The historic Pioneer theater in downtown Manteo lives on! After more than 100 years of ownership by the Creef family, Buddy Creef and his family announced on December 13 last year that they just could not keep the theater open any longer.
And now this—the announcement that the theater has been purchased by two local families. The families are related to each other by marriage.
The families, the Hatchers and the Basnights have made it clear that the Pioneer Theater still has life.
Right now they seem to be still working out some details about what they’re going to be doing going forward, but in an interview reported in the Outer Banks Voice, Michael Basnight, one of the new owner, made it clear that there would be movies shown and maybe some live performanes.
It’s great news for everyone who has such amazing memories of the theater. Hopefully the popcorn machine will still be there, filling the lobby with that wonderful scent of fresh popped popcorn.
And with any luck, those traditional candies will still be offered for sale—and at a price that’s a good $1.00 less than in regular movie theater.
In so many ways, the Pioneer was a throwback to a different time. There was one theater and one movie. And maybe that was part of what doomed the theater; in a time of multiplexes and flashy lobbies with games and along the periphery are there norm, this was a movie theater as it used to be. A small lobby, candy, popcorn and drinks and one theater with one screen.
We’ll stay on top of this story and when the announcement comes that the Pioneer is reopening, we’ll be there to tell the story.
So much good news on the Outer Banks. Come and be a part of it while staying in a Brindley Beach Vacations home.