TARBORO —
Monday will mark Parkhill Cinema’s 20th year of operation under its current management, but instead of celebrating, Tarboro’s hometown movie theater finds itself “fighting just to stay open,” said manager Jason Clark.
Regardless, Clark plans to run an anniversary special for patrons the first weekend of October.
“Unless something changes quickly and drastically, Tarboro will lose its movie theater again,” said Clark. “We have gotten to this point several times in the past and have always found a way to overcome it. This time things seem very different. The mall (Riverside Plaza) is in disarray as is the economy and there are expensive upgrades (digital and seats) that will be required just to be able to show movies.”
Small movie theaters nationwide are facing closure because of Hollywood studios’ switch from 35mm film to digital. Patrick Corcoran of the National Association of Theatre Owners told The Associated Press that the cost of converting one screen to digital is about $70,000.
The closure of small-town movie theaters means people will have to drive farther from their homes and likely pay more to see movies on the big screen. Ticket prices at Parkhill are $6 for adults and $4 for children and senior citizens. If Parkhill Cinema closes, Tarboro residents will have to drive at least 20 minutes to the nearest movie theater in Rocky Mount, where tickets at Premier 14 are $8.25 for adults and $6.25 for children and seniors.
“You can’t get a better price for the movie or concessions in out-of-town venues. We go almost every Friday night,” said Edgecombe Community College employee Sandra Sanderson. While the “aesthetics” of Parkhill Cinema don’t compare to larger, newer theaters, the movies are “timely from the release, the staff is very friendly and the popcorn is hot,” she said.
“I would hate to see it close,” said Mike Matthews, Tarboro’s director of water and sewer. “To see them still hanging on gives a little bit of hope that something else might come in there [the mall.]”
Matthews takes his two young children to Sunday matinees. As a child in daycare, Matthews watched movies at the theater every week. In those days, he said he went out to eat at the Golden Corral with his family and went shopping at K-Mart and Belk.
“We didn’t have any need to go to Greenville or Rocky Mount. Most of what you needed was right here in Tarboro,” said Matthews. Now, a nail salon is the only business remaining in the mall besides the movie theater.
“That’s the only thing in Tarboro left for people to do,” said Layne Andrews, a student at Edgecombe Community College. “If they had enough money to move out toward Wal-Mart, I’m thinking they would have more business.”
Hayley Coley, an employee of Parkhill Cinema, had similar thoughts.
“It gives the teenagers and kids something to do, because there’s nothing else here,” she said.
Coley and Courtney Hardin, both college students, have worked at the theater for four years. They said the small staff feels like family and they know most of the patrons when they walk in the door.
”It’s more friendly with a smaller theater,” said Hardin.
Clark said he has many loyal customers who come to the theater every week and “seem like family.”
“I have watched kids grow up and even bring their own kids to the movies,” he said. “It has been great hearing how much someone enjoyed a movie and seeing kids eager with anticipation when the lights begin to dim. After all, going to the movies is a special time for families and dates and that feeling cannot be duplicated.”
Despite the loyalty of some of Clark’s customers, he said it will take “a much larger effort from the community” to make the theater a successful business.
Sandra Sanderson was succinct in her thoughts: “Town of Tarboro, your future is in your hands by supporting local small businesses. The foundation of our local and national economic system relies on small businesses like Parkhill Cinema.”
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Related Photos
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Hayley Coley pours popcorn fresh out of the kettle into a bag Monday evening at the Parkhill Cinema. Now a student at East Carolina University, Coley began working at the theater in high school.
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Pictured are the film platters in the projection room at Parkhill Cinema. Hollywood studios are making the transition to digital, but Tarboro's hometown movie theater cannot afford the upgrade.
Movie theater may close
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Here is your chance to celebrate your graduate’s Special Day by announcing their graduation in our Congratulation Page.
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
The announcements will appear in The Daily Southerner on June 7, 2013.
Deadline for placing announcements will be Tuesday, June 4th by 5:00pm.
All ads must be pre-paid. Information can be dropped off at our office 504 W. Wilson Street, Tarboro or call 823-3106. - Early college seniors graduate
- Law enforcement urges teen drivers to drive safely during holiday
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
- Local News
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Dr. Deborah Lamm, president of Edgecombe Community College, received the national ACT Career Preparedness Award on behalf of the college Tuesday. Shown from left to right are Dr. Jon Whitmore, ACT CEO; Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president; Sid Baker, education program specialist, NC Office of the State Superintendent; Dr. Lamm; and Virginia Edwards; editor-in-chief, Education Week.
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Edgecombe Community College receives national award
Edgecombe Community College (ECC) received a national award Tuesday night for its efforts to prepare students to be successful in careers and the workplace.
Edgecombe was among four honorees that received national awards in Washington, D.C., during a gala that concluded ACT’s inaugural College and Career Readiness Campaign. - County gospel choir to celebrate 20th anniversary
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Edgecombe Community College receives national award
- Sports
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14-Under softball tryout
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be having tryouts for 14-under girls fast-pitch softball Wednesday, May 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Farmington Park in Rocky Mount. The is located at 319 Wellington Dr. There will also be a tryout Thursday, May 30 at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field 1 in Tarboro from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 fee for Tarboro residents and a $35 fee for non-residents. For more information call the sports complex at 641-4202, Kathy Webb 252-813-4697 or Jamie Lindsey 252-883-0883 or sftbllgrlunc@hotmail.com.
- Thorne tabbed Regional Player of the Year
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14-Under softball tryout
- Opinion
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My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
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My 13 years have been lucky
- Lifestyles
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Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
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- Obituaries Archives
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
PRINCEVILLE — Curtis Lee Davis, 60, died Sunday, May 19, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church (2225 N.C. Hwy 97 East) with burial in the Morning Family Cemetery.
Arrangements under direction of Dickens Funeral Service. - IRENE EVANS
- SHIRLEY A. GOLDSTON
- JOHNNY LEE LAWRENCE
- CECILIA AMANDA PUDDY
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
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Great fondue
My husband and I love to entertain. We also love fondue. I have 4 or 5 fondue pots. I use them regularly. Some of them I have had for a long time.
Fondue began as a way to use up old, hardened cheese. The original fondue was cheese with wine. You then dipped hardened pieces of bread into the mixture. In America, the 1950's was the height of the fondue craze. However, it appears to be making a comeback. - Budget Friendly Deliciousness
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- Events
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Edgecombe Events May 24
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
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Edgecombe Events May 24
- Our Community
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Edgecombe Garden Club honors members
The Edgecombe Garden Club met May 1 for their noon luncheon at the Fountains of the Albemarle. After President Pauline Nicolosi greeted everyone, Sandra Joyner, Devotion Chairman, read “Torch” which was about our tongues torching good or evil.
Hostess Barbara Getzug described her specially designed flower arrangement of mock orange, snowball, purple columbine, and many varieties of roses. President Pauline, Hostesses Gloria Wall and Louise Fleming did the table arrangements. They contained wiegelia, azalea, ivy, mock orange, and ligustrum. - DAR AWARDS
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