INC NEWS - celebration planned for 80th birthday

[RW Pickle]

Carolina Theatre to observe birthday
with celebration, education and history

DURHAM - The historic Carolina Theatre of Durham is gearing up to celebrate
the 80th anniversary of the facility's original grand opening, which
occurred on a crisp winter night in 1926.

The landmark building first opened its doors as the Durham Auditorium on
Feb. 2, 1926, with a show called the "Kiwanis Jollies." Since that Tuesday
evening 80 years ago, the Theatre has hosted thousands of performances -
from vaudeville and live concerts, to ballet, opera and modern dance, to
independent films and groundbreaking documentaries.

To recognize that long and fascinating history, two birthday bashes are
being planned for Feb. 2. A morning event designed primarily for school
children and their teachers is slated for 11:30 a.m. in Cinema One of the
Theatre complex. At 7 p.m., an evening program will be held in Fletcher
Hall, with a reception in the Connie Moses Ballroom to follow. Both events
are free and open to the public.

History will be a big part of the celebration. Durham artist and historic
preservationist Pepper Fluke will discuss the Theatre's beginnings and will
chronicle its long journey to its current place in the state's cultural and
entertainment scene. Also on tap is a new documentary film called "Times
Remembered," which will focus on personal anecdotes and stories shared by
people such as City Council member Howard Clement III, former Mayor Sylvia
Kerckhoff and Theatre advocate Montrose Moses. During the evening reception,
the Durham School of the Arts Jazz Band will perform.

Connie Campanaro, CEO and President of the Carolina Theatre Inc., said the
anniversary is a good time to reflect- and to look ahead.

 "We are pleased to be celebrating with our patrons, neighbors, volunteers
and the entire community, not only eighty years of history, but also our
hopes and dreams for the future of the Carolina," she said.

The original Durham Auditorium opened during a period of excitement and
prosperity in the United States - and Durham was no different. It was the
Roaring Twenties, a post-war era marked by trends, fads and fun. Flagpole
sitting was popular with young people. Women who dressed as "flappers" were
all the rage.

In 1926, Charlie Chaplin debuted his wonderful film, "The Gold Rush."
Magician Harry Houdini died of complications related to the rupture of his
appendix. Legendary actor John Barrymore starred in the film "Don Juan." The
NBC radio Network debuted with 24 stations nationwide.

This period, also known as the Jazz Age, brought a spike in America's
interest in arts and entertainment. Live performances of all sorts were
wildly popular, from New York to California and just about everywhere in
between. So the opening of the Durham Auditorium was a natural.

But the 1920s also were a time of segregation in the South. Campanaro said
that important part of the Theatre's history will not be ignored during the
celebration.

"We want people to be aware of the entire story," she said. "In a lot of
ways, the Theatre's history is our own history. The Theatre has grown and
changed considerably in 80 years - just as Durham has."

The Carolina Theatre is located at 309 West Morgan Street in downtown
Durham.
For more information about the birthday celebration, visit the Theatre's
website at www.carolinatheatre.org or call Elisabeth Branigan at 560-3040,
ext. 224.