The Pennyroyal Arts Council will celebrate the Alhambra Theatre’s 97th birthday Wednesday by inviting the public in for free popcorn and tours of the historic landmark in downtown Hopkinsville.
The theater will be open to guests from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., said Margaret Prim, executive director of the arts council.
Dorris Anne Russell will give tours of the building. Better known as “DAR” to Alhambra patrons, Russell is the longest serving employee of the arts council. She joined the organization in 1996, said Prim.
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Constructed as part of a municipal building that originally housed city, county and state offices, the Alhambra Theatre opened to the public on May 28, 1928.
The theater’s earliest audiences came for silent movies accompanied by musicians in the orchestra pit between the stage and the auditorium.
In addition to the movie theater, the City-County Public Building also had an armory, police station and city hall. The building was designed by John Trice Waller, of Hopkinsville. Other buildings he designed included Attucks High School, the Carnegie Library and Riverside Cemetery Chapel.
The Alhambra, at 507 S. Main St., is located next door to the Christian County Courthouse. The arts council manages the theater, which is owned by Christian County government.
