Rohs Opera House undergoes renovations

With the move to digital films over the past few years, scores of small theatres have been forced to close their doors because they couldn’t afford the price tag of a digital projector which cost into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Such would have been the fate of the Rohs Opera House Theatre in Cynthiana at 133 East Pick Street had not a native son come to the rescue.

For many smaller Kentucky communities the downtown theatre was the place most folks went to on the weekend. It was someplace to go with friends or with your date.

As it turns out, Robert Kirkman, co-creator of the Walking Dead series on A&E grew up in Harrison County and attended high school there.

On a visit back to his “home town” in 2014 he heard that the theatre was going to have to stop showing movies so he decided to do something about it. He donated funds for a new digital projector, screen and sound system. The screen is the largest in the state that is not Imax.

The Rohs Opera House has been continually showing movies now since 1939 in the Main Theatre. The original theatre build in 1871 is located on the second floor of the original building and is still in use for smaller performances. It can be rented for parties and events for $30 an hour.

The Rohs theatre also supports live plays and other community functions. They average four live productions per year put on by the Rohs Theatre Company, a non-profit community theatre group. Becky Smith, who moved back to Kentucky after a career in theatre in California, is the artistic director. The troop raises $10,000 to $12,000 for each production for sets and costumes. Theatre goers have said the productions in Cynthiana are as good as anything in Lexington or Maysville.

Companies have rented the theatre for private showings and many weddings have been held there.

Another favorite event that draws thousands to Cynthiana yearly is their Ghost Walk in October. The Rohs Opera House is said to be haunted by a woman in a white dress, and a group of children. Each October on the walking tour visitors get to see a film reportedly showing the ghosts. Some spirits have been chronicled on national television and paranormal experts from thought the nation have visited to conduct their own investigations and document evidence. Some of the groups have posted their findings on YouTube. The Cynthiana Ghost Walk celebrates its 10th anniversary this fall.

A number of other Cynthiana residents are working to keep the theatre open.

Mayor James Smith, along with some of his high school friends, Phillip Nickerson and City Commissioner, Roger Salve bought the theatre nine years ago.

After they bought the building they had to plug roof leaks, repair falling plaster, replace missing chairs and upgrade the heating system and to keep the feeling of stepping back in time, decided to keep the original decor from the Art Deco era of the 1940s.

The theatre shows films Friday and Saturday’s at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.

All the movies shown are “family friendly.”

You can check their Facebook page or call 859-234-9803 for additional information.