Many travel great distances to seek treasure and excitement, when it’s here all along, right under their noses.

So it is in Meridian. We have immeasurable treasures that are ours for the taking.

Today, I have the grand old Temple Theatre on my mind.

In the early 1920s, the Hamasa Shrine saw a need to construct a facility in order to house their many meetings and ceremonies, but as well, to offer a place as a lovely accommodation for community events. It was completed by 1928 and if you stop by today, the building is much the same as the day when a key turned to open the facility for the very first time.

In 1979, The Hamasa Shrine Temple Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Longtime Meridianites have enjoyed the uniqueness of our Temple Theatre, most of us, for our entire lives. I remember well those Saturday mornings when I arrived there with sack-in-hand, filled with canned goods, which were given by the Hamasa Shrine to the needy of our town. We kids stood in line to hand over our sacks and then march, sort of, orderly into the theater for, as my Daddy called them, “shoot-‘em-up” cowboys.

But when we stepped into the awe-filled theater, the disorderly conduct, if there had been any, ceased – such was the impact of the beautiful facility. We stretched our necks to take it all in, almost forgetting the cowboys.

I mean who wouldn’t give a double-take at the theater’s Moorish Revival style with Byzantine motif decorations? It was said at the conclusion of instruction in 1928; the Temple’s stage was second in size, with the Roxy Theatre in New York as number one.

Eventually, the theater portion of the building was leased to Saenger Corporation out of New Orleans. The contract continued until 1973 when the corporation did not renew its lease. During the nearly 50 years Saenger held their contract, silent movies, later “talkies” and vaudeville were eagerly attended by Meridianites and out-of-towners as well. There were such stage musical performers as Alabama, Elvis, Willie Nelson, Tony Bennett, Waylon Jennings and many others. The entire 1,800 seats were “sold-out” for many of these shows. Musical entertainers were impressed with the almost perfect acoustics quality found there.

The innovative Hamasa Shrine booked popular entertainers, such as one of my favorites, Lewis Grizzard, well-known newspaper columnist and author. The night of his show, my husband was out of town and I dithered whether to go or not. Finally, I decided to go and actually bought the very last ticket. You would think it was a stinky ticket, being the last one, but let me assure you, I have never had an unsatisfactory ticket at The Temple Theatre. I am so, so happy to have gone. The clever southern humorist presented the best show ever, crazy but good.

Such have been the top-notch entertainment shows held at The Temple Theatre, over many years. In 2009, a businessman from Texas, Roger Smith, purchased the facility and brought his ideas for total restoration and as well year-round programming. Roger Smith has worked tirelessly to bring many more entertainment choices under the theater’s roof. As of recent time, Meridianites have enjoyed the Naval Orchestra Brass Quintet, Meridian native Big K.R.I.T, England’s Eddi Issard, Magician Dorian LaChance and classical movies such as “The Whiz” and “Gone With the Wind.”

On April 8, Moe Bandy, will return to the Temple stage. You will remember Moe’s Academy of Country Music Song of the year, “It’s a Cheating Situation,” plus many other top 10 hits. Along with Moe are locals, Britt Gully and Scott McQuaig, both multi-talented in their own right.

The show is a benefit to support The Temple Theatre of Performing Arts. This is our hometown theater and it must continue to hold a vital place in Meridian’s Entertainment District. Come celebrate a hometown boy made good and as well a historic theatre-house located in our town, a showplace approaching 100 years of extraordinary entertainment.

 

Anne McKee is a Mississippi historian, writer and storyteller. She is listed on the Mississippi Humanities Speakers Bureau and Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist Roster. See her website: www.annemckeestoryteller.com.

If You Go

What: Moe Bandy Homecoming Concert.

When: 7 p.m., Saturday, April 8.

Place: Temple Theatre, 2320 – 8th Street, Meridian, MS 39301.

 

Tickets: Call 601-693-5353.