The Elite Theatre, Laingsburg: 1945-1960s

The Elite Theatre in Laingsburg might not show major motion pictures anymore, but the building still stands downtown as a fond reminder. The building is being kept up and has been used for various businesses since it closed down in the 1960s.

The original opening date is unknown, but in 1939 the free movies were being advertised and screened inside. Downtown merchants supported “free talkies” for people in need of some kind of everyday escape that was affordable.

In 1945 it became an official movie theatre and dubbed the Elite. In 1946 the theater was sold, operated in 1959 by new owners, another in 1961, and on April 30, 1962, the final theater owner was Harrison Jackson. The Elite Theatre stopped showing films and finally closed sometime during the 1960s.

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Over the decades, the theater building was used for crafting and physical therapy.

If you use the internet to search by the address, some sites list the wrong site as 226 E. Grand River, which is actually across the street. The actual address is 239 E Grand River.