Brevard Had Two Movie Houses in 1919

Early moving or motion picture shows were first presented in Brevard in 1907 by W.M. Bradley and Company.  Bradley offered moving pictures during the summer months for about four years.  They were shown in the Dunn’s Rock Building on South Broad Street.

In 1911 motion pictures were offered at the Court House, with the money earned going into a fund for clocks to be installed in the Court House tower.

Beginning in 1912 picture shows were presented in the Auditorium on the second floor of a new building on West Main Street.

A 1919 article in the Brevard News mentions that there are two moving picture houses in Brevard.  Vern Clement was the movie operator at the Auditorium.  His brother, Ted, operated a theater on the third floor of the Aethelwold Hotel.  These were all silent movies as sound was not introduced to feature films until 1927.

The Clemson Theater, 1930s.

On June 17-18, 1929 Verne and Ted Clement showed the first “talking pictures” in their theater on the corner of West Main and Caldwell Streets.  It was reported, “The Clemson, is the center of attraction just now, large crowds having attended Monday’s and Tuesday’s performances to hear and see the all-talking pictures.”  

The Clemson Theater got its name from Clement and Sons.  Frank Clement operated a jewelry and photo shop in the building with his sons’ theater business.

Clemson & Co-Ed Theaters, 1941

In 1938 the Clements bought the building next door to their theater and renovated it.  On June 26, 1939 the modern, air conditioned Co-Ed Theater opened.  It included a side entrance with a separate ticket office and balcony seating for colored people.

Bryan Shiflet, Vernon Davis and C.B. Carter purchased the Clemson and Co-Ed Theaters in 1942. Carter soon bought his partners out. He sold the buildings  to the City of Brevard in 1980.

The Clemson had closed in 1956.  After years of neglect, efforts were made by the Arts Council to renovate the Clemson in mid-1980s.  It was soon discovered to be too costly though.  The building was demolished in mid to late 1990s and the property remains as a green space downtown.

Today the old Co-Ed Theater is known as Falls Theater.

The Local History Room at the Library is interested in photographs or information about drive-in theaters in Transylvania County.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.