Lyric Theater (Oxford, Mississippi)


The Lyric is a historical theater located in Oxford, Mississippi at 1006 Van Buren Avenue. It is one of North Mississippi's premier[peacock prose] live music venues, hosting a wide variety of acts.[specify]

The Lyric Oxford
The Lyric in Oxford, MS.
Map
Address1006 Van Buren Ave
LocationOxford, MS 38655
Coordinates34°21′57″N 89°31′12″W / 34.36596°N 89.5201°W / 34.36596; -89.5201
TypeConcert Hall
Seating typeReserved seating
Construction
ReopenedJuly 3rd, 2008
Website
thelyricoxford.com

History

edit

The Lyric was originally a livery stable owned by William Faulkner's family in the early part of the 20th century. The stable was originally used to hold the horses that pulled the buggies around Oxford's town square. It was later converted into a theater for silent films and live performances during the 1920s when it was named the Lyric Theater. During this time, the theater was owned and operated by Robert X. Williams, Jr., who was the son of the mayor and cousin-in-law of William Faulkner. The invention of motion pictures turned the Lyric into Oxford's first movie theater.[citation needed] In 1949, William Faulkner walked from his home (Rowan Oak) to the Lyric to attend the world premiere of MGM's "Intruder in the Dust" at his former childhood stable.[1] In the 1970s, the Lyric stopped operating as a movie theater and was abandoned for many years[quantify] until the 1980s, when it was restored and turned into a health center and office spaces.[citation needed] In 2007, the building went through major renovations and once again returned to a theater.[citation needed] On July 3, 2008, the theater began operating again[clarification needed].[citation needed] The Lyric is currently[when?] managed by Lindsay Dillon-Maginnis.[citation needed]

References

edit
  1. ^ "A look at The Lyric as it moves through the history of Oxford". The Daily Mississippian. 2015-12-04. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
edit