Lyric Theater

The Lyric Theatre is a historic theater located on West Rush Street in Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. Designed and built by J. W. Bass of Detroit in 1929, with murals painted by J. W. Zelm, although local legend attributes the murals to an unknown drifter. The theater was the first in the area to show talking pictures and was owned and operated by the same family until 1977, though it operated as a franchise of different chains during that time. After closing due to inability to compete with larger movie theaters, it was slated for demolition. After sitting vacant for over twenty years, the Lyric Theatre was purchased by the Ozark Arts Council in 1999 for $150,000 and began operating, reopening as a live performance venue. Renovation efforts focused on updating the space for modern use while preserving historic features, including the murals, and these efforts were recognized by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The theater has been called "the palace of Ozark roots music." Today, the Lyric Theatre is owned and operated by the Ozark Arts Council, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1996. OAC's mission is to enrich lives by promoting the arts in Harrison and North Arkansas through exhibitions, performances, and education. The primary way this mission is achieved is through OAC's ownership and operation of the historic Lyric Theatre and by fostering a supportive and well-funded environment for all artistic disciplines. OAC supports seven member organizations: Ozark Stage Works, North Arkansas Players, Harrison Art League, Twentieth Century Club, Lyric Theatre Concert Association, Women's Book Club, and Harrison High School International Thespian Society Troupe 2715. Educational programs include the Ozark Children's Chorus and workshops for children and adults by Ozark Stage Works. Support for the Ozark Arts Council comes from foundations, local businesses, and individuals, including the Arkansas Arts Council and the Harrison Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Lyric Theatre hosts a variety of events, including comedy performances such as The Odd Couple and art exhibitions such as the Harrison Art League Fall Art Show 2026.

The Lyric Theater was designed and constructed by J. W. Bass of Detroit and built in 1929 in Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. It was adorned with murals by J. W. Zelm, though a local myth persisted that they had been painted by an unknown hobo. The theater was built as the first cinema in the area to show talking pictures and operated under the same family's ownership until 1977, though as a franchise of different chains. Following its closure due to an inability to compete with the larger movie theaters, the theater was scheduled for demolition. After more than two decades of disuse, the Lyric reopened as a live performance venue in 1999 when the Ozark Arts Council purchased it for $150,000 and began operating the space. Renovations focused on updating the space for modern use without losing the historic character, including the murals, and these efforts were recognized by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The theater has been lauded as the "Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks." The Ozark Arts Council, founded in 1996, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that owns and operates the historic Lyric Theater. The OAC supports seven member organizations and offers educational programs including The Children's Choir of the Ozarks and workshops for children and adults by The Theatre Company of the Ozarks.

• 1999

  Ozark Arts Council purchases the Lyric Theater for $150,000 and reopens it as a live performance venue.

• 1996

  Ozark Arts Council founded as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

• 1977

  Theater ceases operation under the same family's ownership after operating as a franchise of different chains.

• 1929

  Lyric Theater built in Harrison, Arkansas, by J. W. Bass; first cinema in the area to show talking pictures.

Historic community arts venue and cultural anchor in Harrison, Arkansas, operated by a non-profit arts council.

Product categories. Live theater performances · Concerts · Art exhibitions · Educational workshops · Community events

• Unconfirmed

  Long Day's Night announces Satellite Concert Series[5]Long Day's Night 宣布推出 Satellite Concert Seriesswiftcurrentonline.com

  Long Day's Night Music Festival is launching the Satellite Concert Series, with three shows at the Lyric Theatre planned between November and March to raise funds for the annual festival and bring more live music to Swift Current during the off-season.

1. 1The Historic Lyric Theater – Harrison, Arkansasthelyricharrison.org
2. 2About – The Historic Lyric Theater – Harrison, Arkansasthelyricharrison.org
3. 3Lyric Theatrewikidata.org
4. 4Lyric Theatre (Harrison, Arkansas)en.wikipedia.org
5. 5Long Day's Night 宣布推出 Satellite Concert Seriesswiftcurrentonline.com