Event Space
Event Space
Performances
Film
Raising the Curtain on
THE TOOGA THEATER
a history
We must first start with The Royal Theater, which was built in 1927 at the northeast corner of Commerce Street and Georgia Avenue. C.W. Maxey and his sister, Mrs. L.C. Turner, were the owners.
Two men from Ellijay (Tankersley & Hampton) built the Tooga while operating the Royal in 1947. Once the new theater was opened, the Royal Theater was history.
In the mid-1950’s the Tooga was bought by the Manager, Luther C. Smith, and Daniel L. McWhorter. Over the years the theater has served as a movie theater, a community center, an auditorium and a community theater.
When the Shriners owned The Tooga, it was named the Dandee Denson Auditorium in honor of Pete Denson’s late son, Dandee. Then, in 2015, the county bought the Theater. The most recent use of the theater was Chattooga Curtain Call’s production of Lion King, Jr. in 2019.
ABOUT
Paradise Garden’s Operations Coordinator, Donnie Davis, stated:
“The Tooga Theater was so much fun when I grew up. As a teenager, downtown Summerville was vibrant and crawling with people attending the matinees and evening movies and performances. I was there every weekend. Just great childhood memories!”
The Tooga Theater will be a multi-purpose indoor facility. It will cover a broad scope of activities ranging from community gatherings, plays, weddings, receptions , movie nights, conferences, business meetings, concerts, and many other private and public events.
The theater’s centralized location makes it an ideal tourism and industry development meeting place.
The Tooga Theater Advisory Board will support the renovation project and develop programming when the Tooga Theater is once again operational. The Chattooga Chamber will manage the facility operations and marketing strategies.
Chattooga County expects to see an initial 10% increase in tourism and visitors to the area, with an annual increase over time.
The fully-renovated and up and running Tooga Theater will revitalize the historic downtown, increase tourism, spur economic development, and improve the quality of life for the citizens of our county.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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