06/07/2026
Before streaming, before television, . . . for many Shenandoah Valley families, the movie theater was the place to escape a hot summer evening, catch up on the news, and spend time with neighbors.
By 1941, Harrisonburg—then a town of fewer than 10,000 people—supported three major theaters. Together, the Virginia, State, and Strand could seat more than 2,100 moviegoers. For just a few cents, audiences could laugh with the Marx Brothers, ride alongside Gene Autry, enjoy the latest musical, or watch newsreels from around the world.
The theaters themselves were attractions. The grand Virginia Theatre featured box seats, elegant curtains, and room for more than 1,000 patrons. Across Main Street, the State advertised the modern luxury of air conditioning (likely, a fan blowing across a block of ice). Smaller towns throughout the Valley had their own theaters, creating gathering places for entertainment, concerts, lectures, and community events.
Join E.K. Knappenberger for Rocktown History's June 9th Coffee Mill as he explores the impact of Harrisonburg's theaters and local newspapers on community life in the months before the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
Tuesday, June 9th • 9:30 a.m.
Rocktown History, Dayton
