Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre
On Halloween 1930, fire swept the northeast corner of Marietta Square, clearing the ground for the Manning-Winks Theatre Company to raise the Strand, the most modern theatre outside Atlanta, which opened September 24, 1935 with the premiere of Top Hat. The restored Earl and Rachel Smith Strand is now said to keep two gentle residents: Bev, a second-floor woman who sings along with the movies, and Rik, a playful child who flicks off the lights and shuts the door on staffers hauling gear from the backstage closet.
In keeping with old theatre tradition, a single bulb burns on the empty stage each night, the Ghost Light, so the room is never wholly dark. Management insists the spirits are benevolent, asking only to be acknowledged and respected.
📍 117 North Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060, Marietta, GA · Get directions