The transformation of the Old Post Theater is in progress and Phase II of the rehabilitation has begun with the installation of new facade door and windows. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by the building site at #10 Van Horne Avenue, and check it out - it's only a block from the shoreline!
In the meantime, the Friends of the Tybee Theater non profit is already bringing quality programming to Tybee Island. Our fall concert, Sept. 26th at the Tybee Lighthouse is the first annual "Tybee Island Americana Music Festival," produced by Eye Dawg Productions of Atlanta, and featuring Georgia roots and blues by the Donna Hopkins Band, Boo Ray and many other talented performers. You can find out more about this and other attractions and join the membership of the "Friends" non profit organization at http://www.tybeeposttheater.org, or click the link in the blog section above.By the way, our drive-in movie series has been moved in-doors to Tybee Arts' new "black box" theater at #7 Cedarwood Avenue starting August 20th, 2009 with the John Candy favorite, "Summer Rental!" Cost is $5 at the door - movies begin at 7PM. Seating is limited. See you there.
"A Star, Reborn!" Commemorative Rendering of the Tybee Post Theater by artist Edward A. Pyrch, (copyright 2008)
WELCOME! THANKS FOR STOPPING BY...
Mine is an inspiring story!
Constructed in 1930 by the United States Army on a small barrier island at the mouth of the Savannah River called Tybee, I was one of the first movies houses in the State of Georgia to show state-of-the-art films with sound. They say that General George C. Marshall used to enjoy an occasional movie with his troops under my roof.
After the war - World War II that is - the army sold me to what is now the community of Tybee Island. They changed my name to the "Beach Theater," and kept me up and running for a number of years. There are folks on Tybee today who still remember the movies (and the popcorn) from those days.
But by the early 1960's, I was beginning to show my age, and eventually fell into such disrepair that they had to shut me down. No more lights, no more movies or music, no more laughter. For nearly forty years like a shell on the beach nearby, I lay dark and empty - a forgotten relic from Tybee's past. During the eighties and nineties, I was used as a storage facility for sails, but my broken windows and crumbling bricks were becoming an eyesore.
By 1999, my owners were ready to tear me down in order to make way for residential development. But strangely enough though abandoned all those years, I never lost heart. I waited patiently in the hope that someone would have the eyes to see me as I once was, and save me from the fate of other island landmarks - Tybee's Grand DeSoto Beach Hotel had just gone the way of the wrecking ball.
The island's muse must have heard my cries and carried them on the wind to those who would listen, because about that time some folks from the Tybee Island Historical Society came by talking excitedly about "The Old Tybee Post Theater."
Thank heavens, with help from the City of Tybee, they had decided to purchase me from the developers. At last someone HAD listened and I breathed a deep sigh of relief. Later I learned that a non profit group called THE FRIENDS OF THE TYBEE THEATER had formed to effectually "orchestrate" my complete rehabilitation.
Of course, not everyone caught their vision at first - some folks had written me off as a 'has-been', but "The Friends" were determined, and raised enough money to buy me from the Historical Society in May of 2006, and begin the restoration and rehabilitation work in earnest.
I've always been young at heart. Now I hear that I'm also "a rising star," soon to be a highly prized, mid-size performance venue - updated with new features, and able to seat close to 300.
I'm absolutely thrilled!
How fortunate for me - and for the citizens of Tybee, and the many visitors who come here each year! Once again there will be movies - even theater productions, concerts, and community events in a new local venue.
How wonderful it will be to hear their voices and laughter, and see their shining faces! It's been so very dark here, for so long...