Scott and Gayle Lane, Missildine’s project renovators, to update historical theatre

TRYON – After renovating three buildings on S. Trade Street including the Missildine’s, Bank and Jackson buildings which re-opened at the end of 2016, Scott and Gayle Lane have set their sights on bringing another historical Tryon business into the 21st century.

The Lanes bought the Tryon Theatre from Barry Flood and his partners in December 2016 and established Tryon Cinema, LLC. Flood, who is retiring, has operated the theatre for 26 years after buying it from Bill Crowell, according to Gayle.

Gayle said she and her husband have never run a theatre before and added their love for movies influenced the decision to acquire the building. She said the couple does not have set plans for renovations yet.

The 2,900-square-foot theatre, opened in the 1930s, has a seating capacity of 287. Framed telegrams from movie stars of Hollywood’s golden age, such as David Niven, hang on the walls.

“There have been a list of improvements that have been made in the last 10 to 15 years,” Gayle said. “These include a digital projector and sound system in 2012, seating in the balcony in 2004 and the marquee in 2002. What we want to do first is learn how to run the theatre as Barry did before we start getting into the changes that I would like to see made.”

Gayle said she wants to renovate the “crumbling” ceiling and walls as well as look into upgrading the theatre’s sound with acoustic tiles. She added that getting these renovations underway could take six months to a year.

Management of the theatre will be passed on to Scott and Gayle. Gayle said Scott has been working on projector training, learning how to sell tickets and ordering movies. She said she is thankful to Flood for running the theatre for more than a quarter century.

“This is a pie in the sky dream for us and we are going to an Art House Convergence conference with Beau Menetre next week to learn how to manage and run a theatre,” Gayle said. Menetre is a principal in the Polk County Film Initiative and a planner with the Tryon International Film Festival.

“We have no idea what the renovation will look like, but it will largely be as it is now. Scott and I will be exploring the changes we can make in the next few months but it might be the fall before anything is done.”