Lyric Theatre (Harrison, Arkansas)

The Lyric Theater is a theater located on W. Rush Street in Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. Designed and constructed by J. W. Bass of Detroit, the Lyric was built in 1929 and adorned with murals by J. W. Zelm[1] (though mythology became prevalent in the area that they had been painted by an unknown hobo). The theater was built as the first cinema in the area to show talking pictures and operated under the same family's ownership until 1977, though as a franchise of different chains.[2]

Lyric Theatre, Harrison

Following its closure due to an inability to compete with the larger movie theaters, the theater was scheduled for demolition.[3] After more than two decades of disuse, the Lyric reopened as a live performance venue in 1999 when the Ozark Arts Council purchased it for $150,000 and began operating the space.[4][5][6] Renovations focused on updating the space for modern use without losing the historic character, including the murals, and these efforts were recognized by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.[4][7] The theater has been lauded as the "Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks."[8]

References
  1. Chris Engholm, Mystery Muralist, from Ozark Surfer (3-min), archived from the original on 2021-12-20, retrieved 2018-12-07
  2. "History and Restoration of the Lyric – The Historic Lyric Theater – Harrison, Arkansas". Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  3. Bettman, Theresa (24 June 2015). "The Lyric Theatre—'Jewel of the Historic Harrison Square'". KSMU. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  4. "Case Study: The Lyric Theater Rehab". National Trust for Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on 20 February 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. "Lyric Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. Restoring the Lyric Theatre Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Ozark Arts Council history of the theater.
  7. Award for Best Building Rehabilitation over $500,000 Archived 2013-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
  8. The Ozark Arts Council Lyric Theater Coming Events.

36°13′52″N 93°06′29″W


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