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Another manager for the former Parton Theatre
Roanoke Rapids has hired a South Carolina management company to take control of the Roanoke Rapids Theatre.
The move is the latest in a troubled history for what Roanoke Rapids folks hoped would be a thriving entertainment complex of hotels, restaurants and night clubs. Randy Parton, brother of Dolly Parton, was the main draw for Carolina Crossroads — before he ran into problems with money and booze.
Gilmore Entertainment, the new boss, manages Carolina Opry in Myrtle Beach. Gilmore officials warn that it will take time to turn the new project into a moneymaker. That makes sense, especially given its checkered past.
It sure would be great to see Carolina Crossroads succeed though. Tourist attractions rarely have an impact on the environment, and they bring in thousands of dollars from out of town. Eastern North Carolina could certainly use some of that.
Comments
By Holt
May 8, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Speaking for myself most of the acts on the bill just do not interest me. The only one I might have been likely to go see was the recent Leon Russell show.
Most of the acts are country acts. I dig some country but mostly something more along the lines of artists like Willie Nelson. So most of the country acts wouldn’t reel me in. Getting some younger bands in there might help bring in a wider audience with some younger people showing up for that to.
I think that RRT may have the potential to be successful. If Gilmore Entertainment just focuses on bringing in some of the bigger named acts who people actually want to see and hear. ALSO focus on bringing in the bigger named acts who also are known from past experiences to draw crowds in other places close to the size of its capacity(1,500).
The only really large venues close by are Walnut Creek and Virginia Beach’s Amphitheatre, but I don’t see them as competitors for bringing in talent as those two bring in acts who draw way more than 1,500 and wouldn’t play there anyway. Maybe Gilmore should look at what other theatres of the same size in our local area do.
I think the worst thing about the theatre is, as was mentioned, its location. Being far from a large urban area does hurt it. Rocky Mount is probably the largest city close to it. So figuring out what the average Rocky Mount native listens to may help too?
Jeff, the jazz band at the Live at Five last Friday at the Imperial Center was enjoyable. I didn’t recognize anyone, but was anyone from the Telegram there?
By ken
May 8, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Roanoke Rapids Theater? Gilmore has it right, it will take time to be a good moneymaker. If anyone can help get it going great, it will in fact be Gilmore.
Thank goodness the ‘GiveMore’ management approach might be over. I suspect we will read in the news later on much more about the ‘givemore’ and ‘takemore’ folks.
Gilmore and the Carolina Opry seem to have done well. The local officials really couldn’t handle managing this enterprise the way it needs to be done.
Looking forward to three years from now, my guess is that Rocky Mount AND Roanoke Rapids areas will look quite a bit different with more ‘going on’ our way.
think of this: It’s only a good twenty-five minute to thiryor so minute drive from rocky mount to roanoke rapids. About the time to go from one end of Myrtle Beach to the other??
Gilmore’s got it.. it will go. Like your other poster said, enough ‘country’— how about expanding to some other entertainment choices?