The CAPITOL THEATRE was the first theatre in Rowan County to exhibit 3-D movies when BWANA DEVIL premiered April 25, 1953. Viewers had to wear a pair of glasses to experience the third dimensional effects. Even the movie projectionist had to wear them, to keep the image in proper focus.
The 3-D craze of the 1950s came and went pretty quickly, lasting around one year. The main purpose of producing and exhibiting movies in three-dimension was to create some consumer excitement with the movie business, which was taking a hard hit from that new electronic device called television.
Down, but not out, 3-D films have made their return in the industry, almost sixty years after their first time around.
CENTER THEATRE June 27, 1953 |
CAPITOL THEATRE August 18, 1953 |
CENTER THEATRE October 8, 1953 |
CENTER THEATRE October 28, 1953 |
CENTER THEATRE November 24, 1953 |
CAPITOL THEATRE January 5, 1954 |
CAPITOL THEATRE January 17, 1954 |
Here are the movies which played Salisbury in 3-D:
April 26 - 28, 1953 - BWANA DEVIL - CAPITOL THEATRE
June 12 - 16, 1953 - HOUSE OF WAX - CAPITOL THEATRE
June 27 - 30, 1953 - FORT TI - CENTER THEATRE
August 2 - 6, 1953 - SANGAREE - CAPITOL THEATRE
August 18 - 22, 1953 - THE CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER - CAPITOL THEATRE
September 13 - 14, 1953 - THE MAZE - CAPITOL THEATRE
October 8 - 10, 1953 - IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE - CENTER THEATRE
October 28 - 31, 1953 - THE STRANGER WORE A GUN - CENTER THEATRE
November 22 - 25, 1953 - DEVIL'S CANYON - CENTER THEATRE
December 23 - 24, 1953 - ARENA - CAPITOL THEATRE
January 5 - 9, 1954 - HONDO - CAPITOL THEATRE
January 17 - 19, 1954 - KISS ME KATE - CAPITOL THEATRE
February 7 - 10, 1954 - CEASE FIRE - CAPITOL THEATRE
February 23 - 27, 1954 - JESSE JAMES VERSUS THE DALTONS - CENTER THEATRE
March 11 - 13, 1954 - HONDO - CAPITOL THEATRE
March 28 - April 3, 1954 - MISS SADIE THOMPSON - CENTER THEATRE
April 29 - May 1, 1954 - PHANTOM OF THE RUE MORGUE - CAPITOL THEATRE