showing of Silver Screen Sundays will be July 14, with a 2 p.m. feature, “A Face in the Crowd,” starring Andy Griffith. The movie was filmed in Piggott, Arkansas, and featured local extras, as well as the Poplar Bluff High School band and area school buses.

James Linden Hogg, a descendant of the local Hogg family, will entertain July 6. Opry at the Rodgers with the Moon Pie Band will be July 27.

The banquet will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 17, at the Black River Coliseum.