I love the DeSoto Theater (or is it Theatre?) in Rome, Georgia. It's a spectacular little French Art Deco style movie house with beautiful cameo-like plaster medallions on the vestibule ceiling and a simple, yet classic typographic charmer of a marquee.
I remember going to see "The Godfather" there - the town hippies sat in the balcony smoking weed. They seemed to enjoy the movie a lot more than I did. Then there was the time I went to see "A Christmas Story." This was the initial release before it became a 24-hour holiday marathon on television. There were four of us in the theater.
By the early 80s, movies were no longer shown there. The Rome Little Theater (or is it Theatre?), a community theater group, took it over and reconfigured it for theatrical purposes - they removed the movie screen, projector and a number of seats. They built a proper stage. Even though the RLT has been growing strong in this location for twenty-five years, time has taken its toll this little theater. There were water leaks which damaged the upstairs offices and the decorative plaster-work in the entryway. There are major cracks on the facade and the lovely wooden slat awnings are rotting away.
Luckily, the community realizes what a gem it has and is taking steps to restore the theater to former glory. Part of this effort is a benefit concert on October 23rd given by blues and rock musician Tinsley Ellis. I designed a poster for this event.
