Lyric Theatre (Harrison, Arkansas)

The Lyric Theater is a theater in Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. Designed and constructed by J. W. Bass of Detroit, the Lyric was built in 1929 and adorned with murals by J. W. Zelm[1] (though mythology became prevalent in the area that they had been painted by an unknown hobo). The theater was built as the first cinema in the area to show talking pictures and operated under the same family's ownership until 1977, though as a franchise of different chains.[2] After more than a decade of disuse, the Lyric reopened as a live performance venue in 1999.[3] The theater has been undergoing renovation ever since, making it fit for its modern uses without destroying its historic character, and has been noted for such efforts by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.[4]

Lyric Theatre, Harrison

Since 1999, the Lyric has been operated by the Ozark Arts Council and hosts plays, concerts, movies, and cultural/educational events. The theater has been lauded as the "Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks."[5]

References
  1. Chris Engholm, Mystery Muralist, from Ozark Surfer (3-min), retrieved 2018-12-07
  2. "History and Restoration of the Lyric – The Historic Lyric Theater – Harrison, Arkansas". Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  3. Restoring the Lyric Theatre Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Ozark Arts Council history of the theater.
  4. Award for Best Building Rehabilitation over $500,000 Archived 2013-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
  5. The Ozark Arts Council Lyric Theater Coming Events.


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