ALMetro360 July 2018

Look at Tallassee Now!… Mt. Vernon Theatre is Bringing New Life B Y P ATSY R OBERTSON P HOTOS BY T ALLASSEE T RIBUNE I T ’ S BEEN F IFTY Y EARS ! T HE HISTORIC M T . V ERNON T HEATRE IN T ALLASSEE CLOSED ITS DOORS IN 1968… B UT THIS YEAR HAS SEEN A GLORIOUS REOPENING . During January 19-21, 2018, the whole town was celebrating the grand reopening. Everybody came. Not just those living in Tal- lassee, but those who did years ago. And those who knew those who did — or just heard about the event. The Theatre’s the thing. It has made all the difference in the Tal- lassee spirit. There’s heaps of nostalgia. So palpable you could scoop it up with a spoon. The buzz of happy memories, the joy of new dreams. Better watch out… there’s an exuberant community feeling spread- ing around town. And it’s contagious. Mt. Vernon Mills, Tallassee’s major source of employment for more than a century, built the theatre in 1935. During the last couple years, a group of dedicated citizens has labored fiercely to restore the interior to its premier appearance. It’s authentic and cherished. All 600 wooden seats are original, acoustics have been preserved by restoring orig- inal cork walls which serve as the façade for 16- inch thick walls. Where necessary, sconces were repaired not replaced — using innovative tech- niques created by Kenneth Bell, of Stacey Gunn Contractors. A new play was written by Adrian Lee Bor- den, expressly for the momentous occasion. She pulled from poignant, memorable years in pen- ning: “Dear Mama: Letters and Music from World War II.” Ms. Borden was commissioned to write the play by Friends of Tuckabatchee and Tallassee Historical Preservation Society. The play hit home to almost 2000 people who packed the auditorium for performances 18 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com CULTURE...............................................................................................................................................