In the mid '50s when the Dex
ter Dam was being built, con
struction workers flooded to the
Dexter Theater after work for
dances, films and shows.
When the dam was completed
the workers moved on and the
theater, along with the town of
Dexter itself, fell on hard times.
Since then, this 350-person
capacity hall has been a roller
skating rink, a warehouse, a
video arcade, a dance hall and
three pizza parlors. Remnants of
these failed attractions linger in
pizza ovens and a projection
room.
But eight weeks ago Lea Jones
and Shannon Atkinson ac
quired the lease to the theater in
“beautiful downtown Dexter,”
20 minutes from Eugene on
Highway 58. They dream of,
once again, making the Dexter
Theater the area “hotspot” for
entertainment and community
events. They also hope to buy
the hall from its present owner
within two years. Jones says.
Both theater managers know
the difficulty of such a venture
in the small, economically
depressed community, but they
forsee success by attracting the
Eugene-Springfield market, as
well as the Dexter-area people,
with a wide variety of programs
and a philosophy shown in a
slogan borrowed from the Ap
ple Computer Company: “The
hall for the rest of us.”
Atkinson and Jones have also
begun restoring and renovating
tne old building.
“It did look like an empty
warehouse,” Atkinson says."It
was a pit with big holes in the
wall, real bleak and bare.”
)ones also says the acoustics
needed work.
“It was maddening trying to
communicate in there because
of the echo.” he says.
Help was provided for the old
hall with carpeting, wood
paneling, paint, a bar (complete
with a beer and wine license)
and an expanded and
acoustically improved stage.
In the future Atkinson and
Jones say they hope to expand
the theatrical capacities of the
hall and make the lobby a
replica of an old movie theater
with velvet ropes and classic
movie posters.
Atkinson, whose entertain
ment background includes a
degree in theater arts from the
University, movie script writing
and professional comedy, says
the hall will be employed for a
variety of functions, many us
ing his talents.
“This,building is not just a
dance hall and a concert hall,
but is also a community
center." he says.
Cat's Meow
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An echo
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These community-related
events include junior theater,
fund raisers and a theater
group, the Dexter Theater
Repertory Company, headed by
Atkinson.
The company’s first produc
tion, Nov. 30. will be a murder
mystery play, "Murder at the
Dexter Theatre," where au
dience guests in assigned
costumes try to solve a series of
"murders" that occur
throughout the night of dancing
and partying. Guests will not
know who the actors are mingl
ing in the crowd in this par
ticipation play. But they will
have a chance to solve the who
done-it through a series of clues
given during the evening.
“We do it very authentical
ly.” says former Portland
policeman Atkinson. "1 mean. 1
was a cop and I’ve worked
enough murders to know.”
The musical expert of the
Dexter Theater duo is Lea Jones.
He is currently a singer with the
’50s-style acappella group The
Whitetones and is also with the
band Incognito, which will play
at “Murder at the Dexter
Theater.”
Jones says country and
bluegrass bands are booked to
draw people mainly from the
Dexter area. Other groups are
intended to draw from a larger
area as well, including Eugene,
as at the grand opening of the
theater on Nov. 16 and 17,
when two popular Eugene
bands. The Cashiers and Curtis
Salgado and In Yo’ Face, will
play.
Jones and Atkinson know the
hardship facing them in this
new venture that has given the
area another music and perfor
ming arts outlet.
“Entertainment is, at best, a
heartbreaking experience,’’
Atkinson says.
But with the variety that’s
already on-tap and a little
beginning luck, the Dexter
Theater is in business to do
more than survive; they aim to
thrive. ° <*■ '
Dave Carlson
Photo by Michael Clapp
“ presents
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Destination: Vs
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An intriguing
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October 18-21
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Robinson Theal
8p.m.
Call
686-4191
for reservations
.and information
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