A narrow alleyway with brick walls on both sides leading to a theater called Turnage, with decorative lights hanging overhead and a partly cloudy sky above.

Over a century of creativity, community, and cultural legacy in the heart of Washington, NC.

History of the Turnage Theatre

&

Arts of the Pamlico

Introduction: A Living Legacy

One Building. Two Theaters. Over 100 Years of Stories.

The Turnage Theatre in downtown Washington, NC, is a rare architectural and cultural landmark that houses two distinct performance venues in a single historic building:

  • A vaudeville theater built in 1913, located upstairs and known as the "New Theater."

  • A movie palace was added in 1930, marking the arrival of the “talkie” film era.

Together, they reflect the dramatic shift in American entertainment from live stage shows to modern cinema and today serve as the vibrant home of Arts of the Pamlico (AOP).

The Vaudeville Era (1913–Late 1920s)

The “New Theatre”: Lights, Laughter & Legend

Collier Anthony Turnage (Cat Turnage) moved from the Farmville, NC area to Washington and opened a Shoe store at 120 W Main Street called the Selz Royal Blue Store.

3 Business Operated Downstairs in the Hodges Building

  • Facing the building, the left side at 152 W Main was Lewis and Calais

    • a dry goods store featuring ladies’ ready-to-wear.

    • It was owned by J.T. Lewis and J.T. Calais.

  • The center section (our hallway) at 148 W Main was occupied by William Bragaw and Co.

    • He was a cotton broker and an insurance agent for Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.

  • The right storefront at 146 West Main Street was home to H.T. Latham Books and

    Stationery.

    • In 1930, when Turnage opened his new theatre in the rear of the building,

      Shaw Soda Shop opened in that location.

1913: “The New Theatre” Opened upstairs in the Hodges Building

  • Operated by a stock company composed of R.E. Hodges, Jay M. Hodges, J.L. Capeheart, Sam Etheridge, and Tom Blow.

  • Opening had been delayed due to damage from the Hurricane of 1913.

  • Hosted vaudeville acts, musical revues, and community performances

    • One of the theatre’s earliest productions was The Shepherd of the Hills, based on the immensely popular novel by Harold Bell Wright, which had sold more than a million copies.

      • The stage adaptation was written by Wright with assistance from Elsbery W. Reynolds.

      • Opened at the New Theatre on Thursday, November 13, 1913.

  • The “New Theatre” reflected its prominence in the community.

  • Features include

    • A raked (sloped) wooden floor for better viewing

    • Original balcony, piano pit, and stage

    • Historic catwalk, curtain pulleys, and early horn speaker

    • Ghostly figures have been sighted - who could they be?

1914: C. A. Turnage purchased Sam Etheridge’s interest in the New Theatre. Tom Blow then sold his interest to Ed Willis and L.E. Kidd.

Empty, abandoned auditorium with broken equipment and debris scattered on the floor.
Interior of a building under construction with wooden frameworks, ladders, and unfinished walls.
A vintage theater poster advertising a performance by Jimmie Hodgins' Broadway Revue at Turnage Theatre in Washington, North Carolina, on November 7th, 8th, and 9th, featuring a show schedule and ticket prices.

The Movie Palace (1928–1930)

A Grand Leap into the Age of Film

March 25, 1929, the first “talkie was shown at the New Theatre

  • “On Trial” starring Pauline Frederick.

Later in 1929, the Turnage Theatre was constructed at the rear of the building to reduce street noise for film screenings

  • Turnage secured a long lease from Mr. Hodges on the store formerly occupied by Lewis and Calais and the lot in the rear of the Hodges building.

  • Considered one of the most modern theatres in Eastern North Carolina at the time

  • Seating for 432 guests in a palace-style layout

  • Features inspired by NYC’s Keith-Albee Theater:

    • Sweeping balcony with wrought-iron railings

    • Opera boxes and ornate plaster ceiling rosettes

    • Two-story lobby, grand staircase, and proscenium details

  • Included stage lighting and rigging—just in case films didn’t take off!

February 27, 1930: The Turnage Theatre Opens

  • Opened with the musical film “Lord Byron of Broadway” starring Ethelind Terry and Charles Kaley.

  • Shaw's Soda Shop opened in the space where AOP’s sister retail shop, Maker's Gallery, is now

    • In 1939, it was bought out again by none other than George Diamond. He renamed it People's Soda Shop.

This combination of a live-performance space and a cinematic hall under one roof is exceptionally rare and adds to the building’s architectural significance.

From Stage to Screen: The Mid-Century Years (1930s–1970s)

The Golden Age of Film at the Turnage

1937: Turnage leased the Strand Theatre building, including the part of the building occupied by Bell Jewelry company and fifty feet of land in the rear of the building, which is located at what is now 109 and 111 W Main Street.

  • Tearing down all but the walls of the Strand Theatre, he erected a modern theatre and named it REITA, after his wife, at the suggestion of Edmund Harding.

    • The first showing at the Reita was on February 18, 1938, featuring the film Make A Wish, starring Bobby Breen, and a Popeye cartoon.

After the addition of the palace-style cinema in 1928, the Turnage Theatre became a cherished local movie house. From the 1930s through the 1960s, it hosted:

  • First-run feature films

  • Saturday matinees

  • Occasional live performances and school events

As vaudeville declined nationally, the Turnage adapted—shifting its focus to film while keeping the stage intact for special occasions.

In the 1950s and 60s, the building underwent updates to keep up with modern standards:

  • Air conditioning and ductwork were installed

  • Wood paneling and fabric wall coverings were added

  • Acoustic ceiling tiles were placed, covering ornate plaster details still hidden beneath today

Turnage operated both theatres continuously until 1955, when he sold them to the Stewart and Everett Theatre Company of Charlotte.

  • The company continued operations until the theatres eventually closed.

The Reita closed in the early 1960s.

  • Sadly, it was later demolished, and the space was divided into two retail shops.

REITA Theatre

Empty vintage theatre marquee with a sign reading 'TURNAERAGE' and decorative trim, seen from above with two people walking on the sidewalk below.

Decline and Closure (1970s–1990s)

A Cultural Pause

Closed in 1979 due to:

  • The rise of multiplex cinemas

  • Economic decline in small downtowns

  • Sat dark for nearly two decades, but remained beloved by locals

C.A. Turnage passed away at Beaufort County Hospital on January 22, 1971, at the age of 85.

  • Having no heirs, his home at 201 West 11th Street in Washington and the remainder of his estate were sold at public auction.

  • He is interred at Oakdale Cemetery in Washington.

Historic brick building with neon marquee reading 'TURNAGE HAPPY HOLIDAYS' and a vertical neon sign at the center, storefront windows, and clear blue sky above.
Aerial view of a small downtown area showing a building under construction or renovation with a crane, scaffolding, and workers on the roof, in front of a larger building with a historic facade. The adjacent lot has a white roof that appears to be newly coated or replaced.

Community Restoration & Revival (1996–2014)

Rescuing a Regional Gem

1996: Community leaders form the Turnage Theater Foundation

  • 2007: Reopened after a $4M restoration effort

  • 2011: Closed again due to financial struggles

  • 2013: Purchased by the Beaufort County Arts Council for $250,000

  • 2014: Reopened under new life as the home of Arts of the Pamlico

Major restoration projects included:

  • Replacing the roof and shoring up the vaudeville structure

  • Adding HVAC, plumbing, safety, and accessibility updates

  • Preserving original architectural features wherever possible

Eras of the Historic Turnage Theatre

Sign reading 'Arts of the Pamilco Connecting Art - Culture - Community' on a brick building, with a colorful mosaic art piece below the sign, partially obscured by green leaves from a nearby tree.

Arts of the Pamlico (2014–Present)

A Living Museum and Active Arts Center

Today, the Turnage Theatre is more than historic—it's a vibrant home for the arts in Eastern North Carolina.

Operated by Arts of the Pamlico (AOP), a state-designated arts council, the building now offers:

  • Live theatre, concerts, dance performances, and film screenings

  • Art exhibits across three gallery spaces

  • Youth programs, summer camps, and after-school arts education

  • Podcasts, pottery workshops, and community events

  • Space rentals for artists, educators, nonprofits, and local celebrations

Empty theater stage with red curtains, a projected screen, and empty seats in the auditorium.

Architectural Highlights

Vaudeville Theater

  • Neo-Classical Revival style with detailed brickwork and Palladian windows

  • U-shaped balcony, proscenium arch, and a sloped main floor

  • Accessed via original stairwell still visible today

Movie Palace

  • Lavish interior with decorative plaster, opera boxes, and grand lobby

  • Blend of live-performance and cinematic capabilities