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Historic Canton Theatre

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For over 100 years, the Historic Canton Theatre has been a shining star for entertainment in the Canton community. The Theatre has become a community fixture, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy live theatre from both local and traveling productions, as well as entertainment from musicians, comedians and film screening events. We can't wait to welcome you through our doors!

Upcoming Showings and Productions

Georgia Players Guild presents "Good Times/Bad Times"- The Best of Led Zeppelin

Tickets available at https://gpg.ticketleap.com/goodtimesbadtimescanton/ 

The iconic and raw power of a group of studio musicians from England lives on to today in the form of “GoodTimes/BadTimes”, the premiere tribute of Led Zeppelin.  

Witness the raw power unleashed from the kick drum of one of the most iconic song drummers of the 70s from classic songs like “When the Levee Breaks”, “Immigrant Song”, “Moby Dick” and so many more.  The instant classic and guitar-driven licks of this band shine through on songs like “Kashmir”, “Ramble On”, “Stairway to Heaven”.   From the first note your transported to the glory days of the 70s and what this legendary music represented at that time.  Soaring vocals pierce through the rhythm section in its most unique way.  Songs like “Since I’ve Been Loving You” really tell the tale of the band’s history, rooted in the depths of the delta blues but brought forth with a fiery passion in songs like “Whole Lotta Love” and “Rock n’ Roll”.  

When these elements combine, you’re left with an unmistakable show that simply screams a time and place when music and creativity were free and open minded.  Let the take you on a trip of rock and roll nostalgia and to remember the Good Times! 

Members of the Georgia Players Guild have appeared on network TV shows like America's Got Talent, and onstage with musical giants like Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge, Kim Burrell, and Jennifer Holiday. From their home base at the historic Strand Theatre in Marietta, GA, their popularity has grown to put them in demand at theaters and festivals across the country.

The Georgia Players Guild is known for its faithful odes to a wide variety of music legends. Since 2014, they have staged hundreds of performances of over 30 different shows, paying tribute to over half a century of iconic music. No matter the band or genre, they go beyond just getting the songs right, seeking to make the experience true to the original.

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History of the Theatre

Canton Theatre logo Blk (1)As early as 1911, the Historic Canton Theatre was used to show slides and silent movies. Later, in the early 1920s, the Theatre changed owners and was renamed “The Bonita,” which held movie showings on Fridays and Saturdays.

During this era, the popularity of the Theatre grew rapidly. The Theatre was soon renovated, expanded, and renamed  “The Haven.” It presented the people of Canton first line shows, including their first talking motion picture, the 1928 film “Singing Fool,” starring famous singing star Al Jolson.

The “Haven” continued to be a movie house for several more years until the late 1930s, when the Theatre was sold to the Martin-Thompson Theatre Company. The newly named “Canton Theatre” was then remodeled to reflect the Art Deco design so popular during that time.

The spectacular new Theatre had improvements that were truly unique, such as a steel skeleton for improved stability and safety. The fireproof walls and sprinkler system ensured that no fire would last long. New air conditioning and heating systems were installed in the Theatre to make it more comfortable for larger audiences. New restrooms and dressing rooms had a modernistic design. Red and blue uniformed employees at the “Candy Bar” sold candy and popcorn from the new popper, while an array of bright neon lights surrounded the Theatre, bathing it in colorful beauty. The size of the stage was expanded to make it larger than ever before. The new Canton Theatre was indeed a splendid site at the Grand Opening, which took place on September 30, 1940.

The Canton Theatre played the best motion pictures of the time. It was described as a “thoroughly modern sound and movie palace, with all the comfort, light, and cheer that denotes a first class picture theatre housed in the "larger cities.”

The Theatre continued to show movies for 30 more years, but by the mid 1970s, the popularity of the Theatre declined dramatically. Many guests felt that it had become too out of date. They wanted to see movies with the convenience of drive-ins and with many more choices. As a result, the Theatre sat idle for many years and subsequently went into disrepair.

In 1994, the Theatre was purchased by an individual for restoration. The City of Canton then acquired the property in a land swap in 1997. It was later deeded to the Downtown Development Authority in order to secure financing for restoration, which soon began. The Canton Theatre was restored to the Art Deco style of the 1930s and was reopened in a Dedication Ceremony, taking place on May 26, 2000.

Since that time, the Canton Theatre has become a community fixture, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy live theatre from both local and traveling productions, as well as entertainment from musicians, comedians and film screening events.