Strand Theatre

Strand Theatre

The Strand Theater is the oldest operating theater in Shelby County. Construction was started in 1915 and in March, 1916, owner William C. Meloy opened the theatre. The building originally had 800 seats, and showed movies, vaudeville acts, and had an orchestra pit of six to eight musicians. In 1928, the movie began showing “talkies.” Mainstreet Shelbyville took ownership of the building in 2004, after the theatre underwent multiple owners and changes, including the inclusion of two additional movie screens and a named change to Strand Cinema 3. In 2008, ownership was transferred to the Strand Theatre of Shelbyville, Inc., and after renovations were made, the Strand reopened, and the non-profit group continues operating the theatre today.