Temple Theater named endangered landmark
Pictured (l to r) are Mackenzie Cousino, Mary Boteler, Miller and Bella Gehrke, Sherry and Rick Smythe, John Dean, Patricia and John Lee.
Representatives from the City of Leland, including Mayor John Lee, members of the Leland Chamber of Commerce, and the Leland Historic Preservation Commission, attended the Mississippi Heritage Trust’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places banquet. The event recognized the Leland Temple Theater as one of Mississippi’s most endangered landmarks, highlighting its historic and architectural significance to the community.
This is definitely a landmarks worthy of being saved. However, the TT did not close in the late 1960s. It was live and striving up the the early 1980s.
I was a projectionist there from the late 1977 – 1979; and when I left for the military (USMC), a young man but the name of Samuel Robinson, who I trained, took over and assisted Wendell Thomas in running the projections.
I can vividly remember my parents going there for their Masonic and Easter Star events. I can still see the ladies all dressed up in their elegant long dresses (my brother wouldn’t baby-sit) receiving their pins! Through a child’s eye, it was one of the memories I hold near and dear to this date!