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Saving Our Luez Theatre

The Bolivar Downtown Development Corporation (DEVCO) voted to spend $250,000 to renovate and update the Luez Theatre in Bolivar.
The initial phase will be to repair the marquee outside of the theatre and make the circa 1948 theatre usable for events. Included in the plans are new seats, curtains for the walls, painting the ceiling, fixing and updating the HVAC equipment, and new projection equipment, sound equipment, and a brand-new 3D screen will be installed.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring back the Luez to Hardeman County,” said Luez Theatre Chairperson Cathy Frost, adding that plans to screen movies and have live entertainment, such as Music on the Square type performers are among the ideas being considered. A stage was built in 2016 in order to accommodate musical acts.
The first phase of the project has a budget of $336,233, but a grant of $79,250 will be used for the facade restoration.
Plans being considered for future phases involve renovation of the balcony section and adding more restrooms.
The Luez closed its doors in 2012, when the movie industries changed to digital made movie acquisiton impossible for the current owners, who were still using reel-to-reel technology.
DEVCO purchased the theatre in 2013, with hopes of restoring and re-purposing the facility to serve the county.