Letter: Let’s not let the Varsity Theatre close

TO THE EDITOR:

This theatre has been a Chapel Hill landmark for 88 years, serving not only the Chapel Hill community but the surrounding communities of Carrboro, Hillsborough and all of both Durham and Orange counties as well as Chatham and Alamance counties.

The historic roots go way back when it was the original Carolina Theatre and later on the Village Theatre before it became the Varsity in 1951. The Varsity remained a single screen operation until 1982 when the theater was split into two sections and renamed the Varsity Theaters 1 and 2 under an independent chain.

My memories of this cinema go way back as I had great times seeing Hollywood favorites during my youth. Did you know the original “Star Wars” movie played here first-run as well as “The Sound of Music,” Disney’s “Mary Poppins,” the original “MASH,” all of the James Bond films starring Sean Connery ranging from “Dr. No” to “Diamonds are Forever” and many more?

It also has a history regarding the segregation policies and numerous sit-ins regarding the admittance of African-Americans and other minorities at this theater that lasted until 1961 when the segregation practices were removed.

But we need to make sure that this theater stays open or else we will lose the last remaining downtown venue that has been a staple within the greater Chapel Hill area since 1927. Information on the varsity is posted on the Cinema Treasures site.

Raymond Caple

Chapel Hill