Article: Old Movie Theater Survives in Johnston County, N.C.

By Adrienne Lu, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

May 30--SMITHFIELD, N.C.--When the Howell Theatre opened in 1935, audiences for cowboy-and-Indian movies packed its 800 seats on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tickets cost 30 cents for adults and 15 cents for children; hot popcorn or two bags of peanuts went for a nickel. Air conditioning had been invented but wouldn't come to the theater for several more years.

By the 1970s, the Howell would be among four drive-ins and seven indoor theaters in Johnston County.

But today, the Howell is the only one still showing movies. It's the only movie theater ...

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