Video: Historic Theatre Celebrates 25th Anniversary

[jwplatform gvTdVwCa]

VERNON, Ala. (WCBI) — A historic theatre is celebrating a big anniversary this weekend.

Todd and Grace Reeves opened the Backstreet Opry in Vernon, Alabama 25 years ago, and now they’re planning a special show Saturday night to celebrate.

The Reeves told WCBI the musicians who perform there compare it to playing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

“You don’t have this type of atmosphere, a building like this that you can go anywhere that’s old that has the atmosphere in it that this carries,” Grace Reeves said.

The theatre was built in 1929. The Reeves family bought the building in 1988, and transformed it into a music venue for the Backstreet Opry.

“A piece of the original flooring is still on the main stage, and Hank Williams, Sr. was actually one of the performers that had performed here back several years,” Reeves said.

You can listen to blue grass or gospel music there every Saturday night, and even perform yourself.

At this theatre, it’s about the music, not the money.

“You’re coming and you’re getting a full Nashville show that you would pay big money to go to the Ryman Auditorium to hear, and you’re getting it for free,” Reeves said.

Since there’s no cost, Reeves says they rely on donations and grant money to renovate the old building.

“They come because they love the music, and they love to play, and it’s a great place to come and play,” she said.

If you’d like to attend the Opry’s free special 25th anniversary show, it’ll be Saturday at 6:30 p.m.